Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 141

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 141

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MILLINERY.

Dealers in millinery goods and making ladies' bonnets, might properly come under the head of manufacturers, so extensive and elaborate is the latter business carried on in this city. The most extensive of these establishments, which carry on a wholesale and retail trade, are the following: M. L. Cutler, 540 Broadway; H. W. Lipman & Co., 459 Broadway; I. Lilienthal, 44 South Pearl; Mrs. J.

Mann, 33 North Pearl; L. McHaffie & Co., 55 North Pearl; Edward Owen, 93 North Pearl; M. Robb, 14 North Pearl; B. Stark & Co., 13 North Pearl.

CARPET DEALERS.

Among the earlier carpet dealers were the firms of Thomas W. Forth & Co., corner State and Broadway; Daniel H. Forth; James Kidd; William S. Shepard; and Taylor & Waterman, the latter of whom followed the business for twenty-three years.

The house of A. B. Van Gaasbeck & Co., the oldest house now engaged in this business, was founded in 1836 by A. B. Van Gaasbeck and B. F. Mosely, under the firm name of Mosely & Van Gaasbeck, on the east side of South Market street, near the corner of Hudson avenue. In a short time the firm dissolved, Mr. Mosely continuing at the old stand, a history of whose long connection with the carpet trade will be found in connection with his biographical sketch. After the dissolu- tion of the firm of Mosely & Van Gaasbeck, the latter opened a store in the Douw Building, then just completed, on South Market street. In 1842 he opened another store on State street. Soon after this date Mr. Van Gaasbeck's brothers, John and William, became associated with him, when he opened a store devoted exclusively to the sale of carpets, the former two having been general dry goods stores, where Maurice E. Viele's store now stands. The three stores were continued un- til 1844, when the dry goods stores were sold out, and another opened in the Athenaeum Building on the west side of Broadway, near State street. In 1849, A. B. Van Gaasbeck sold out his interest in both stores to his brothers, William assuming con- trol of the dry goods concern, and John the carpet store. In 1852 A. B. Van Gaasbeck bought an interest with his brother John, who had removed to 34 Greene street. The firm name was then changed to Van Gaasbeck & Brother. A short time after the partnership was dissolved, John re- maining at the old stand, and A. B. opened a new store corner Broadway and Columbia, where he remained for seven years. Since 1861 he has occupied stores on North Pearl and Green streets, and has recently taken possession of his large store on North Pearl, nearly opposite the Kenmore. Since that time he has had as junior partners Frank Watson, W. Jennison, Chauncey Watson, and George H. Redway, all of whom were clerks prior to their interest in the concern. At present Amos C. Van Gaasbeck, son of A. B. Van Gaas- beck, is the junior partner.

Abram Koonz was a successful carpet dealer on State street for many years, succeeded, after his death, by his son, E. C. Koonz, who has gone out of business. Martin Kramrath is a prominent carpet merchant in Albany on South Pearl street. Carpets are also sold by W. M. Whitney & Co. and Johnston & Reilly.

The Boston Steam Carpet Beating Company carry on the business of cleaning carpets at 63 Quay street, and is the principal firm of its kind in the city. Amos Temple is the proprietor.

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BENJAMIN F. MOSELEY,

senior member of the firm of B. F. Moseley & Co., proprietors of the leading carpet warehouse of Albany, was born in Massachusetts in 1812. His father was Edwin Moseley, a native of West- field, Mass. His mother was Marcia Patterson, a native of Lebanon, N. Y.

Benjamin F Moseley.

He was educated in the public schools of his na- tive town, and in 1825 came to Albany and entered the employment of Seneca Mabbett as a clerk in his store. In 1836 he established himself in the dry goods trade at the corner of South Market and Hudson streets, in . the old Museum Building, whence he crossed to the opposite side of South Market street. He had at this time taken a part- ner, his firm being known as Moseley & Van Gaas- beck. This partnership existed but a short time, when the firm of Moseley & Van Gaasbeck was suc- ceeded by that of Smith, Cary & Moseley, which was formed in 1839 and was not dissolved until 1861, during most of which time its business was carried on in North Market street. Upon his re- tirement from the dry goods trade in April, 1861, Mr. Moseley went to Canada, and was there for a short time in the stove trade.

