Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 204

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 204

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Henry Ostrom, who settled on the Capron farm, was a captain of militia. Served under Gen. Van

Rensselaer in the Mohawk valley, about the time of Burgoyne's surrender. Jacob and Gerret Lan- sing were soldiers in this war that gave us inde- pendence from the rule of Great Britain.

In the war of 1812, Watervliet furnished a large quota of volunteers and drafted men, among whom were Henry Runkle, Frederick Roff,* John G. Lansing, John Van Aernum, Lansing Fonda, John Cory, David Turner, Jacob Lewis, William Camp- bell, Jacob Turner, John Steenbergh and brother, Timothy Hodgeman, Stephen Culver, Jeremiah and Gerret Clute, Wynant Van Denbergh. The following entry is copied from records in the Town Clerk's office: "Andrew Chadwick enlisted as a soldier, September, 1812, and died on the 13th of

*Since the above was written, Peter Shaver, of Guilderland, has died, aged 90 years. He was drafted at the same time with Frederick Roff, and assigned to the same company.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

December, 1812, in the service at Champlain. Benjamin Burdsall, Captain United States Volun- teers." Frederick Roff, now 90 years old, in good health and memory, yet deprived of eyesight and partially deaf, was drafted and sent to Long Island in 1814. Peace was declared soon after, and he returned to his home after three months' absence. He served under Captain Van Wie, of Bethlehem. Mr. Roff receives a pension, and is the only living soldier of the war of 1812 the author met in the five townships visited by him.

In the war of the Rebellion, Watervliet furnished her quota of officers and volunteers, and the record bears a favorable comparison with that of other townships of the county. The first act of hostility roused the loyalty and patriotism of the people to prompt action, and the zeal and devotion for the preservation of their country as a free and united nation awoke within their hearts the spirit of self- denial, and the loyal youth and mature manhood were ready to enlist; to exchange the comforts of home for the tented field and ensanguined battle ground; to give their lives, if needs be, for the safety of that freedom bought aforetime with the blood and treasure of their ancestors.

The patriotism so nobly manifested at the out- break of this war was at no time allowed to cool, although many reverses and sad experiences fell to the lot of some. Those who lived to return from this horrible war proved themselves worthy of the cause-deserve lasting gratitude and generous re- membrance for all time for their faithful services and sacrifices.

It were well if these officers and soldiers had a carefully prepared record in the archives of the township for future reference and inspection by those who, in after years, could learn the names and deeds, fate and sufferings of those who will soon be forgotten. There seems to have been a degree of indifference in this matter by the authorities, as the Legislature of 1865 enacted a law for this very purpose. At the present time such a record would be difficult to compile or obtain, yet the work should be attempted in some satisfactory way .*

CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, ROADS, TURNPIKES, ETC.

RAIL-

Surprising changes followed the declaration which secured independence to a people who had long been under the rule of colonial taxation, and burdens that operated with severity against free- dom of enterprise; these removed, men were ready to extend the bounds of settlement, and open new fields of enterprise, manufactures and trade. Men of means saw the necessity of greater facility of transportation of goods and crops, and set to work to obtain them.

To obtain this, in 1792 the "Northern Inland Lock and Navigation Company " was chartered, by which goods and merchandise were forwarded from the central part of the State and Lake On-

tario by way of the Mohawk River to Schenectady, and thence to Albany by wagon. From here merchandise was sent to New York by river craft. A road to communicate with Cherry Valley, Utica and Rome had been in use for many years, and in 1798 an act was passed to establish a "Turnpike Corporation " for improving the State road. This act was afterward repealed, and March 15, 1799, an act was passed to establish a "Turnpike Cor- poration " for improving the State road from the house of John Weaver in Watervliet to Cherry Valley. The capital was two hundred shares at ten dollars each. This was the western turnpike. The incorporators were William North, John Taylor, Abram Ten Eyck, Charles R. Webster, Calvin Cheeseman, Zenas Penio. Ephraim Hudson, Joseph White, Elihu Phinney, Thomas Machin.

