Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 75

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 75

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The Merchants' Union was consolidated with the American, December 1, 1868, and had an office in Albany, southwest corner of Broadway and Maiden lane during its existence there. Mr. D. T. Hunt was agent.

THE NATIONAL EXPRESS COMPANY.

The original projector of this excellent company was J. A. Pullen. He was an early and efficient aid of Harnden, and served as messenger in 1842, between New York, Albany and Troy, via the Hud- son River steamboats.

In the winter of 1843-43, Harnden having sold out his Hudson River Express, Pullen & Copp started a like business from New York to Albany, Troy, and Saratoga Springs. At this time Pomeroy & Co. were doing business between Albany and Buffalo.

In 1844 or 1845, these two companies made a division of their routes, Pullen & Copp taking Troy, north; Pomeroy & Co., Albany, west. Copp re- tired and Major Pullen took E. L. Stone as a part- ner. In 1843, Mr. Jacobs had started an express from Albany to Montreal. E. H. Virgil acted as

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

his messenger and agent for about a year, and then, in company with N. G. Howard, purchased Jacobs' interest. Its route was by packet boats or stage from Albany to Whitehall; thence, north, by other conveyance. It connected at Troy and Albany with Pullen & Co. Early in 1844, H. F. Rice bought Howard's interest, and the firm became Virgil & Rice. Soon after it changed to Pullen, Virgil & Co.'s Express. Office in Exchange Building.

Upon the opening of the Albany Northern Rail- road in 1845, Robert L. Johnson and others estab- lished a northern express, under the style of Johnson & Co., from Albany to Rutland. This enterprise came in competition with Pullen, Virgil & Co. In the spring of 1855, it became a joint stock express under the style of the National Ex- press Company. E. H. Virgil, of Troy, was super- intendent of the routes, and Robert L. Johnson, agent, located in Old Exchange Building. At the present writing, in 1885, the record of this com- pany in the county is as follows: Commenced business in 1849 in the Exchange Building, the ground now occupied by the Government Building; in 1873 removed to the corner of Maiden lane and Dean street, in a large, capacious building owned by the company, in which are their several offices. James W. Hutt, General Superintendent; George W. Slingerland, Assistant Superintendent. The railroads upon which this company does business to or from Albany are the Rensselaer and Saratoga; Albany and Susquehanna; New York, West Shore and Buffalo. There are, in the county, twenty-six offices, one hundred and twenty-eight employees, and twenty-two horses in daily use.

THOMPSON & CO.'S WESTERN EXPRESS

Was commenced in 1841 by William F. Harn- den. Its route was from Boston to Albany, and its original agent in Albany was Henry Wells. In 1844, Harnden & Co. sold this Western Express to James M. Thompson, its agent. The new prop. ietor was shrewd, systematic and persevering. E. Lamb Stone, Thompson's earliest agent in Albany, was succeeded in the autumn of 1844 by Robert L. Johnson, then only seventeen years old. He had been, for a year or two, a clerk for Pomeroy & Co.'s Express. When, in May, 1845, Thompson & Co. occupied the same premises, Exchange Building, in Albany, he acted as their agent. In 1847, R. L. Johnson, the Albany agent, started an express between Albany and Troy, over the Troy and Greenwich Railroad, acting as his own messenger.

He continued in this service until the spring of 1853, when he was taken into the partnership of Thompson & Co. This company connected at Albany with the American Express Company, and Johnson acted as agent.

The Albany, Springfield and Boston route was sold to the American by J. M. Thompson, R. L. Johnson and William N. Melcher in 1861.

HOWARD & CO.'S EXPRESS.

N. G. Howard was agent for Harnden & Co. at Albany in the summer of 1842. In the following year he became associated with E. C. Bailey, under the style of Bailey & Howard. Harnden, desirous of connecting at Albany with some other express than Pomeroy & Co., brought into existence Bailey & Howard, which firm soon dissolved. Shortly after abandoning his Albany and Buffalo enterprise, Howard joined E. H. Virgil in running an express between Albany and Montreal. This proving up- hill work, Howard accepted an offer from Harnden to take charge of the Philadelphia office, which he did in the spring of 1844.

In 1866 The Merchants' Union Express Com- pany was organized as a stock company of prom- inent men, with a large capital. This proved un- successful, and the company was consolidated, December 1, 1868, with the American, under the name of The American Merchants' Union Express Company. This name was retained until Febru- ary 1, 1873, when it was changed to

THE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY.

