Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 247

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 247

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143

CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- MEDICAL.

LIVINGSTON ELLWOOD, M.D.

Among Schenectady's numerous skillful and honored physicians, no medical practitioner is better or more favorably known than the gentle- man whose name heads this brief biographical sketch.

Dr. Ellwood was born at Minden, Montgomery County, N. Y., on the twentieth day of July, 1825. After acquiring his education, he engaged in the study of medicine and surgery, and graduated from the Medical Department of the Buffalo University in 1848, at the age of twenty-three years.

He did not long delay the beginning of that which was destined to be his successful life-work, for we find him in August, 1849, a new-comer in Schenectady, where he soon established himself in practice, and entered upon a career which has marked him as a man of energy, perseverance, business ability, and high scholastic and profes- sional attainments.

As a physician he gradually, but surely, rose high in the esteem of the public and his professional brethren. He was one of the originators and a charter member of the Schenectady County Medi- cal Society, in the deliberations and management of which he has ever since been conspicuously act- ive. His knowledge of his profession and its re- quirements is thorough and of broad scope; he has often been called in counsel with physicians of un- doubted eminence in very difficult and important cases, and from time to time he has prepared val- uable and interesting papers upon topics of deep interest to the medical profession.

During the more than thirty-six years of Dr. Ellwood's residence in Schenectady, he has closely identified himself with the best interests of the city and county. That such a man has been called to places of public trust, is only an evidence of the good judgment of his fellow citizens. Dr. Ellwood has served as a member of the Board of Supervis- ors of Schenectady County, has represented his Ward as Alderman, and has been prominently iden- tified with the Boards of Health and Education. He has also served as both City and County Physician.

Hearty, but unostentatious in manner, he speaks with moderation and to the point. His fidelity is undoubted, and his circle of personal friends is wide, embracing many of the most prominent physicians and citizens of this section of the State.

LEWIS FAUST, M. D., graduated from Wallace College, Berea, O., and from the New York Homoeopathic Medical College. He is a member and an ex-president of the Montgomery County Homoeopathic Medical Society, and of the New York State Homoeopathic Medical Society.

GEORGE L. VAN ALLEN, M. D., 134 Centre street, was born in Bethlehem, Albany County, in 1851; graduated from the medical department of Union University; practiced his profession in Gal- way, Saratoga County, and Albion, Orleans County; has traveled and studied in Europe. Located in Schenectady in 1882, and makes a specialty of

the treatment of chronic diseases and diseases of women. PIONEER PHYSICIANS.

Rynier Schaets, in the year 168r, was a practic- ing "chyrurgion " in Schenectady, though Pieter Van der Linde, or Van O'Linda, was a surgeon in North America in 1639, and by some it is thought was here about 1640, but of this there is nothing positively known. October 18, 1703, Jacobus V. Dyck petitioned for the right to practice surgery here, and from 1758 to 1767, Dr. Dirk Van Ingen was in regular practice.

From 1764 to 1788, Dr. Spitser (de Spitser). In 1773, Dr. William Constable is " said to have been a surgeon to a British regiment sent over in the French wars." He died in New York. His son, John Constable, lived in Schenectady many years. A widow of Dr. John Constable, "for- merly of this city," was buried in St. George's Church Cemetery in 1805. From 1779 to 1781, Dr. Onger was "the hessen docktor." In 1780 Dr. William Mead was practicing surgery. He was a surgeon in the revolution, and died in Schenectady Feb. 1, 1829, aged 80 years. In 1784 he was in possession of the McCamus & Co. lot on State street, which was afterward owned by Dr. William Adams. Dr. William Adams prac- ticed here in 1785 and subsequently. His sons, Dr. Alex. Hamilton Adams, died April 1811, aged forty-two years, and Dr. James Adams died April 20, 1803. They both practiced in this city. Dr. Cornelius W. Vander Heuvel was a physician from 1747 to 1797, dying two years later. Dr. Stringer, of Albany, at about this time visited pa- tients here, and in 1795, Dr. John Constable occu- pied the house afterwards owned by Dr. Wm. Duane in Union street. In 1799 Peter Mabee was a "practitioner of physic." Dr. Rogers lived here in 1800. Dr. William Anderson and Dr. Joseph W. Hegeman were partners here for some years previous and including 1811. In that year Dr. Anderson, while on his return passage from New Orleans, died with yellow fever. Dr. Hegeman removed to Cincinnati a few years subsequently, and in 1827 to Vicks- burg, where he died in 1837. Cornelius Vroo- man, son of Simon Vrooman, was born here, and for a few years previous to his death, which oc- curred in 1811, when he was but thirty years of age, followed his profession.

