Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 149

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 149

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He was also a member of the important Indian Commission. May 4, 1775, he became an active member of the Committee of Safety, and in 1779 was appointed Commissary of the Northern Army. In 1775 he was a member of the First Provincial Congress and its Vice-President. After the organi- zation of the State Government he was made First Judge of the County Court, which office he held until his resignation, March 26, 1781. From 1786 to 1793 he was a State Senator. In the battle of Lunenburg, in 1780, he was a Captain. He was a famous horseman and kept a stable of thorough- bred horses. He lived in great style for those days, never keeping less than twenty slaves. He was 6 feet 2 inches in hight, straight as an arrow, and very fine looking. Judge Douw died March 20, 1801, and his wife June 14, 1794, and were both buried at Wolvenhoeck. His will, dated July, 1794, was proved May 4, 1801. In civil and domestic relations he was esteemed a pattern, and no man in Albany died more regretted.

ABRAHAM C. CUYLER, Mayor 1770 to 1778, was the last of the mayors by Royal Commission. A son of Cornelius Cuyler and Catharina Schuyler, he was born April 11, 1742. He married Jannetse Glen, April 10, 1764, and had five children. He held the military rank of Colonel. He was lukewarm from the first toward the patriot cause, and finally becoming an avowed Loyalist, he went to Canada, and died in Yorkville, February 5, 1810.

JOHN BARCLAY, Mayor, 1778-79, received his ap- pointment from the State government, and was the first Chief Magistrate of the city holding office under State authority, after the reinstatement of the City Council by law, April 17, 1778.

The City and County Committee of Correspond- ence and Safety was organized in the latter part of 1774, and Mr. Barclay was made its first Pres- ident. When there was no State nor City Govern- ment, this Committee had great responsibility and exercised great power. All over the territory north and west of Ulster and Dutchess, it exercised the legislative and executive functions of civil govern- ment for about three years. In pure, zealous, self- sacrificing patriotism and good judgment, there could have been no better man. His office ter- minated with his death, early in 1779.

ABRAHAM TEN BROECK, Mayor September 1779- 83, and September 29, 1796-99, son of a former Mayor Dirck Ten Broeck and Margarita Schuy- ler, was born May 19, 1734. Married Elisabeth Van Rensselaer in 1753, by whom he had five children, and died January 19, 1810. He was a merchant, but was early called into public life. From 1760 to 1765 he was a member of the Co- lonial Assembly, where he always threw his in- fluence and his vote with the minority in favor of popular rights. In 1775 he was a member of the Provincial Congress; and in 1776 was a delegate to the State Convention, of which he was made President. Early in the revolutionary contest he was made Colonel of Militia, and, soon after, Brig- adier-General of all the Militia in Dutchess and Ulster Counties, and all north and west of those counties. His services were rendered with zeal and

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ability, especially in the campaign that ended with the surrender of Burgoyne. After the war closed, he was called to civil service. He served from 1780 to 1783 as a member of the State Senate, Mayor of the City as above, and, from 1781 to 1794, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was a Director and President of the Albany Bank. In all public positions he made himself a record of high ability, unquestioned patriotism, and stainless integrity. In private life his virtues showed him a tried moralist and a true gentleman; in politics he was a Federalist; in religion he was a devout and consistent member of the Dutch Reformed Church. Such a man deserves the grateful recollection of this city. His home was for many years on Ten Broeck street, near Third, in the house afterward bought and occupied hy the late Thomas W. Olcott. His funeral was attended by a large con- course of citizens and with military honors. No descendants are known in Albany. It is believed that the first of the family who came to America bore the name of Wessels von Ten Broeck.

JOHN JACOB BEEKMAN, Mayor June 27, 1783-86, was the first who held that office after the close of the Revolution. He married Maria Sanders and had six children. His death occurred December 17, 1802.

JOHN LANSING, Jr., Mayor September 29, 1786- 90. Married Cornelia Ray, April 8, 1781, by whom he had ten children. In 1805 he lived on the north corner of Broadway and Steuben street. He was one of the delegates to the convention that framed the United States Constitution in 1787, but declined to support the adoption of that instru- ment. In 1788 he was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of New York State, and for many years was Chancellor of the State. Visiting New York City on business, he suddenly disappeared as he was about to take a steamer to return to Al- bany, December 12, 1829, and was never heard of afterwards. Conjecture had it that he was waylaid, robbed, and murdered. Others think he was ac- cidentally drowned while attempting to get on board the steamer.

