USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rensselaer County, N. Y., for 1870-71 > Part 16
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"June 18, 1799."
During the first ten years after Troy had a name among the places of the earth, mills were erected and a considerable trade in lumber, pot and pearlashes was carried on with the towns at the north, and in Vermont. Mahlon Taylor erected a flouring mill on the Poesten Kil; another was erected soon after, near Ida Falls, by Moses Vail; and a third near the mouth of Wy- nants Kil, by Mr. Witbeck. Quite a number of stores were erected on River Street, between Broadway and Ferry Streets. The first brick dwelling erected after the commencement of the village, was by James Spencer, in 1795, on what is now Wash- ington Square. In 1799 four brick dwellings were erected, viz., No. 31 First, and 20 and 22 Second Street, and one at the cor- ner of River and Washington Streets. In 1794 the population was estimated at from 400 to 500, and at the close of the cen- tury it amounted to 1,100 or 1,200, most of the dwellings being on First and Second Streets, and the stores on River. One of the stores on River Street was built and occupied by Abraham Ten Eyck, Albert Pawling and Conrad J. Elmendorf. Isaac Merritt occupied a store on the west side of River Street, near the site of the Troy House.
Col. Albert Pawling was a native of Dutchess or Ulster Co., and son of Col. Levi Pawling, an efficient officer of the Revolu- tion. He joined the army in 1775 as Second Lieutenant in a regiment commanded by Col. James Clinton, and went to Can-
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
ada. He served under Montgomery and returned in 1776 with that unsuccessful expedition. He was appointed Brigade Major in 1786, under General George Clinton, and served until 1777, when he was promoted to be Major of one of the sixteen addi- tional regiments commanded by Col. William Malcom. He re- signed, notwithstanding the following letter from Washington, the original of which is in the Library of the Troy Young Men's Association :
"Head Quarters Middlebrook, 2d March 1779. -
-
"Sir,
In your letter of the 25th ult. you seem to have miscon- ceived the intention of Congress, upon which is founded your application for leave to resign. It is not their purpose to re- duce Col. Malcom's regiment. This will be incorporated with Col. Spencer's, and as you are the only Major in the two regi- ments, of course you will be continued. After considering the just claims which the country has on good officers I am per- suaded you will suspend your application.
I am Sir, Your most h'ble serv't,
GEO. WASHINGTON."
"Major Pawling."
It is stated that Col. Pawling was a Colonel of a regiment of Swiss, raised for the defense of the frontiers of New York, in which he served till the close of the war.
The Warren family came to Troy from Connecticut at an early day and entered into mercantile business. Esaias, Na- than and Stephen occupied a store on River Street, and were engaged in the produce and carrying trade to New York .- Esaias was the first President of the Troy Bank. The McCoun family came in 1793 or '94 ; their store was nearly opposite the Mansion House. Philip Heartt was at an early day connected in business with Benjamin Smith and Joseph Russel. Stephen Ashley kept an inn for two or three years at the place were he first located, corner of River and Division Streets. He after- wards removed to the corner of Ferry and River, to what was known afterwards as Babcock's Tavern. His sign had painted upon it a portrait of Washington in the center, and the words " Why here is Ashley's," surrounding the portrait. Jeremiah Prince opened a tavern near the Ferry in 1793. His son suc- ceeded him for many years. Howard Moulton kept a tavern on the site of the Female Seminary.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
From copies of the Northern Budget published from 1805 to 1808, we have been able to learn the names and business of many of the prominent business men. . Among the advertise- ments we find the following, dated June 11, 1805 :
"John E. Wool is just opening for sale a fresh and elegant assortment of fashionable Dry Goods." After enumerating a large number of articles, he adds, "likewise a good assortment of Groceries." "Said Wool assures his customers and the pub- lic that the above goods (with a very few exceptions) will be sold as low as they can be purchased in the city of New York for ready pay."
