Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 34

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > New York > Albany County > Landmarks of Albany County, New York > Part 34

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The first mayor was Peter Schuyler, with whose eminent career the reader must now be comparatively familiar. He filled the office with dignity and ability; exer- cised a powerful influence over the neighboring Indians, and for some years held the office of Indian Commissioner.

The second Mayor was John Abeel, appointed October 14, 1694, who also served another term, 1709-10. He was recorder in 1702 and held several other local offices. He died January 28, 1711.

Evert Bancker, mayor 1695-96 and 1707-09, was born January 24, 1665. He was a merchant of Beverwyck and held several offices, among them master in chancery, Indian commissioner, and member of assembly. (See civil list.) He was buried July 10, 1734.

Dirck Wessels, mayor 1696-98, was also the first recorder under the charter of 1686. He was a prominent fur trader, held the rank of major in the militia and was conspicuous in public affairs. He died September 13, 1717.

Hendric Hansen, 1698-99, held the office of alderman, commissioner of Indian affairs, and assemblyman. He was buried February 19, 1724. Nicholas Hansen, the last male representative of this family, died in 1869.

Peter Van Brugh, son of Johannes Pieterse Verbrugge, a leading Holland trader, was mayor 1699-1700 and in 1721-23. He resided on State street, on the north side, west of Pearl. He was buried July 20, 1740.

Jans Janse Bleecker, mayor 1700-01, was a blacksmith and later a trader, and also held the offices of recorder, justice of the peace and member of the Provincial, As- sembly.

Johannes Bleecker, 1702-03, was brewer and a captain in the militia; was buried January 12, 1737.

Johannes Schuyler, 1703-06, was the son of Philip Peter Schuyler and brother of Peter, the first mayor. He was attached to the army of General Winthrop in 1691 as captain, and exhibited great bravery and energy in border warfare. He took an active part in several important military movements; was alderman several years, Indian commissioner, in 1705. He died at his home, corner of State and Pearl streets, July 25, 1727.

David Schuyler, 1706-07, one of the five sons of David (brother of Philip Peter), also held the offices of alderman, justice of the peace, and Indian commissioner. He was twice married and had seven children.

Robert Livingston, 1710-19, was the first settler of that name in the province from whom were descended many eminent men. The family is of Scotch descent and espoused the cause of the patriots in the Revolution. Robert was secretary of Al-

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bany nearly fifty years, 1675-1721, and held other offices. His house stood on the northwest corner of State and North Pearl streets. He died April 20, 1725.

Myndert Schuyler, 1719-21 and 1723-25, was son of David Pieterse Schuyler, and also held the office of alderman and other public positions. He was sent in 1720 into the Seneca country where he succeeded in dissuading the Senecas from further war upon the Western Indians. He acted as Indian commissioner with signal ability. He died October 10, 1755.

Johannes Cuyler, 1725-6, son of Hendrick, was a trader and settled in Albany in 1637.

Rutger Bleecker, 1726-9, held also the office of recorder in 1725. He was buried in the old church August 5, 1756.

Johannes De Peyster, 1729-31 and 1732-3, and 1741-2, was son of Johannes, who was mayor of New York, and grandson of Johannes, one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of that city, who was the founder of the family in this country, which was of Huguenot origin. The Albany mayor also held the offices of Indian commis- sioner, member of assembly and was the first surrogate of the county. He died February 26, 1789.

Hans Hansen, 1731-2, and 1754-6, was a successful trader. He died December 6, 1756.

Edward Holland, 1733-40, was the first man of English descent to hold the office of mayor. His father, Henry Holland, was in command of the Albany garrison in 1632.

John Schuyler, jr., 1740-41, second son of Mayor John Schuyler, was born in 1697. One of his nine children was Major-Gen. Schuyler, of Revolutionary fame.

Cornelius Cuyler, 1742-46, was father of Col. Abraham C. Cuyler, who was mayor at a later date.

Dirck Ten Broeck was mayor 1746-48. He died in January, 1751.

Jacob C. Ten Eyck, 1748-50, was also a judge of the Court of Common Pleas; he died September 9, 1793.

Robert Sanders, 1750-54, was a leading merchant and died, probably, in 1795.

Sybrant G. Van Schaick, 1756-61, was a son of Goosen Van Schaick, who was prominent in the army.

Volkert P. Douw, 1761-70, one of the nine children of Petrus Douw, was born in Greenbush and married a daughter of John De Peyster, by whom he had ten chil- pren, among whom was Gen. John De Peyster Douw, a distinguished officer. Dur- ing Mr. Douw's mayoralty grave responsibilities devolved upon him, but he proved himself equal to the emergency and conducted public affairs with ability. He was a jddge of the Common Pleas, 1759-70 ; recorder, 1750-60 ; member of assembly, 1757-59 : member of the first Congress, 1775; State senator, etc. He died March 20, 1801.

