Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 246

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 246

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).

The Schenectady and Saratoga Standard was pub- lished about the year 1833, at 96 Washington street, by Israel Sackett, printer, with Thomas Jef- ferson Sutherland, attorney at law, No. 14 Ferry street, as editor. Its principles were anti-masonic. After the first year the name was changed to The Saratoga and Schenectady Standard, and it was pub- lished in Ballston by the same printer.

The Wreath, " devoted to polite literature," was commenced November 22, 1834, by William H. Burleigh, proprietor and editor; Isaac Riggs, printer. It was a half-monthly of forty pages, and was issued about six months. During this time its name was changed to The Literary Journal, " a re- pository of public literature and fine arts." It was published in Albany, Troy and Schenectady, and numbered consecutively with the Wreath, and con- tinued until June, 1835, perhaps a little longer. The articles were chiefly original.

The Mohawker was published by Riggs & Norris in 1835.

The Schenectady Star was published by Jesse & Daniel Stone, and this partnership was dissolved in October, 1835.

The Antiquarian and General Review, a monthly magazine, mainly of a religious character, edited and published by Rev. Wm. Arthur (father of President Arthur), was begun in 1845 and continued two years, making two thin octavo volumes.

Freeman's Banner, a political paper, was published during the presidential campaign of 1848. It was the organ of the party known as the " Barn-burn- ers:" It was edited and published by Judge Platt Potter.

The Daily Ancient City was the first daily paper issued in this city, and commenced in 1852 by Mr. Riggs. It lived only a few months.

The Schenectady Democrat was begun January 3, 1854, by William H. Coulbourne and W. N. Clark. In 1857 it was sold to A. J. Thompson, and in April, 1859, to Cyrus Thayer, and united with the Reflector October, 1860, The united paper was called The Schenectady Reflector and

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CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- PRINTERS AND NEWSPAPERS.

Democrat. It was published in 1864 at No. 134 State street.

The Morning Star was the first successful daily established in this city. Its first issue appeared February 24, 1855. It was edited and published by Walter N. Clark and Wm. M. Colbourne. Sep- tember 17th of the same year its time of issue was changed from morning to evening and was called the Evening Star. March 5, 1857, the firm of Colborne & Clark was dissolved, and Mr. Colborne took entire charge. During this year Isaac M. Gregory, now managing editor of the New York Graphic, was associated with Coulbourne in editing this paper.

About 1861 Mr. Colborne sold the paper to H. L. Grose, of Ballston, who conducted it until 1863, when it was sold to Wm. D. Davis and Isaac M. Gregory. During the following year Mr. Gregory sold his interest to Davis, who continued proprietor till 1865, when the paper was sold to J. J. Marlette, under whose management it has re- mained ever since. Since 1876 the publishing de- partment has been under the management of A. A. Marlette. Preceding its sale to Mr. Marlette the Star had been Republican in politics, but since its sale in 1865 it has been an organ of the Democratic party. In 1880, when the Morning Gazette was discontinued, that paper was purchased by the pro- prietor of the Star, and for a time the name Schenectady Evening Star and Gazette was as- sumed, but was soon after changed to the original name of the Schenectady Evening Star.

The Schenectady Republican, a weekly made out of the Evening Star, was commenced in Septem- ber, 1857, by Wm. M. Colborne, with Judson S. Landon as editor.

The Schenectady Daily News was begun April, 1859, by I. W. Hoffman and E. F. Loveridge, and expired June, 1861.

The Railsplitter, a political weekly paper, was published a few months during the fall of 1860.

The Schenectady Daily Times was commenced January, 1861, and united with the Evening Star, in June of the same year, under the name of the Schenectady Daily Evening Star and Times, and was published in 1864 by W. D. Davis and Isaac M. Gregory, at No. 170 State street.

In 1865 Mr. Davis, who was then sole proprie- tor, sold it to J. J. Marlette.

The Schenectady Evening Star .- A history of the paper will be found in the account of The Morning Star.