E. Warren & Co. advertise "100 barrels of Connecticut River Shad this day landing and for sale." The same firm also ad- vertise "25 hhds of St. Croix, Jamaica and Antigua Rum."- Jones, Smith & Co. advertise "Crockery, Glass and China Ware," saying that they have taken part of the store occupied by Heartt & Smith. Thoral Kilborn and Nehemiah Smith advertise Mer- chant Tailoring establishments. The paper contained a good assortment of news, though some of it would be regarded as rather old in these days of telegraphs and railroads. The paper of June 11th contained the account of the organization of the Massachusetts Legislature, which occured May 29th. Hon. Harrison Gray Otis was elected President of the Senate, and Timothy Bigelow Speaker of the House of Representatives .- The publishers of the Budget, Messrs. Moffitt & Lyon, call at- tention to the fact that they have recently "procured a new and very expensive set of types from the celebrated foundry of Dr. Winslow, Glasgow." They also call the attention of their de- linquent subscribers in the following manner, viz: "Unless cer- tain small strips of paper current at the banks are speedily enclosed to us, or other means of payment provided, all who are one year in arrears will have their paper discontinued in the course of a few weeks." Elam Lynds offers ten dollars for a runaway apprentice to the hatting business. John Diefendorf and George Dunckel offer a reward of $80 for two runaway ne- groes, or $40 for either of them. The Fourth of July was duly celebrated, the utmost harmony, hilarity and good order prevail- ing throughout the day. An oration was delivered in the Pres- byterian Church, by J. L. Billings, " satisfying the most san- guine expectations of his audience." Among the toasts we se- lect the following as indicating the political proclivities of the times :
"Our Sister State, New Hampshire-emerged from a long night of darkness, having burst asunder the Liliputian ties with which Federalism had bound her in her first slumbers."
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
"Massachusetts-she will shortly become a firm pillar in the Republic. Her triumph, though slow, is sure."
"Connecticut-struggling against the Union of Church and State, her accession to the Republican ranks, though last will not be least."
Jonathan Huntington advertises a singing school at the White School House, a few rods south-east of the Court House, from six to nine o'clock on Thursday and Saturday evenings.
December 3, 1805, Moses Craft advertises a House of Enter- tainment at the north end of the village, where he keeps the best of hay and stabling for thirty span of horses, and has a good yard for wagons and a store room for goods. He also kept a " Register Book " of goods to be carried into the country.
Charles H. Wetmore advertises that he will open a school on " Monday, Jan. 6, 1806, in the chamber of the house now occu- pied by Capt. Webb, nearly opposite Mr. E. Pennimen's, in which will be taught, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar and Latin and Greek. The utmost attention will be paid to the morals of the scholars." -
Platt Titus advertises that the Troy & Albany stage runs twice a day, leaving his tavern at the upper end of First Street at 8 A. M. and 2 P. M.
May 10, 1808, Daniel T. Wandell notifies the public that he has invented machinery for ferrying, which in the worst weather will propel a scow across the river in six minutes without hand labor and with perfect safety. He says he has applied for a pat- ent but does not describe his machinery.
The following extract from the journal of Mr. John Lambert, an Englishman, who was traveling from Montreal to New York in 1807, gives some idea of the appearance of Troy at that time :
"Troy is a well built town consisting chiefly of one street of handsome red brick houses, upwards of a mile and a half in length. There are two or three short streets which branch off from the main one, but it is in the latter that all the principal stores, warehouses and shops are situated. It also contains sev- eral excellent inns or taverns. The houses which are all new, are lofty and built with much taste and simplicity, though con- venience and accommodation seem to have guided the architect more than ornament. The deep red brick, well pointed, gives the buildings an air of neatness and cleanliness seldom met with in old towns, but I cannot say that I admire it so much as the
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
yellow brick of England. Troy has been erected within the last twenty years and is now a place of considerable importance. The trade which it has opened with the new settlements to the north ward through the States of New York and Vermont as far as Canada is very extensive, and in another twenty years it promises to rival the old established city of Albany. Its pros- perity is indeed already looked upon with an eye of jealousy by the people of the latter place."
