USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them preeminent in their own and many other states, Vol. 2 > Part 6
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In the spring of 1890 Dr. Wells cele- brated his seventieth birthday and the
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fiftieth anniversary of his entrance upon the profession of teaching, the same year marking the completion of a quarter cen- tury's work at Union College. Fifteen years longer he continued his connection, when the burden of years proved too heavy and he was retired professor emeri- tus. His beautiful home was on the col- lege grounds and there he celebrated his eighty-seventh birthday, April 4, 1907. He was beloved of the students, to whom he had endearingly become "Uncle Billy." At a meeting of the Chicago Alumni As- sociation twenty-five alumni of the col- lege banqueting at Chicago sent him this telegram: "Twenty-five nephews from Chicago and the Northwest extend heart- iest greeting, and best wishes for many years more with Old Union." His activ- ities were not confined by college walls. By voice and pen he was long known as one of the foremost educators. He lec- tured in all the great cities of the United States from Boston to San Francisco. He was the first European correspondent of the "New York Herald," and during his last great tour abroad was special corre- spondent of the "New York Mail and Ex- press." For over twenty years he was in charge of the foreign department of the "Methodist Review," and was a fre- quent editorial and general contributor to all the leading papers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Able articles from his pen also appeared in the "Independent," "Scribner's Monthly" and the "Century Magazine." He was associated with Dr. Taylor Lewis in the preparation of the "Book of Genesis for Lange's Commen- tary," and translated the Book of Ecclesi- astes for the same work. When the phil- anthropist, Daniel Drew, had in contem- plation the founding of Drew Theological Seminary, Professor Wells was one of the men who were called upon for advice and assistance. He took an active part in the
foundation of the seminary and was ever after on the board of trustees. He was a devoted Methodist and for twenty-five years superintendent of the Sunday school of State Street Methodist Episco- pal Church at Schenectady. He was elected and served as lay delegate to the general conference of his church in 1872, the first year laymen were admitted as delegates. He was again elected to the general conference of 1876 and served as one of the secretaries of that conference. At his death fitting memorials were passed by different bodies, from which we quote the faculty in part :
He was not only immensely useful to the col- lege by his scholarship and attainment, but made for himself a place in the hearts of the students, which he kept long after graduation. For nearly half a century he has been closely and affec- tionately connected with every one's thought of the college. As a personal friend Professor Wells was loved and honored, not only by the faculty, students and alumni of Union, but far more widely; for his sympathy and interests had brought him into connection with many per- sons and many institutions, and he came to no work or occupation where he did not attain the affection as well as the respect of those with whom he was associated.
The passing years but added to the kindliness of his nature, to his devotion to the College, and to his love for his pupils of the past and pres- ent. Not inappropriately was he called "The Grand Old Man of Union College."
Professor Wells married, July, 1854, Alice Yeckley, born at Gorham, Ontario county, New York, March 15, 1836, died at Schenectady, April 26, 1906. She was educated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and Genesee College (afterwards Syra- cuse University). They removed to Schenectady in 1865, and there resided until death. Like her husband, Mrs. Wells was a devoted Christian worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, espe- cially in missions and work among the young. She was for many years presi-
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dent of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the First (State Street) Church and for twelve years president of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Young Men's Christian Association. She organized and was president of the Mother's Club connected with the Young Women's Christian Association. She was closely identified with the social life of the col- lege, and in all respects was a worthy helpmeet and companion. One child, Alice M. Wells, survived her parents, re- siding in Schenectady. New York.
TILLINGHAST, Charles Whitney, Man of Affairs.
Charles Whitney Tillinghast, second son of Benjamin Allen and Julia Ann (Whitney) Tillinghast, was born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, May 23, 1824. He obtained his early education in pri- vate schools and then entered Kent Acad- emy in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. His educational progress was brilliant and he frequently earned many honors by his intellectuality. Subsequently he be- came a student at Talcot's private school at Lanesboro, Massachusetts, and his pur- suits there were crowned with many achievements.