December 21, 1801, a bill was prepared and pre- sented to the Legislature with this preface: Whereas, Goldbrow Bangor, Abraham Ten Broeck, Abraham Ten Eyck and others have entered into an association to form a company for making a turnpike road be- tween the cities of Albany and Schenectady, March 30, 1802, etc. A bill was passed constituting John Lansing, Jr., Stephen Van Rensselaer, Stephen Lush, Dudley Walsh, Garret W. Van Schaick, Daniel Hall, John Tayler, Abraham Oadthout and Joseph C. Yeates, a body corporate and politic, by the name of " The President, Directors and Company of Albany and Schenectady Turn- pike." The above incorporators were the first directors, with John Lansing, Jr., President; Barent Bleecker, Secretary and Treasurer; Garret Clute, Surveyor; the capital stock was $200, 000; length of road, sixteen miles, commencing on Lodge street, up State to Washington street, and thence to Schenectady, in a straight line; the width of the road, four rods; roadbed, two rods wide, filled with stone, covered with sand or gravel; the ditches to be made wide enough for sleighs. This new road was not to interfere with the old State road between these two cities. Dur- ing the construction of this road, $118,610 was ex- expended, or about $8,472 per mile, and at its completion was considered the best road in the country.

The increased travel with heavy loads soon made an impression into the yielding material, and the company then made a roadbed of cobble stone brought from the Mohawk River, which was cov- ered with gravel and held from spreading by stone curbing, and a thick flag stone was put on the roadbed for the wheels to run upon. This has proved of great utility, and the improvement cost the company $61, 810, or about $4, 415 per mile.

In 1803 the company commenced planting ten thousand Lombardy poplars along the sides of this road; only a few remain.

The construction of this road, as an internal or public improvement, was at the time one of great magnitude, and for many years was a financial suc- cess to the company; but upon the completion of the Erie Canal, that water-way at once secured the bulk of merchandise and produce for trans- portation, and the wagon road lost its source of its

* The original returns of the census of 1865, preserved in the New York State Library, contain {nominally, at least) lists of soldiers fur- nished by each town in the State for this war.

945

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

income; then followed, a few years after, the construc- tion of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, which reduced the turnpike road to accept what travel it could command between the cities, from farmers, business men and local traffic. The boundary of the City of Albany has absorbed several miles of this road, and at Albany it now commences at the terminus of Central avenue.

In 1803 there was upon the line of this road, be- tween the two cities, twenty-eight taverns or inns; among these were those of Vroman, Lansing, Winne, Billsen, Truax, De Camp and C. Stanford. The present directors and officers are Norman Dings, President; Stephen Kimball, David I. Boyd, Joseph W. Russell, Peter E. Sanders, Charles Sanders, Abram Van Vechten, John D. P. Douw and Hamilton B. Brown, Secretaries and Treasurers, to whom the writer is indebted for much valuable in- formation.

An act for establishing a turnpike road from oppo- site the village of Troy to the City of Schenectady, passed April 2, 1802: "Be it enacted that George Tibbits, Ephraim Morgan and Abraham Oothout and their associates are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic, by the name of ' The Troy and Schenectady Turnpike Company.' Capital, 350 shares of $50 each. The roadway to be four rods wide; the roadbed to be 25 feet wide and made of gravel or other hard substance, and the ditches on the sides, where practicable, to be of proper width for a good road for sleighs." The conditions of this road were similar to those of the above, the Erie Canal and railroads taking traffic and travel.

An act to incorporate the Watervliet Turnpike Company, passed March 31, 1828: Thomas Hill- house, Jeremiah Schuyler and Robert Dunlap, and their associates, to make a good and permanent turnpike road from the north boundary line of the City of Albany to the upper ferry opposite the City of Troy, by the corporate name of "The Water- vliet Turnpike Company." The stock of said company shall consist of nine hundred shares, of one hundred dollars per share, and Robert Dun- lap, Jeremiah Schuyler and Nathan Dauchy are hereby appointed to receive subscriptions for said stock. The roadway to be four rods wide, and 33 feet of this width shall be excavated at least 24 inches deep, this to be filled with hard gravel 12 inches deep, then a bed of solid stone-work upon the gravel 12 inches deep, this to be filled in and cov- ered over with pounded stone to form a smooth surface. The arch of the roadbed to be raised 8 inches, and the sides to be well secured by a solid curbstone not less than 14 inches in breadth, set on edge, and sunk into the ground at least 7 inches. For many years this was the great thor- oughfare for pleasure drives.