DENTISTRY.

O. J. Gross began the study of dentistry in 1875 at Great Falls, N. H., and received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1879 at the Dental College, Philadelphia, Pa. He came to Schenec- tady in 1880, and resides at 235₺ State street.

B. F. CARMICHAEL, dentist, established himself at 37 Union street in 1878, and has had a suc- cessful and increasing practice.

Among other dentists deserving special notice for extensive and well-merited practice, are Dr. F. D. F. Gray, Dr. John B. Hull and Dr. D. R. Smith.

144

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

BANKS.

MOHAWK BANK .- Among the first banks organ- ized in this State was the Mohawk Bank of Sche- nectady. In 1807 a special act of the leg slature was passed to incorporate the stockholders of this bank. At this date there were but a small number of banks in the State, and only two in the city of New York.

In the act of incorporation, James Constable, Henry Yates, Jr., Lewis Farquharson, Garret S. Veeder, Moses Beal and David Boyd were ap- pointed a board of commissioners to open books on the first Tuesday in May, in which all persons willing to be associated for the purpose of estab- lishing a bank were inscribed, together with the number of shares taken. The value of each share was ten dollars, and the number limited to twenty thousand.

On the second Tuesday of May of this same year, the stockholders elected the first board of directors. which consisted of thirteen members. Charles Kane was selected by the directors as the first president, and David Boyd as cashier.

It is impossible to ascertain the exact date when the bank was first opened for the transaction of business.

This bank was first located in a comparatively small building on the corner of Union and Church streets, on the site of the present Classical Institute building, a structure built by the bank in 18 -- , and used for banking purposes until 1852, when it was sold and converted into a private dwelling. In 1852 the bank was removed to the building on State street now occupied by J. H. Barhyte & Co. Here it was located until 1857, when its present building was erected at a cost of about $15,000. This bank continued to do business, under its charter of 1807, until 1852, when it was reorgan- ized under the general banking laws of 1837, with a capital of $200,000. In 1859 the capital was reduced to $100,000. In 1865 it was reorgan- ized as a national bank, for a period of twenty years. Its charter expired this year (1885) and was extended by the Comptroller of the Currency to 1905. The following is a list of its various presidents and cashiers from 1807 :

Presidents : Charles Kane, James Duane, David Martin, John I. De Graff, D. D. Campbell, James R. Craig, G. G. Maxon.

Cashiers : David Boyd, William Walton, Ed- ward Walton, Nicholas Swits, Charles Thompson.

SCHENECTADY BANK. - This bank was organized under a special charter in 1832 as a Safety Fund Bank, for a period of thirty years, with a capital of $150,000. Its first directors were : Archibald Craig, Alonzo C. Paige, Samuel Cook, Ephraim Benedict, Benjamin F. Mumford, Jay Cady, Ste- phen Clark, Freeman Stanton, George McQueen, Judiah Ellsworth, Harvey Davis, Isaac I. Yates, and William Cunningham.

Its charter expiring in 1862, it was reorganized under the State banking laws, with a capital of $100,000.

This bank was first located in a building on State street, near the corner of Church street. Here it con- tinued to do business until 187-, when it was moved to its present location. Archibald Craig was its first president. He was followed by Jay Cady in 1842. In 1862 Simon C. Groot was made president. He was succeeded by William L. Goodrich in 1866, who remained in this position until 1869, when he was succeeded by Jay Cady, the latter remaining in this position until the election of Abraham A. Van Vorst in 1875, since which date Mr. Van Vorst has retained this position.

The first cashier was Thomas Palmer. He was succeeded in 1843 by William H. Palmer, who was succeeded in 1845 by William L. Goodrich. Mr. Goodrich remained in this position until 1866, when Samuel L. R. Buchanan was made cashier. He was succeeded in 1869 by William L. Good- rich, who has remained in this position ever since.

ABRAHAM A. VAN VORST.