Abraham C. Cuyler, 1770-78, was the last mayor to serve under royal commission. He became an open royalist and finally went to Canada, where he died February 5, 1810.

John Barclay, 1778-9, was the first mayor under the State government. He was president of the Committee of Safety and Correspondence, organized in 1774, and a man of high character. He died while in office in 1779.

Abraham Ten Broeck, 1779-83 and 1796-99, son of Mayor Dirck Ten Broeck, was a merchant, and a man prominent in public life ; was a member of the Colonial As-

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sembly 1760-65 ; member of the Provincial Congress in 1775, and ranked high as a militia officer in Revolutionary times. After the war he was State senator, 1780-83, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 1781-94.

John Jacob Beekman, was mayor 1783-86, and died December 17, 1802.

John Lansing, jr., 1786-90; was delegate to the convention that framed the United States Constitution, and a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1788. While in New York and about to start for Albany he suddenly disappeared Decem- ber 12, 1829, and was never after heard from.

Abraham Yates, jr., 1790-96, was one of the Committee of Safety, president of the Provincial Congress 1775-6, and an active patriot. He died June 30, 1796.

Phillip S. Van Rensselaer, 1796-1816 and 1819-21, had the longest term of any Albany mayor. He was a son of Stephen Van Rensselaer,

Elisha Jenkins, 1816-19, was the son of Thomas Jenkins, and was also member of assembly, State senator, and secretary of state, the latter in 1806-09, comptroller 1805-06, and a Regent of the University.

Charles E. Dudley, 1821-24 and 1828-29; settled in Albany in 1819 and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was State senator 1823-25; U. S. senator 1829-31. He died January 23, 1841. His widow was the founder of Dudley Observatory.

Ambrose Spencer, 1824-26, was a graduate of Harvard and an LL. D., studied law and early in life was called to public office. He was attorney-general 1802-04, at which time he settled in Albany, coming from Hudson. He was also a justice of the Supreme Court 1804, and chief justice 1819-23, and a member of congress 1829- 31. He held other local offices and was eminent in his profession. He died March 13, 1848.

James Stevenson, 1826-28, was long a prosperous and active citizen. He died July 3, 1852.

John Townsend was mayor in 1829-31 and in 1832-33. He was a brother of Isaiah Townsend and for a long time his partner in their extensive business operations. Isaiah settled in Albany in 1799 and John in 1802. The firm of John & Isaiah Townsend was formed in 1804 and continued until the death of Isaiah in 1838. The business consisted largely of the purchase and sale of iron, but they also had an interest in the Troy Nail and Iron factory, in a furnace and machine shop in Albany, and in other large industries. John was a counselor of De Witt Clinton in the Erie Canal enterprise; was the founder of the insurance business in Albany; prominent in the banking business, and in all ways a leading citizen. He died August 26, 1854.

Francis Bloodgood, 1833-34, son of Abraham Bloodgood, who was a merchant in West India trade. He was a graduate of Yale, and studied and practiced law; was clerk of the Supreme Court, a director and president of the State Bank, and presi- dent of the Albany Insurance Company, He was a man of high character and ability. He died March 5, 1840.

Erastus Corning, 1834-37, was born in Norwich, Conn., December 14, 1794, and died April 8, 1872. During his long life he was one of the leading business men of Albany and one of its foremost citizens. Beginning in a humble position in the store of Hart & Smith, he later became confidential clerk for John A. Spencer & Co., in which firm he soon became a partner. He remained in the hardware trade for nearly half a century, with different persons as partners, among them his son,

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Erastus Corning, jr. He was a leader in establishing the early railroads of the State, the importance of which he clearly foresaw, and was chosen president of the New York Central when the consolidation of several lines was effected in 1854. He occupied similar responsible positions in various other great corporations. In official life he was alderman in 1828: a Regent of the University; State senator, 1841; dele- gate to the Democratic national conventions of 1848 and 1852; member of congress 1857-59, and two later terms, and a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867. In all of these high stations he acquitted himself with signal ability. He was benevolent and generous with the large fortune which he had accumulated, giving largely to many of the most useful institutions in the city. Endowed with a high degree of public spirit, he was ever ready to devote his powerful influence to the ad- vancement of every good work.