He accompanied his parents to Troy, New York, in 1830, and from that time on to his death his interests were centered in that city. In 1840 he entered the hard- ware and iron business as a clerk for Warren, Hart & Lesley, which firm was succeeded by J. M. Warren and C. W. Tillinghast, under the name of J. M. War- ren & Company. In 1864 Thomas Allen Tillinghast became a member of the firm, and June 10, 1879, he died; February 10, 1887, the firm was incorporated as J. M. Warren & Company, with Joseph M. Warren, president; Charles Whitney Tillinghast, vice-president ; H. S. Darby, treasurer ; and Joseph J. Tillinghast, sec-
retary. Other incorporators were Charles Whitney Tillinghast, 2nd., son of Thomas Allen Tillinghast, F. A. Leeds and H. Frank Wood. September 9, 1896, Joseph M. Warren died and Charles Whitney Tillinghast succeeded to the presidency of the company, November 30, 1897. Joseph Joslin Tillinghast, who had suc- ceeded to the vice-presidency when his brother, Charles W., was elected presi- dent, died and was succeeded by his nephew, Charles Whitney Tillinghast, 2nd. The original house of J. M. Warren & Company was inaugurated in 1809, when Jacob Hart and Henry Mazro estab- lished a hardware business in Troy. There were firm changes and in 1836 Wil- liam H. Warren became a member of the firm that has ever since been in the War- ren name. When Mr. Tillinghast first be- came connected with the business, the books were kept in pounds, shillings and pence, postage between New York and Troy was eighteen and three-quarter cents. A private firm started an express that delivered letters for ten cents, which rate continued until the government re- duced the postage to five cents. The firm of J. M. Warren & Company carry on a large hardware jobbing business, and in their one hundred years of business life have made but three changes in location, all of which were within a few hundred feet of the original. The rapid growth of the business was largely due to the per- sonal efforts of Mr. Tillinghast. Follow- ing his advent into the firm the business increased to such a volume that addi- tional space was demanded, and they erected the warehouse on Front street connecting by a bridge with the main store situated on the corner of Broadway and River streets, and in 1870 the large and spacious building on the same corner was constructed and has since been the home of the concern. In the early days of this house nearly all the hardware sold
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was imported from England and Ger- many, orders had to be placed from four to six months in advance and all goods were manufactured to order, no stock being carried by manufacturers. A num- ber of employees have been with the firm for over a quarter of a century ; Samuel Kendrick, their first traveling salesman, was with them thirty-five years, and Wil- liam Bennett was in charge of the iron de- partment fifty years. In 1872 the com- pany purchased the Troy Stamping Com- pany's plant in South Troy and manufac- ture there tin and sheet iron ware.
Mr. Tillinghast's activity in the com- mercial life of Troy was marked by un- flagging industry, intelligent application to business, and the highest probity and integrity, which characterized his entire life. He helped to foster and develop the financial and business enterprises that are now the city's pride. He was vice- president of the United National Bank of Troy and the Troy Savings Bank; director of the Security Trust Company ; director of the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad Company, which was the first railroad to enter Troy, and on his retire- ment from the directorate in 1908 the board of directors passed resolutions of appreciation and regret. He was one of the first trustees of the Fuller & Warren Company which was incorporated De- cember 31, 1881, and was also most in- strumental in the establishment and ad- vancement of the Walter A. Wood Com- pany, of Hoosick Falls, New York. He was a member of the Troy Citizens' Corps prior to the war of the rebellion, and when the Old Guard was organized, July 25, 1879, as an auxiliary body, Mr. Tillinghast was chosen president and participated in 1878 with the company in the public escort at the funeral of Colonel James R. Hitchcock in New York. He was an honorary member of the corps at the time of his death.
