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 230
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For 1835, Abner Smith, Simon Schermerhorn and John Van Voast were Superintendents. $2, 127 was raised for county poor this year.
For 1836, the same Superintendents were ap- pointed as in the preceding year.
From this year to 1840 the amounts raised for county poor ranged from $1,600 to $2,200. The reports for these years were not recorded in the minutes of the Board of Supervisors, and could not be found.
It had been the custom of the Board of Super- visors to visit the poor-house annually for inspec- tion. After inspecting the premises in 1840, it was determined that insufficient room was provided for the paupers, and, in consequence, the brick build- ing on the east side of the poor-house was con- structed this year. A barn was also built at the same time.
The following sums were raised this year : $2,000 for support of poor, $500 for furniture for new building, and $602 to pay indebtedness for poor purposes for preceding year.
The Superintendents for 1841 and 1842 were : John Van Voast, Wm. A. S. North and John Clark. The sum of $1,800 was raised each year for county poor purposes.
Wm. A. S. North, John Van Voast and Daniel Smith were chosen Superintendents for 1843, and Daniel Smith, David M. Moore and John Van Voast for 1844. $1,600 was raised in 1843, and $1, 250 in 1844 for county poor.
In 1844 the Board of Supervisors, deeming the ap- pointment of three Superintendents of Poor to be unnecessary and too expensive, petitioned the Legis-
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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
lature for the passage of an act permitting the Board to appoint but one Superintendent of Poor. The passage of such a law was not effected until a number of years after.
The Superintendents from 1845 to 1848 were : Benjamin F. Wood, Abraham A. Van Voast and Abijah Freeman ; $15,000 was raised in 1845 and $1,600 in 1846 for the maintenance of the county poor ; $853.45 was expended in 1846 on an addition and repairs at the poor-house.
In 1848, the Superintendents of Poor were re- quired to give bonds in the sum of $3,000 each. The Superintendents for this year were : John F. Clute, Philip H. Dederick and William S. Kelly.
The Superintendents for 1849 were : Joshua Parker, Abraham Vrooman and Philip H. Dederick. From 1848 to 1854, the cost of maintaining the poor-house ranged from $1,500 to $2,000. In 1854 a difficulty arose between the Board of Super- visors and the Superintendents of Poor as to which body was delegated the power of appointing a keeper at the poor-house. The Board appointed Henry Marcellus and the Superintendents selected William Chism. After legal investigation it was settled by allowing the Superintendents to make their own appointment; but that it was not an ac- knowledgment of their legal rights, is evinced by the fact that the following year the Board appointed a keeper, and continued to do so until this office was abolished in 1879.
An act was passed by the Legislature, in 1854, reducing the number of Superintendents of Poor to one, and providing that such officer should be elected by the people for a term of three years. The first Superintendent elected to this office, under this law, was Nicholas I. Schermerhorn in 1856. His term began January 1, 1857.
From the report made by the Superintendent in 1860, we find that there were 73 paupers at the poor-house November I of that year, and that the entire expense of the county poor for the year end- ing November I was $9, 280. 67.
In 1861, the brick building on the west side of the poor-house was erected for the purpose of accommodating the insane of the county, at a cost of $3, 000.
For the year ending November 1, 1862, the whole expense of the county poor was $9, 270. 59.
From 1862 to the present time, the yearly ex- pense of the county poor-house has averaged be- tween eleven and twelve thousand dollars. In 1866 it was $15,453.12. The maximum amount was reached in 1878, when it was $16, 199, and the lowest in 1880, when it was $8, 283. The average number of paupers has been between seventy and eighty.
In 1873, a portion of the poor-house farm was sold at auction in small lots to private individuals. 187 lots were disposed of.
In 1879, a special act of the Legislature was passed abolishing the office of poor-house keeper ; the duties of this office were united with those devolving upon the Superintendent of the Poor. Since the passage of this law, the Superintendent has resided at the poor-house.