The Schenectady Daily Union was started in No- vember, 1865, by Charles Stanford. During the exciting political events of this period, the Repub- lican party had no organ in this city, and this paper was started to meet this want. Col. S. G. Hamlin was long connected with it as managing editor, being succeeded by Welton Stanford; Orvil F. Vedder was managing editor from April, 1882, to October 31, 1883, when it was sold to John A. Sleicher. May 15, 1884, it was sold to its present publisher, George W. Cottrell.

The Dorpian was published in 1867. It was edited by A. A. Marlette and A. W. Kelly. Its publication was continued but a few months.

The Schenectady Gazette, a weekly paper, was be- gun in 1869 by W. N. Thayer. In 1872 James H. Wiseman and Harman Seymour were the pub- lishers. In 1874 it was purchased by G. W. Mar- lette and Wm. H. Lee. Mr. Lee subsequently withdrew from the partnership, since which time it has been published by Mr. Marlette.

The Deutscher Anzeiger, a weekly, published in the German language, was commenced by Ernst Knauer, at 176 State street, August 22, 1873, and is still published by the original proprietor.

The Schenectady Daily Gazette was started by the proprietor of The Weekly Gazette, January I, 1879, and ceased to be issued July 28, 1880, when it was sold and united with The Schenectady Even- ing Star.

The Schenectady Weekly Union, made out of The Schenectady Daily Union, was started in con- nection with the daily in 1865, and has been pub- lished ever since.

The Locomotive Firemen Monthly Journal was first published in 1872 under the direction of the Inter- national Union of Locomotive Engineers. It was edited by Henry Hoffman until 1878, when it was discontinued.

PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS FROM UNION COLLEGE.

The Floriad, published by the students of Union College in 1811. Vol. I., Nos. 1-15, is in the Boston Public Library.

The Students' Album, commenced in 1827, con- tained essays and tales, scientific items, and notices of new works. It was published half monthly by Isaac Riggs, at No. 10 Union street, and probably continued about six months. It was of 8º size, and each number contained 16 pp.

The Parthenon and Academian's Magazine. It began in 1832, and continued two years, forming two volumes 8º. Nine monthly numbers a year were issued.

The Censor was published from November, 1833, to May, 1834, one number each month, 8º.

The Union College Magazine was commenced in June, 1860, and was continued, with some inter- ruptions, until June, 1875. It was published under the joint auspices of the Philomathian, Adelphic, and Theological Societies, two editors being appointed by each. It was a very creditable publication.

One number appeared each college session, or three a year. In the third year there was begun a series of portraits, one in each number, of distinguished men once connected with the college.

The College Spectator, a monthly publication, 4º, began April, 1872, and continued until De- cember, 1875.

The Concordiensis succeeded the Spectator in November, 1877, and now continues.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

The Scroll began its publication in 1849. In May, 1850, its form was made smaller.

Several other fugitive publications, such as The Unonian, etc., have been issued from time to time, but soon ceased.

J. J. MARLETTE, editor of The Evening Star and Weekly Reflector, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1822, and received his education at district schools. He came to this county in 1837, and to the city in 1852. He became connected with the Star in 1865. He has always taken a deep interest in public education and was for many years a leading member of the Board of Education of the city.

LOUIS C. BEATTIE was born in Chicago, Ill., No- vember 9, 1856, removing to Schenectady in 1864. He received his education at public schools and Union College, and was admitted to the Bar in 1877. He then followed his profession in New York, returning to Schenectady in 1883, since which time he has been on the staff of The Daily Union and The Evening Star. Gifted with keen perception and a ready pen, his work is highly valuable.

MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

The first medical society of the county of Sche- nectady was organized in Schenectady, June II, 1810.