ABRAHAM A. VAN VORST, President of the Sche- nectady Bank, was born in Glenville, Schenectady County, November 28, 1806. His father, Abra- ham F. Van Vorst, was a farmer, and, though also a native of Schenectady County, was of Holland descent. The progenitors of the Van Vorsts were three brothers, who emigrated to the Empire State in the early part of the last century. One of them settled in Brooklyn, where there was at that time a flourishing colony of his countrymen ; another lo- cated on the Hudson, near Kingston ; and the third, who was the immediate ancestor of Mr. Van Vorst's family, fixed upon Schenectady County as his future home. Inheriting the thrifty and indus- trious habits of their nation, they engaged in the cultivation of the soil, and, like their countrymen generally, soon accumulated a handsome compe- tence as the result of their honorable labor. His mother was the daughter of Jacob Wallace, a na- tive of New York, but of Scotch extraction.

Mr. Van Vorst pursued his studies at the dis- trict schools till he attained the age of seventeen, when, preferring a mercantile to an agricultural oc- cupation, he entered, as clerk, a country store in Schenectady, and continued thus employed four years. Soon after attaining his majority, in 1828, he engaged in the hardware business in the same place, in company with Henry Peek, the firm be- ing Peek & Van Vorst. This copartnership lasted until 1835, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Van Vorst continuing the business on his own account until 1853. For a few years subsequently he was connected with the New York Central Railroad. In 1858 he became a member of the firm of Van Vorst, Vedder & Co., for the transaction of the lum- ber business, in which line of operations he con- tinued until 1874, when he retired from the active duties of mercantile life.

Previously to 1845 Mr. Van Vorst had been elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Schenectady Bank, then a State bank. Upon its reorganization in 1862, he was elected its vice- president, and on the death of Jay Cady in 1875,

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145

CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- INDUSTRIES.

he succeeded to the office of president. This bank, one of the most flourishing financial organ- izations in the State, has a competent capital and also a surplus fund, and declares an average divi- dend of five per cent. semi-annually, clear of State and national taxes. Mr. Van Vorst is also vice-president of the Schenectady Savings Bank, a sound and prosperous institution. For nearly fifty years he has been connected with the vestry of St. George's Episcopal Church in Schenectady.

Though naturally averse to political preferment, Mr. Van Vorst has served as alderman for several terms, and as member of the County Democratic Committee, and was induced, through the persua- sion of his party, to accept the nomination for mayor, to which important office he was elected, serving for the terms of 1853-54, 1869-70 and 1882-83. This responsibility he accepted very reluctantly, and only after the urgent appeal of his friends to his patriotism and his desire for the wel- fare of the community-those higher motives that influence men to the acceptance of public trusts. During the period of our civil war, Mr. Van Vorst was an active "war Democrat," upholding, by all the means in his power, the hands of the Government. He was for many years identified with the business interests of Schenectady, in which his thrifty and sterling habits made him a promi- nent mercantile character. Since 1862, his finan- cial skill and conscientious management of mone- tary interests have been an important factor in the prosperity of that city. He was married in 1830 to Miss Amanda Hulbert, daughter of Dr. Hul- bert, of Pennsylvania, who bore him one son and three daughters (all of whom are living), and died in 1880, six months after the celebration of their golden wedding. Mr. Van Vorst built his resi- dence, No. 25 Liberty street, in 1835, and has lived there continuously since.

CITY BANK .- This bank was organized in June, 1874, with a capital of $100,000, under the gen- eral banking laws. The first directors were : T. W. McCamus, Andrew Truax, William J. Van Horne, E. Nott Schermerhorn, William Johnson, C. Van Slyck, Charles G. Ellis, George Curtis, Abraham Gillespie, Garrett S. Veeder, Marcus N. Millard and O. S. Luffman. T. W. McCamus was elected president, and O. F. Luffman as cash- ier, and remained as such officers from the organ- ization of the bank until they resigned in March, 1884. At this time Charles G. Ellis was chosen president, E. Nott Schermerhorn, cashier, and O. S. Luffman, assistant cashier.

December 15, 1884, it suspended, and John A. A. De Remer was appointed receiver.

James H. Davis, gentleman, is a well known and respected citizen of Schenectady.

SCHENECTADY WATER-WORKS.

During the latter part of the preceding century, a company was formed in this city to supply the town with water. Water was taken from a spring, which now in part supplies the cemetery pond. It

was conducted by wooden pipes through the main streets at that date. In 1835, this system of water supply seems to have become inadequate for the needs of the city, for in that year an act was passed by the Legislature, empowering the corporation of Schenectady to build a new water-works. Water at this time was obtained by means of a spring on Engine Hill. The pipes were simply logs, with a hole bored through them of a diameter of about two to three inches. For many years this sys- tem was in use. Even a small portion above the canal was in use a few years before the present works were constructed. During the excavation made for the present water system, the pipes of the first works were unearthed, and in many cases found to be in a comparatively preserved condi- tion.