For a number of years after the erection of the Asylum building in 1861, the county took care of its insane, but in 1875 most of the incurable cases were removed to the State Asylum at Ovid, and a few years after, all incurable patients were removed to this institution. At the present time the county supports none of its insane at the county house.
LIST OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR AND KEEPERS.
Superintendents .- 1856-1866, W. I. Schermer- horn ; 1866-1869, John F. Clute ; 1869-1872, W. J. McIntosh ; 1872-1879, Harrison Clute ; 1879-1885, William G. Van Patten; 1885, An- thony Waiton.
Keepers .- 1857-1866, William Chism ; 1866- 1871, Francis Veeder ; 1872-1876, John I. Vroo- man ; 1876-1879, Philip Eygner ; 1879-1880, William E. Dederick.
COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
Following will be found as complete a list of the officials, both County and State, from Schenectady County, as could be obtained. Those not given in the following pages will be found in separate articles in different portions of this work.
Robert Yates was a Member of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Provincial Congresses of New York; was a Member of the First Convention of New York, in 1777, to form a constitution, and a member of the committee to draft it; was an As- sociate Justice of the Supreme Court of New York, and finally its Chief Justice. He was a member of the Convention of 1788 to ratify the Federal Con- stitution.
Rineis Schermerhorn was Senator under the first Constitution, 1777 to 1781.
John Sanders was Senator under the first Con- stitution, 1799-1802, and member of the Council of Appointment in 1800. His associates were De Witt Clinton, Ambrose and John Roseboom.
Simon Veeder was Senator under the first Con- stitution from 1804 to 1806.
Henry Yates, Jr., was Senator under the first Constitution from 1810 to 1814, and from 1818 to 1822. He was also a member of the Council of Appointment in 1812 and 1818.
Gerret S. Veeder was the first Judge of the Schenectady Court of Common Pleas, appointed soon after the organization of the county in 1809.
Among those who represented Schenectady in the General Assembly from 1615 to 1768 were the following: Karl Hansen Toll, Jacob Glen, Arent Bradt, Abraham Glen, Nicholas Schuyler, Jacob Van Slyck, Isaac Vrooman, Ryer Schermerhorn, Jacobus Mynderse and Nicholas Groot.
Henry Glen was member of Assembly in 1786, 1787 and 1810. He was also member of the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Congresses of the United States, from 1793 to 1802, and also member of the First, Second and Third Provincial Congresses, 1775-1776.
Harmanus Peek was member of the Sixteenth Congress from 1819 to 1821.
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COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
William North was member of the Assembly 1792, 1794, 1795, 1796 and 1710, and several times Speaker of that body. In 1798, during a recess of the Legislature, he was appointed a Senator of the United States by Governor John Jay, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of John Gloss Hoburt.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
