Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 78

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 78

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In 1790, a Society was instituted for the Pro- motion of Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures. Among its active members were Chancellor Liv- ingston, Simeon De Witt and Ezra L'Hommedieu. The society continued its labors and issued its publications until 1804, when it was merged into the Society for the Promotion of the Useful Arts. It subsequently was merged in the Albany In- stitute.

The first anniversary address was delivered be- fore the society, January, 1792, by the learned Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell.

ALBANY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

IN 1818, an Albany County Agricultural Society existed, which received $350 from the State, and held three annual fairs. The first annual ex- hibition of the Albany and Rensselaer Horticul- tural Society was held in the Geological Rooms, Albany, September, 1848. Fairs and exhibitions followed in 1849 and 1850. The town of Coey- mans organized an Agricultural Society in 1851, with James W. Jolley, President. This was after- ward merged into the County Society.

Thursday, May 14, 1853, a meeting was held in the rooms of the State Agricultural Society at Albany for the purpose of organizing an agricultural soci- ety for the County of Albany. At this meeting James W. Jolley, of Coeymans, was called to the chair, and Joseph Warren, of Albany, acted as Secretary. After the usual preliminary discussion, the organization was effected by the election of the following officers : President, James W. Jolley ; Treasurer, E. E. Platt ; Secretary, Joseph Warren ; with a Vice-President for each town.

The first annual fair of this society was held at Bethlehem Centre, October 4, 5 and 6, 1853. The receipts were $900. The fair grounds were lo- cated too far from the city, with no conveniences for reaching them.

The second annual fair took place on the Wash- ington Parade Grounds in November, 1854.

1855 .- The third annual fair was held on Washington Parade Grounds, September 25, 26 and 27.

January 2, 1856, the society was reorganized, with Levi Shaw, President ; Richard Kimmey, Vice-President ; Charles R. Wooley, Secretary ; L. G. Ten Eyck, Treasurer.

1856 .- The fourth annual fair was held on Washington Parade Grounds, September 23, 24 and 25.

1857 .- Joseph Hilton, President. Fair was held in Albany in October.

1858 .- William Hurst, President. Fair held on Washington Parade Grounds, September 21, 22, 23, 24.

1859 and 1860 .- William Hurst, President. Fair held at Albany, September 18, 19, 20, 21.

1861 .-- Wm. Hurst, President. No fair this year.

1862 .- William Tuttle, President.

May 8, 1862, was organized the Town Union Agricultural Association of the County of Albany. The following officers were elected: President, Jurian Winne; Vice-President, James W. Jolley; Treasurer, Wm. H. Slingerland; Secretary, Samuel C. Bradt.

June 7, 1862, The Town Union Agricultural Association, at a special meeting, changed its title to Albany County Agricultural Society. Its organ- ization was made to conform to the Act of April 13, 1855. The officers chosen were: President, Jurian Winne; Vice-President, James W. Jolley; Treasurer, Wm. H. Slingerland; Secretary, Samuel C. Bradt. No fair held this year.

1863 .- Jurian Winne, President. Fair held on Washington Parade Grounds, September 29, 30 and October 1 and 2. Receipts, $4,000.

1864 .- Leonard G. Ten Eyck, President. Oc- tober 4, 5, 6 and 7. Fair held on Parade Grounds.

1865 .- Henry Callahan, President. Albany and Rensselaer Counties jointly held a fair on Island Park, September 19, 20, 21 and 22.

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THE SHAKERS OF ALBANY COUNTY.

1866 .- Jacob Messenger, President. Fair held last week in September.

1867 .- The Albany City and County Agricul- tural and Industrial Societies held a fair and exhi- bition in Albany in September.

1869 .- Joseph Hilton, President. The above societies held their fair and exhibition at Albany the first week in October.

1871 .- William Ramsay, President; D. V. S. Raynsford, Treasurer; Thomas Bagley, Superin- tendent ; John H. Farrell, Secretary. August 13th of this year the society was organized as a stock company. A fair was held at Hurstville in Octo- ber. The weather was rainy and unfavorable, and financially it was a failure, being remote from the city and attended with many incon- veniences.

1872 .- George Tweddle, President. No fair.

1873 .- December 2d, the Albany County Society held a meeting to elect officers.

