Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 139

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 139

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The total tide-water receipts per. canal (include Albany, West Troy, Waterford) were:

Feet.

Sawed lumber

731,691,600

6,936,000

Hemlock timber (cubic). 888,200

Pounds.

Staves

9,636,000

In addition to the lumber unloaded and as- sorted in the lumber district, several Albany firms sort their lumber at the mills and ship it through to New York.

DAVID MATTOON.

This gentleman is of English descent. His parents, William and Sarah (Hungerford) Mattoon, were natives of Watertown, Litchfield County, Conn. He was born at Vienna, Oneida County, N. Y., March 12, 1816. He was reared on his father's farm, attending the common schools of the time and locality, and later completed his education in an academy at Vernon, Oneida county. Later he was engaged in farming and teaching school in his native town, where, in 1840, he married Miss Sarah Ransom. In 1843 he re- moved to Albany, where, until 1847, he was em- ployed in the lumber yard of Robert Whitlock.

In the year last mentioned, the firm of Griswold, Mattoon & Co. was formed. It consisted of Aaron Griswold, David Mattoon and a special partner. The firm opened a lumber yard at the foot of Orange street, and established a large and increas- ing business. Three years later the special partner died and the style of the firm became Griswold & Mattoon. Mr. Griswold's health failing, Mr. Mattoon became sole owner of the business in 1857, and so continued till 1868, when the present firm of Mattoon & Robinson was formed, by the admission of Mr. John Robinson. In 1861 the business was removed to 105 Water street, where it was continued till 1883, when the offices were established at their present locality, 112 Water street. The firm have very extensive yards and carry on a heavy trade, it requiring both their old yard and a large one adjoining their office.

In his business career Mr. Mattoon has been signally successful, bringing to bear upon the con- duct of his affairs an unswerving integrity and an enlightened business intelligence that have made him favorably and widely known. It is worthy of more than passing note, that, during the thirty- seven years of his commercial life, in which have occurred several financial crises, which have brought disaster and ruin to important commercial and monetary interests on all sides, his paper has never gone to protest and he has never asked for an extension of the time of payment, even in a single instance. During that extended period he has dealt continuously with the Exchange Bank.

Mrs. Mattoon, who died July 27, 1877, bore him four children. The eldest of these, Whitman V. R. Mattoon, early in the late rebellion enlisted as a private in company F, 44th regiment N. Y. V., and July 1, 1862, after the battle of Malvern

1885. 1,000 feet.

1,000 feet.

Timber, cubic feet ... 1,520,000

1,423,200

1881

616

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

David Mattoon

Hill, he was among the missing, and no tidings of his fate have ever reached those who have mourned him at home. Marion A. Mattoon, the next in order of birth, became the wife of Mr. J. C. Fitz- patrick, a resident of Brooklyn, who has long been connected with the business and editorial manage- ment of the New York Herald. Theodore P. Mattoon, the third child, died in infancy, and the fourth, Miss Hattie E. Mattoon, is an inmate of her father's household.

Formerly a Democrat, at the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Mattoon esponsed the cause of the Republican party, and has since been an ardent advocate of the principles actuating its founders and early leaders, though he has never been an active politician in the ordinary acceptation of the term. His family have long been connected with the Fourth Presbyterian Church, upon the services of which he is a regular attendant.

MELVIN NEWMAN MEAD

was born in Chester, Warren County, N. Y., August 5, 1812, at the old homestead of the family, where he remained with his parents until he attained his majority, working on the farm and doing his share in contributing to the prosperity of the household. When he left the paternal residence he went to the growing village of Glens Falls, and became a clerk in the employ of Morgan & Lapham, who were en- gaged in the lumber trade, a thriving business there, even at that early day. Having made himself

familiar with the business, and learned the art of buying and selling to the best advantage, for he was a sharp-witted, sagacious man, he came to Albany in 1833, thoroughly able to enter into com- petition with the shrewdest of the lumber dealers, and formed a co-partnership with his brother, Orlin Mead. On the death of the latter he became the senior member of the well-known lumber firm of Mead, Dunham & Co., and he made the business of that firm a great success. He was a most inde- fatigable man of business, regular, methodical and „prompt. Early and late he was at his post, never idle, and never losing a moment from employment when anything was to be done. His heart was ever open to charity, and he gave freely and liberally to whatever he deemed deserving. But he turned a deaf ear to the profligate and unworthy. To his own kindred he dispensed heartily and generously. He was in every sense of the word a reliable man, and a most worthy and excellent citizen. He de- spised all shams and hypocrisy; and as he was born a Democrat, and nursed in the school of Democ- racy, and gave his first vote for President to An- drew Jackson, and his last to W. S. Hancock, so he doubtless would have continued had his life been spared.