1798-1800, 1802, 1804-1807, 1813, Joseph Shurtliff; 1811-1812, James Boyd and John Young; 1813, Alexander Combs; 1814, Abraham Van Ingen and Lawrence Vrooman; 1815, Abra- ham Van Ingen and John Victory; 1816, Harma- nus Peek and Harry Fryer; 1817, Harmanus Van Slyck and John Victory; 1818, Daniel L. Van Antwerp and Simon A. Veeder; 1819, James Frost and Simon A. Groot; 1820, Christian Hav- erly and Marinus Willett; 1821, Richard Mc- Michael and Garrit Veeder; 1822, James Walker and John F. D. Veeder; 1823, Peter M. Bronck; 1824, Isaac Riggs; 1825, John S. Vrooman; 1826, Robert Sanders; 1827-1830, Alonzo C. Paige; 1831, Aaron Carroll; 1832, Abram Dorn; 1833, Cornelius C. Van Vranken; 1834, Simon Scher- merhorn; 1835, David Ostrom; 1836, John B. Duane; 1837, Thomas Knight; 1838, Silas H. Marsh; 1839, Silas H. Marsh; 1840, Theodore W. Sanders; 1841, Abraham Pearse; 1842, Jona- than C. Burnham; 1843, Edward H. Walton; 1844, Archibald L. Linn; 1845, William Gifford; 1846, David M. Moore; 1847, David Caw; 1848, Abraham W. Toll; 1849, Israel A. Green; 1850, James Allen; 1851, Reuben Ellwood; 1852, James Donnan; 1853, Wm. Van Vranken; 1854, Mat- thew Winne, Jr .; 1855, James Donnan; 1856, James Rodgers; 1857, Nicholas Barhydt; 1858, Angus McIntosh; 1859, Charles Thomas; 1860, Peter Dorsch; 1861, Alonzo Macomber; 1862, Simon J. Schermerhorn; 1863, John McShea, Jr .; 1864, Charles Stanford; 1865, Charles Stanford; 1866, John C. Ellis; 1867, Chas. G. Ellis; 1868, Robert Furman; 1869, Henry M. Crane; 1870, Gershom Banker; 1871, Gershom Banker; 1872, William Greenhalgh; 1873, Daniel P. McQueen; 1874, Daniel P. McQueen; 1875, Samuel T. Ben- edict; 1876, Emmett O'Neill; 1877, Walter T. L. Sanders; 1878, Arthur D. Mead; 1879, Daniel P. McQueen; 1880, Arthur D. Mead; 1881, George Lasher; 1882, John D. Campbell; 1883, Christo- pher O. Hamlin; 1884, John W. Veeder; 1885, Edward D. Cotter.
STATE SENATORS.
John Veeder, 1806, 1808-9 ; Joseph C. Yates, 1807, 1808 ; Henry Yates, Jr., 1811-1814, 1818- 1821 ; Alonzo C. Paige, 1837, 1839-1840; Stephen H. Johnson, 185c-1 ; Charles Stanford, 1866-9.
COUNTY JUDGES.
1809, Gerrit S. Veeder; 1812, Gardner Cleve- land ; 1823, David Boyd ; 1835, Samuel W. Jones ; 1840, Archibald L. Linn ; 1845, Samuel W. Jones ; 1851, Stephen H. Johnson ; 1855, John Sanders ; 1859, Stephen H. Johnson ; 1865,
Judson S. Landon ; 1869, Walter T. L. Sanders ; 1873, Austin A. Yates ; 1879, David C. Beattie.
COUNTY SURROGATES.
1809, William J. Teller ; 1813, Robert Hudson ; 1815, William J. Teller; 1816, John Yates ; 1821, Giles F. Yates; 1840, John Saunders; 1844 -1847, David Cady Smith. Since the latter date the County Judges have acted as Surrogates.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
1818, John K. Paige; 1823, Alonzo C. Paige; 1839, Platt Potter; 1847, Benjamin F. Potter; 1850, Samuel L. Baker; 1851, James Fuller; 1851, John Van Santvoord; 1853, Samuel T. Freeman; 1856, Simon Calkins; 1856, Judson S. Landon; 1862, John G. McChesney; 1865, John L. Hill; 1868, Austin A. Yates; 1873, Alonzo P. Strong; 1874, David C. Beattie; 1877, Charles E. Palmer; 1880, J. Teller Schoolcraft.
SHERIFFS.
1809, James V. S. Riley; 1810, John V. Van Ingen; 1811, James V. S. Riley; 1813, John Brown; 1815, Gideon Holliday; 1818, Isaac Riggs; 1821, Lewis Eaton; 1822, A. Van Slyck; 1825, John F. D. Vedder; 1828, Gershom Van Voast; 1831, Isaac I. Yates; 1834, Matthew Putman; 1837, Myndert M. R. Wemple; 1840, David F. Reese; 1843, Anthony H. Van Slyck; 1846, John G. Van Voast; 1849, John F. Clute; 1852, Nicholas Brooks; 1855, Obadiah L. De Forest; 1856, Philip Dederick; 1858, Norman M. F. Clute; 1861, Abra- ham Gillispie; 1864, Samuel Wingate; 1867, Peter Miller; 1868, Clark V. Worden; 1869, Jacob Ved- der; 1872, James McMillan; 1875, Hiram J. In- gersoll; 1878, Charles H. Van Vranken; 1881, Jacob De Forest; 1884, Seth L. Clute.