Returning to Albany, he engaged in the carpet trade, in 1866, at No. 34 Green street. Seven vears later he removed to South Pearl street, and thence, in 1879, to No. 53 State street. In 1882, his son, Frank E. Moseley, became his partner, since when the business has been owned and con- ducted by B. F. Moseley & Co. The business of this house is located in a handsome five-story marble building, furnished with all modern con- veniences that good taste and enterprise can sug- gest, including a duplex water elevator connecting

all the floors and rendering all of them almost equally accessible. The line of goods displayed here embraces all the leading novelties in carpet- ings: seasonable designs in velvet and Brussels, choice ingrains, drugget and felt crumb cloths; oil- cloths; China, cocoa, and Napier mattings; imported mats and rugs; linoleum, window shades, curtains, and similar goods. The firm carry an extensive stock received direct from the manufacturers, and show an ample assortment of all the standard designs and new shades and colors, their trade extending throughout the greater portion of the State. The Messrs. Moseley are worthy representives of that active, enterprising class of business men who have attracted the trade of a wide range of country to Albany as a desirable purchasing center, and who by their honorable dealings, progressive ideas, the reliable character of the goods they handle, and the many inducements they offer to the purchasing public, have so firmly established the commercial importance of Albany and given it a rank among the leading mercantile cities of the State. Mr. Moseley is in the best sense of the term a self-made man. His standing in the community is very high. A member of the Democratic party, he is yet no politician. Early in life he was prominently iden- tified with and for some years librarian of the North Dutch Church, but for many years he has been a member of the Fourth Presbyterian Church. He was married in 1837 to Miss Orelia B. Barstow, of Hadley, Mass., and has three sons and three daughters.

GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.

Christian Miller was for many years a prominent grocer in Albany. He came from Germany in 1767, and settled in Albany in 1789, and in 1792 opened a grocery store, which he continued until 1825, when he retired from business. For many of the late years of his life he discharged, with marked ability, several offices both civil and eccle- siastical. He was noted for his charities. A tablet to his memory has been placed in the Second Re- formed Dutch Church, of which he was a member. He died in 1844.

James Caldwell, in the latter part of the last century, was an extensive grocer, succeeded by his son William in 1802.

The leading merchants in this business during the first quarter of the present century were William Cook & Co., Hudson street; A. Marvin & Co., South Market; George W. Stanton and Batchelder & Sherman, State street; Wilson, Rathbone & Chapin, Quay street; Mancius & Le Breton, corner of South Market and State; and Daniel Wilcox, South Market; Joshua Puffs, Pemberton & Mitchell, J. & R. F. Slack, Granville Slack, N. & C. Scovill, J. & E. M. Sayles, located on or near Quay street.

The firm of Tracy, Woolverton & Wilson is the oldest established house of the kind now existing in Albany. In 1831, James A. Wilson and Charles Badgeley, the founder of the present firm, started in the grocery business at the corner of Quay and Exchange streets. Here the store was located till

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1861. In 1833 Mr. Badgeley died, and Peter Monteath became a partner, under the firm name of Wilson & Monteath. In 1845 Joseph D. Bage- ley was admitted as a partner. In 1850 Mr. Wil- son retired. In 1864 George Monteath was admit- ted as a partner, under the firm name of Monteath, Bageley & Co., remaining without change until 1865, when, by the death of Mr. Monteath and the retirement of Mr. Joseph D. Bageley, the firm dissolved. Since then, until 1873, it was conducted by Mrs. Monteath & Son (Edward W.), when Eg- bert W. Tracy became a partner. In 1876 Edward Monteath died and Peter Monteath in 1879. The business was then managed by Mr. Tracy until the firm of Tracy, Woolverton & Wilson was formed in 1880. Mr. Woolverton subsequently retired. The firm is now composed of Egbert W. Tracy and Robert P. Wilson. They conduct a whole- sale trade extending over several States. Their store is located 54 and 56 Hamilton street.

The antique building on the corner of Columbia and North Pearl streets, which was built in 1710, was occupied by a Mr. McPherson as a grocery prior to 1818, when it was sold to the Pemberton Brothers-Eben, Henry S. and John-and shortly after opened by them as a grocery store. The business established by these brothers, then mere boys, was continued until 1830, when only Eben and John were interested in it. In 1859 Eben died, from which time it was conducted by John Pemberton, who died in 1885, and at the time of his death was the oldest merchant in Albany in active business.

