Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 157

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 157

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).

In 1839 this theatre was also turned into a church, and was used by the Congregation of St. Paul's (Episcopal) till 1863.

In December, 1840, Samuel H. Nichols opened an amphitheatre on Dallius street, corner of West- erlo, and for some time it was both popular and fashionable. Alfred B. Street wrote the opening address. Later it was used for dramatic perform- ance, and, under various managements, Hackett, Edwin Forrest, the elder Booth and others ap- peared. William Warren, Boston's favorite come- dian for so many years, was in the company in 184 1. The last performances were given in 1845, and a year or two after the building was partly destroyed by fire.

The Odeon on Broadway, east side, south of Division street, was the next theatre to open, which it did February 1, 1847. It was small, but well arranged, and many attractive performances were given. It was burned in the great fire of 1848.

Meantime the Albany Museum, started in a small way as early as 1808 or 1809 (there was a Museum as early as 1798), by Trowbridge, and continued by Harry Meech in 1826, was removed January 1, 1831, from the corner of Hudson avenue and Broadway to the corner of State and Broadway, and established in a new building owned by Thorpe & Sprague, and which for many years was a very popular resort. At first largely devoted to curiosities and freaks of nature, the Siamese Twins, Joyce Heth, Tom Thumb and other Barnum enterprises were exhibited here. Concerts, monologues, lectures and light entertain- ments of various sorts were frequently given, and more and more the place assumed a dramatic character. In 1848 it was considerably enlarged, and then became the leading, and at times the only place of amusement in the city. Mary Wells, Mary Gannon, Mary Taylor, Mrs. Vernon, Mrs. John Drew and Mrs. Maeder (the famous Clara Fisher of former days), frequently played long en- gagements, and there were stars almost without number. The last performance was given here April 28, 1855.

Before this, however, the drama returned to its old home in this city, the old Green street theatre, which, having been given up by the Baptists, was opened July 5, 1852, by Henry W. Preston, man- ager, who proved unfortunate, and December 20th, by Madame de Marguerites, an opera singer and dashing adventuress, who fitted up the old place in the most lavish manner, with two great mirrors for the curtain. Her career was short and troubled. E. S. Connor next tried his hand, with equally dis-

astrous results, then Frank Chanfrau, with like ex- perience; then C. T. Smith. Under the latter, Rose Eytinge played her first permanent engagement in a stock company. In the season of 1857 and 1858 Burton played here, as did Matilda Heron. Later, under the management of Captain John B. Smith. Adah Isaacs Menken, in 1861, made here her first appearance as Mazeppa, the rôle in which she at- tracted so much attention in this country and in Europe.

Another Green street theatre was the Gayety, opened March 30, 1859, on the east side, south of Beaver. The second season J. W. Albaugh was the acting and stage manager. The Menken, John Wilkes Booth, E. A. Sothern, George Hol- land and other stars appeared here before the place degenerated, as it did within two or three years, into a concert saloon.

In 1863, the city being without a respectable theatre, John M. Trimble, a well-known theatre builder, who had retired from active life on ac- count of blindness, bought the Pearl street prop- erty and remodeled it from a church back to its original purpose. The opening was December 22, 1863. It was run for four or five seasons with good stock companies, which, from time to time, supported the principal stars. Mr. Trimble died in June, 1867, and the next season his daughter Ada was the manager, till January 29, 1868, when the theatre took fire in the morning and burned to the ground. For a year or more there was not so much as a drop-curtain in the City of Al- bany, although Tweddle Hall, corner State and North Pearl (erected in 1860, burned January 16, 1883), was occasionally used for dramatic per- formances.

October 4, 1869, a theatre, made out of a church, in Division street, east of Pearl, was opened under Frank Lawlor's management, and for a year or two did extremely well, both artistically and finan- cially, although the location was against it, and the rebuilding of the Pearl street theatre eventually made it unprofitable. Tony Denier, Walter Kee- ble and others succeeded to the management, and a number of afterwards well-known actors played in stock companies. The theatre was burned De- cember 8, 1876.