COUNTY CLERKS.
1769, Henry Glen (Town Clerk) ; 1809, Peter F. Veeder ; 1810, Joseph Shurtliff; 1811, Peter F. Veeder ; 1812, Jellis A. Fonda ; 1813, Joseph Shurtliff ; 1815, Jellis A. Fonda ; 1822, Jellis A. Fonda ; 1834, John S. Vrooman ; 1834, Jonathan Burnham ; 1837, Archibald Campbell ; 1843, Silas H. Marsh ; 1849, David P. Forrest ; 1852, Marvin Strong ; 1858, John W. Veeder ; 1861, John N. Banker ; 1864, John McShea, Jr. ; 1864, James G. Caw ; 1876, J. Fonda Veile ; 1882, Thomas Yelverton.
THOMAS YELVERTON, the present County Clerk, was born in Chester, Orange County, N. Y., in 1842, and graduated from Union College in 1866. He came to Schenectady in 1872.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
(Previous to 1848, County Treasurers were chosen by the Board of Supervisors, and for list of these officers previous to this date see article on Supervisors. ) 1848, Stephen Y. Vedder ; 1851, Charles H. Matthews ; 1854, Jolın H. Vander- veer; 1857, William M. Colborne ; 1860, Nicholas Barhydt ; 1863, Nichols V. Swits ; 1866, N. J. Schermerhorn ; 1881, Ira Brownell.
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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
(Previous to 1857, School Commissioners were appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The first election was held in November, 1859.) Daniel J.
Darrow, David H. Hamlin, Samuel H. Weart, Nicholas T. Van Natta, Solyman G. Hamlin, Simon J. Schermerhorn, David Elder, H. Maynard Akin, C. W. Van Santvoord.
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY.
Edited and Compiled by Rev. J. H. MUNSELL.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY-1798-1885.
`HE municipal history of Schenectady properly 1 begins with the passage of its charter, March 26, 1798, being the third incorporated city in the State.
For ten years preceding the date of incorpora- tion, Schenectady was controlled by a Board of Trustees, who in 1798 signed a petition to the Legislature declaring they deemed the incorpora- tion of Schenectady as a city, beneficial and neces- sary to its growth and welfare. The names of the trustees appended to this petition were: Abra- ham Wemple, Nicholas Veeder, Abraham Switz, Abraham Oothout, John Glen, John Sanders, Jel- lis I. Fonda, Andrew Van Patten, Adam S. Vroo- man, Garret S. Veeder, Jr., and Richard Scher- merhorn. Among other citizens at this period who were influential in securing the passage of this act, were Joseph Shurtliff, member of Assembly from Schenectady at this date, and for a number of years after, Simon Veeder, Joseph C. Yates, Maus Schermerhorn, John Yates, William North and Harmanus Peek.
The area embraced within the corporate limits of Schenectady by the charter of 1798 was exten- sive, being twelve miles in length and eight in breadth. It was divided into four wards. The First ward included all the compact part of the city lying between Union street and the Mohawk River; the Second ward, that part lying south of Union street and extending a short distance upon the Bouwlandt; the Third ward, what is now the town of Rotterdam; and the Fourth ward, what is now the town of Glenville.
The corporate title was known by the name of "The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Schenectady." The legislative power of the city was vested in a Mayor and a Board of Alder- men, who together formed the Common Council, a majority of the whole constituting a quorum for the transaction of business.
By this charter, the surviving trustees became di- vested voluntarily of all rights and claims over the common lands, the same being vested in the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the city. Three commissioners were appointed to settle all ac- counts against and in favor of the trustees, and it was provided by the act that no sale or transfer of the common lands should be made, "unless two-thirds of the whole number of Aldermen and Assistants of said city shall give their assent to such sale."