Mr. Mead married Sarah E., daughter of the late George W. Merchant, and leaves no issue, none having been born to him.

The family of the Merchants were well known to old Albanians. The grandfather of Mrs. Mead was the venerable George Merchant, who came to

The A Meal

//11/

Lemon Thomson

617

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

Albany from Germany. He was a man held in high estimation by Albanians, of high social stand- ing, and filled many public positions. He was County Clerk of Albany County at the time of his death, an office held by him for many years under such Governors as Tompkins and Clinton, through the old Council of Appointment, presided over by such Judges as Kent and Spencer. He was also a Paymaster in early life in the Revolutionary Army. He built, owned and occupied until his death, the mansion on Ten Broeck street now occupied by the Olcotts. To this mansion was attached several acres of land devoted to fruit and garden purposes. It was in this house, directly across the street from her present residence, that Mrs. Mead was born.

About thirteen years ago Mr. Mead retired from business on account of his health, with a modest competency. He died at his residence in Ten Broeck street, from paralysis, September 23, 1884.

ALANSON SUMNER.

The late Alanson Sumner was born in Edin- burgh, Saratoga County, N. Y., July 21, 1801, and died in Albany, February 25, 1874. He was of English extraction, his paternal ancestor having been a native of Bicester, whence he removed to Massachusetts about the middle of the seventeenth century. Young Sumner was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until he attained his ma- jority. He attended the public schools of his native town, and later, was, for a time, a student at an academy at Ballston Spa.

Mr. Sumner occupied himself for a portion of two years, 1820-23, upon the construction of the eastern division of the Erie Canal. Within a few months after the opening of the Canal to Albany, he was called to be the Assistant Superintendent of a portion of that great internal improvement and he was soon advanced to the Superintendency, continuing in supervision for eleven years alto- gether. During the last four or five years of this period, he held the most important Superintend- ency on the line of the Canal, his division extend- ing from Albany west and north, and embracing forty locks, including the Troy and Mohawk Dams. Through this connection he gained a knowledge of public works and a familiarity with large con- tracts which shaped his whole after life. In 1834 he entered into a contract, in which Mr. Stephen Clark was a partner, for building the Long Bridge across the Potomac River. In 1837, in company with Mr. Clark and Mr. John Ellis, of Schenec- tady, he began contracting on the Croton Water- works, New York, and completed the receiving reservoir of the system in 1842. Later he was for two years occupied with contracts upon the en- largement of the Erie Canal. Abandoning con- tracting, in 1849 he engaged in the commission lumber trade at Albany, whither he had removed in 1844. He was successful in this business and retired therefrom six years later, leaving his place for a time to his nephew, Mr. A. A. Sumner, with an opening for his son, Mr. William A. Sumner, who became a partner in 1863.

In 1826 Mr. Sumner was married to Miss Emily D. Beecher, of Edinburgh, Saratoga County, who died childless in 1828. In February, 1839, he married Miss Diadama B. Fay, of Northampton, Fulton County, who bore him a son and two daughters, and died in 1864.

Mr. Sumner's interest in the prosperity of Al- bany was earnest, and he was ever among the first to subscribe liberally to all worthy local objects. The City Hospital, of which he was one of the Governors, was the object of his especial solicitude. As a business man he took the highest rank, and his integrity was unimpeachable, his word being considered as good as the strongest bond. He was a stockholder in many important commercial en- terprises, and for many years one of the Directors of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank.