ABRAHAM YATES, Jr., Mayor September 29, 1790- 96, son of Christoffel Yates and Catalyntje Winne, was born August 23, 1724, and died June 30, 1796. He was a noble patriot, prominently identified with the revolutionary history; a member of the Commit- tee of Safety; President of the Provincial Congress of New York, 1775-76; Receiver of the city in 1778- 79; and a trusted leader in most of the activities of the city and county during his time.

PHILIP S. VAN RENSSELAER, appointed December 27, 1798, and held office from January 1, 1799, to 1816; reappointed July 3, 1819, and held the office two years, making in all nineteen years, the longest in service of any Mayor of the city. He was son of Stephen and Catharine (Livingston) Van Rensse- laer; born April 15, 1766, and died September 25, 1824. He was younger brother of General Stephen Van Rensselaer, and grandson of Philip Livingston, the Albany signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. He married Ann Van Cortlandt, who died January 10, 1855. His residence was on State

street, where now resides Mr. Erastus Corning. He was a public-spirited citizen, and particularly active in promoting the educational, moral, and business interests of the city.

ELISHA JENKINS, Mayor July 8, 1816 to 1819, was born in Hudson, a son of Thomas Jenkins, from Connecticut, one of the original proprietors of that city. He was on the staff of Governor Clinton, with rank of Colonel; Member of Assembly; State Senator; Secretary of State, 1806-9; Comptroller, 1801 to 1806; and Regent of the University. He was Quartermaster-General of the Northern De- partment in the War of 1812. He was liberally educated, but attained his wealth in a mercantile life in his native city. Came to Albany about 1801, and was a man of great activity in public matters, in which he was distinguished for amenity of man- ners, strict integrity, good sense, and thorough business habits. He was a man of fine personal appearance and splendid manners. He was twice married, but left no children. He died in 1851 in New York City, aged about eighty years.

CHARLES E. DUDLEY, Mayor February 14, 1821, to March 10, 1824, and from May 29, 1828, to January 19, 1829. Came from England to Rhode Island with his father, who was the King's Collector of the Customs in that State at the beginning of the Revolution. He was educated at Newport; came to Albany in 1819; engaged in mercantile pursuits, making some voyages to India to promote his busi- ness interests. He was a public-spirited citizen, acting his part in the Canal and most of the other improvements of the day. He was a State Senator, 1823-25, and United States Senator, 1829-31. He married Blandina, daughter of Rutger Bleecker, who was born October 1, 1783, and died March 6, 1863. She inherited great wealth from her father, who bought confiscated estates after the Revolution- ary War, and realized great profit therefrom. She did much good with her wealth; among others founding Dudley Observatory, which is named in her honor. Mr. Dudley died January 23, 1841, aged sixty years.

AMBROSE SPENCER, Mayor March 10, 1824, to 1826, was born in Salisbury, Conn., December 13, 1765; died in Lyons, N. Y., March 13, 1848; graduated at Harvard, 1783; LL.D., Harvard, 1821. About 1785 he entered upon the practice of law in Hudson, N. Y., and was called almost at once to an important office in that city and in the State Legislature. In 1802-4 he was Attorney- General, and began to reside in Albany, which was his home until 1839, He became Justice of the Supreme Court in 1804, and Chief Justice 1819- 23. He was a member of the New York Con- stitutional Convention, 1821; Member of Con- gress, 1829-31. In the city he held many im- portant offices, including that of Mayor. The Common Council held a meeting January 1, 1824, and declared the office of Mayor vacant, and pro- ceeded to the election of a new incumbent. Mr. Dudley presided and voted for himself, thus mak- ing a tie of 11 to II and defeating the intended re- moval. February 9th, the Council again met and balloted for Mayor ten times, giving at each ballot

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II votes to John N. Quackenbush and 11 to Ambrose Spencer. Finally, on the second ballot, taken March 8th, Ambrose Spencer was elected Mayor by 11 votes against 10 for John Lansing, Jr., and I blank. At the election at the expiration of his term, January, 1825, Judge Spencer was unanimously re-elected for one year, at the end of which time he declined another re-election. He was truly a great and good man, one of the shining lights of his time. His legal decisions stand to- day among the highest in authority. In political councils he had great weight. At the same time, like all truly great men, he was simple-hearted, easily approachable by all who needed sympathy and comfort, and as just and inflexible as old Cato.