Mr. Tillinghast was one of the first to start the project for a new post-office building in Troy, obtaining the petitions and statistics for the same, and he was one of the five citizens named as a com- mission to select a site for the govern- ment building. His only connection with municipal life was for a short period when he served as president of the pub- lic improvement commission. He was deeply interested in Troy's volunteer fire department, and was one of the charter members of the old Washington volun- teer steamer company, having served as its secretary and later as its captain. In subsequent years he directed his atten- tion to the Arba Read steamer company, and was one of the citizens who pur- chased the first engine for the company from private funds. He was instrumen- tal in the establishment and organization of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion in 1895 and was one of the first trus- tees. He was also one of the organizers and trustee of the Public Library of Troy, trustee of . Marshall Infirmary, trustee of the Episcopal Church Home, and for several years president of the Emma Willard Seminary. In June, 1896, when the movement was inaugurated to construct the Samaritan Hospital, Mr. Tillinghast was one of the first citizens to respond and pledge his support, and his interest in the development and prog- ress of the institution never abated. He was a close friend of the late Rev. John Ireland Tucker, D. D., who for more than half a century was rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, and an intimate friend of Bishop William Croswell Doane, of this diocese.
Aside from his business activity and remarkable record, the work in which Mr. Tillinghast found most pleasure and gratification was his connection with the Troy Orphan Asylum. He served as vice-president of the institution from
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1872 to 1876, and was then made presi- dent, which office he occupied at the time of his death. It was his life work and for it he was honored and esteemed. In his forty years' interest in the welfare of the orphans he never missed visiting the asylum every Sunday afternoon unless detained by illness or absence from the city. Each of those visits was eagerly looked forward to by the little ones, who recognized in him a protector and guar- dian of the true Christian type. He sel- dom journeyed to the asylum without carrying a large package of candy for the children who always surrounded him. His interest in the institution grew from the time the asylum was housed in its first building on Eighth street, and it was principally through his labors that the present beautiful home was erected on Spring avenue. His philanthropic acts carried the institution through many storms. In addition to being unwearied in his devotion to the interests of the asylum, he was marvelously successful in enlisting the interests of others in its behalf. On May 10, 1892, when the corner-stone of the new building was laid. Mr. Tillinghast delivered an address. Mr. Tillinghast was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church; he was elected ves- tryman July 13, 1879, elected warden March 29, 1880, and was senior warden at the time of his death. He was one of the founders of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and a member of its first vestry ; the first services were held at that church, May 17, 1868. He was a member of the standing committee of the Albany dio- cese and was chairman of the general committee of the Church Congress. He was a Republican all through the exist- ence of that party.
Mr. Tillinghast was by nature an able and far-seeing business man, of indomit- able perseverance and energy, he never
considered such a word as failure when beginning the accomplishment of any task he had set himself to perform. Many of the best enterprises of Troy have been aided by his wise counsel and means. His beneficences have been large and nu- merous, his acts of philanthropy per- formed in an unostentatious manner, he was an earnest humanitarian and spent much of his busy life in unselfish devo- tion to the welfare of his fellowmen. Many of those who knew Mr. Tilling- hast had but slight knowledge of the im- portant positions he came to fill, and the weighty responsibilities he carried for himself and others. He was quiet in manner and a pleasing conversationalist. Progressive in his ideas, still his nature was so tempered that he was successful in every undertaking he began. He was a man of unquestioned integrity and his career was marked by deeds of kindness that will live while memory lasts. The magnitude of the operations of the com- mercial house of which he was at the head are alike monumental to the genius of the eminent citizen who has finally answered the Master's call. Mr. Tilling- hast married, December 1, 1852, Mary Bowers Southwick, of Troy. He died April 27, 1910.
BLESSING, James H.,
Manufacturer, Inventor, Public Official.
For fully fifty years Mr. Blessing was actively engaged in business in Albany, although not born there, and he was known more or less intimately by busi- ness men and others from the South End, where his plant had been and thrived for a great many years, to the North End, where later was his establishment with office, and from the river to the Pine Hills section, for his political life had brought him into contact with people
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outside the business centers of the city. To all of these people he was much more than a common friend, for they regarded him as a man of sterling integrity and business principles, as one possessing uprightness of character and actuated by the noblest purposes. Frequently they sought him for his sound advice, often for genial and generous encouragement, and at times for charitable help. They never went to him in vain. It was not uncommon for him to offer.