An act to authorize the Wateryliet Turnpike Company to construct and maintain a railroad on their present road, and to extend the same into and through the villages of West Troy and Cohoes, and the town of Watervliet and the City of Albany, and to increase the capital stock, and to alter the corporate name of said company to the "Water-

vliet Turnpike and Railroad Company," was passed April, 1862, and cars began running the next year. This road passes through North Albany, near Menand's and the cemeteries, the fair grounds, Old Men's Home, Island Park, and other places of interest. Y. P. Way, treasurer and secretary; M. C. Foster, superintendent.

The Erie Canal, a portion of which passes through this town, was opened in 1825, and the first boat passed through October 26.

An act to incorporate the "Visscher's Ferry Bridge Company" was passed April 19, 1828, for 30 years.

The first railroad that passed through a portion of this town was the Mohawk and Hudson, from Albany to Schenectady, which was begun in Au- gust, 1830, and cars were carrying passengers over a portion of it in September, 1831, when the fa- mous excursion was made. The first train over the whole line was made in May, 1832.

Other railroads that pass through the town are the Troy and Schenectady, the New York Central, and the Northern Division of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.

A plank road, commencing on the Watervliet turnpike and extending through Loudonville to Newtonville, is kept in good repair. This road, and the boulevard which branches from it, is large- ly patronized for its fine drives and beautiful rural scenery, and carries the pleasure seeker past the mansion of J. K. Emmet (Fritz) and other fine residences, up to the cemeteries.

Pleasure Island and Park Island, above Albany, east of the Watervliet turnpike and railway, are places of resort for entertainment, amusement and horse trotting.

Pleasure Island is controlled by a corporate company, with a capital of $65,000. An association of gentlemen have made Park Island very attrac- tive with improvements and a fine race course.

" Watervliet Mutual Insurance Association" was organized August 1, 1860. The first officers and Directors were Abram V. P. Lansing, Presi- dent; Abram Pease, Samuel Waterman, Peter Van Vranken, Vice-Presidents; Harmon V. Strong, Cornelius Vedder, John P. Capron, Vischer Lan- sing, Daniel D. Ostrom, Secretary and Treasurers.

The present Directors and officers are: Peter Van Vranken, President; Cornelius A. Lansing, Vice- President; Abram J. Lansing, Vischer Lansing, George W. Stanford, John J. Lansing, Garret Fre- leigh, John J. Spoore and Daniel D. Ostrom, Secretary and Treasurer. The number of policies in 1884 was 200, which represented $300,000 of property insured.

Attention may be turned to records of purely local events, and to details of the town's individual importance, for these have in the past decades been invaded by the spirit of modern progress, both public and private, and the introduction of steam to the application of so many of man's necessities, the railroad, telegraph and telephone, irresistibly remind the observer of days before these things were brought into use as adjuncts to material wealth and personal comfort.

946

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

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ALITTLE.

William Burton

To-day the shriek of the locomotive whistle has effectually drowned the cheery blast of the stage- coach horn, once sweet music in the ears of trav- elers passing over the stony roads that traversed the town 60 years ago; but the order of things has changed since those days of primitive journeying, and the numerous inns which provided entertain- ment for the weary traveler and provender for the jaded horses have disappeared. The uncomforta- ble coach, and the great lumbering wagons with their four or six horses, are things of the past; the palace car, with its rich and gaudy furnishings, comforts and luxuries, the elegant carriages, with other improved vehicles for ease and pleasure in traveling, have taken their place, and may now be enjoyed at a small expense.

The public roads of the town are under the su- pervision of a commissioner elected by the people, and he appoints a citizen as path-master for each road district, who is authorized to keep the same in repair, to notify all taxable inhabitants of his district to perform his or her allotted number of days' service as assessed in the district, or collect from those who choose to commute a certain specified sum for each day assessed.

WILLIAM BURTON.

WILLIAM BURTON, son of John and Catharine Burton, was born in Schenectady, New York, March 29, 1809. His farther, John Burton, son of Josiah Burton, was born in the town of Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, the 14th of Septem-

ber, 1764. Subsequently he removed with his parents to Albany, where, on the 2d of June, 1795, he married Miss Catharine Eights, eldest daughter of Abraham Eights, of that city. Abraham Eights was grandson of William Eights, of Amsterdam, and Mary Van Dyck, of Rotterdam (Holland), and only son of Abraham Eights, a shipmaster of New York City.