The society was formed under an act passed by the Legislature of New York, April 4, 1806, en- titled "An act to incorporate medical societies for the purposes of regulating the practice of physic and surgery." The physicians and surgeons of each county of the State being thus empowered to join themselves into societies, those of this county met on the day first above given and enacted their by- laws and regulations. Under such, the society was to consist of a "President, Vice-President, Secre- tary, Treasurer, and not less than three nor more than five Censors, to be chosen by ballot annually at the anniversary meeting of the society." The president was " to preside at all meetings, preserve order, put all questions, declare the decisions of the society, and in case of an equal division shall have the casting vote; he shall also appoint all commit- tees, unless the society choose to appoint them by special resolution."

Article 5th provided that the "Censors shall meet whenever notified * *

* to examine all students in Anatomy, Physiology, Surgery, Mid- wifery, Materia Medica, Pharmacy, Theory and Practice of Physic and Chemistry." Not less than three censors to forin such examining board.

By article 6th, the stated meetings of the society were to be held on the "second Tuesday in Junc, September, December and March," at 10 o'clock A. M. Special meetings could be held though at any time "when the President, at the request of two of the members, shall order the Secretary to send to each member a notification " of the inten- tion of such meeting. Not less than five members constituted a quorum. A student, successful in his examinations before the Censors, received, upon

the payment of two dollars, and signing the declara- tion prescribed by the State Medical Society, his diploma. It cost one dollar to become a member, and the annual dues were two dollars, payable . quarterly, and for non-attendance at the stated meetings a fine of $1.00 was levied.

We quote article 12th, as follows: "Any mem- ber who shall be convicted of base or dishonorable practices, tending to bring dishonor on himself or the profession, shall be expelled." From this it is uncertain whether "convicted " applied to a regular trial and conviction by civic or military authority, or whether it concerned only such "dis- honorable practices " as could be adjudicated by the original society.

To these by-laws and regulations the following names are signed: Thos. Dunlap, Dan'l J. Toll, Alex. G. Fonda, Cornl Vrooman, Robt. M. G. Walmsley, Abraham D'Lamater, John Wood, Dan'l McDougall, P. B. Noxon (?), J. J. Berkley, E. B. Sprague, J. W. Conklin, Stephen Reming- ton, Jno. B. Judson, Arch'd W. Adams, David Low, Joseph Koon, J. C. Magoffin, John S. L. Tonelier, Benj. F. Joslin, Edw'd H. Wheeler, Abram W. Van Woert, Edgar Fonda, A. J. Prime, Andrew Truax, L. Sprague, James Chandler, Orasmus Squire (living 1885), A. M. Vedder, Benj'n Weeks, John S. Crawford, N. Marselis, J. Stackpole, Edwin A. Young.

As we have stated, the society was organized June 10, 1810. Its first meeting was held the next. day "at the Court Room," and Archibald H. Adams was elected President ; William Anderson, Vice- President ; Alexander G. Fonda, Secretary ; and Dr. Corns. Vrooman, Treasurer ; Doctors Thomas Dunlap, Alexander G. Fonda, and Corns. Vrooman were the Committee upon the Code of Laws, and it was resolved that they meet "annually, the second Tuesday in June, at 2 o'clock P. M., in the Court Room, * * which time shall forever thereafter be the anniversary meeting " of the society. Ad- journment was had until the following day, when the Code of Laws was adopted, and Doctors Vrooman, Anderson, Dunlap, Daniel Toll and Abram Delamater were elected Censors. Daniel McDougall was " unanimously chosen as a suit- able person to attend the lectures in the City of New York on the different branches of medicine." An adjournment was then taken until September 11, 1810. This quarterly meeting was held at the "House of James Rogers, innkeeper." Joseph F. Yates was examined and admitted to practice Physic and Surgery, and Drs. Toll, Fonda and Dunlap were appointed a committee to revise the by-laws, to report at the next quarterly meeting to be held December 10, to which time adjournment was then taken, and on that date the society met at the house of Dr. Vrooman. The committee upon the revision reported, and their report rati- fied. Dr. Archibald H. Adams was elected a delegate to the State Society, and Christopher T. Fonda examined and admitted to practice.