The present Pearl street theatre was rebuilt by Lucien Barnes in fifty-one days, and opened as the Trimble Opera House December 31, 1869, with a strong company. Mr. Barnes managed it for two years and a half in a liberal manner-too liberal for the support given and his limited capital. The property became the subject of much litigation, but its title was finally acquired by Charles and Warren E. Leland, who, in November, 1873, leased it to Mr. J. W. Albaugh, who was the man- ager of the Leland Opera House, as it is still called, till August 27, 1881. Mr. Albaugh was the last manager to employ a stock company in this city. His leading lady for several seasons was Ada Rehan, now one of the favorite comediennes of the metropolis. September 15, 1881, Mrs. Rosa M. Leland assumed the management, which she still retains, playing, as is the custom in all

706

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

cities outside the very largest, traveling combina- tions in from one to six-night engagements.

Another place of amusement which should not be overlooked is Music (originally Martin) Hall on Pearl street, corner of Beaver. It was erected in 1870, General John S. Dickerman being the first agent. It was partly burned March 11, 1872, but at once repaired, and has been the scene of many notable performances. Charlotte Cushman made her last appearance in this city here. For the past two seasons it has been devoted to amusements afforded at very low prices by Jacobs & Proctor, and, so far as attendance is concerned, has become the most popular place of entertainment Albany has ever known, with two performances daily, and crowded houses being the rule every evening in the week, Sundays excepted.

The history of the Albany stage has been quite fully written by H. P. Phelps, under the title of "Players of a Century " (Albany, 1880).

JOSEPH K. EMMETT.

The truthful history of the struggles of any young man to earn his living in that mimic world, the stage, has never yet been written. When it is, it will make very entertaining reading. It will have, of course, to be done in the most intimate manner, and must include so many curious studies and strange episodes, that its author, when he comes, will perhaps do best to postpone the pub- lication of his work until he himself is comfortably tucked away under that grassy counterpane, be- neath which the most reviled or the most lauded can sleep in peace. Such a history would include the narrative of many feasts of reason and unreason; it would tell of many acts of kindness and many of heartless oppression; it would lay open to the world's view the life of the oddest society, the most mixed, intimate and discordant to be found on the surface of this planet. How generously befriended, how zealously helped by kindly men who are al- most strangers, how pitilessly swindled, how stabbed in the back, how wealthy with a transient dollar, how poor with a liberal income-all these must be faithfully described. The human animal is, how- ever, so constructed, that he can become accus- tomed to the strangest ways of living.

A typical life, one which has embraced poverty of the acutest kind, giving place to opulence and a life of success, rarely met outside the vivid im- agination of the dreamer, is that of Joseph Kline Emmett, known to the world as " Fritz."

He was born in St. Louis, Mo., March 13, 1841, in Sixth street, between St. Charles and Locust streets, and next door to Armstrong's school. His father, William B., and his mother, Evelina, were of Irish descent, the latter being a member of the famous Nihell family, of Ireland. Their circum- stances were humble. When Joseph was ten years old his father died, throwing upon the lad the sup- port of his mother and two sisters.

Their little store of money was soon exhausted. One day he discovered his mother and sisters in tears, and, in reply to his query, his mother said

"My boy, we are starving !" Fired by hope and love, he exclaimed : "You shall be hungry no longer," and left the room in search of work. His age was almost an insurmountable barrier. Finally, near the close of the day, he entered a hominy mill and applied for work-" Work ! Work ! Anything to give my mother bread !" The miller told him he was too young, that his work demanded the strength of a man. Joe per- sisted and begged for a trial. Touched by the boy's evident earnestness and independence, he asked him, as a trial, to lift a large tub of corn and empty it into the bin. This was done, and, upon a promise that he would do the same during all the day's working hours, he was engaged at a salary of $1.50 per week and all the "hominy the family could eat." Some money was advanced, and, filling a large basket with bread, the happy boy returned home. To this day Emmett's eyes fill with tears and his voice falters when relating the joy of his mother. When commenting upon his after success, "If my poor mother could but have lived to enjoy it with me," is a frequent expression from him. He worked in the mill for five months, doing the work of a man. Down to 1856, in which year occurred the greatest grief of his life, he found a livelihood at different occupations. In this year his mother died. His sisters soon married and he was left alone. There is nothing wonderful in this old story of a boy's struggle with poverty. That is only too common. But the independence then shown has been the marked characteristic of the man. Emmett loves to tell the story of his early life. There is no false pride in him.