1873 .- In the month of June the Albany Agri- cultural and Art Association was organized; Presi- dent, Thomas W. Olcott; Vice-President, Maurice E. Viele; Treasurer, Wm. H. Haskell; Secretary, Volkert P. Douw.

The society purchased about forty-four acres of land four miles north of the city, between

the Watervliet turnpike and horse railway on the east, and the Albany and Saratoga Railroad on the west. This location was adapted to the purposes intended by the society as permanent exhibition grounds, with all the necessary buildings, ma- chinery and other facilities to render them attract- ive, convenient and comfortable for general and special purposes.

The ground was planned by John Bogart, who superintended the grading, road-making, plant- ing trees and other improvements. The soci- ety erected buildings, sheds, machinery depart- ments, offices and other structures, at a cost of $30,000. The ground was inclosed by a close fence. On the west, platforms were erected for railroad conveniences. The New York State Agri- cultural Society held their fair on these grounds after completion of buildings in 1873.

1874 .- Thomas W. Olcott, President. This so- ciety, with the Albany County Society, held a joint fair on these grounds September 22, 23, 24, 25. Volkert P. Douw, Superintendent.

The last officers elected for Albany County Agri- cultural Society were George Tweddle, President; John H. Farrell, Secretary; D. V. S. Raynsford, Treasurer. The society has held no fairs since 1874.

THE SHAKERS OF ALBANY COUNTY.

THE United Society of Believers, called Shakers, reside in the township of Watervliet, and are located at Shaker Post-office, six miles north of Albany. The post-office was established in 1871.

This settlement was founded as a religious and secular society in the year 1775, by Ann Lee, born in Manchester, England, in 1736. She came to America when she was 38 years old, with a few of her followers.

The society now has four families, called the Church family, the North family, the West family and the South family, all numbering about 300 souls. Mother Ann, as she was called, died Sep- tember 8, 1784, and is buried in the Shaker cemetery, in a plain plat of inclosed ground, with nothing to mark the spot save a simple slab of white marble inscribed with the name of the dead.

Our article is compiled from verbal statements and from a volume prepared by Calvin Green and Seth Y. Wells. The doctrine and faith

of this society are fully treated in this book as those which Mother Ann taught. They are sub- stantially as follows : The second appearing of Christ in person; that all will become Christ's when fitted by self-denial; that Jesus became the Christ at His baptism; the community of all temporal things and effects; a life of consecrated celibacy; non-resistance and freedom from the strifes of war; and non-interference with political parties, with no distinction of government.

The society owns about 3,000 acres of land in different parts of the town, which is in a good state of cultivation, and upon which productive crops of grass, grain, broom corn, vegetables and fruit are grown. About 100 head of neat cattle furnish the several families with the necessary dairy supplies, and 50 horses are required for labor on the farms, trucking and marketing. The pursuits of the people are varied according to the wants of the society and the demands of trade. Some are

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

engaged in agriculture, some in horticulture, and some in the mechanical arts. Still others are en- gaged in canning fruit and vegetables, while the saw-mill, broom factory and several other shops give employment to many busy hands.

The domestic and household affairs are presided over by faithful superintendents, assisted by the necessary help. Order, system, neatness and punc- tuality prevail in every department.

Their dwellings, offices, factories, shops, store- houses and farm-buildings of every description are all substantial, plain structures, built for use, not ornament, containing all the necessary improve- ments of modern invention that skill can devise for the convenience of man and the comfort of domestic animals. The mechanical work in its several branches is performed by members of the society, many of whom are skilled workmen. Water and steam power are used for manufacturing purposes. During the season of general admission to their Sabbath worship, great crowds from the surrounding country visit them, mostly to hear their impressive singing and witness their peculiar danc- ing. Their present church edifice is a large plain building, having a seating capacity for 1, coo persons.

In their moral training they are carefully taught to regard the principles of lionesty, punctuality and uprightness in all their conduct; to keep a con- science void of offense towards God and all men ; to be neat, cleanly and industrious; to observe the rules of prudence, temperance and chastity; to subdue all feelings of selfishness and hatred; to let the law of kindness, love and charity govern all their feelings towards each other; to shun contention and strife; careful neither to give nor take offense; to conduct themseves with civility, decency and good order before all people; to promote the happiness of each other; and to live in gospel purity, peace, union, and social harmony. These are among those virtuous principles which actuate the people of the United Society in all their temporal concerns, and which tend greatly to promote the health and prosperity of the society, and insure the blessings of divine providence upon all their labors.