To John and Catharine Burton were born twelve children, the eighth being the subject of this sketch.

William Burton, in the 14th year of his age, went to learn the trade of house carpenter and joiner with the late John Boardman, master build- er, of Albany, in whose family he resided for eight years. After completing his apprenticeship, he labored at his trade some years in New York City. Returning to Albany, he formed a copartnership with his brother, James Burton, in the manufactur- ing and sale of looking-glasses. In March, 1840, he was induced to remove to Cohoes, New York. January 12, 1842, he married Miss Eunice Payn, daughter of Benjamin Hawley Payn and Sophia Sill, his wife. Miss Payn was born in Fort Miller, N. Y., August 19, 1817. In 1826, she came to Albany with her parents, where she resided until the date of her marriage. As the fruit of this marriage there were several children, all of whom died in infancy except two sons, William E. Burton and Benjamin P. Burton, both of Waterford, N. Y., and successors to their father's business.

When Mr. Burton came to Cohoes the place was a mere hamlet with a population of only *1,850. Since there he has been associated with its enterprising citizens in the development of its man- ufacturing, educational and business interests, and closely identified with its progress until it has be- come the foremost manufacturing city in the Empire State, with a population of over 20, 000.

One of Mr. Burton's first business ventures was in company with John M. Tremain, manufacturing veneers, their establishment being located in the upper story of what was known as the Wilkinson Machine Shop. In 1844, he bought Mr. Tremain's interest, and also the machinery and fixtures of Levi Silliman, who had succeeded Hawer & Baker in the sawing business, thus securing a monopoly in that branch of manufacture.

The firm of William Burton & Co. was formed, a sawing and veneering mill erected that year on Erie street, and for nearly four decades it was prom- inent among the successful establishments of the city.

Besides developing his business, Mr. Burton added materially to the substantial buildings of Cohoes. In 1855, he built the fine residence in Seneca street known as the " Burton House; " in 1857, he erected the Halcyon Knitting Mill, now changed to the Ranken Mill, and in 1865, he built the Erie Knitting Mill, which for many years was occupied by Moore & Hiller, and subsequently by Wm. Moore, both ranking among the best in that line of manufacture.

Mr. Burton was always recognized as a repre- sentative citizen, and although he was not ambitious

John Lundergan

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THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

for official distinction, his business qualifications and sterling integrity made his services frequently in demand in places of trust and responsibility, and there have been but few intervals during his residence in Cohoes when he was not in the service of the public. Commencing as a trustee in the first Village Board, 1848, he was re-elected in 1849, 1854 and 1859. In the Board of Education he was a representative in the years 1851 and 1870, and in the Water Board was a Commissioner for six years, 1858-1864.

In April, 1851, the Cohoes Savings Institution was established, with Mr. Burton as one of its in- corporators, and he has since been one of its trus- tees, and has held the position of President since 1878. In 1862, he was chosen director in the bank (now national) of Cohoes, which position he still retains. Whatever Mr. Burton has under- taken, whether in the conduct of his private in- terests, or in the gratuitous service of the public, has been well done, a fact that indicates his ex- cellent executive ability and public spirit, while it accounts for his being so often chosen to serve his fellow citizens in important trusts.

As becomes every true citizen, Mr. Burton, though not what may be termed a politician, has positive convictions as to a citizen's duty. He has been an ardent and honest Republican from the for- mation of the party, and has given its principles his hearty support. He has been frequently solic- ited by his party to accept office, but except in local affairs, as stated above, he has chosen to pro- mote its welfare by his personal influence.

MR. BURTON'S RELIGIOUS CONNECTIONS.