By these consolidations, and the vast growth of its operations in the Far West, the capital of the American was increased to $18,000,000. Its managing forces were augmented by the accession of Messrs. Theo. M. Pomeroy, General John N. Knapp and William H. Seward, and two other business men of capital, enterprise and approved judgment, thus rendering it without a superior among the mercantile institutions of America.

The American Express Company doing busi- ness in Albany County is largely the growth from seed sown by such men as Henry Wells, Crawford Livingston, William A. Livingston, R. L. Johnson and George Pomeroy. More than two-score years ago, in 1841, when Harnden induced Henry Wells to serve him as agent, Wells, then young, sanguine, full of energy and willing to work, fixed his headquarters in Albany. He became associ- ciated with George Pomeroy and Crawford Liv-

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EXPRESS BUSINESS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

ingston, in 1842, in the Hudson River Express, and having been an agent and runner for the river steamboats, he was well schooled for this special enterprise and proved a valuable partner. Craw- ford Livingston at this time was a coal merchant, with only a few hundred dollars at his command. With his associates and unremitting hard work, he commanded respect and was in a measure pros- perous. Pomeroy and Wells had, so far, served as the two messengers of the concern, having a desk in the Exchange Building, where the first ex- press business was transacted in this city. Many years afterwards it was a daily scene of hurry and commotion. Dispatch and delivery were executed promptly. Crawford Livingston was on hand here daily, a most indefatigable agent, clerk and man- ager, his firm representing both Pomeroy & Co. and Harnden & Co. Samuel Carter became assist- ant agent in this office. Crawford Livingston re- moved to New York to take charge of the business of the new firm of Livingston, Wells & Co., William A. Livingston taking his brother's place in Albany. Soon after this, in 1844, the Western Express Forwarders became identified with a new force, the late William G. Fargo becoming resident part- ner and manager at Buffalo, assisted, subsequently, by his brothers, James C. and Charles Fargo. The Western Express firm name was Livingston, Fargo & Co., its style in Albany being originally Livingston, Wells & Co., and after Crawford Liv- ingston's death, in 1847, Wells & Co. "Robbie" L. Johnson at that time was label boy and general helper in the Albany office. He was a bright, rosy-faced, energetic, honest little fellow, and grew into great popularity and prosperity in the express service in Albany. He became a partner and local agent for Pullen, Virgil & Co.'s Troy and Montreal Express, now the National Express Company; also partner of Thompson & Co. Mr. Johnson was a man remarkable for his strict integrity, great financial and executive ability, and superior busi- ness qualities. In his social relations he was re- spected by all, a worthy citizen of whom Albany was proud. He died here a few years ago. The agents who have served the American at Albany since the beginning, in 1842, have been Henry Wells, Agent of Harnden's Boston and New York Express and Pomeroy & Co.'s Hudson River Express, which were merged in Livingston, Wells & Co. in 1843, with Crawford Livingston as Agent; in 1845, Will- iam C. Spencer was Agent. In 1850, Butterfield, Wasson & Co.'s Express was consolidated with it, under the corporate name of The American Express Company. Henry Wells was President ; John

Butterfield, Vice-President; William C. Fargo, Sec- retary; and Alexander I! l'and, Treasurer, who served for thirty-five years.

The Superintendent of the New York State East- ern Division of the American, M. B. White, long resided at Albany. He was, in October, 1867, succeeded by E. H. Sly, who as clerk, messenger, and line superintendent or route agent between Albany and New York, resided here. For a year past C. W. Selleck has served the company in like capacity. It has headquarters on the second floor of the Express Building, corner of Broadway and Steuben streets. John L. Van Valkenburgh, who was first employed by the company in March, 1863, succeeded Mr. Sly as superintendent, Feb- ruary, 1874. He is still the highly esteemed, popular and faithful agent of the popular Amer- ican, with a force of fifteen clerks, forty messengers and general supervision. The business requires the services of twenty-four horses, twelve drivers, and other helpers as needed.

The business of this company was originally from Albany to New York City by the river, and extended to Buffalo, via several short railroads and stage lines, in 1845. Now, and for thirty-five years past, it is making full use of the Hudson River Railroad and the New York Central, with their connections, and the Boston and Albany Railroad. It has exclusive control of 34,417 miles of railroad, 4,718 offices and 7,053 em- ployees.