THE SCHENECTADY WATER COMPANY .- In 1865, an act was passed by the Legislature incorporating the present Schenectady Water Company. The first directors named in the act were : William Van Vranken, George G. Maxon, D. Cady Smith, John W. Veeder, Simon C. Groot, Benjamin F. Potter, and T. W. McCamus. The capital stock was lim- ited to $80,000. At a meeting of the directors, shortly after the passage of the act, William Van Vranken was elected President, T. W. McCamus, Vice-President, and D. Cady Smith, Treasurer and Secretary. This, and the following year, ineffec- tual efforts were made to secure sufficient capital to construct the works.

In 1867, a few of the citizens of Schenectady, be- lieving that the city should own its own water- works, secured the passage of an act, which created William Van Vranken, William J. Van Horne, John C. Ellis, G. G. Maxon, and Andrew McMullen, Water Commissioners. These com- missioners were empowered to consider all matters relative to supplying the city with water, to furnish estimates and plans for the construction of water- works to the Common Council; which plans, upon the approval of the Common Council, were to be submitted to the resident taxpayers for their approval or rejection.

The Water Commissioners did agree upon a plan of construction, which was submitted and approved by the Common Council ; but when the subject came before the taxpayers some time in the follow- ing May, it was overwhelmingly voted down.

The failure of the people's consent to the con- struction of a city water-works, again brought into active existence the company formed in 1865. In 1869, this company, which had not forfeited its corporate rights, reorganized, by the election of Charles Stanford, President, and William Van Vranken, Treasurer and Secretary. At the reor- ganization all of the capital stock was subscribed, and the construction of the works commenced the following year, and was completed in 1871. The sys- tem adopted is known as the Holley system. The pumping-house is situated at the lower end of Ferry street, adjoining the river. The water is pumped from a large cistern or well, 114 x 6 feet, built under the ground near the margin of the river. The walls of this well are dry, permitting the filtering

146

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

of water from the river into the well, while over the top is an arched covering composed of brick and cement. Around the walls is a course of gravel and sand, which has a tendency to purify the water before it reaches the well. A conductor pipe, three feet square and one hundred feet long, ex- tends from the well, along and under the bed, out into the middle of the river. The end of this pipe is protected by a perforated sheet of iron.

In 1872 the works were in active operation, and have been ever since. During 1872, a contract was made by this company, with the city, to furnish water for the extinguishment of fires. Since the adoption of this system, much valuable property has been saved and no fire has extended beyond the building in which it originated, and the losses by fire have been proportionately less than at any other corresponding period of the city's history.

In 1871 only nine miles of pipe and 100 fire hydrants were constructed; at present over fourteen miles of pipe have been laid and 140 hydrants fur- nished.

The capital of this company was increased to $100,000 in 1871.

The present officersare : Charles Stanford, Pres- ident and Treasurer ; Charles Stanford, Jr., Sec- retary. Directors : Charles Stanford, G. G. Maxon, Charles G. Ellis, John McEncroe, Wm. Van Vranken, Edward Ellis, and Charles Stanford, Jr.

GAS-WORKS.

In 1852, a company, composed entirely of capi- talists outside of this city, built the first gas-works ever constructed in Schenectady. This company subsequently sold the concern to Abell Smith and James R. Craig. Afterwards it was sold at public auction to Gershom Banker, who conducted it until 1872, when two-thirds interest in it was pur- chased by Charles Stanford and William Van Vranken. Shortly after, Mr. Banker's interest was sold to John McEncroe. The works have since been operated and controlled by these three gentlemen.

The capital of the company is $100,000, and the works are capable of producing yearly, 11,000,000 cubic feet of gas.

ROBERT CLEMENT, who for over thirty years was superintendent of the gas-works, was born in Bel- fast, Ireland, in 1824. He died in 1883. Mr. Clement was a citizen widely known and esteemed, being a progressive, intelligent and exemplary man. He was largely interested in real estate in this city, and did much to promote the business interests of Schenectady. He was so long and intimately connected with the gas-works in Schenectady, that he may almost be said to have been its real founder; certain it is, that to his intelligent work, much of its present prosperity can be justly attributed.

JOSEPH H. CLEMENT, son of Robert, was born in New York in 1849. He received his education in the public schools. In 1860 he became connected with the Schenectady gas-works and has remained with this company ever since. At present he is superintendent of the works.