He was a Democrat politically, and though neither an office-holder or an office-seeker, he took a keen interest in public events and did his part quietly, as a citizen, to advance the interests of his party. A great reader from his youth up, he was splendidly self-educated, and it is said that his knowledge of American history and biography was remarkable. His sympathies took a wide range, and guided by his eminently good judgment, made him so wise a counselor, that many can testify to the value of his advice.

LEMON THOMSON

was born in Athol, Warren County, N. Y., Jan- uary 27, 1822, son of Charles C. Thomson, of Scotch-Irish stock, an industrious village black- smith and farmer. When he was thirteen years old he accompanied his parents to Johnsburgh in the same county. He was never idle. The oldest of five children, he was always helpful in the shop or on the little farm. In the public schools of these towns he took his first lessons in literary knowledge. At seventeen he was a school teacher. At eighteen he was a student in Glens Falls Acad- emy preparing for college. When he was twenty-five years old he entered the Sophomore Class at Union College, and graduated in the full course in 1850. The next two years, or a part of them, found him reading law with Judge Rosekrans. Conceiving a business life to be more congenial to his taste, he entered into partnership in trade with W. W. Weed, in 1851, and sold out after two years.

In 1851, he married Abby, daughter of Augustus Sherman, then President of the First Commercial Bank, and afterward President of the First National Bank of Glens Falls from its first organization. In 1855, Mr. Thomson came to Albany, having formed a partnership with his father-in-law, under the firm name of L. Thomson & Co., as manufac- turers and dealers in lumber. This has ever since been his business, with slight changes in partner- ship.

He is a large owner of timber and other lands in Northern New York. He has been success- ful, and ranks among the leading merchants and bankers of Albany. He is a large stockholder in the First National Bank, and has been a stock-

618

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

holder and director in the National Exchange Bank since its establishment.

Mr. Thomson is a thorough business man in its full meaning-in ability, in energy, in exper- ience, in probity. He enjoys the competence which he has won, and shares it liberally with good causes and in promoting laudable public enter- prises. He is a man of domestic and literary tastes, and takes an active interest in education, re- ligion and good morals.

When twenty-one years old he held the position of Superintendent of Common Schools in his na- tive county. In religion he is an active member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church. He is always and everywhere an uncompromising friend of tem- perance. Originally a Democrat, acting with the Barn-burners, he parted company during the anti- slavery controversy, and became a Republican on the organization of that party. He has voted for Polk, Pierce, Fremont, Lincoln, Grant, Greeley, Hayes, Garfield and Blaine. He is a Republican, but of the independent school. His action as a citizen is guided only by his conscientious convic- tions of right.

In all places he is outspoken, high-minded and honorable. He is straight out on all ques- tions, and never waits to find out what course the party leaders are to take. He has formed his own opinions on the basis of reason and conscience. There is no mistaking him when he speaks or acts. In him the humblest citizen has a friend. The toiling laborer, be he ever so humble, can trust him.

He writes much for the papers on local and political topics. He is direct and pungent in style; severe on bad legislation, loose habits of public economy, and every wrong. He uses no useless rhetoric; he goes into his subject at once and drives his antagonist to the wall, if possible, and keeps him there until he cries for quarter.

Such a man has firm friends, but is not always in the majority. Unscrupulous partisans don't take him for a leader. Yet he has held several im- portant political trusts. In 1864-67, he was an Alderman, and an earnest advocate of reform and economy in the local government. He has been candidate for the State Assembly, and in 1882, was the citizens' candidate for Congress. In the Board of Trade and other business organizations he has held leading trusts, and is often found active in associations and conventions held for promotion of important public interests. May such men in- crease !

DOUGLAS L. WHITE.