At a special meeting, held at the Court House, March 19, 1811, Daniel J. Toll was elected Treas- urer, in place of Cornelius Vrooman, deceased,

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and Daniel McDougall became a member of the profession.

The first anniversary meeting " was held Tues- day, June 11, 1811, at 2 o'clock P. M., at the Court Room," and Daniel J. Toll elected Presi- dent ; Robert M. G. Walmsley, Vice-President ; Alexander G. Fonda, Secretary ; and Daniel J. Toll, Treasurer; and Doctors A. G. Fonda, Daniel J. Toll, R. M. G. Walmsley, Abram Delamater, and Thomas Dunlap, Censors; and Dr. Toll, a delegate to the State Society. Doctors Daniel McDougall, McClearg, Brown, Wood, and Christopher G. Fonda were proposed as members of the society.

At the anniversary held one year later, June II, 1812, at the Court Room, Dr. Toll was elected President ; Dr. Walmsley; Vice-President; and Dr. Fonda, Secretary and Treasurer ; and Doctors Toll, Walmsley, Delamater, Fonda, and Wood, Censors. The gentlemen whose names were proposed at the last meeting were admitted as members, and Dr. A. G. Fonda was sent as dele- gate to the State Society. Doctors Jno. Dodge and Lyman Carpenter were proposed as members of the society.

The quarterly meeting was held at the Court Room, September 11, 1812, and Jno. Dodge and Lyman Carpenter elected members. The follow- ing addition to the Code was passed : "That no member of the society shall hold any nostrum or specific for the cure of a disease under the penalty of forfeiting his seat in the same." Doctors Ellis, Woodward, Devoe,. Vought, Vecder, and Myn- derse were proposed as members. The sum of $3 was received from Dr. Toll " being the balance of licentiate fees on hand," and "Dr. Jno. Wood paid $1 as an initiation fee."

A regular adjournment was then taken. From this time, up to 1825, the records of the society are lost, and nothing but a vague general legend of its doings is extant.

The minutes of a meeting held 31st January, 1825, that there were present Doctors Daniel J. Toll, the President ; and Doctors Thomas Dun- lap, James Magoffin, J. S. L. Tonelier, J. Scher- merhorn, D. Low and Daniel McDougall. Dr. McDougall was appointed Secretary, and Dr. Magoffin a delegate to the State Society. Drs. Dunlap, Low and McDougall were appointed as a committee to revise the by-laws, to report at the next anniversary meeting, which was held June 14, 1825, at the house of Harvey Davis. Angus McDermid appears to have then been a member. The report of the committee appoint- ed 31st January, 1825, was adopted. Thomas Dunlap was elected President ; James Magoffin, Treasurer ; and Dr. McDougall, Secretary. Drs. Dunlap, Magoffin, McDougall, G. Wade (whose name first appears herc), and Peter Delamater were elected Censors.

A meeting of two of the Censors, Dunlap and Magoffin, was held in April, 1826, when Dr. Cole was given his diploma, and at a sub- sequent meeting, held in November, Wade and McDougall being also present as Censors, Dr. Chamberlin was admitted to practice.

Frederick Orlop received his diploma from the Censors in June, 1827.

A period of six years now elapsed, of which no record appears. February 25, 1833, the Censors, Drs. Dunlap, Magoffin and McDougall, met, and Edward H. Wheeler successfully passed an ex- amination. There were two meetings of the Cen- sors in 1834-March 23d, when Andrew Truax received his diploma, and July 23d, when Joseph Harman received his. It does not seem that the society met again during this year until Septem- ber 9th, when the following new members were present : B. F. Joslin, J. Coon, E. H. Wheeler. A committee of three, Joslin, Magoffin and Mc- Dougall was made to revise the By-laws, to report at the next quarterly meeting. Alexander G. Fonda was sent as delegate to the State Society, and a contribution of five dollars was made by them to it.