Teunis Van Vechten, 1837-39 and 1841-42, was born November 4, 1785, and died February 4, 1859. He bore the same given name 'as his father and grandfather. both of whom lived in the county, his father having been a merchant in Albany in 1805, on the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane; later he was admitted to the bar and was counsel for the old Patroon and his son Stephen. The mayor was for many years a director and president of the Albany Insurance Company, and was alderman for several terms.

Jared L. Rathbone, 1839-41, was the first mayor elected by popular vote. He was a trustee and president of the Albany Medical College, and was prominently con- nected with the educational, industrial and benevolent interests of the city. He died in 1845.

Barent P. Staats, 1842-43, was a member of one of the oldest Holland families in the State. He was born in Rensselaer county in 1796 and died'in 1871. He was a practicing physician in Albany for about fifty years and was eminent in his profes- sion. He also held the offices of supervisor and alderman.

Friend Humphrey, 1843-45 and 1849-50, was born in Simsbury in 1787 and settled in Albany in 1811. He was a successful leather dealer and prominent in educational and religious work. He died March 15, 1854.

John Keyes Paige, 1845-46, was an attorney and clerk of the Supreme Court for nineteen years before he was elected mayor, and was also president of the Canal Bank, which failed. He afterwards resided in Schenectady, where he died Decem- ber 10, 1857.

William Parmalee, 1846-48 and 1854-56, was a native of Lansingburgh, born in 1807, and graduated from Yale in 1826; practiced law in Albany; was city attorney in 1836; county judge in 1839 and 1847-52; and recorder 1840-46. He died during his term as mayor, March 15, 1856.

John Taylor, 1848-49, was born in Durham, England, in March, 1790, died in Al- bany September 31, 1863. He came to Albany in 1793 with his father, whom he joined in the tallow chandler business. Later he was very successful as a brewer, and gained great wealth and popularity through his generosity to the poor.

Franklin Townsend, son of Isaiah Townsend, 1850-51, took charge of the Townsend furnace and machine shop while yet a boy. He served also as alderman and super- visor, member of assembly and for nine years as adjutant general of the State; he was prominent also in the banking business. General Townsend now resides on Elk street.

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Eli Perry, 1851-54, 1856-60 and 1862-64, held also the office of alderman and served one term in Congress. He accumulated a fortune in the meat packing busi- ness, which he greatly increased by judicious real estate investments. His term as mayor included most of the war period, during which his duties were arduous and of great responsibility. These he performed with rare energy and ability and for many years he was among the foremost citizens of the city. His second election was contested by John V. P. Quackenbush and the case was taken to the courts, Recorder W. S. Paddock acting in the mean time. The case was never tried, Mr. Paddock serving the term, and Mr. Perry and Dr. Quackenbush both receiving the full salary of mayor. Mr. Perry was born December 25, 1799, and died May 17, 1881.

George H. Thacher, 1860-62, 1866-68 and 1870-74, was descended from Rev. Thomas Thacher, a Puritan and first pastor of the old South Congregational church of Boston. He was born in Hornellsville, June 4, 1818, and settled in Albany in 1848, where he was successful in the manufacture of stoves, and later of car wheels and other foundry products. He was a man of indomitable energy, active, public spirited and ready at all times to co-operate in every enterprise that promised to be for the public good. The present mayor, John Boyd Thacher, is a son of George H. Thacher.

Charles E. Bleecker was mayor 1868-70.

Edmund L. Judson, 1874-76, is the grandson of Nathaniel Judson, one of the New England immigrants who came to Albany in 1796, and son of Ichabod L. Judson, who was a prominent Albany business man. He was born November 30, 1830, and succeeded to his father's business. He was alderman 1862-66.

A. Bleecker Banks, 1876-78 and 1884-86, is a native of New York city and a mem- ber of the law publishing house of Banks Brothers. He represented Albany county in the Assembly in 1862 and in the State Senate in 1868-71, was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1894 and has held numerous offices of trust and honor, both of a public and private nature.

Michael N. Nolan, 1878-83, a native of Ireland, was member of congress 1881-83, is president of the Beverwyck Brewing Company, and a man of rare business sagacity.

John Swinburne was mayor 1883-84. The contest for the office of mayor in 1882 was a very exciting one between Mr. Nolan and Dr. Swinburne and Nolan was de- clared elected by a small majority, The case was taken to the courts and Nolan resigned after filling the office about fifteen months and Dr. Swinburne was seated June 25, 1883. Dr. Swinburne was one of the leading physicians of the city. (See chapter on the medical profession herein.)

John Boyd Thacher, 1886-88 and 1896- - , is a son of George H. Thacher and a prominent citizen of Albany. Mr. Thacher has held many offices both of a public and private nature, notably state senator, 1884-86, world's fair commissioner, 1892-93. He still continues with his brother, George H. Thacher, the car wheel foundry established by their father.