JAMES STEVENSON, Mayor February 14, 1826 to 1828. Under date of May 23, 1828, the city pa- pers of the time say : "James Stevenson, who had held the office of Mayor for two and a half years, with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the people, sent in his resignation, alleging pressure of private business." Mr. Dudley was elected to fill the unexpired term. Mr. Steven- son was an active, prosperous, and public-spirited citizen. He was born in Albany, was liberally educated, studied law; but having wealth, and a zeal in public affairs, he gave attention to useful public interests with practical good sense and un- obtrusive modesty. He was a high-toned, old school, polished gentleman, sauve in manner, and very popular. He died July 3, 1852, aged sixty- five years.

JOHN TOWNSEND, Mayor, February 9, 1829 to 1831, and February 14, 1832 to 1833. Mr. Town- send succeeded Mr. Dudley, who resigned to take his place as United States Senator, to which he was elected as successor of Van Buren, January 15th. The Common Council balloted twice, February 2d, giving Francis Bloodgood and John Townsend each ten votes. Bloodgood withdrew, and a week later Townsend was elected by eighteen votes.

Isaiah and John Townsend were brothers, and for many years partners in business, and distin- guished among the prominent manufacturers not only of Albany alone, but of the State. They were both born at Sterling Iron Works, in Ster- ling, Orange County; the former, April 5, 1777, the latter, June 14, 1783. Isaiah came to Albany in 1799, first as partner in the firm of Stewart & Townsend, and soon after alone, engaged in the iron trade. John came to Albany in 1802, and in 1804 the firm of J. & I. Townsend was formed and continued until the death of Isaiah in February, 1838. During its continuance nothing but the most intimate and kindly relations existed between them. Says a writer: "As merchants, the house of I. & J. Townsend ever enjoyed an enviable reputation for solidity and fair dealing. The brothers, like those beautiful creations in Dickens, ever lived with their large families in close affec- tion, under adjoining roofs, from a common purse and almost from a common table." The business of the house was the purchase and sale of mer- chantable iron of all descriptions, both foreign and domestic; also, cut rails. Its surplus earnings

were invested in various industries, such as the Troy Nail and Iron Factory, a furnace and ma- chine-shop in Albany, a cotton mill at Cornwall, Orange County, a line of passenger boats on the Hudson, a flour mill at Greenbush, and largely in real estate in Albany, Syracuse, and the States of Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. In Syracuse, then "a sickly morass" a company was formed in 1824, comprising William James, I. & J. Townsend, and James McBride, which immediately set about de- veloping the great salt interests there, and initiated and carried on other improvements which have led to the growth of that beautiful city.

Isaiah Townsend was exceedingly averse to public office, often quoting that "private life is the post of honor," a maxim which he fully illustrated in every relation as husband, father, business man, and citizen. His second wife, Hannah, daughter of Solomon Townsend, an eminent New York merchant, a lady of great worth, died in 1854. She was the mother of five sons and two daugh- ters, all of whom attained adult age, and names known and honored in their native city, viz. : Isaiah, graduate of Union, now of Cornwall; Annie, wife of Henry H. Martin; Captain Robert, of United States steamer Wauchusett, who did gallant ser- vice in the Rebellion, and died in 1866; General Franklin, who has held many distinguished trusts in business, in the city, and in the State; Dr. Howard, a man of high position and a Professor in the Albany Medical College; General Frederick, who did eminent service in the War of the Rebel- lion, has been Adjutant-General for seven years, has done much to reform the State National Guard, and was Presidential elector in 1882; Mary, who married W. H. T. Walker, of the regular army, residing near Augusta, Ga.

John Townsend was linked with his brother dur- ing his life in all public as well as business enter- prises. They were among the advisers of De Witt Clinton in the Erie Canal project. In 1811 they were the first in starting the Albany Insurance Company, which, during its long and prosperous existence of more than seventy years has always had some of their descendants on its Board of Directors, usually as President or Vice-President. John Townsend was one of the incorporators and Vice-President of the Albany Savings Bank, founded in 1820, and President from 1840 to 1854. His son Theodore has been a Trustee and is now its Treasurer. Mr. Townsend was one of the Di- rectors of the Commercial Bank, founded in 1825, and soon after elected its President, which office he held until his death. He was also President of the Albany Exchange Company, of the Water Commission, and several other local organizations. Henry Burden whose name is perpetuated in the large Iron-works at Troy, commenced his success- ful career under the Townsends; and the first cast- iron plow-shares were made in the foundry, which was the first north of the Highlands. Mr. Town- send, last year as Mayor, 1832, was called the cholera year, during which his labors were vastly increased, and his good name made dearer to his fellow citizens. He married, in 1810, Abby,

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daughter of Chief-Justice Ambrose Spencer, a lady of great refinement and benevolence. She was the mother of his thirteen children, four of whom died in infancy. Laura, the eldest, was the wife of John S. Walsh; Ambrose died many years ago. There are now living: Mrs. Allen Monroe, of Syra- cuse; Mrs. Joel R. Reed, and Mrs. Charles R. Lansing, of Albany; Rev. John Townsend, of Mid- dleton, Ct .; and Theodore Townsend, a well-known and esteemed business man of this city.