Early in life he became interested in the study of the Bible, and in religious themes. In February, 1826, he united with the Second Presbyterian Church of Albany, then under the charge of its first pastor, Rev. John Chester, D. D .; subsequently, on the 2d day of February, 1829, with fifty-four others, he participated in the organization of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany, the first pastor of which was Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D .; of the fifty-five persons comprising the members of this church at its formation, but one, besides Mr. Burton, so far as it is now known, survives. In December, 1840, he transferred his connection to the Presbyterian Church of Cohoes, where he is still a worthy member. In May, 1843, he was chosen and ordained a ruling Elder in this church, in which office he has continued till the present time. As an Elder, he has always been faithful and efficient, watching the spiritual interests of the church as one who must give account. He was Superintendent of the Sabbath School in its earlier years, and afterward leader of a class in Bible study. He has also been serving as a trustee in this church several terms, and has been willing to fill any responsible position as far as he had ability, deeming any service in this direction an honor rather than a burden or an irksome duty. He has also in church matters shown a liberal hand, contributing regularly and largely as occasion seemed to require and as he has been prospered.

Thus he has made a record in religious matters which for length and completeness would be a credit to any citizen. At the present writing, April, 1885, he is living in retirement at his residence on the Waterford Road, one mile north of Cohoes.

JOHN LUNDERGAN.

This gentleman is markedly a self-made man, and his success has been a triumph of well-directed endeavor over adverse circumstances and frowning fortune. He is a son of William Lundergan, and was born in Tipperary, Ireland, March 16, 1821. At the age of five years he came to America with his father's family, landing at Quebec and locating at Montreal. When he was eleven years old his mother died of the cholera which swept the country in 1832, and soon thereafter his father brought his family to the State of New York, and the boy found a home in the family of Mr. James Fisk, who lived near Albany, and whom he helped about his farm work. Mr. Fisk soon died, and at the age of sixteen young Lundergan began to work out for the farmers round about. He was employed one year by an Englishman named Mallons, and the succeding three years by Samuel Gale.

He was frugal almost beyond belief, and suc- ceeded in saving a small sum of money, and in partnership with another young man who had also worked for Mr. Gale, he rented a little land and engaged on a small scale in market gardening for the Albany trade. Two years later his friend with- drew from the enterprise and Mr. Lundergan con- tinued it another year alone, and at the end of that time found himself in possession of $150 as his three years' gains. He was at this juncture induced to go down the river to a point in West- chester County opposite Yonkers, to enter the service of a man named Provinst who he supposed had a country seat there, as overseer of a farm, his employer not being a practical agriculturist and being, presumably, engaged in some business in New York. He met Provinst in New York, and before they started up the river Provinst persuaded him to lend him all of his slender savings except the small amount he had used in coming from Albany. This sum was the scant reward of many long days of hard work, work early and late, in the rain and under the rays of the scorching sun; it was the young man's all-his hope for future prosperity rested upon it. It was under- stood that the loan was for only a short time, and young Lundergan parted with the money somewhat reluctantly, and chiefly with the idea of conciliating one to whom he must now look for employment. Arrived at the farm, he found that it was worthless and could be productive of no profit, and soon discovered that it was rented at that, and that Provinst owed even for the necessary sup- plies and facilities for cultivating it. Several times he demanded the return of his money, but its payment was avoided by Provinst upon first one specious pretext, then another. Finally a New Yorker who had a mortgage upon all Provinst pos-

948

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

sessed foreclosed it, utterly breaking him up in the midst of the season. It is needless to add that young Lundegan never received either his loaned money or his wages. It was a bitter disappointment to find himself again penniless after his years of hard struggle and self-denying frugality.

Returning to Albany, he found employment at different places and at different kinds of work. The following year he worked by the month for a farmer named Edward Tucker, and the two years following for Peleg Noyes. In 1848, he sought his fortune in California, where he remained two years, making the trip out via Cape Horn and re- turning by the Panama route. Fifteen months of this time he passed in the " diggings," and with such success that he brought back a limited capital. In 1850, he leased land for five years, of the Van Rensselaer tract, and again engaging in market gardening, succeeded, and was enabled in three years to purchase of Thomas Hillhouse a part of his present farm. The next year he bought of Jacob Gale an addition, on which was a dwelling house. Later he bought thirty-six acres, the site of the fair ground for a time. In 1873, he sold it for use as such, but took it back on account of non-payment of purchase money, in 1877.

Mr. Lundergan is a Democrat, but has never taken any active part in politics, and has never been an aspirant for any public office. He was married, in 1855, to Caroline Forster, of West Troy, and has two sons and two daughters. He is a quiet, unassuming and unobtrusive, but valuable citizen, interested in the public welfare and liberal in his support of education and re- ligion.

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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 204

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