From Troy he went to Albany by stage, intending to take the steamboat for New York, but the river was closed by ice, and navigation suspended. He says: "We were much disappoint- ed at this news as we were very desirous of seeing the construc- tion and management of this celebrated vessel which travels at the rate of five miles an hour against wind and tide. It was built about four years ago under the direction of Mr. Fulton, an American gentleman of great mechanical abilities. The length of the boat is 160 feet and her breadth in proportion so as not too much to impede her sailing. The machine which moves her wheels is called a twenty-horse machine or equal to the power of so many horses, and is kept in motion by steam from a copper boiler eight or ten feet in length. The wheels on each side are similar to water wheels and under cover ; they are moved backwards and forwards, separately or together at pleasure." " Her route is between New York and Albany, a distance of 160 miles, which she performs regularly twice a week, sometimes in the short space of thirty-two hours, exclusive of detention by taking in and landing passengers. She carries 100 to 120 peo- ple. Fare $7.00."
. Quite a contrast between this boat and those now running upon the same route.
Several destructive land slides have occurred in Troy. The first one worthy of note occurred January 1, 1837. A large mass of the clayey earth from the hill east of the head of Washington Street, and extending for some distance each way, slid rapidly down, overwhelming everything in its course, covering several acres of ground and accompanied by a torrent of water. The mass carried with it two stables and three dwellings, crushing them into a thousand pieces. The stables and horses were moved over two hundred feet, into a hollow on the corner of Washington and Fourth Streets. A brick kiln was also de- stroyed by the avalanche. One of the dwellings was unoccupied, another occupied by Mr. John Grace, wife and little boy. The parents were both killed but the boy escaped. Mrs. Leavensworth
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
and her children occupied another of the houses ; she was so badly injured that she survived but a short time. Her two children were crushed to a jelly. There were 22 horses in the stables, sixteen of which were killed. The earth was piled up in the street from ten to forty feet deep. An article in the Troy Budget of Jan. 2, says : "The scene that presented it- self in the early part of the evening was awful in the highest degree. The horrors of an earthquake could not have presented a more dreadful spectacle." Another slide occurred Feb. 17, 1843, and was still more destructive to life and property. Be- tween thirty and forty persons were killed and ten dwellings were destroyed. The slide began about one hundred yards east of Fifth Street, destroyed two houses on the east side of the street and passed Washington to Hill, destroying the dwellings on both sides. The earth moved over a space of more than 500 feet after reaching the level ground. The width of the slide was from two to three hundred yards, covering an area of sever- al acres. .On the 21st of the same month another slide oc- curred about equal to the first. This occurred in the day time, and moved so slowly that there was no difficulty in avoiding its path.