A well conducted monthly, called the Shaker Manifesto, is published in this community, edited by Rev. G. A. Lomas. All visitors, if courteous themselves, are treated with marked attention and courtesy. The business relations of these people with merchants, and all others who have dealings with them, are those of well-established integrity and trust.

The history of this interesting society in its origin is so peculiar, and so largely identified with

our county, that we give it more in detail. Mother Ann, while in England, was often shamefully abused and a number of times imprisoned upon various charges brought by her enemies ; after a time her people were allowed to enjoy their faith in peace, but their public testimony ceased in England about a year before they embarked for America.

Mother Ann was, by a special revelation, direct- ed to repair to America, and this revelation was communicated to the society, which was confirmed by signs, visions and manifestations to many of the members, who were given permission to accompany her. Accordingly, those who became the com- panions of Mother Ann in her voyage to America, and professedly members of her society, were Abraham Stanley, her husband, William Lee, her brother, James Whittaker, John Hocknell, Richard Hocknell, James Shepherd, Mary Partington and Nancy Lee.

Having settled their affairs, they embarked at Liverpool on board the ship Mariah, Captain Smith, of New York, and sailed on the 19th of May, 1774. After enduring the storms and dangers of the sea in an old leaky ship, they arrived safely in New York on the 6th of August following.

After Mother Ann and her little family arrived in this country, they passed through many scenes of difficulty of a temporal nature. Being strangers in the land and without any means of subsistence, they were obliged to seek employment where they could find it, and at the same time arrange plans for their future residence. Accordingly, William Lee and John Hocknell went up the river and con- tracted for a lot of land in the County of Albany. Mother Ann, her brother William, and the others went to Albany, where they found employment. But she did not reside there permanently. In the beginning of the autumn of 1775 Abraham Stanley was taken sick, and, after his recovery, and before he was fully able to labor, he began to associate with the wicked and lewd, and lost all sense of religion. Unwilling to forsake his wicked ways, the relation between Mother Ann and her hus- band ceased. Jobn Hocknell, with his family, re- turned from England December 25, 1775, and met Mother Ann in New York, where they re- mained until February following, and then went on to Albany by land. Having brought their effects from New York after the opening of the river, their next object was to prepare for a settle- ment in the wilderness by clearing their land, erecting suitable buildings and making other nec- essary provisions, which they accomplished in the

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course of the summer, and in the month of Sep- tember, 1776, they took up their residence in the woods of what is now Watervliet, about six miles northwest of Albany City. These lands were in the Van Rensselaer manor and were leased from the Patroon on the usual terms and conditions, and were mostly the light sandy plains of the vicinity. Here, in a wilderness state, they began with zeal and industry, through sufferings, to prepare the way for a permanent settlement. Here they held their meetings for three years and a half, until the way was opened for giving their testimony to the world in the spring of 1780.

During this year the society was encouraged in its work by additions to their numbers; new con- verts were added, and their meetings were largely attended by persons from a distance, notably from New Lebanon. From various parts of the country many embraced the faith of the society. This new sect and their religion were looked upon by the world as fanatical. The country being at war, these people were accused of being enemies to freedom. The charge of treason was publicly made against them. In consequence of these accusa- tions, Mother Ann and a number of the leading characters were, in the month of July, imprisoned in Albany. This naturally excited great sympathy, and as they appeared an inoffensive people, many from various quarters visited them and were soon convinced not only of their innocence, but of the truth of their testimony.

Their enemies were highly offended when they saw their object defeated, and concluded that by separating Mother Ann from her followers, the so- ciety would come to an end. They sent her down the river about the middle of August, with a view to banish her to the British army, then in New York; but not being able to accomplish their ob- ject she was landed at Poughkeepsie, and impris- oned in the jail of that town.

About the 20th December following, those who had been confined at Albany for five months were released without trial. They immediately visited Mother Ann at Poughkeepsie, and through their intercession with Governor George Clinton, she was released about the last of December. Thus ended the only imprisonment they suffered in America.