A few years afterwards, Mr. Emmett met Eliza- beth Webber, daughter of Mahlon and Ellen Web- ber, the former of Philadelphia, the latter belong- ing to a leading family of Tennessee. The ac- quaintance grew into friendship, and from this to love. Emmett desired a speedy marriage, but his poverty seemed an obstacle not easily overcome. At last he said to her: " I am miserable away from you. In four days from now will you become my wife ? True, .I have no money, no work; but you shall never want ?" With a woman's love and faith she consented. Emmett was overjoyed, and at once went to a friend, told him of his joy and asked him to serve as "best man," and, equally as important, to loan him a suit of clothes in which to be married. The friend gave him well-meant advice of worldly prudence-that it was folly for him to even dream of such a union in his impov- erished condition; but with no avail. He then yielded to his requests and promised to attend the wedding, adding : "Joe, I'll bet you a hat that you laugh during the ceremony." This wager was at once taken. In July, 1864, the marriage cere- mony was performed by the minister who had officiated at the funeral of Emmett's mother. To this event he alluded so touchingly that smiles were lost in tears. The hat was worn by Joe. Married life, with its joys and responsibilities, was now upon them; but the young couple, cheered on by a mutual love, increasing with the growing years, never feared. Mrs. Webber had prepared a room

707

THE ALBANY STAGE.

for her new son, but, with his usual independence, he declined any aid, saying that he had "married his wife to support her." After a short experience at a boarding-house, which they were compelled to leave, they removed to that part of St. Louis known as "Dutch Town," where, in a small tene- ment house, they hired one room. Their entire household goods consisted of a grate, a dry-goods box and a frying-pan, with nothing but the bare floor for a bed-no mattress, no covering. The simplest necessities of life were denied them. A knife, fork or spoon, even, were unknown in their domestic outfit.

One afternoon, while Joe was preparing dinner, a rap was heard at the door. He called "Come in," and turning around, frying-pan in hand, met the astonished gaze of the minister who had mar- ried them. Without embarrassment, Emmett with cordial cheer said: "Come, Doctor, pitch in; fingers were made before forks," and proffered the contents of the dish. The good old Doctor an- swered: " Hold on, my boy, we must ask God's blessing first." They all knelt around the dry- goods box, and a prayer was offered up which, Emmett says, has followed him through life. After this the Doctor joined in the simple meal.

For about two years they struggled on, Emmett striving to subsist by any decent means. He had gained considerable note as a "drummer boy," but, from a natural desire to follow some higher social occupation, had given it up.

In 1866, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he had secured an engagement in the Varieties Thea- tre. There he originated the "Dutch Song and Dance " business, which has had so many admirers and unsuccessful imitators. His success suc- ceeded his expectations. Two years later he went to New York, had "Fritz" written, and November 22, 1869, it was first given to the pub- lic at Buffalo, N. Y., in the Academy of Music. His success was instantaneous and phenomenal, opening with a $500 house. The next night the receipts were three times as much. Albany was the second place in which "Fritz" was played, the engagement opening in December, and contin- uing two weeks to crowded houses. Since then " Fritz " has had uninterrupted success. "Fritz " Emmett is known in all countries. Since

1871 he has filled yearly engagements in London. His "Lullaby " is one of the sweetest songs of the world. Its pathos affects the listener when ren- dered by Emmett as words cannot describe. He has listened to its melody as produced upon the church organ, and his songs are heard in the "par- lors of the rich and the garrets of the poor." He composes all songs given by him, and is the father of the " Dialect German Comedy."

As an actor it is easy to rightly place " Fritz." He simply acts in a perfectly natural manner. He has no "method," no "theory " of acting, except absolute naturalness, and it is this natural manner, added to the inherent qualities of the man, that has given him his unparalleled success. "Noth- ing succeeds like success," and success defies criticism or rigid analysis. Were we to compare him to any living actor it would be to Joseph Jef- ferson. There is much of similarity.

Since 1880 Mr. Emmett and family have made Albany their home. The house is located on the boulevard named Rensselaer avenue, and com- mands a magnificent view of the Hudson, the Cats- kills, the City of Albany and surrounding towns. The grounds and interior of the house-"Fritz's Villa"-beggar description. From every clime have been brought articles of interest, rare and costly. To simply catalogue them would require pages of this work. Occupying places of honor are the old musical instruments which gave "Fritz" his start. Every musical contrivance, from a hand-organ to the grand pipe-organ, has a place.

One room, richly hung in silk, contains only an easel concealed by heavy drapery, upon which, in letters of gold, is the word " Mother." It holds a portrait of his mother. The tender and loving words with which he mentions her, shows better than aught else the sweet side of this man.