Troy has several times been scourged by destructive fires .- On the 20th of June, 1820, a fire broke out in a shed near First Street and consumed the wealthiest portion of the City. The buildings on both sides of River Street, from a point oppo- site the Troy House to a point within a hundred feet of Con- gress, were entirely destroyed ; also the west side of First, from the third door above Congress, to River Street. The loss was estimated at $370,000. On the 25th of August 1854, another destructive fire occurred, destroying property to the amount of $1,000,000. The most destructive fire occurred on the 10th of May, 1862. It occurred at mid-day and commenced in the Railroad Bridge. The wind was blowing violently from the north-west, and thousands of burning shingles and other light materials were scattered before the wind, causing the fire to spread in a fearful manner. The Fire Department were power- less to stay its progress and at one time it seemed that all the central and south-eastern portion of the City was doomed .- More than one-fourth of the business portion of the City was burned and between 50 and 60 acres were covered with smould- ering ruins at sunset of that memorable day. Several lives were lost and 671 buildings were burned. The loss was esti- mated at $3,000,000. Three churches, several hotels, the Poly- technic Institute, the Troy Academy, Orphan Asylum and the Union Depot were burned.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
The early settlers of Troy were religious men, and public worship was held when the inhabitants were but few. The first services were held in a store, and afterwards a school house was their place of worship, where the people were called together by the sound of a conch-shell. Sermons were read by Dr. Gale or Col. Pawling. In 1791 the frame for a house of worship was erected, and the next year it was inclosed and soon after occu- pied. This was the first edifice of the
First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Jonas Coe was the first pas- tor, officiating several years at Troy and Lansingburgh on alter- nate Sabbaths. He was ordained and installed June 25, 1793. He resided at Lansingburgh during the early years of his min- istry, but about 1802 he removed to Troy. After holding the united charge for rearly eleven years, the two congregations were dissolved and Mr. Coe continued pastor of the Church in Troy, until his death in 1822. He was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Beeman, whose successor was Rev. M. R. Vincent, the present pastor.
During the latter part of the last century the currency of the country was specie, and the weekly collections in the churches were so small, on account of the scarcity of small change, that the First Presbyterian Church of Albany passed a resolution, Jan. 4, 1790, "That one thousand coppers be stamped, Church Penny, and placed in the hands of the Treasurer for the purpose of exchanging with the members of the congregation at the rate of twelve for one shilling, in order to add respect to the weekly collections." It is probable that the same necessity gave rise to paper money, which was issued by the First Presbyterian Church of Troy in 1792. The following is the form in which their church scrip was issued :
"Two Pence. "By order of the Trustees of the Presbyterian Congregation in Troy, I promise to pay the bearer Two Pence on demand. B. GORTON, Treasurer."
"August 28th, 1792."
St. John's Episcopal Church was erected in 1804.
The Baptist Church on Third Street was erected in 1805.
St. Jean Baptiste Church was organized in 1868 by Rev. Geo. Brown, with about 1500 members. A church edifice has been erected at a cost of $40,000, and capable of seating 900. The
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
church belongs to the French Catholics of the City. Services are held in Latin and in French ; no English is spoken.
The State Street M. E. Church, the first of that denomination erected in the City, was built in 1807 and 1809. The first class was formed in 1801, Stephen Andress being a prominent mem- ber of the same. This class was broken up and scattered, one of its members finding a lodging in the State Prison. In 1804 John Wright removed to Troy, and on inquiring if there were any Methodists there, was answered, "No, there were some but I believe they have all been sent to the State Prison." He how- ever found a small number worshiping in a private house. It is not known at what time the class was reorganized, but Ben- jamin Betts, who died in 1804 or 1805, was a member, as was also Caleb Curtis. Andress, Betts and Curtis were among the first members. As already stated their first house of worship was erected on State Street and accommodated all the members for twenty years. Troy first appears as an appointment in 1810, when Dr. Phoebus was the preacher. In 1813 Laban Clark, and in 1815, Tobias Spicer were the preachers. The charge at that time included Troy, Albia, West Troy, Lansingburgh and Brunswick, the entire membership being 107. At the close of Mr. Spicer's term of service he reported 250 members. In 1827 a new church was erected on State Street and has been occupied until the present time. A fine stone church is now in process of erection near the site of the old one, estimated to cost $60,000.
North Second Street M. E. Church was erected in 1835.
Congress Street Church in 1848.