This gentleman has long been prominent in con- nection with the lumber trade of Albany, and as the senior member of the firm of White & Co., he is known to the lumber trade throughout a large portion of the United States and Canada. He was born at Quebec, Canada, March 31, 1822, of Scotch and English parentage. His father, a merchant at Quebec, died when he was but five years of age, and he engaged in business while yet very young

and aided to support his mother and her family. When he was not fifteen years old, under an uncle who was an extensive miller and distiller, he managed certain branches of the business, which was carried on by a firm of the same name as that of which he has so long been the head, so that he may be said to have been associated with the business of Douglas L. White & Co. much of the time since he was a mere lad. Since that time Mr. White's experience in business has been long and varied. He spent several years at extensive iron-works in Wales as assistant-man- ager and salesman. In this enterprise, Patrick Moir, his brother-in-law, was partner and manager with Sir Charles Price Marryatt & Co., of London. Upon his brother-in-law's retirement from this business, Mr. White returned to Quebec, but, not being satisfied with the limited scope for his busi- ness abilitiess offered there at that time, he went to New York, and met with an opening in the office of August Belmont, agent of the Rothschilds, as corresponding clerk and assistant-cashier, holding a power of attorney, under the authority of which he managed very important transactions and large sums of money passed through his hands. To his sagacity and fidelity during this period, Mr. Bel- mont has testified over his signature. Later, he held a similar position in the house of Curtis, Beals & Fearing, bankers, of New York, until that firm discontinued business, and received the most unequivocal evidence that his business ability and devotion to their interests were appreciated by members of the firm. Offers were now tendered him by Gilmour & Co., one of the wealthiest and most prominent lumber firms of Canada, of which John and David Gilmour, who had married two of his sisters, were members, to take charge of one of- their extensive establishments in Canada. He re- mained there until the interests of the firm at Troy required attention, a commission house there to which Gilmour & Co. had consigned lumber hav- ing failed. Through the efforts of Mr. White, a favorable settlement by compromise was effected, and Gilmour & Co. opened a large yard at Green Island, West Troy, for the sale of their own lum- ber, under his management, in 1856. During the following year the business was transferred to Mr. White, his brother, Richard P. White, and Walter Gillespie, who continued it under the firm name of Gillespie, White & Co., with yards at West Troy and Albany. The style and personnel of the firm have changed several times since then. The firm of Gillespie, White & Co. was succeeded by White, Loveland & Co .; White & Co. succeeded White, Loveland & Co. and gave place to White & Moir, the immediate predecessors of the firm of Douglas L. White & Co., the individual members of which are Messrs. Douglas L. White and his eldest son, W. G. White. White & Co., with ex- tensive connections and mills in Canada, has done the largest lumber business in the country, the sales in 1872 amounting to over $2,000,000. Messrs. Douglas L. White & Co. now rank as one of the heaviest of the several heavy lumber firms of Albany dealing in Canada pine lumber,

Douglas & Mite

619

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

and handling Michigan pine and spruce and hem- lock from mills in New York State and Canada, their annual transactions amounting to more than half a million dollars, and involving the sale of 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 feet of lumber, They occupy two extensive yards in the Lumber District and their dock privileges are of equal importance to those of any of their contemporaries. Their trade extends throughout New England and New York, and is entirely at wholesale by the car-load or cargo.

Mr. White's standing among men in his own trade and in the community is very high. From time to time he has interested himself in prominent business interests of the city, and in all local benevolent and charitable objects. Long a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, he has for years been conspicuous among those who have pro- moted evangelical work. Always of a retiring disposition, absorbed in the welfare of his large family, and finding happiness in their midst, he has shrunk from public positions. Yet he has done effective work while acting as Governor of the Albany Hospital, Trustee of the Fourth Pres- byterian Church, Life Member of the American Bible Society, and of the Young Men's Christian Association and Young Men's Association. He has also served as President of the Board of Lumber Dealers, and Director of the Capital City Insurance Company and other corporations. He has been a constant contributor to Home and For- eign Missions, Bible and Tract Societies, and other benevolent institutions, as well as to the tem- perance cause, and has generously responded to other just and worthy calls upon his time and means. The improvement and education of the colored race have received much generous atten- tion from him, and he has given substantial and timely aid to worthy men in financial difficulty.