In 1820, Jacob Mancius kept an East India store at No. 61 State street, on the site now occupied by the Journal building. He imported wines, liquors and groceries. He continued it until 1838, when he sold out to Edward R. Satterley. In 1843 he associated with him his son Edward, under the firm name of E. R. and E. Satterley. The house was continued until 1840, when Frederick Vine be- came proprietor and remained at the old stand until 1856, when he removed to Nos. 7 and 9 North Pearl street, where he remained until 1862. He then sold out to Joseph J. Price and H. L. Weatherhead. These gentlemen remained together until 1866, when Mr. Price took his present store, No. 75 State street. Mr. Weatherhead opened a store at corner of North Pearl and Maiden lane. He died several years ago.

Edmund J. Lord is one of the oldest grocers in Albany, having started in the store, corner of Wash- ington avenue and Hawk street, he now controls. As a clerk for Moses Wood, in 1836, and since 1841, with various partners, he has been continu- ously in the business.

In 1811, William McBride opened a grocery store just east of the old Fly Market, which stood on South Market street. He remained there until 1832, when he removed to Schoharie. Returning in 1835, he opened a store on the southeast corner of Washington avenue and Knox street in connec- tion with his sons, William and John. In 1838 they removed to the opposite corner, where they remained until 1853, when the founder of the old

house, William McBride, died. The firm was then continued for some years under the name of John & William McBride. In 1856 Thomas & Henry McBride Brothers opened a store on the corner of South Pearl and Hudson avenue. Four years afterwards they removed to corner of Plain and South Pearl streets, where they remained for eight years, and, after a short time on Beaver street, re- moved to the northwest corner of Grand and Hamilton streets. Thomas died several years ago, Henry in 1885.

William J. Maher has carried on a grocery busi- ness at 72 Lumber District since 1862. He was born in Vermont, and is a prominent citizen, having been Member of Assembly in 1876-77, and Receiver of City Taxes under Mayors Nolan and Banks.

From 1836 to 1872 William B. Scott (a biography of whom appears elsewhere) successfully conducted a grocery store in this city.

Another prominent grocery firm is that of Daniel Wiedman and John T. Kelly, under the firm name of Wiedman & Kelly, the former of whom has been in the business since 1842, a successful mer- chant and worthy citizen. A history of his busi- ness and career appear in connection with his bio- graphical sketch. Mr. Kelly is an equally respected merchant. This store is located 443 Broadway.

The following prominent firms are also engaged in the wholesale grocery trade: George A. Birch & Co., George Boardman & Brothers, Burton & Vine, Garrett & Beck, Mather Brothers, L. A. Rogers, H. H. Slingerland & Son, Samuel Steven- son, John E. Walker, Wilson, Lansing & Co., and Albert Wing, Sons & Co. The latter firm is one of the best known and most reliable wholesale houses in Albany. It has been established many years, and successfully conducted by men of good business judgment and unblemished business reputations. Their trade extends over a wide territory. The in- dividual members of the firm are Albert Wing, James G. Wing, Eugene R. Hartt and Albert J. Wing.

The retail grocery stores of Albany are numerous. In 1885 there were over seven hundred of these stores. A few of the most extensive are the fol- lowing: George W. Kaynsford, Lancaster, corner of Green; James Judge's Sons (Thomas J. and Francis P.) 16 Van Woert, who also deal in coal; Edward Doherty, 155 Clinton avenue; C. J. She- han, 38 Clinton avenue; Peter Snyder, 349 South Pearl; John Carey, Myrtle avenue, corner Philip; James Wise, 87 Orange street; George W. Beck and S. E. Garrett, under the firm name of Garrett & Beck, conduct a wholesale fruit and fancy grocery store on Broadway, corner Hudson avenue.

HENRY D. FRASER

was born in New York, January 17, 1837, and died in Albany June 14, 1878, aged but little more than forty-one years. He was a son of Alfred S. Fraser, and was for many years, and until his death, con- nected officially with the Seventh Ward National Bank, at the corner of Pearl street and Burling Slip, New York.

Hon. Robert Harper.

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Mr. Fraser became a leading business man of Albany, and was for many years a member of the firm of L. M. Palmer & Co., wholesale provision merchants. On account of ill-health, he retired from this firm, and from all active business, several years before his death. His widow, a daughter of Hon. A. Lanson Cook, of Troy, and two children survive him. He ranked high in commercial cir- cles, and in private life was known as a pure and noble man, whose character commanded the love and respect of all with whom he associated. Quiet and unassuming, he took no part in political affairs, preferring to devote his time and care to his busi- ness and his home. He was connected with the First Baptist Church of Albany.