Edward A. Maher was mayor 1888-90. Mr. Maher was formerly manager of the Albany Illuminating Company, and is now president of the Union Railway Company of New York city.

James H. Manning, 1890-94, is the son of Daniel Manning, the distinguished jour-

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nalist and politician, of whom a sketch is given in the chapter devoted to the news- papers of Albany county. James H. Manning received a liberal education and subse- quently occupied the post of managing editor of the Argus, and is now president of the Weed-Parsons Printing Company.

Oren E. Wilson was mayor May 1, 1894, January 1, 1896, being the candidate of the Honest Election party. Mr. Wilson was at the time of his election associated with the large dry goods house of W. M. Whitney & Co., but is now in the insurance business.

SCHOOLS OF ALBANY.

The reader of Chapter XV has learned something of educational affairs at large and as they existed in Albany county in early years. It is there made clear that the education of the young in Albany city was much neglected prior to the beginning of the present century. Elkanah Watson has left a record that the schools of Albany in 1788 were mostly taught in the English language; but how many there were or what their character he did not state. In 1796 the Com- mon Council passed an ordinance for the establishment of free schools ; but it was many long years before anything of a practical nature was accomplished. The Albany Gazette of November 26, 1804, has an item of news regarding a school that was taught in a building erected through contributions for the benefit of helpless female children, where twenty- three pupils were instructed by a matron in reading, writing, and plain work. Munsell's Annals of 1810 note the fact that there were no pub- lic schools in the city at that time, and the corporation was then con- sidering the project of starting the Lancasterian school, which is de- scribed in Chapter XV. In 1813 the record shows that the following schools were in existence in the city :

Widow Catherine Goheen, 1 Liberty; Widow Esther Bedford, 119 Washington ; Catherine Peck, 39 Hudson; Widow Martha Wilson, 39 Steuben; Miss Brenton, 118 State: Catherine B. Thompson, Young Ladies' School, 38 Colonie: Sarah McGeorge, Young Ladies' Seminary, 66 Market; Mrs. Smith, School, 13 Washington; John Nugent, Young Ladies' Seminary, 81 Pearl; and the following male teachers: Thomas D. Huggins, 43 and 45 Pearl; John Keys, 57 Church; Joshua Tinker, 16 Deer; George Upfold, 8 Van Tromp; William Andruss, 19 Pearl; Robert O. K. Bennet, 67 Pearl ; James W. Blacket, 70 Hudson ; John Brainard, 35 Chapel; Joseph Caldwell, 25 Steu- ben; Thomas Ennis, 48 Beaver.

Between 1830 and 1865 the schools of Albany do not seem to have advanced in proportion to the growth and intelligence of the city, though the causes for this condition may be difficult to determine. The first important step towards the founding of the free school system in

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Albany was taken in 1830 when, on April 17, an act was passed by the Legislature providing for the annual election of a Board of School Com- missioners and a Board of School Inspectors, one commissioner and one inspector to be chosen from each ward. This action divided the city into nine districts for common schools. The commissioners had power to appoint three trustees for each school district, and to appor- tion the money received from the State on the basis of the number of scholars of school age, and they prescribed the rate of tuition so as not to exceed two dollars a quarter for each scholar. Under this law the Board of Supervisors was directed to cause a sum of money to be raised and paid to the chamberlain of the city for the support of the common schools of the city. The schools east of Perry street were to be taught nine months of each year, and those west of that street, four months, in order to enable them to draw this public money. This was the old free school system. The several boards of trustees were at that period compelled to supply the necessary rooms for school purposes for which no provision had been made by the city authorities. The school in the first district was kept in a building which had formerly been a stable; in the ninth district the cellar of the old Universalist church on Herki- mer street was used for a time and afterwards the basement of a church on Westerlo street. In district No. 8 the school was taught for some years in the lecture room of St. Peter's church, while another school occupied the upper part of the engine house on William street. The other schools were most of them located in equally undesirable quar- ters.

In 1832 the first school building, excepting the Lancaster school, was erected by the trustees of district No. 2, at a cost of $22,000; being three stories high, and containing four large school rooms, two halls, and a room for an engine company. It stood at 218 State street, and was sold in 1884, when the present building on Chestnut street, known as No. 2, was erected at a cost of about $37,000. George H. Benjamin is the present principal of this school, and has twelve teachers under him.