Mr. John Townsend died August 26, 1854.

FRANCIS BLOODGOOD, Mayor 1831-34, was a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Van Valkenburgh) Bloodgood, and great-grandson of Francis Bloet- goet, of Flushing, L. I., born June 12, 1775. His father was a merchant interested in the early West India trade. He is mentioned as having made a successful venture as early as November 3, 1770, as consignee of Albany merchants. Fran- cis graduated at Yale; was a lawyer; once Clerk of the Supreme Court; Director and President of the State Bank; and President of the Albany Insur- ance Company. He died March 5, 1840; his wife, Anra, died in Philadelphia, March 5, 1865. Major William Bloodgood was his son, whose son, Captain Edward, of the regular army, died at Fort Larned, July 31, 1867. His daughter, Mrs. Na- thaniel H. Hall, died at Plattsburgh, January 19, 1865. Mr. Bloodgood was distinguished for the excellence of his temper and the integrity of his character.

ERASTUS CORNING, Mayor 1834-37, was born in Norwich, Conn., December 14, 1794; came to Albany in 1814, and died April 8, 1872, after a long and honorable career as a merchant, banker, public officer, and benefactor; interesting himself in every enterprise that promoted the wealth, morals, and intelligence of the city. An extended biography appears in another part of this work.

TEUNIS VAN VECHTEN, Mayor 1837-39 and 1841-42, grandson of Teunis and Judith (Ten Broeck) Van Vechten, and son of Teunis and Elizabeth (De Wandelaer) Van Vechten, was born November 4, 1785, and died February 4, 1859. In 1805, his father was a merchant on the west corner of Broadway and Maiden lane. He was, in 1807, admitted to the Bar as a lawyer, and was for many years counsel for the Old Patroon and his son, Stephen. He succeeded to the practice of his uncle, Hon. Abraham Van Vechten, one of the most able lawyers and valued citizens that Albany ever had, who was born in Catskill December 5, 1762; married Catharina Schuyler, May 20, 1784; had thirteen children; and died January 6, 1837. Teunis was for many years a Director and Presi- dent of the Albany Insurance Company, and was more than once an Alderman. He married Cath- arina Cuyler, who died March 24, 1853, aged 64 years. One of his daughters married Hon. Elisha P. Hurlbut. A eulogy upon his character is given in a printed sermon by his pastor, Rev. E. P. Rogers.

JARED L. RATHBONE, Mayor 1839-41. Mr. Rath- bone was elected Mayor January 21, 1839, to com- plete the unexpired term made by the resignation

of Mr. Van Vechten, and was re-elected December 20th for the year 1840. He was the first mayor elected by popular vote. Previous to this the mayors were elected by the Common Council after the days of appointment by the Governor came to an end.

He was Trustee and President of the Albany Medical College, and held many other offices con- nected with the educational, benevolent, and in- dustrial interests of the city. He was of Connect- icut parentage. Died in 1845.

BARENT P. STAATS, Mayor 1842-43, was a member of one of the oldest Holland families in this State. Was born in Rensselaer County in 1796. He died in 1871, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. For fifty-four years he had been a prac- ticing physician, nearly fifty years of which were in this city. He was not an office-seeker, but for more than forty years held important offices of trust be- cause he wascalled for. He was an Alderman when the best men were placed in that office; he was a Supervisor for many years; and Physician to the Penitentiary the last year of his life. In 1834 he was a member of the Assembly. In his profession he was regarded as very skillful. On the 20th of June, 1867, a dinner was given by the Albany County Medical Society to its then oldest physi- cians, Drs. MacNaughton, Staats, and Wade, who had been in practice over fifty years. His personal qualities of genial humor, generous sympathies, and strong attachments; strong sense of justice, and strict temperance; united with a broad public spirit, made him a favorite among his friends and popular among his fellow-citizens.