Other line superintendents are or have been A. G. Nickerson, J. Schermerhorn, H. M. Dwight, and John B. Prentiss, with headquarters at Syra- cuse.

The American is fortunate in retaining the best of its employees, and when, after many years faith- ful service, they decline into the sear and yellow leaf, and, unfitted for the active duties of express- men, become superannuated, the company accords them pensionary support adequate to their neces- sities, and respects them for their past fidelity and usefulness. Among this class in Albany, the most worthy of honorable mention are Andrew Weather- wax and B. P. Wheeler, who have served as ex- press messengers thirty-two years each. Alexander Stone, in the American's service twenty-five years, is still on a money wagon, performing daily duty, greatly respected by the company and its many customers in this city.

The writer is specially indebted to A. L. Stimson and John L. Van Valkenburg for kindly giving aid and counsel in making up this express history.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

BAGGAGE EXPRESS.

This branch of business was begun in Albany as carly as 1868, by Ransom Garrett and Thomas H. Wygant, from and to the railroad and steamboat depots. Wygant & Co. have been represented by'T. H. Wygant, T. B. Morrow and George Hendrick-on. The firm is now composed of T. H. Wygant and George Hendrickson. Baggage is received, del.v- ered or transferrel, at small expense, to the several railroad depots, steamboat landings, hotels or pri- vate residences in any part of the city. Agents pass through the principal and express ] assenger trains when nearing the city, collect checks, and upon arrival deliver the baggage with promptness. They also answer calls by telephone and receive orders by call books in the baggage-rooms of the differ-

ent depots and several designated places in the city. The charges are : Inside of Lark, Arch and Livingston avenues, thirty cents for a single piece of baggage, and twenty-five cents for each addi- tional piece, and special rates for combinations, with charges according to distance, beyond speci- fied rates. Union Depot, Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and West Shore Railroad Depots are the principal offices. The company employs fifteen persons and thirteen horses. Connected with their business is a boarding stable located at 46 Spencer street.

The Albany Five Cent City Express is located at No. 8 James street and does a good business.

The Cohoes, Troy and Lansingburgh Express has an office at 74 Stite street. It transports mer- chandise, ctc., by wagons.

TELEGRAPH BUSINESS.

THE City of Albany is very intimately connected with the early history of telegraphy. Per- haps, with the exception of S. F. B. Morse, no one performed a more important part in discovering the means of transmitting intelligent sounds through wire by magnetic force than Joseph Henry, a native of Albany, who from 1826 to 1832 was one of the professors in the Albany Academy. It was in an upper room of the academy building that Henry first demonstrated the theory of the telegraph, by the transmission of the tones of a bell through a mile of wire strung around the room. It has been well said : "The click heard from every joint of those mystic wires which now link together every city and village all over this continent, is but the echo of that little bell which first sounded in the upper room of the Albany Academy." Professor Henry had long been a sanguine believer that elec- tricity would ultimately accomplish all it has in the transmission of sound, and as early as 1829, by successful experiments, had discovered many of the fundamental principles of telegraphy. An article on this subject written by him, and pub- lished in a scientific journal in 1831, attracted much attention. In fact so many important dis- coveries on this subject were made by Professor Henry, that some of the scientific men of to-day regard him as the originator of the underlying principles of the Morse system of telegraphy. The relationship between Henry and Morse was close and intimate, as revealed by the friendly corre-

spondence between them on a subject so dear to both, a number of years prior to Morse's well- known triumph in 1844. From Professor Henry, Morse. admitted having not only received much encouragement, but much practical assistance. Our venerated townsman, Professor Philip Ten Eyck, once a professor in Albany Academy, well remembers Professor Henry's experiments and the assistance he rendered.

After Morse had demonstrated the success of his experiments, by sending a message over a wire stretched from Baltimore to Washington in 1844, it was not long before men of capital began to take hold of the scheme.

Prominent among the men in this State to be- come interested in the new telegraph enterprise in 1845, were Theodore S. Faxton, John Butterfield and Hiram Greenman, three men well known in Albany at this time as pioneers of the old stage line through central and eastern New York. They went to Washington, and with the utmost care made themselves familiar with all the details, and formed a favorable judgment of an invention then but little understood, and looked upon with incre- dulity. Early in June, Mr. Butterfield closed a con- tract with Mr. Kendall to erect a line of the Morse telegraph between Springfield, Mass., and Buffalo, via Albany, and from Albany to New York.