The committee appointed in September reported at the next anniversary meeting, held June 9, 1835. Among the amendments suggested, and at once adopted, was : that the officers annually elected should hold until their successors should be elected ; that the President should, at the meeting one year after his election, "deliver to the society a disserta- tion upon some appropriate subject," and the fce for a diploma was raised from two to five dollars. At this meeting Andrew Truax, A. J. Prime and Orsamus Squire became members ; and Dr. Dunlap was elected President; Dr. Magoffin, Vice-President; Dr. Prime, Secretary ; and Dr. McDougall, Trea- surer ; and as Censors, Drs. Dunlap, Magoffin, Squire, McDermid and McDougall. The new meeting, or attempted meeting, is best described in the words of Dr. A. J Prime, its Secretary : "June 14, 1836. When the members gathered together, not enough stayed long enough to form a quorum. Drs. Magoffin, Dunlap, McDougall and Prime, after waiting till the hour was expired, thought it was for their own private and others' in- terests to absquotulate, and therefore decamped. A. J. Prime, Secretary." D. Edgar Fonda received his diploma from the Censors January 31, 1837, and at a special meeting of the Society, held in the City Hall, July 18, 1837, G. E. Fonda, A. W. Van Woert, William N. Duanc, J. Harman, J. Beake- ley and J B. Noxon were elected members. At the next anniversary meeting, held at the City Hall, June 12, 1838, Dr. J. B. Noxon was elected Pres- ident ; Joseph Koon, Vice ; Andrew Truax, Secre- tary; Wm. N. Duane, Treasurer ; and Magoffin, Squire, Beakeley and Noxon, Censors. The customary committee on revision of the by-laws was appointed, consisting of Drs. Koon, Beakelcy and Truax. Andrew Huyck and James Chandler received their diplomas from the Censors, June 25, 1838 ; and at a meeting of the Society, December I Ith, Dr. Sprague was elected a member. The an- niversary meeting of 1839 was held the second Tuesday in June, at the City Hall. Alex. M. Vedder, John O. Crawford, James Chandler and Benjamin Weeks were elected members, and James C. Magoffin, President ; A. G. Fonda, Vicc ; Edgar Fonda, Secretary ; and Andrew

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Truax, Treasurer ; and Drs. Dunlap, Magoffin, L. Sprague, McDougall and A. M. Vedder, Cen- sors. James C. Magoffin was sent as delegate to the State Society.

The anniversary meeting, held at the City Hall the second Tuesday of June, 1840, proved, as far as the records show, to be the last wherein business of importance was done. On motion of Jacob Beakeley, it was "Resolved, That it is proper to charge the sum of one dollar, and not less than fifty cents, for visit and medicine in ordinary cases ;" and, on motion of A. M. Vedder, it was resolved, "That a committee of three be appointed for the purpose of regulating the charges of physi- cians, whose duty it shall be to report at the next quarterly meeting." A. M. Vedder, J. Beakeley and Sprague were appointed to deliver a disserta- tion at the next meeting. The President was also directed to deliver an annual address, or pay a fine of one dollar. Dr. Magoffin was elected Presi- dent ; A. M. Vedder, Vice ; J. Chandler, Secretary; Andrew Truax, Treasurer; and Dunlap, Sprague, Magoffin, Young and Beakeley, Censors.

The last anniversary held under the old organi- zation, of which there is any written record, was the one held June 8, 1841, at the Court House. By resolution, the officers then holding were directed to hold over for another year. Judging by the minutes, internal dissensions began to make them- selves felt at this time. It is not our province to enter into their merits or demerits. The society soon ceased, practically, to have an existence. For twenty-eight years there was no regular organized medical society in Schenectady. In the Daily Union of January 16, 1869, there appeared a call for a meeting of physicians and surgeons to organ- ize a medical society. In furtherance of this design, January 19th, at the Cadey House, the fol- lowing-named gentlemen appeared : A. M. Vedder, L. Ellwood, J. D. Jones, Charles Hammer, N. S. Cheeseman, B. A. Mynderse, G. W. Van Voast, Robert Fuller and Wm. N. Duane ; and the society formed by the election of A. M. Vedder, President ; J. D. Jones, Vice ; L. Ellwood, Secre- tary ; N. S. Cheeseman, Treasurer ; and G. W. Van Voast, B. A. Mynderse and A. M. Vedder, Censors.