FRIEND HUMPHREY, Mayor 1843-45 and 1849- 50, was born in Simsbury, Conn., in the year 1787. Came to Albany in 1811; engaged in the leather trade; became a successful and leading merchant; interested in promoting every worthy enterprise; was very energetic and very popular, not only as a business man, but as a citizen. He was especially known in all the movements for the advancement of learning and sound morals. When Mayor he closed the markets on Sunday. Says an old mer- chant: "He was sound on every point." His sec- ond election was April 9, 1844, by a Whig vote of 3, 268 to a Democratic vote of 2,628 for George W. Stanton. He died March 15, 1854. General Chauncey Humphrey was his brother, and Theo- dore F. Humphrey, of Boston, and James Hum- phrey, of New York, were his sons.

He was courageous, strong, very energetic, never afraid to do right. Albany never had a Mayor better understood or more popular.

JOHN KEYES PAIGE, Mayor 1845-46. Mr. Paige was a lawyer, and held, for nineteen years prior to his election as Mayor, the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court. He was elected by a plurality April 7, 1845, as follows: John K. Paige, Demo- crat, 3, 148; Friend Humphrey, Whig, 3, 124; Isaac Lansing, native American, 160; Nathaniel Safford, Abolition, 12. After leaving Albany on the failure of the Canal Bank, of which he was President, he resided in Schoharie, and later in Schenectady, where he died December 10, 1857,

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at the age of seventy. At the time of his death he was a Regent of the University, to which he had been appointed in 1826. His first wife was Helen, a daughter of Governor John C. Yates, who died January 25, 1829. His second a daughter of the late Mayor, Francis Bloodgood.

Notwithstanding his long career of public ser- vice, he was singularly reserved and retiring in his manners and attached to domestic life, and neither professed the arts of popularity, nor that knowledge of the world which is often necessary to a man of business.

WILLIAM PARMALEE, Mayor 1846-48 and 1854- -56. He was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., 1807; graduated from Yale College in 1826; began to practice law in Albany in 1830; in 1836 was City Attorney; was County Judge in 1839 and 1847- 52 ; Recorder of the City 1840-46. He mar- ried Helen, daughter of Dr. T. Romeyn Beck. While in his last term of office as Mayor, he died of cancer in the throat, March 15, 1856. Charles W. Goddard was appointed by the City Council, April 28th, for the unexpired term of Judge Parmalee's. On April 14, 1846, William Parmalee, Whig, was elected by a vote of 3, 106 over John K. Paige, Democrat, who received a vote of 2, 512. In 1847 Mr. Parmalee was re-elected by a vote of 4,088 over James Goold, 1, 168; Mr. Hendrickson, 605; and Mr. Woodruff, 78.

JOHN TAYLOR, Mayor 1848-49, was born in Durham, England, March, 1790, and died in Al- bany September 31, 1863. He migrated to Brook- lyn with his father when a mere infant, and to Albany in 1793. He engaged in the business of a tallow-chandler with his father when he was seven- teen years old, and before he was twenty-three he had been burned out four times. Then his fortunes changed. He began to make money about 1813 as an army contractor. In 1822 he became a brewer, and from this business realized an ample fortune. He had branches in Boston and New York later, conducted by his sons. He gave freely of his wealth to the poor, and to all objects that promised to benefit the city. He became a great reader, and accumulated a library larger and more valuable than any in the city in his time. He gained great popularity and wealth at the same time by a steady course of industry, enterprise, in- tegrity, philanthropy and virtue. Taylor's Brewery is still occupied at 133 Broadway.

FRANKLIN TOWNSEND, Mayor 1850-51, was the son of Isaiah and Hannah Townsend, and nephew of John Townsend, a former Mayor, under whose name the outline of his family history is given. He married the only daughter of Rufus H. King, once a noted merchant and banker of this city. His life has been one of great activity, marked by evi- dences of public confidence. While yet a boy, he took charge of the Townsend Furnace and Ma- chine-shop in this city, no w managed by his son, Rufus K. Townsend. He has served on the Board of Aldermen, and as Supervisor. He has also been a Member of the Assembly, and for nearly nine years Adjutant-General of the State. He has been prominent in the social and business affairs of the

city; President of the State Bank, and Vice-Presi- dent of the Albany Savings Bank. In all positions he has acquitted himself with honor.

ELI PERRY, Mayor 1851-54, 1856-60, 1862-64. An exciting contest attended the civil years of 1856-58. April 8, 1856, the city election was held, when it was declared that Dr. John V. P. Quackenbush was elected by a majority of twenty over Eli Perry. An indignation meeting was held April 14th, protesting that Perry was defeated by fraudulent votes in the Seventh and Eighth Wards. Subsequently the new Common Council, after con- sidering these frauds, declared, by a vote of eleven to nine, that Perry was elected. The election was contested by Quackenbush.

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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 149

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