July 16, 1845, an association was formed in Utica to construct the Springfield, Albany and Buffalo Telegraph Line. Trustees were appointed.

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TELEGRAPH BUSINESS.

These were Theodore S. Faxton, John Butterfield, Hiram Greenman, Henry Wells and Crawford Liv- ingston. The capital was fixed at $200,000, with power to increase it to $250,000. The trustees be- came the contractors to construct the line, which was to consist of two copper wires.

At this time this enterprise was looked upon as foolish and impracticable. Steps were soon taken to prove it could be made of practical utility. In September, 1845, a wire was stretched from Utica to the fair grounds, and the successful working of the system was regarded with wonder and amaze- ment. November 7, 1845, a wire was run from Buffalo to Lockport, being the first line opened in America for regular commercial business. Mean- while the State was canvassed and a fair subscrip- tion secured. No interest was taken, strange to say, by Albany capitalists in this movement.

The first section of the new line was built between Albany and Utica. To this Mr. Faxton devoted his whole time. In this city, where he was well known, he did not receive much encouragement; some of his friends even laughed at what they con- sidered his foolish zeal, and predicted naught but failure.

The line between Albany and Utica was finished and ready for business, January 31, 1845. The Albany office was located in the old Exchange Building, and was under the management of O. S. Wood and S. P. Carter. The opening of this office caused great excitement in the city. The newspapers of that day show how intensely the peo- ple were moved. One of the earlier feats of these primitive times was to telegraph from Albany to Utica the New York news brought up by the Albany boats which arrived in Albany in the morning.

The line from Albany to New York was com- pleted July 3, 1846; to Hudson, October 28, 1846; Troy, August 7th; Syracuse, May Ist; Auburn, May 25th; to Geneva, November 9th.

When the office was opened in Rochester, June Ist, the whole city seemed in a general excitement. The papers gave glowing descriptions of the ma- chinery and the influence which the telegraph was to exert on human history.

Connection was made with Buffalo, July 3, 1846; and the whole line from Buffalo to New York com- pleted September 9, 1846.

January 5, 1847, Governor Young's message of 5,000 words was sent from Albany to New York in two and one-half hours by W. C. Buel and John Johnson. This was regarded as a wonderful per- formance.

During the winter of 1846-7, a severe sleet storm nearly demolished the wires from Albany to Am- sterdam, and from Troy to Hudson, suspending operations for six weeks. The comparative strength of iron and copper wire to withstand the force of a severe storm was then demonstrated in favor of iron wire, now in universal use.

May 1, 1847, when the Albany office had been removed to the Delevan House, Mr. Carter, the manager, while receiving a message from Utica, found the paper had become twisted. As he with difficulty attempted to translate, W. C. Buel, the assistant manager, who was sitting near, said: “I think Utica asks ' if the nine o'clock train has ar- rived.'" Scarcely knowing how the intelligence came to him, Carter was much astonished to find it correct. Mr. Ten Eyck, of the Evening Journal, who was present, made the incident the subject of an article, which was extensively copied, even in Europe. Thus Buel is justly claimed to be one of the original sound readers.

The success of the Springfield, Albany and Buffalo Company awakened opposition. About two years after the establishment of this line, the House State Printing Telegraph Company constructed a line from New York to Buffalo by way of Albany, and opened an office in this city in the Exchange Building; but subsequently removed to the old Museum Building. The method of receiving messages by this company was somewhat different from the Morse system, which at this time consisted of certain signs punc- tured on white paper, to be translated by the oper- ator. By the House method the messages as received were printed in Roman characters, the wires being connected with a type machine, with alphabetical keys similar to the present type-writing machines. A short time after the House Company became established, the Merchants' State Telegraph Company was constructed from New York to Buffalo. This company used what was known as the Bain patent. The existence of this line was mainly owing to the exertions of Henry O'Reilly, of Rochester, and by his name the company was generally known. Its office in this city was in the old Museum Building. This line was run as an opposition line to the Springfield, Albany and Buffalo Company and the House Company, until 1852, when it was consolidated with the former company.