As a man, Joseph K. Emmett is whole-souled, generous, a kind father and a true husband. Fond of the animal creation, his kennel of St. Bernard dogs attracts world-wide interest. His love of art and all kindred refining things is a part of himself.

Still a young man, rich in fortune, fame and friends, with a loving, devoted wife and son, Joseph K. Emmett, Jr., his life contains all the elements of present joy, with no cloud to dim the horizon of the future.

DENTISTRY.

TT is within a period less than a century that den- tistry began to take the rank of a distinct pro- fession, although centuries ago the art of preserving and improving the beauty of the teeth had been much studied. In the time of Herodotus dentistry was practiced in Egypt with considerable skill. Some of the work of these early dental practitioners his been discovered, which shows a surprising knowledge of dental surgery-knowledge which

seems to have been completely lost at a later pe- riod of history.

During the latter part of the eighteenth century the attention of the medical men of France and Eng- land appears to have been seriously directed to this branch of surgery. Numerous works on this sub- ject appeared at this time. Conspicuous among them were those of Bichat, Blake and Hunter, and about 1803 the treatises of Fox appeared,

708

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

which laid the foundation of the English school of dentistry.

Dentistry was first introduced in the United States during the Revolution by Le Mair, a French- man. About 1788, John Greenwood established himself in New York as the first American of his profession. The next American dentist of prom- inence was Leonard Koecher, author of the "Prin- ciples of Dental Surgery," which appeared in 1826, and fully established the claims of the art to take rank as a distinct branch of science.

Preceding the advent of the regular dental sur- geons in this country, even as late as 1803 the making of teeth, and cleaning them, appeared to have been in the hands of the silversmith and jew- eler. Extracting and other necessary dental op- erations were performed by regular physicians.

In 1820 there were but one hundred dentists in the United States. Whether at this precise date there were any regular practitioners in Albany, we have not been able to learn. But as early as 1824 there were two dentists in Albany, Beriah Douglas and Richard C. Skinner, the former of whom remained in practice for many years, and was the father of George Douglas, a dental surgeon of this city of long practice and much prominence in his day, who died in 1860. The elder Douglas and Richard C. Skinner were reinforced about 1832 by Ira W. Rutherford, probably the third reg- ular dental surgeon who settled in Albany. In 1835 we find the names of Henry Viller, Louis Burdell and Verner Cuyler added to the list of practitioners. The former was in practice here for many years. Dr. Cuyler died a few years ago at the Home for Aged Men.

From 1835 to 1840, the names of Josephus Brockway, Alexander and Robert Nelson, W. A. Hamilton, J. S. Wood, James S. McAllister, and David Newcomb, appear among the dentists of Albany. Of this list David Newcomb is the only survivor. For many years he was a prominent member of his profession. A few years ago he retired from active practice, and at present resides in Lansingburgh. Josephus Brockway will be re- membered by many of our citizens. He opened an office on the corner of Maiden lane and North Pearl street as early as 1835, and continued in practice for many years. He died in 1879. He had four sons, Josephus, William, Charles and George, all of whom became dentists and followed their profession in Albany. Of his sons, George is the only survivor. Under the elder Brockway's instruction, many of the earlier Albany dentists studied the art of dentistry. Among his students were Andrew Hoffman and the Nelson brothers, three well-known members of the dental fraternity in this city.

A few years after the advent of the elder Brock- way, John C. Austin, C. Copeland, Josephus Brockway, Jr., J. Monroe, U. H. Wheeler, and Simon Van Naum, were added to the list of Al- bany's dental surgeons.

John C. Austin was prominent in the dental pro- fession here for many years. He was born in England in 1817, came to America in 1826, and

settled in Albany in 1843, where he continued in the practice of his art until his death in 1881.

From 1850 to 1860, George Douglas, Barney Wolfe, D. F. Beune, Thomas Elkins, E. Griffin, Edward Owens, Horace Hogel, M. L. Rhein, and W. F. Winne commenced the practice of dentistry at various dates in Albany, Drs. Elkins, Rhein and Winne being still in practice. D. F. Beune and Robert Nelson both died in 1867, after many years of successful practice.

In the period from 1860 to 1870 we find the names of A. Bauer, J. A. Perkins, A. Carter, Bar- nabus Wood, William Brockway, Caleb J. Wood, C. F. Wheeler, F. Le Grand Ames, Alexander McRoberts, and E. C. Edmonds included among the Albany dentists, of whom Ames, Wheeler and Edmonds only are now in practice.