Dr. Vedder was sent as delegate to the State Society. The membership fee was fixed at $2, and in order to become a member, it was neces- sary to submit the diploma to the Censors for examination.

The title of the society, as shown by its by-laws, adopted January 11, 1870, is "The Schenectady County Medical Society." Annual meetings are held the second Tuesday of every January, and semi- annual meetings the second Tuesday of June. Special meetings may be called. From the time of its organization it has been in a healthy condi- tion, and bids fair to outnumber in members, years of life and usefulness, any of its predecessors. In addition to those present at its first meeting, January 19, the following joined during the same year: Alex. Ennis, N. G. Daggett, Geroe Greene and Andrew Veeder.

The officers for the present year (1885) are: M. G. Planck, President; Geo. E. McDonald, Vice- President; Chas. C. Duryee, Secretary; J. L. Schoolcraft, Treasurer; Censors, E. P. Van Epps, J. Reagles and H. V. Hull.

The delegate to the State Society is L. Ellwood, and to the "American Medical," H. C. Van Zandt.

The members, past and present are: Brumma- ghen, Peter A., Mariaville; Cheeseman, N. S., Scotia; Clute, W. T., Schenectady; Daggett, N. G., Schenectady; DeLamater, S. G., Duanesburgh; Duryee, Chas. C., Schenectady; Ellwood, L., Schenectady; Ennis, Alexander, Pattersonville; Featherstonhaugh, T. (left city), Schenectady; Fuller, Robert, Schenectady; Greene, Geroe (dead), Schenectady; Hammer, Charles, Schenectady; Hill, John (dead), Quaker street; Hoag, Peter C. (left city), Schenectady; Hull, H. V., Schenectady; Johnson, T. B. (dead), Schenectady; Jones, J. D. (dead), Schenectady; Mackay, John P., Schenectady; McDonald, Geo. E., Schenectady; Munderse, B. A., Schenectady; Pearson, W. L., Schenectady; Perkins, Maurice, Schenectady; Planck, M. G., Schenectady; Roach, Paul, Quaker street; Rowe, George (left city), Bramans's Corners; Reagles, James R., Schenectady; Steinfühuer, G. A. F., Schenectady; Schoolcraft, J. L., Schenec- tady; Van Voast, G. W., Schenectady; Van Zandt, H. C., Schenectady; Veeder, A. T., Schenectady; Vedder, A. M. (dead), Schenectady; Van Epps, E. P., Schenectady; Vedder, L. T., Schenectady; Van Patten, John, U. (dead), Schenectady; White- horne, E. E. (left city), Schenectady; Young, Edwin, West Glenville.

Among the leading physicians of the city not previously mentioned are:

JOHN KASTENDIECK, M. D., graduated from the New York Homoeopathic Medical College in 1878. He located in Schenectady in 1882.

JAMES DUANE JONES, M. D., who deserves special mention, was born in Schenectady, January 20, 1828. His ancestors, both paternal and maternal, were among the earliest settlers of Long Island and New York City. He graduated from Union College in 1846, and from the Albany Medical College in 1849. He then went to the Seaman's Retreat Hospital, Staten Island, remaining there for three years, 1849-51, coming to Schenectady, and entering upon his practice in 1851. He was mar- ried in 1872 to Anna M. Bigelow, daughter of John M. Bigelow, of Schenectady. In 1873 he became a member of the County Medical Society. Was city physician, and physician to the County Alms-house, and during General Sheridan's Vir- ginia campaign he served as surgeon-in-chief to the 25th New York Cavalry.

Dr. Jones' professional career was marked by that success which close attention, allied with natural aptitude, always commands. While a lead- ing physician, nature had made him a fine surgeon, and to that he willingly devoted the greater portion of his time. Dr. Jones died December 31, 1879, his wife surviving him.

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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 246

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