ROBERT HARPER

was born near Holywood, County Down, Ireland, March 12, 1812. His father was a Protestant Irishman of pronounced views, and his mother, formerly Jane Bond, was a native of Scotland and a staunch Scotch Presbyterian. Partly on account of unpleasant religious dissensions in Ireland, and partly with the hopes of bettering their fortunes in the New World, they came to America and located on the island opposite the lower part of the City of Albany. At that time Robert Harper was a mere lad, but he had obtained a rudimentary education at Belfast, in his native land, and was possessed of remarkable pluck and enterprise and business ca- pacity for one so young. His father engaged in market gardening, and Robert became an apt and diligent student in that branch of agriculture. At the age of twelve we find him market-gardening on his own account, working leased land, employing skillful help, and driving his own bargains in the Albany market. This may be regarded as a re- markable instance of precocious business enter- prise. The boy was successful, and when he grew up he was successful as a man in the same business for many years, amassing considerable money, which later he invested in real estate in Albany and elsewhere so advantageously as to accumulate a fine fortune.

Mr. Harper from early manhood took a deep interest in all questions affecting Government- Municipal, State and Federal. His convictions upon questions of political policy and economy were such as to impel him to ally himself with the Democratic party. The sterling integrity and un- flinching honesty, the genial disposition, the innate friendliness, the admirable character which had as- sured him financial success and won him hosts of friends in business circles, brought him the confi- dence and personal allegiance of his fellow-Demo- crats, and made him against his will a local leader in his party; and he possessed in a marked degree the confidence and admiration of large numbers of men of opposing political affiliations, and was, in a broad and sympathetic sense, one of the most pop- ular men personally in the city and county. He did not care for self-aggrandizement, and he per- sistently declined, rather than sought, official pre- ferment. But party strength was so unfavorably

balanced in Albany and vicinity, that no Democrat who was not extremely popular with the masses of all parties could at times hope for election to any city or county office. At such times Mr. Harper was besought to stand as a candidate, and from time to time he reluctantly consented, and no more unequivocal evidence of his availability as a candi- date could be adduced, than the fact that he was never defeated at the polls, and his name on the ticket became a watchword of victory. For many years he was Chairman of the Democratic County Committee of Albany County, and he was regarded as a safe, shrewd, and effective political organizer. Indeed his reputation as such was more than local, and his fame as a manager of campaigns extended not only to New York and throughout the State, but to distant portions of the Union, and his coun- sel and executive ability were sought from abroad. At one time, Hon. Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, then a Gubernatorial candidate, sent for Mr. Harper to plan his campaign and organize his aggressive forces. Mr. Harper responded, and not only or- ganized Governor Wise's campaign, but gave such valuable counsel as to its prosecution that it was a brilliant success, upon which he was afterwards complimented. Mr. Harper served his county as County Clerk and his Assembly District as its Representative in the State Assembly. His admin- istration of public affairs was marked with all of the vigor, integrity, and promptness which charac- terized him in business life. It is said that all men have what are popularly called hobbies. That of Mr. Harper was one which did him great honor. It was the cause of public education. The public schools of Albany and the State at large had no firmer, more hopeful or more generous friend than he. He was an unstinting benefactor and an un- tiring helper of the schools of Albany, and for some years he filled the office of School Commis- sioner, and as such was enabled to do even more for the advancement of public instruction than he had been permitted to do simply in his capacity of private citizen.

Mr. Harper was not a member of any religious body, yet he gave liberally toward the establish- ment or support of many churches of various de- nominations, without stopping to ask whether they were Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Prot- estant or Catholic. Essentially benevolent and helpful in his instincts, he gave to churches as he gave to other benevolent objects, without prejudice or favor. It was in private, in the byways, rather than in the broad highways of charity, that his beneficence found its widest, its favorite field. He was one who saw merit in the struggling poor and delighted to help them to attain a higher plane of existence; he delighted to extend a helping hand to honest working men who were trying hard to help themselves against adverse circumstances, and in the very face of frowning fortune. He was one who knew not a hard or cruel thought, and who instinctively shrunk from giving pain to the most humble of his fellow-men. No better exemplifica- tion of this humane trait could be given than the mere statement of the fact that, though often be-

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sought to be a candidate for the Shrievalty of Albany County, he invariably refused, on account of the possibility that, should he be elected, he might be called upon to inflict the death penalty upon some poor wretch who had forfeited his own life to the law by taking that of a fellow-being.