James Henry Blessing was born at French's Mills, near Sloan's, in Albany county, September 14, 1837. His father was Frederick I. Blessing, and his mother was Lucinda (Smith) Blessing. When he was about five years of age his parents moved into Albany, and he was able thus to attend the city's schools near where they lived. At the age of twelve he secured a position as a clerk in a grocery store, but this did not prove to his liking. It was so uncongenial that he cast about for something else to do, in which, with his heart in his work, he might the better count upon success to reward patient effort. He abandoned the position in 1853 and became an appren- tice in the machinist trade, which evi- dently well suited his natural inclination and accounts for his success all through life. The new position was with the large firm of F. & T. Townsend, and there he completed his term of instruction in 1857, but remained with this firm until 1861. This was at the time when Albany was cast into excitement over the outbreak of the Civil War. It was a place where recruiting was going on beneath tents erected in the broad streets, and a drum- mer upon the outside kept people's patriotism at a glow. With the late Gen- eral Frederick Townsend, he worked hard over the invention of a novel form of a breech-loading rifle intended for
army use. From its improvement over older mechanical devices they contem- plated great results, and their endeavors were induced largely through patriotic motives, for General Townsend shortly recruited a regiment in Albany with which he departed for the front, while Mr. Blessing likewise entered the serv- ice in defense of the Union, but applying his ability in his individual field. Mr. Blessing entered the United States navy as an acting assistant engineer. He was very acceptable, for he was an expert and thoroughly interested in his line. He participated in both battles of Fort Fish- er. His enlistment dated under Commo- dore Porter, March 29, 1864, and he served continuously, receiving promo- tions. From 1862 to 1864 he was con- nected with the construction department of the New York Navy Yard at Brook- lyn. No matter what honors came to him afterward, he cited that period of his life with greatest pride, for its scope was the nation's existence, the later honor a city's advancement. Following the close of the war, he was engineer in charge of the steam machinery of the Brooklyn City Railroad Company.
He returned to Albany in 1866 to ac- cept the position of superintendent of the extensive foundry and machine works of Townsend & Jackson, in the southern part of the city and upon the Hudson river front. It was in its day the most important works of this character for many miles around, having succeeded to the firm with which he had served his ap- prenticeship, and the management had fullest confidence in his ability. In the year 1870 Mr. Blessing invented the "re- turn steam trap," which has become well known and is used generally in nearly all parts of the globe. It was regarded as a great step in advance, and his friends, perceiving this, were willing to back him
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financially. Leaving the Townsend & Jackson firm in 1872 he, with General Frederick Townsend, engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling steam traps under the firm name of Townsend & Blessing. The business proved a success, and in 1875 the Albany Steam Trap Company was formed, with three stockholders-General Townsend, the late Henry H. Martin and Mr. Bless- ing.
Mr. Blessing's mechanical training had developed many novel and useful inven- tions, among them steam engines, steam pumps, steam traps, steam boilers, valves, steam packing, pump governors, steam and oil separators, friction clutches, boiler purifiers, water filters and many other useful contrivances which the firm manu- factured. The breadth of his training and experience led many persons busily engaged upon inventions to come to him, and it was often the case that his assist- ance, freely given, helped to bring about the perfection of a mechanical appliance which had failed to work until he gave it his attention. Often people came to him, that at his word credence would be placed in their work.