In the year 1838, after the Lancaster school had been abolished, a new impulse was given to educational affairs in Albany by the erection of eight new school buildings, as follows: No. 1, 310 South Pearl street, three stories, 312 seats, cost $13,000. No. 3, at 7 Van Tromp street, three stories, 200 seats, cost $13,000, sold in 1882. No. 4, at 55 Union street, three stories, 206 seats, cost $11,000, sold in 1882. No. 5, at 172 North Pearl street, three stories, 296 seats, cost $13,000, sold in 1882,

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and the present building erected. No. 7, at 56 Canal street, three sto- ries, 300 seats, cost $11,000. No. 8, at 157 Madison avenue ; three sto- ries, 338 seats, cost $17,000; rebuilt in brick in 1880, with 448 seats at a cost of $25,000. No. 9, corner of South Ferry and Dallius streets, three stories, 210 seats, cost $12,000. No. 10, at 182 Washington ave- nue, three stories, 312 seats. No. 18, formerly at No. 6, and located at the junction of Madison and Western avenues, originally one story. a second added in 1870, cost originally $7,000. The change in the number of this district was caused by alteration of the city school limits, leaving that school out of the jurisdiction of the Board of Education and placing it under control of the trustees west of Perry street; thereupon the school on Second street (Arbor Hill) in 1849, took the number 6.

The sum of money thus expended in 1838 for school buildings was about $119,000, affording accommodations, with those of the buildings erected in 1832, for 2,783 scholars; but at that time there were at least 7,000 children of school age in the city. While very many of these attended private schools (as they were forced to do in order to obtain education), the utter inadequacy of school facilities in the city at that time is apparent. Nothing further was done until 1849, when the old school No. 6 was erected at 105 Second street.

In 1844 a law was passed authorizing the creation of the Board of Education, to be elected by the people and to take the place of the former Board of Commissioners and trustees. In 1854 school No. 24 (formerly No. 11), at 417 Madison avenue, was erected. It was en- larged in 1868, and on completion of the Grammar School adjoining the number was changed, the latter school taking the old number and No. 24 going to the old building. The present school No. 24 was erected in 1893 on Delaware Square, near the corner of Delaware and Madison avenues, at a cost of $47,000; it seats 700 and is under charge of Jennie A. Utter, principal.

In 1856 School No. 12, corner of Washington avenue and Robin street, was erected as it stands at present, at a cost of about $75,000; it seats 1,000 and is under E. E. Packer, principal.

At this time there were thirteen public schools in the city, besides academies, while there were seventy private schools, some of which were excellent, while many were inferior and insignificant. In the year 1856 there were registered 6,813 scholars in the public schools, which was

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nearly double the number for which there were proper accommoda- tions; at the same time 5,292 attended private schools. This condition called out in the report of the Board of Education for 1857 a statement that the public schools were wholly inadequate and led to the erection of several new structures. School No. 16, 201 Hudson avenue (the Wilberforce school for colored children), was opened in 1858, with ac- commodations for 143 scholars; it ceased its existence as a distinctive colored school in 1874 and was sold in 1883. During the period of 1856-58 the school buildings from No. 1 to 10 inclusive, excepting No. 6, were enlarged and improved by the addition of another story or more recitation rooms. In 1858 the Common Council purchased the old State Arsenal, corner of Broadway and Lawrence street, for $10,800, and re- modeled it into a school building for 594 scholars, at a cost of $7,300. This is now No. 13. The arsenal was erected in 1799. A. Elizabeth McCarthy is principal.

School No. 14, at No. 70 Trinity Place, was built in 1861 substan- tially as it at present stands, at a cost of $35,000. This was the last school building erected under the supervision of the old Board of Edu- cation. James L. Bothwell, A.M., is principal of this school, which seats 804.

By act of the Legislature, passed in 1866, the Board of Education was given the title of the Board of Public Instruction. The new board took charge of the schools and under its subsequent supervision the school system of the city has been developed to its present magnificent propor- tions. At that time the value of the school property was estimated at $187,000, while the annual expense of maintaining the schools was about $69,000. The new board was confronted by the same conditions that had surrounded their predecessors-the great lack of school ac- commodations. Moreover, there existed at that time a feeling of serious opposition among the people to the expenditure of much money for public improvements, while the condition of the currency and of business generally was unsettled through the effects of the war. The need of a higher department of education in which more advanced studies could be pursued was imperative, and led to an effort to estab- lish a free academy. A majority of the board and many progressive citizens favored -this plan, and on December 17, 1866, a bill was pre- sented to the Legislature for this purpose. The Common Council and a large body of prominent citizens opposed the measure. Upon a thor- ough examination of the law of 1866 it was discovered that the board

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 34

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374