The charter provided for the election by the people of two Aldermen and two Assistants, who should serve for a period of one year, such elec- tions being held on the first Tuesday in April. The term of office began on the first Tuesday in May. From 1798 to 1822, the Mayors in all the cities of this State were appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council of Ap- pointment. From 1822 to 1840 they were ap- pointed by the Common Council. By act of the Legislature, passed February 13, 1840, they have since been elected by the people.
The first Mayor of Schenectady was Joseph C. Yates, who received his appointment from Gover- nor John Jay. Mr. Yates was one of the foremost lawyers of his day, and the early history of this city owes much to his far-seeing acumen, ju- dicious counsel and high administrative ability. He became State Senator in 1806, and in 1808 be- came one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of this State. He became Governor of the State in 1822.
The Mayor presided over the deliberations of the Board of Aldermen, and possessed all the privi- leges, as far as voting was concerned, of an alder- man. He was also given power similar to a Judge of Common Pleas in all transactions relating to lands within the city.
To him was delegated the exclusive power of granting and giving licenses for the sale of in- toxicating liquors under the public seal of the city.
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CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
The officers appointed by the Common Council under the first charter consisted of a city treasurer, clerk, and as many assessors, collectors, constables, commissioners of highways, overseers of the poor, pound-masters and fence-viewers as the Common Council might deem necessary.
The charter of 1798 has been subjected to many amendments, to meet the demands of the times. The existing charter not only meets the require- ments of a liberal, progressive policy, but under its operation the city is governed in a highly credit- able and satisfactory manner.
MAYOR. - The office of Mayor, as has been stated, was filled by appointment of the Governor and Council until 1822. From that date to 1840 the Mayor was appointed by the Common Council, since which time it has been an elective office. The term of office from 1798 to 1861 was one year, since which date it has been two years.
RECORDER. - Although the office of Recorder is mentioned in the charter of the borough of Sche- nectady, it does not seem to have been created under the city charter until 1833, in which year Harmanus Peek was made Recorder and held this position for a number of years after. This officer possessed all the powers then conferred by law upon the Recorders of cities, and during the absence, sickness or disability of the Mayor, could exercise all the powers conferred upon the Mayor. From 1833 to 1862 the term of office was one year; since the latter date it has been extended to four years. The duties of this officer, as defined by the charter, consist in attending meetings of the Com- mon Council, and in the absence or inability to act of the Mayor, he shall discharge the duties of that office. He is invested with power to arrest or cause the arrest of all persons violating the laws of the State, or the ordinances or police regula- tions of the city.
ALDERMEN. - The charter of 1798 provided for the election of four Aldermen in each ward for a period of one year. In 1851 the four Aldermen in each ward were divided into two classes, two who should serve for one year and two who should serve for two years. The act under which this was effected, provided that thereafter the terms of only two aldermen in each ward should expire during each year, and that all Aldermen elected one year after the passage of the act should serve for two years. In 1873 the number of Aldermen in each ward was reduced to three, who should be elected for three years, but they were divided into classes, so that the term of only one Alderman in each ward now expires every year.
TREASURER .- The Treasurer was appointed by the Common Council from 1798 to 1848, at which latter date a Treasurer was elected by the people. To the year 1862 the term of office was one year, but by the charter of this year it was extended to two years.
CLERK. - The Clerk has annually been appointed by the Common Council since the incorporation of the city.
BOARD OF MAGISTRATES. -- A law was passed in 1815, empowering the Common Council to appoint
as many Aldermen or Justices of the Peace as was deemed necessary to constitute a Board of Magis- trates. This Board was required to attend to the relief and support of the poor, and to punish persons committing petty offences within the city. The exclusive power of applying and distributing the poor fund was committed to this Board. After the creation of the office of Police Justice, this Board was composed of that officer and two Aldermen, the latter selected by the Common Council. For many years the sole duty of this Board has been confined to the relief of the poor.