The Farmers' Bank of Troy was incorporated in 1801. The charter extended to 1811 and provided that the capital stock should consist of five thousand shares of $50 each, and the whole amount of property to be held by the Bank was limited to $300,000. The Directors were to be selected from the follow- ing towns, viz., two from Waterford, five from Lansingburgh and six from Troy. The first Directors were Guest Van Schoon- hover and Samuel Stewart, from Waterford; Elijah Janes, Charles Selden, John D. Dickinson, James Hickok and William Bradley, from Lansingburgh ; John Woodworth, Daniel Merritt, Benjamin Tibbitts, Christopher Hutton, Townsend McCoun and Ephraim Morgan, of Troy. The charter provided that the buildings should be erected near the road leading from Troy to Lansingburgh, not further north than Mill Creek, and not fur-
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
ther south than the house of Joshua Raymond. John D. Dick- inson was the first President, and Hugh Peebles, Cashier. The books were opened for subscriptions, May 13, 1801, and May 31, 1803, the Bank declared a dividend of four and a half per cent., although the whole stock had not been paid in. This was the. first bank in Troy, where there are now fifteen, including four Savings Banks.
Fairweather & Williams
New York Grocery Fairweather &
DEALERS IN CHOICE
FAMILY
Williams, GROCERS, 380 River Street, Opp. the Bridge,
GROCERIES AND
PROVISIONS.
TROY, N. Y.
We keep constantly on hand a large stock of Goods. Special in- ducements offered to Farmers .- And in soliciting a share of their patronage, we have no hesitation in saying that whatever Goods are bought of us will give entire satis- faction, and we warrant them to do so.
Our Teas, Coffees, Sugars, Molas- ses, &c. are of the very best quality. We make a specialty of FLOUR, keeping the best Brands in market. Country Produce always received at the highest market prices at the New York Grocery.
380 River Street, Opposite the Bridge, TROY, N. Y.
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RENNSSELAER COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
TROY ARTIFICIAL HAIR STORE. MADAM M. ELLIS,
No. 462 Fulton Street, Near Fifth Street, Opposite the Old Stand.
LADIES' HAIR DRESSER, AND MANUFACTURER OF THE Hair Seam Illusive Wigs and Toupees, and all other Wigs, Bands, &c. Artist in Hair Jewelry, Curls, Coils, Puffs, Waterfalls, Switches, Braids, and all other styles of Artificial Hair. Combings Straightened and made in any form, at 75 cents per ounce.
WM. McGUIRE & SON,
GENERAL BUILDERS !
AND DEALERS IN Ornamental Center Pieces and Trusses, Corner of Second and Jefferson Streets, TROY, N. Y.
Plain and Ornamental Plastering, Repairing Walls and Whitening neatly and promptly done.
J. J . DULLEY, WOOD CARVING OF ALL KINDS. Stove, House, Ecclesiastical and Furniture Work. 407 River Street, - TROY, N. Y.
PETER BRANNAN & SON, DEALERS IN CHOICE BRANDS OF
Family Flour! TEA, SUGAR AND GROCERIES, OF ALL KINDS.
COUNTRY PRODUCE BOUGHT.
315 River Street,
I
TROY, N. Y.
See Card on Map.
Mower and Self-Raking Reaper, the most Perfect Harvester in the World. Adriance, Platt & Co., 165 Greenwich at., New York.
BUCKEYE
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RENSSELAER COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
HENRY BOWLER,
BREWER OF
India Pale, XXX and XX Pale
Ale and Porter,
BOWLER'S BREWERY,
191 and 193 Second street,
TROY, N. Y.
DORRANCE, BOOT & SHOE EMPORIUM ! No. 368
River Street, TROY, N. Y.
J. A. DORRANCE
would respectfully solicit attention to his establishment for the sale of all the latest and most desirable styles of
MEN'S CALF, KIP & STOGA BOOTS! MEN'S RUBBER BOOTS, RUBBER & ARCTIC OVERSHOES, YOUTH'S AND BOYS' Boots & Shoes, Ladies' Glove-kid, Goat and Serge Button Polish BALMORALS AND CONGRESS BOOTS. SLIPPERS IN GREAT VARIETY,
BOOTS and SHOES
made to order, from the best quali- ty of stock, and by experienced workmen. Repairing neatly and promptly done. None but first quality goods offered for sale. I am bound to give you good fits every time; and not to be under- sold is my motto. Don't fail to call and examine stock when in town. First Shoe Store below the
Bridge, Troy, N. Y.