Mr. White's church connection brought him into intimate friendly relations with the late Rev. Dr. Halley, as a result of which, in 1868, he in- vited the Doctor to accompany him upon a Euro- pean tour, and together they visited England, Scotland, France, Italy and Switzerland. This was quite an event in Dr. Halley's life, and one for which he cherished the liveliest feelings of gratitude to his generous friend, for he had not had an op- portunity to visit his native Scotland since he had left there early in life. During the tour Dr. Halley wrote some very interesting letters, which were published in some of the Albany papers, detailing scenes and incidents in Rome and other localities of great interest alike to him and the reading pub- lic. For some years past, Mr. White has been con- nected with the Fourth Presbyterian Church. In politics he has been a strong Republican since the organization of that party, and during political campaigns, and at other times as his assistance has been required, he has given liberally of his means towards the promotion of its principles and the success of its -candidates, and has been especi- ally generous in his donations to the several Re- publican Clubs of Albany. He was married, March 8, 1855, to Sophia, daughter of Joseph Horsey,

a wholesale druggist of New York, and has five sons and two daughters living, four of their children having died. Four of his sons are engaged in the lumber trade and another is a student at the Albany Academy. All of them have enjoyed opportunities for obtaining good educations and a thorough prac- tical knowledge of business in their father's office, and all promise to make their marks as hon- orable business men. Mr. White's career has been that of a self-made man. By the exercise of his natural honesty and ability he has advanced to a high position in the business community wherever his lot has been cast. In the great finan- cial panic of 1873, in which many of the heaviest banking and business institutions of the country were plunged into bankruptcy-a period which will be ever memorable in the financial annals of America-at a time when Jay Cooke & Co., Duncan, Sherman & Co., and other scarcely less prominent houses were compelled to close their doors, Mr. White's firm became involved, through complica- cations with other houses in the trade in New York and elsewhere, and were forced to make an assign- ment for the benefit of their creditors. This blow fell upon Mr. White unexpectedly and with almost stunning force. He had not in any manner con- tributed, either by omission or commission, to bring about such a deplorable state of affairs. He gave up everything he had, reserving nothing. He acted the part of an honest man, asking no favors and assisting in every way in his power to bring about a settlement which should be satisfactory to the creditors of his firm. This was without doubt the greatest trial of his life, but in it he had the sympathy of the whole business and social world in which he moved. The marks of confidence which were given him by men high in commercial and professional circles were truly gratifying. His truest and most helpful friends were Henry W. Sage and Wm. E. Dodge, of New York. Others scarcely less prominent gave him words of cheer and extended to him practical proofs of their belief in his honor, and desire for his speedy issue from the difficulties which compassed him about. Neither then nor since, through a long and changeful commercial career, was ever an aspersion cast upon his integrity or a question raised as to the purity of his motives.

EARLY MERCHANTS.

Prior to 1772, not much can be learned of the names of merchants of Albany. After this date, beginning with the files of the Albany Gazette, the first paper published in the city, we are able to as- certain the names and the kind of merchandise sold by many of the earlier merchants. The natural dil- igence and acquisitiveness of the Dutch kept them engaged in trade. The influx of enterprising spec- ulators and traders from New England near the close of the Revolution, soon made Albany a strictly commercial city.

Most of these merchants dealt in a variety of goods, designated by names now seldom seen.

Among the advertisers in the Gazette of 1772 is the firm of James Gourlay & Co., "in Cheapside

620

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

street, next door to the King's Arms," in whose copious enumeration of articles are "Penknives, Pins, Bibles, Green and Bohea Tea, Cotton, Pep- per, Chocolate, Playing Cards, Shirt Buttons, Cur- tain Calicoes, Ink Powder and Knee Garters." Thomas Barry, "near the Dutch Church," also enumerates his stock, occupying nearly a column of the paper with a catalogue of goods with names which sound quite odd at this day; for instance, "None-so-pretty of various colors and black breeches pattern." Under the head of dry goods, were mentioned as just imported from Europe and now opening for sale, Bibles, Testaments, Spelling Books, Primers and Entick's Pocket Dictionaries, Snuff, Tobacco-boxes and Fiddle strings, Satinets and Shalloons, Best China and Love Ribbons, etc. At the same time, Robinson & Hale advertise Bibles, Psalms and Psalm Books, Testaments and Spelling Books, Primers and Pocket Dictionaries, which are enumerated with red China Tea-pots and Shoemakers' Tools. Stuart Wilson then kept a book store at the corner of State and South Pearl streets.

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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 139

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