Before his election as mayor of Albany, he had held but one public office, that of supervisor. He represented the Fifth Ward on the board in the years 1894-95, and during the latter year was the presi- dent of that body. After the mayoralty term he retained an interest in politics ; but having declined to accept a second nomination, because of the time demand- ed from his business and through im- paired health, he sought no other office, yet continued as vice-president of the Fifth Ward Republican organization, and was a delegate from his ward to the convention nominating Mayor McEwan. He was elected the sixty-first mayor at the election held November 7, 1899, head-
ing the Republican ticket, and was the first man of that party to be elected mayor for a period of some twenty years. The significance of this is that he ac- complished what a dozen other leading Albany Republicans had failed to achieve. Out of the total of 22,848 votes cast, he received 12,364, and Judge Thomas J. Van Alstyne, Democrat, 9,995 votes. He had turned a continuous Democratic ma- jority into a handsome Republican vic- tory, and took office on January 1, 1900, officiating through two full years. He was the first mayor to serve under the new charter granted to cities of the sec- ond class, and, while experimental in some ways, his administration has gone into municipal history as one of the most successful and satisfactory. During his term, among many important civic events, were the city's endeavor to cope with the serious strike of the traction line; Public School No. 12 was com- pleted ; the first public bath was opened ; the city was draped in mourning for Mc- Kinley; reconstruction of the Central railroad's bridge across the Hudson was completed; the Chamber of Commerce was organized; an enormous ice gorge at Cedar Hill threatened the business in- terests, the freshet being the greatest in forty-three years, and being twenty feet above the normal required city relief by the police navigating the streets in boats ; the Pruyn Library was given to the city and accepted in a speech by him; the Albany Institute united with the Albany Historical and Art Society ; a children's playground was inaugurated in Beaver Park; the cruiser "Albany" was placed in commission ; reconstruction of the Cen- tral railroad's viaduct crossing Broad- way; coal famine because of the strike in Pennsylvania fields; Albany County Bar Association incorporated; curfew law advocated at common council hear-
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ings; the new and costly Union Railway station opened; Albany connected with Hudson by an electric line; Chinese Min- ister Wu Ting-fang, LL. D., a guest of the city; the John Marshall centennial ceremonies held in the assembly cham- ber; annexation of Bath to Rensselaer; Dana Park opened and dedicated by Mr. Blessing; the Schenectady railway run- ning its first electric cars into Albany ; statistical record at the filtration plant inaugurated; completion of the resurfac- ing of Madison avenue with asphalt; the Humane Society acquired its own build- ing, and improvements instituted in many of the schools. These constitute the affairs with which he was directly concerned, either because of his advocacy and consideration in some form as the city's executive, or through his personal solicitude; and they go to show the ad- vancement of the city's interests in vari- ous directions as affected by his connec- tion therewith, while in many minor ways there was a steady improvement in which all citizens benefited. In these ways his term will remain memorable. Mr. Bless- ing was a member of the American Soci- ety of Mechanical Engineers, of the Al- bany Institute, and the Capital City Re- publican Club. He was an attendant of the Baptist church, and resided at No. 107 Eagle street.
Mr. Blessing married (first) at Albany, September 15, 1857, Martha Hutson, who died July 17, 1866; children : Martha, mar- ried Chiarles W. Backus, and died in New York City, January 5, 1907; Lucinda, died in infancy. Mr. Blessing married (second) at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, November 9, 1870, Mrs. Mary (Gilson) Judd, residing in Albany in 1910. County Treasurer John W. Wheelock married Miss Judd, a daughter of his second wife, and both residents of Albany. Mr. Bless- ing had also two sisters living in Albany
-Miss Lucretia Blessing and Mrs. Sarah J. Laning.
Mr. Blessing was not a man of robust health, although active in attention to business, and after suffering for a little more than a week with an attack of grippe, at the end sank rapidly and died early in the morning of February 21, 1910. Having always lived a quiet, domestic life, the funeral was held at his home to avoid public demonstration, the Rev. Creighton R. Storey, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating, and Mayor James B. McEwan issued a proc- lamation, ordering: "As a mark of ap- preciation of the impress made by him upon the life of our city, it is ordered that the flags be placed at half staff upon all the city's public buildings, until after his funeral, and that the heads of city depart- ments and members of the Common Council attend his funeral with the Mayor, in a body."
CUYLER, Theodore L.,
Distinguished Divine.
From early manhood the Rev. Theo- dore Ledyard Cuyler, D. D., LL. D., de- voted his labor, his thought and his en- ergy to the uplifting of his fellow men, and his name and work formed the most important chapter in the history of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, New York.
He was born in Aurora, New York, January 10, 1822, and traced his descent from Huguenots and Hollanders who came to the shores of the new world at an early day. Members of the family were particularly prominent at the bar. His grandfather practiced with success in Aurora for many years, and his father, B. Ledyard Cuyler, also attained to an eminent position in the legal profession, but died at the early age of twenty-eight
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