It was not until he was thirty-six years old that Mr. Harper was married to Miss Sarah E. Capson, who bore him six children, named as follows in the order of their birth: John C., George, Mary, Frank, Ira, and Sarah J. Of these, John C., George, Mary, and Frank are dead. Ira, the only surviving son, read law with his uncle, Hon. John W. McNamara, graduated from the Albany Law School, and has been engaged in the practice of his profession for the past three years. Mrs. Harper died in Sep- tember, 1863, and in April, 1866, Mr. Harper mar- ried the widow of L. D. Holstein, once an eminent criminal lawyer of Albany, who was formerly Miss S. M. Ramsey, daughter of Rev. F. Ramsey, of Schoharie County, and who survives him.

The death of Mr. Harper occurred in 1870. It was accompanied by peculiar and distressing cir- cumstances and surrounded by a mystery that for a time gave it a sensational notoriety. On the 22d of January Mr. Harper disappeared. He was seen that day in his accustomed health and spirits, and he was seen no more. He had passed from the haunts of men, leaving no trace of his going, its manner, or its exact time. He was such a man that it was often said of him "he had not an enemy in the world;" yet those who knew him best be- lieved that he had enemies, bitter, implacable, and vindictive. Various conflicting theories as to his disappearance were advanced. Those of death by accident, suicide, and murder were discussed in turn. His friends scouted the idea of suicide. An accidental death that would leave no evidence be- hind seemed improbable. They favored-some of them still favor-the theory of murder. Large re- wards were offered for knowledge of his where- abouts if alive, or the recovery of his body if dead, Hon. John T. Hoffman, then Governor of the State of New York, offering $600 on his own per- sonal responsibility. Private citizens, the police, and skillful detectives, all sought diligently to un- ravel the mystery of Robert Harper's disappearance. It was months before it was known positively whether he lived or was dead. On the 18th of April following his disappearance, his body was found floating in the Hudson, at Coeymans. Beyond the knowledge that he is dead, the mystery of his death is yet unexplained.

Mr. Harper's widow and his remaining son and daughter live on his homestead farm on Madison avenue, where he passed the last years of his life, and in which he took the greatest pride, loving it as only such men as he love the places whereon are erected their domestic altars.

HORACE D. HAWKINS

was born in Pittsford, Vt., June 22, 1812, a son of John and Persis (Hitchcock) Hawkins. He received such education as was available to him in

the common schools of his native town, and while yet comparatively young, became a resident of the State of New York. In 1839 he engaged in the grocery trade in Albany, opening a retail store. His business was so successful that it was not many years before he was largely engaged in the whole- sale grocery trade. Later he turned his attention to the commission business, and began to deal heavily in pork, opening a packing-house, which was one of the first, if not the first, of importance in Albany. This business grew to be a very exten- sive one, and Mr. Hawkins became largely inter- ested in the same line of trade in Chicago, where for some years he passed considerable time, and operated with remarkable success. Retiring from commerce, he devoted his time and attention to banking and insurance interests in Albany, and was associated with the direction of the Albany City Bank, the First National Bank of Albany, and the Commerce Insurance Company. He was known as a careful, intelligent man of affairs, of strict integrity, unbounded enterprise, and zealous application; a wise counselor, whose opinions were usually sought and respected, and whose uncompromising honesty made him powerful, ex- cept among those who sought to attain means by other than the direct course plainly discernible when questions of right and wrong were involved. He was ever one of the few to advise the adoption of the right at any cost to the individuals or cor- porations interested. Though not active as a politician, he was deeply interested in all questions affecting the public weal. He was an adherent to the principles of the Republican party as they were enunciated in his day, and contended earnestly, though quietly, for those principles which early marked that organization as the party of great moral ideas. But he was of too retiring a nature to mingle in the tumult of political strife. Though often solicited to stand as a candidate for positions of public trust and responsibility, he steadfastly refused the honor intended. He was long an at- tendant with his family at Rev. Dr. Sprague's church, until the close of that distinguished clergy- man's labors in Albany; and later was an attend- ant at the State Street Presbyterian Church, until his death, which occurred June 12, 1878. He was married, in 1841, to Miss Lodimma Davis, of Pleasant Valley, Otsego County, N. Y., who sur- vives him, together with one daughter and three sons.

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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 141

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