In 1857, the American and the New York, Al- bany and Buffalo lines were formed. The latter company at this time purchased the property and rights of the House Printing Company. The office

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of the American was located at 450 Broadway, and in 1864, removed to the corner of State and Broad- way. It had connections with Boston, Providence, St. Johns, Pittsfield, Springfield, Hartford, Port- land, Halifax, and intermediate places, with con- necting lines to all other parts of the Eastern States and the British Provinces.

From 1864 to 1866, the United States Telegraph Company had an office in this city in the Exchange Building.

In 1864, the Western Union Company was formed. It was originally a Western line, known as the Mississippi Valley Telegraph Company, its lines running from Mississippi to Buffalo. In the same year it purchased the New York, Albany and Buffalo line, and the Springfield, Albany and Buffalo line, which, from 1845 to this date, had an office in this city. Thus was opened up a direct communication between the West and New York City. The central office in Albany was located in the old Museum Building, under the management of George B. Prescott. Up to the time of the sale of the Springfield, Albany and Buffalo line to the Western Union, its affairs had been managed in this city, besides those already mentioned, by C. S. Cutler, J. R. W. Johnston, S. C. Rice, E. S. Keep, C. S. Jones, M. L. Morgan and Fred H. Law- rence.

In 1866, the Western Union purchased the United States line, and from this time to 1870, when the Atlantic and Pacific line was constructed, had a monopoly of the telegraph business in this section.

The Atlantic and Pacific Company's office was first located at 463 Broadway, and afterwards removed to 444 Broadway, with branch offices in the Lum- ber District and at the Capitol.

In 1877, this company was consolidated with the Western Union. The Western Union had no other competing line in this city until the American Union line was constructed in 1880, with an office at 444 Broadway. But this company was in existence but a short time, when it was consolidated with the Western Union.

In 1882, two competing lines were constructed, with offices in Albany, the Mutual Union and the American Rapid. The former opened an office at

462 Broadway and the latter at the corner of State and James. Neither existed as a separate com- pany more than a year, the Mutual Union becom- ing consolidated with the Western Union, and the American Rapid being leased to the Bankers' and Merchants'.

In 1884, the Bankers' and Merchants' and the Baltimore and Ohio opened offices in this city, the former at 444 Broadway and the latter at 462 Broad- way. The Bankers' and Merchants', a short time ago, was sold to the United line. Its office in this city is now under the capable management of J. H. Rugg, who for many years has been connected with the telegraph business in Albany. The Baltimore and Ohio in this city is under the management of E. J. Slattery. This company has branch offices in this county at West Troy and Coeymans. The central office of the Western Union in this city is located in the old Museum Building at the corner of State and Broadway, with branch offices at the Capitol, West Albany, Delevan House, Union Depot, Lumber District, People's Line Office, Delaware and Hudson Canal Railroad Office, and at the Kenmore Hotel. Out- side of this city, within the county, it has offices at West Troy, Cohoes and Coeymans. Its local man- agement is under F. W. Sabold.

In 1871, the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad and the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company constructed a line of telegraph along their respective roads and opened offices in this city. These lines are still in use, but only for the accom- modation of the respective railroad companies, and not for the general public.

The American District Telegraph Company, chartered in 1875, is simply a local telegraph line, with messenger service for the City and County of Albany. It went into operation in 1876, with a central office at 444 Broadway, afterwards removed to 468 Broadway. It is now owned by the Com- mercial Telephone Company, under the manage- ment of A. B. Uline.

The Capital District Telegraph Company, similar to the American District, went into operation in this city in 1881, with a central office at No. 100 State street, and is now under the management of W. H. Hamilton.

THE TELEPHONE AND MESSENGER SERVICE.

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THE TELEPHONE AND MESSENGER SERVICE.

THIS comes from one of the most recent and remarkable inventions which contribute to man's innumerable wants. In this county it was the outgrowth of the American District Telegraph Company, located in the City of Albany, and char- tered in November, 1875. It began operations in February, 1876, by instituting messenger service, which has been, in part, superseded by the tele- phone.

The American District Telegraph Company made a contract with the Bell Telephone Company, of Boston, for the use of the latter's instruments, in March, 1878, and in May established a telephone exchange in Albany, with about one hundred sub- scribers. The Albany District Company controlled the business until July, 1879, when the Commer- cial Telephone Company began operations in the city.

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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 75

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