On May 3, 1781, Mother Ann, with some of her followers, set out on a visit to Harvard, in Massachussetts. But here, as usual, she met enemies, and persecution was at once set in mo- tion. Every evil report and every wicked device were called forth to render them odious in the eyes

of the people. The usual charges of being enemies to the country, of living in debauchery and prac- ticing witchcraft were alleged against them.

In consequence of these accusations they suffered much personal abuse, and were shame- fully and cruelly treated. These persecutions, how- ever, like the imprisonment at Albany, served only to accelerate the means of extending the testimony, which greatly increased the number of believers. About the beginning of July, 1783, they left Har- vard to return westward, and on their journey visited the other societies. Leaving New Lebanon on the 4th September, they returned to Water- vliet, having been absent two years and three months.

In July, 1784, the society was called to sustain a severe trial in the death of Elder William Lee. This event was soon followed by another, in the loss of the visible presence and protection of their dearly beloved Mother. Being herself sensible that her time was short, she often reminded the people of it and exhorted them to faithfulness and perseverance in the way of God. Having finished her work on earth, she was called to bid adieu to all worldly things, and was released from her labors, her sorrow and sufferings, and calmly resigned her soul to God, on the morning of September 8, 1784.

The society being now deprived of their faithful friend and guide, Elder James Whittaker succeed- ed her in the ministry, and was henceforth called Father James. The society labored on in the work before it, and, with increasing prosperity, saw the necessity of being gathered into a more united body, for greater protection and a further increase of their spiritual travail.

In the autumn of 1785, was raised the first house of public worship ever built by the society. From this time the affairs of the society began to assume a more regular form and order. This house still stands, well preserved.

Father James died July 20, 1787, and was suc- ceeded in the ministry by Joseph Meacham and Lucy Wright, who was appointed as the first lead- ing character in the female line. These two were established by the gift of God as spiritual parents in church relation and first ministers of gospel order. Under their ministration the people were gathered into a united body, and were gradually formed into church relation at New Lebanon, unit- ing their interests in one common stock, both spiritual and temporal, having all things in com- mon.

Mother Ann possessed remarkable powers and faculties of mind by nature, which were greatly

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

enlarged and strengthened by the gift of God. At times, when under the power and operation of the Holy Ghost, her countenance shone with the glory of God, and the influence of her spirit at such times was great beyond description, and no one

was able to gainsay or resist the authority by which she spoke. Her whole soul appeared to be always engaged in the work of God, and the Spirit of God seemed to breathe through all her words and actions.

TEMPERANCE WORK IN ALBANY COUNTY.

PEOPLE of different countries have many cus- - toms, habits, and social relations in common. These are dependent, in a measure, upon educa- tion, temperament, and constitutional heredity.

In the settlement of this county, it shared in both the good and the bad elements that were brought by the settlers. Perhaps no two greater evils could, by any possibility, have been introduced and fostered, under sanction of custom and law, than human slavery and intemperance caused by the use of alcoholic beverages. Both evils made rapid growth: the first through the slave trade, and the latter by immigration. Human slavery was abolished by statute in this State and county in 1827, without the loss of life or bloodshed; but the institution, as a national evil, existed in other States until 1863, when, through a war which cost thousands of lives and millions of dollars, slavery was forever abolished in the United States.

The future of this law-protected evil, the manu- facture and traffic in alcoholic and malt liquors, is becoming a national danger, and its final overthrow will require heroic measures. How to accomplish this is a momentous question, and has occupied the consideration of worthy and thoughtful men. It is not by any sudden or arbitrary legislation that great social evils and the burdens of human woes are lessened. Let children and youth have light. Let us have more formation and less reformation will be needed. Few are inade drunkards after they are forty years old. Few are reformed after they reach that age.

After many years of experience, temperance re- formers have learned that victorious parties are born of many elements in citizenship, gathered about one great issue of paramount importance, and parties die when they fail to force that issue upon the conscience and manhood of a free people.

For fifty years, or more, men and women have zealously labored to modify the traffic and sup- press the ravages of intemperance in this county,

and whatever of success has attended these efforts for mitigating the evil, opposing forces and special interests, arose dissensions and differences of opinion in regard to methods brought divisions; and numerous societies and organizations followed.