Since 1870 up to the present time, the following have been engaged in the practice of dental surgery at different periods in this city, but are no longer included among the Albany dentists: E. F. Skin- ner, M. Borst, Charles Morrison, R. D. Monroe, H. J. Traver, Henry T. Flagg, J. P. Niles, and B. L. Rhein. .

THE THIRD DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY was formed in 1868 by the dentists of the Third Judicial Dis- trict, as a division of the State Dental Society. At the time of organization most of the members of the profession in this district joined the Society; but from internal discord, comparatively few of the Albany County dentists now belong to the Society. F. Le Grand Ames, E. C. Baxter, D. D.S., Frank Schermerhorn, C. F. Wheeler, H. L. Whitbeck, D. D. S., F. Ouimet, and A. I. Verplank, embrace the limited number now belonging to this organ- ization.

The dentists at present practicing in Albany are F. Le Grand Ames, Joseph L. Appleton, C. F. Wheeler, William F. Winne, Thomas Elkins, An- drew Hoffman, J. Bogardus, J. F. Brown, J. W. Canaday, P. C. Carmichael, E. C. Edmonds, J. Hine, E. C. Baxter, Frank Schermerhorn, H. L. Whitbeck, F. Ouimet, A. I. Verplank, M. L. Rhein, C. W. McConnell, John Roberts, M. L. Rowe, D. E. Rugg, S. Tibbetts, T. R. Whitney, S. W. Whitney, and E. M. Willett.

Following are short sketches of a few of Albany's prominent members of the profession.

C. F. WHEELER was born in Albany in 1838. He attended the Albany Public Schools and the Albany Medical College, and studied dentistry with David Newcomb; commencing the practice of his profession in Amsterdam in 1862, where he re- mained four years and then removed to Albany, where he has been located continuously ever since, He is a member of the Third District Dental Soci- ety, and justly considered one of the leading den- tists of Albany.

WILLIAM F. WINNE was born in Albany in 1839. Attended the public schools of the city until his fifteenth year, when he commenced the study of dentistry under George Douglass, and began prac- tice here in 1860, where he has continued ever since. For three years he was President of the Third District Dental Society, and is a member of

709

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION .- MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

the New York State Dental Society. In the latter organization he has been Chairman of the Com- mittee of Arrangements for the last five years.

ANDREW HOFFMAN was born in Albany in 1824. He removed from the city when quite a young man to Waterford, and established the Waterford Senti- nel, a journal which is still published. Later he started the Vermont Christian Messenger, and the Northfield Herald, at Northfield, Vt. In 1857 he returned to Albany, studied dentistry, and began practice in 1863.

H. L. WHITBECK was born in Coeymans, Albany County, in 1854. He practiced dental surgery for a number of years at Greenville, Green County. In 1880, he graduated from the Pennsylvania Col- lege of Dental Surgery, and began the practice of his profession at Albany in 1882. He is a mem- ber of the Third District Dental Society, and author of a treatise on "Caries: Cause, Treatment, and Preservation of Natural Teeth."

B. F. RHEIN was born in Albany in 1853; grad- uated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Sur- gery in 1870. He has practiced his profession successfully in the cities of San Francisco, Albany, and Chicago, to which last place he removed in 1884.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1786.

ULY 22, 1786, was the centenary of the existence of the corporation of Albany as a city. At a meeting of the Common Council held in the City Hall, July 15, 1786, it was resolved to cele-

brate this anniversary in an appropriate manner. A committee, consisting of Aldermen Rensselaer, Yates, Wendell, Lush, and Winne, was appointed to make the necessary arrangements.

At a subsequent meeting, held July 18th, the Committee made a report as follows: "The Com- mittee to whom was referred the mode of celebrat- ing the 22d of July instant, being the century anniversary of this city, do report that, in their opinion, the Common Council do convene in fore- noon of that day, at ten o'clock, at the City Hall, and from thence proceed in procession to the hill westward of the city, attended by such citizens as shall choose; that, during the procession, all the bells of the several churches in this city shall ring; and at the arrival at the place assigned for the purpose, on the hill, thirteen toasts, and one for the charter, under the discharge of fourteen can- non; and that a barrel of good spirits be purchased for the occasion." The report was accepted.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 157

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