RENSSELAER COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY,
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RENSSELAER COUNTY
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
EXPLANATIONS TO DIRECTORY.
Directory is arranged as follows: 1. Name of individual or firm. 2. Post office ad- dress in parenthesis. 3. Business or occupation.
A Star (*) placed before a name, indicates an advertiser in this work. For such ad- vertisement see Index.
Figures placed after the occupation of farmers, indicate the number of acres of land owned or leased by the parties.
Names set in CAPITALS indicate subscribers to this work.
The word Street is implied as regards directory for the City of Troy and villages.
For additions and corrections see Errata, following the Intro- duction.
It has been found necessary to omit the Directory of several of the towns in their alphabetical order, in consequence of the canvass of those towns not being completed in time for such alphabetical arrangement. The Directory for those towns may be found by referring to the Index to Business Directory .- PURLISHER.
BERLIN. (See Index to Business Directory.)
BRUNSWICK.
(See Index to Business Directory.)
BUCKEYE
Adriance, Platt & Co., 165 Greenwich St., New York. Mower and Self-Raking Reaper, the most Perfect Harvester in the World. See Card on Map.
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EAST GREENBUSH.
EAST GREENBUSH.
(Post Office Addresses in Parentheses.)
Akin, Frederick W., (Greenbush,) dairyman and farmer 120.
Akin. Isaac W., (Greenbush,) (Kellogg, Akin & Co., Castleton,) residence River Road.
Akin, Jacob D., (Greenbush,) milk dealer. Alcott, Thomas, (Greenbush,) vice presi- dent of Mechanics and Farmers Bank, Albany, and farmer 33.
Allen, Simeon, (East Greenbush,) farmer 80. Anderson, Wm. Rev., (East Greenbush,) principal of Collegiate Institute and pastor of R. D. Church.
Austin, Benjamin, (East Greenbush,) far- mer leases of C. S.Payne, 202.
Austin, Edwin I., (Greenbush,) pork dealer and farmer leases of Willian Aus- tin, 175.
AUSTIN, WM., (Greenbush,) farmer 175.
Barringer, Robt., (Greenbush,) manuf. of rustic window shades, River Road.
Bedell, Wm. R., (Greenbush,) milkman and farmer 170.
Best, John, (West Sand Lake,) Nassau Turnpike, farmer 100.
Binck, Z. H., (Greenbush,) Barracks Road, farmer 100.
Birch, Alpheus, (Greenbush,) farmer leases of B. Aikin, 240.
Blair, Wm. & Edwin, (Greenbush,) Boston Turnpike, fruit raisers and farmers 63. Bloomingdale, Martin, (East Greenbush,) farmer 80.
Bluntz, Barba, (West Sand Lake,) carpen- ter.
Bluntz, Nathaniel, (West Sand Lake,) shoe- maker.
Bradbury, Chas., (Greenbush,) dealer in horses and prop. of Clinton Heights.
BRADBURY, CHAS., JR., (Greenbush,) (with Chas. Bradbury.)
Bridger, Wm., (Greenbush,) milk dealer and farmer 100, Boston Turnpike.
Brooks, Wm., (West Sand Lake,) stone and plaster mason and farmer 2.
Brooksby, James, (Greenbush,) Boston Turnpike, gardener.
Brown E. E., (East Greenbush,) (with Joel,) blacksmith.
Brown, Joel, (East Greenbush,) (with E. E.) blacksmith.
BUTTS, ANSON, (Greenbush,) civil en- gineer and farmer 12.
Caples, Patrick, (Greenbush,) farmer leases of W. Dow, 40.
Carner, Alfred T., (Defreestville,) Nassau Turnpike, farmer 45.
Carn er Christopher, (Greenbush,) Barracks Road, farmer 135.
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