CASPER PRATT HOAG.

CASPER PRATT HOAG was born in Troy, N. Y., September 24, 1810. His father was a vessel owner and he was early inured to the dangers and hardships of a seafaring life, which were then many times greater than they are now. Before attaining to his majority he had at times taken charge of his father's vessel, and had made some progress in the acquisition of a practical knowledge of navigation. Soon after that time he accepted a proposition from a merchant who had built a brig for sea service, to take an interest in the vessel and assume the command. He made two voyages to the Gulf of Mexico, and two to Europe, Madeira and the Canary Islands. After Mr. Hoag's return to New York from the last of these, he and his partner leased the brig to the Brazilian Government to make a voyage to South America, from which she returned in due time newly rigged and in excellent order, having lost her masts, rigging and sails in a tornado, and been refitted at the Isle of St. Thomas at an expense of about $9, 000.

In the meantime, Mr. Hoag had married the youngest daughter of Peter I. Clute, of Schenectady, and had determined to abandon the sea and engage in business at Schenectady in partnership with his brother-in-law. His partner in the ownership of the brig consented to a proposition looking to this end very reluctantly, and after many vain endeavors to persuade Mr. Hoag to reconsider his determina- tion.

The brig was sold to the Brazilian Govern- ment, and Mr. Hoag relinquished forever an avoca- tion which had been the means of his visiting many remote and interesting portions of the world, which had many charms for him, and in which he had met many appalling dangers which, if we had space to relate them, would form one of the most inter- esting portions of this volume. In partnership with C. C. Clute, he purchased five lots in Sche- nectady and erected a mill, thus establishing a busi- ness which the two owned and managed co-jointly for three years, at the expiration of which time, by purchase of his brother-in-law's interest, Mr. Hoag became sole proprietor. He continued the busi- ness with considerable success, gradually increas- ing it until 1845, when, on July 25th, the mill was destroyed by fire. Mr. Hoag's energy is no better evidenced than by the fact that within six months he had erected a brick foundry on his property, and began work therein during the following April. This enterprise Mr. Hoag made a success, as he invariably did such enterprises as he connected himself with, continuing its active personal management until 1860, when his health had failed in so marked a degree that his physician advised him to relinquish his confining business entirely, and take a necessary season of rest and recreation. He leased his foundry to a company of Albany men for five years, and devoted himself to the care of his garden, pleasurable pursuits and such gentle exercise as was most conducive to good health, with such results that his physical condition was vastly improved.

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CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- INDUSTRIES.

In 1838 he united with the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, and was long officially connected therewith, and one of the most earnest and liberal contributors to its support and advance- ment. When, in the summer of 1860, its house of worship was destroyed by fire, he was one of the foremost in working to save it, and in all measures for its rebuilding took a leading po- sition, and was a member of its Building Commit- tee. Under their supervision, the erection of a stone edifice of the Netherland Gothic style was begun in October, 1860, and completed in Jan- uary, 1863.

Since his retirement from business in 1860, Mr. Hoag has not re-entered the manufacturing business in any of its branches; but he has been, as he was previously, prominently identified with several of Schenectady's leading commercial inter- ests. He was a stockholder in the Mohawk Bank, and for twenty-two years, until his resignation about a year ago, a Director in the Schenectady Bank. At various times other important interests have com- manded his co-operation. During the past twenty years, the general confidence in his honor and business ability have been attested by his adminis- tration of two estates, and his closing out of two others by power of attorney. One of these estates required six years of his time in its settlement, and was divided among thirty-five heirs to their general satisfaction. The settlement of another one of them, the real estate of which was located in Michigan and Delaware, consumed five years of Mr. Hoag's careful attention.

Since the organization of the Republican party, Mr. Hoag has been identified with it; prior to that time he was a Whig, holding principles nearly akin to those of the earlier Republicans. He has represented his ward in the City Government several times as Alderman, and some years ago was chosen Mayor, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of an incumbent of that office. His administra- tion of all trusts, private, public, commercial and political, has been marked by the uprightness and careful intelligence which have characterized him through life. He is one of the many self-made men of Schenectady, and one of the few who stand as connecting links between the Schenectady of fifty years ago and the Schenectady of to-day. Now in his seventy-fifth year, in the enjoyment of good health and a fine intellect, with no wish for worldly honors, made happy by those he loves, he calmly awaits the summons to the reward of a well-spent life.

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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 247

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