Temperance societies in the county did not assume much importance until about 1830.

One of the earliest societies was organized in 1828, in the school-house near Chesterville. The meeting was called and presided over by Deacon Holmes. Two persons signed what was called the open pledge, which allowed the person to drink all beverages but distilled liquors. Mr. Evans, one of the signers, is dead; the other, Peter P. Harrower, is living in Albany, an honored minister of the Methodist Church. This pledge proved a complete failure. A few years later, the principles of total abstinence were advocated and inserted in the pledges. Men who were at first unwilling to give this subject careful thoughit, began to investigate the facts that were presented, and many prominent citizens became convinced and identified with the efforts of societies that followed.

The following memoranda of early temperance movements and societies in Albany were furnished by Professor McCoy.

I. In the year 1832 there were fourteen temper- ance societies in Albany, with an aggregate mem- bership of 4, 164.

2. The First Ward Temperance Society, Erastus Corning, President, and Gerrit L. Dox, Secretary, had 1, 227 members.

3. The Second Ward Temperance Society, Charles R. Webster, President, and Eli Perry, Secretary, had 410 members.

4. The Third Ward Temperance Society, Uriah Marvin, President, and Israel Williams, Secretary, had a membership of 410.

5. The Fourth Ward Temperance Society, Joseph Alexander, President, and John Davis, Secretary, had 270 members.

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TEMPERANCE WORK IN ALBANY COUNTY.

6. The Fifth Ward Temperance Society, H. A. Fay, President, and George W. Carpenter, Secretary, had 349 members.

7. There was a Canal Temperance Society, of which Thaddeus Joy was President, and Horace Meech, Secretary.

8. The Albany Apprentices' Society numbered III members. E. J. Hosford was President, and William Bleeker, Secretary.

9. The Furriers' Temperance Society had 112 members. Ezra P. Prentice, President, and C. J Taylor, Secretary.

10. The Hibernian Temperance Society, Rev. Charles Smith, President, and P. M. Morange, Secretary, had 123 members.

II. The African Temperance Society had 192 members, with B. Lattimer, President, and Rich- ard Thompson, Secretary.

12. The Albany Young Men's Temperance Society, Bradford R. Wood, President, and Archi- bald McClure, Secretary, had 500 members.

13. There was an Albany County Temperance Society, membership not given, of which A. Platt was President, and Benjamin F. Butler, late Attorney-General of the United States, was Vice- President.

14. The Albany Academy Temperance Society, W. P. Pohlman, President, and E. T. Griffith, Secretary, numbered 150 members.

15. In some cases one person probably be- longed to two societies. Perhaps the total mem- bership in Albany County included 8, 500 persons. The total population of Albany in 1832, was 26,000.

16. 1832 was the year of the cholera. The whole number of deaths by cholera in Albany, of persons over ten years old, was 336. Of these but two were members of temperance societies.

17. The Albany Young Men's Temperance So- ciety probably led to the formation of the Albany Young Men's Association. The members of the former, Amos Dean, Bradford R. Wood and others, were founders of the latter.

The organization of these societies was largely due to the heroic labors, resolute purpose, and powerful influence of Edward C. Delavan, of Albany, a wine merchant, the great and well-known apostle of temperance, who, with a terrible fear- lessness and zeal advocated the suppression of tlie sale of intoxicants and the awful danger of drink- ing habits. He revolutionized customs which had been long in existence. His zeal in this reform was so great, that his opinions were at times uttered

with great vehemence and enthusiasm. His oppo- nents he treated with fairness; yet he never receded from what he believed to be right and just.

A temperance sentiment began to grow in Albany. It gained the attention of a few clergy- men and prominent citizens, who examined and approved the necessity of action in this reform. Public meetings were held, at which free discussion and inquiry were made. These meetings caused the organization of temperance societies as above. Public sentiment was changed. Clergymen did not hesitate to express their opinions. Eminent judges saw the evil. Chancellor Walworth said : "It was his opinion that the time would come when men would as soon be engaged in poisoning their neighbors' wells as dealing out to them in- toxicating drinks as a beverage."

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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 78

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