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS .- By an amendment to the charter in 1813, provision was made for the appointment of one or more Superintendents of Streets, who should have charge of laying out and grading of streets. From 1813 to the present, but one Superintendent of Streets has been an- nually appointed by the Common Council, by which body his powers and duties are prescribed.
CITY ATTORNEY. - This office was created in 1833, since which date such officer has been an- nually appointed by the Common Council. He receives a stated salary, attends all meetings and acts as the legal adviser and assistant of the Board in all matter pertaining to questions of law.
CITY PHYSICIAN .- This officer was created about the same time as City Attorney. The person hold- ing this office is chosen annually by the Common Council and receives a regular salary. He is, ex officio, health officer of the Board of Health, and required to render surgical aid and as- sistance to all indigent persons within the city.
BOARD OF HEALTH .- The duty of attending to sanitary affairs devolved upon the Mayor and Aldermen during the early municipal history of Schenectady. In 1813 the charter provided that one or more persons should be appointed by the Common Council, who should attend to the alter- ing, amending, cleansing of any street, vault, sink or common sewer, and to apportion the costs upon the owners of property benefited thereby. In 1833, the Common Council appointed as many members as was deemed necessary to form a Board of Health to assist the Mayor in carrying into effect the provisions of the existing laws relating to the prevention and introduction of infectious and pestilential disease. Members of the Board were allowed a reasonable compensation for their services, as determined by the Common Council. By the charter of 1862, the Board of Health con- sisted of the Mayor, City Physician and one Alder- man from each ward. The City Physician was the health officer of the Board. This Board, as then constituted, remains the same, although under recent laws their powers and duties have been greatly enlarged.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, CONSTABLES AND POLICE. -(See separate Article on Police. )
BOARD OF EXCISE .- As has been stated, the Mayor had exclusive power to grant licenses for sale of intoxicating liquors under the first charter. In 1813 the charter was so amended that a Com- missioner of Excise was appointed by the Common Council for the Third and Fourth wards, who,
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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
under the approbation of the Mayor, was empow- ered to grant licenses. In 1833, licenses were grant- ed by the Mayor and Common Council, under the provisions of the State law at this time. In 1857 a law was passed giving the County Judge and Justices of Sessions of the several counties power to appoint three Commissioners of Excise to grant licenses in the county. In 1870 the Mayors of most of the cities of the State were given power to appoint three Commissioners of Excise for a period of three years. The present Commissioners are James Brownell, Charles Fellhousen and James Speir.
DIVISIONS OF THE CITY .- From 1798 to 1820 the city of Schenectady, as has been previously stated, was divided into four wards, but at the latter date, owing to the vast extent of territory comprised by the Third and Fourth wards, and the diversity of interests between the inhabitants of those wards and the citizens residing in the compact part of the city, the members of the Common Council applied to the Legislature to have a law enacted erecting the territory embraced in the Third and Fourth wards into separate towns. This petition of the municipal officers of Schenec- tady was granted, and a law was passed in 1820 separating these two wards from the city and form- ing the present towns of Rotterdam and Glenville. From 1820 to 1837, Schenectady was divided into but two wards, but at the latter date a special act was passed by the Legislature dividing the city into four wards. The present division of the city into five wards was made in 1860.
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS .- The first Common Council met in a building called the City Hall, on the corner of Union and Ferry streets, on the site of the present residence of H. S. Barney. The meetings of the Board continued to be held there until the purchase of the present Union School building in 1816, in which a Common Council Chamber was provided and used until the erection of the present Court House in 1833. At the latter place the Board continued to meet until the completion of the City Hall in 1881, on Jay street, for the erection of which Gen. W. K. Fuller, one of Schenectady's most public-spirited citizens, donated to the city the sum of $10,000.
CITY OFFICERS FROM 1798-1885. 1798-1808 .- Mayor, Joseph C. Yates.
1807 .- Treasurer, Cornelius Z. Van Santvoord; Clerk, David Boyd.
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