USA > New York > Albany County > Landmarks of Albany County, New York > Part 38
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Pumpelly, John Hollenback .- Great-grandson of Col. Elizur Talcott, 6th Regiment Connecticut Militia, 1775-6.
Read, Gen. John Meredith, former consul-general to France, former U. S. minis- ter to Greece, knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer, etc .- Great-grand- son of His Excellency George Read, one of the six signers of the Declaration of Independence who were framers of the Constitution of the United States; president of Delaware; president of the Constitutional Convention of that State; judge of the Admiralty, 1782; United States senator; twice elected chief justice of Delaware; also, great-grandson of Brig .- Gen. Samuel Meredith, major 3d Battalion, Philadel- phia Associators, Col John Cadwalader, 1775; major 3d Battalion, Philadelphia Mil- itia, Col. John Nixon, 1777; brigadier-general Pennsylvania Militia, April 5, 1777,
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at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and Valley Forge; also, great- grandson of Lieut. Isaac Marshall, private Capt. Moses Parker's Company, Chelms- ford Mass. Militia, " Lexington Alarm;" private Capt. Zaccheu's Wright's Company Colonel Brooks's Regiment, Massachusetts Militia, at White Plains; private Cap :. John Minot's Company, Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment, Massachusetts Militia, Ma; 10, 1777; lieutenant 2d Company, 7th Division, Middlesex County Mass. Milita 1780; also, great-great-grandson of Thomas Cadwalader, examining surgeon Pens- sylvania Militia, 1776.
Read, Major Harmon Pumpelly and John Meredith .- Great-great-grandsons of His Excellency George Read, one of the six signers of the Declaration of Independence who were framers of the Constitution of the United States; president of Delaware. president of the Constitutional Convention of that State; judge of the Admiralty. 1782; United States senator ; twice elected chief justice of Delaware; also great-great- grandsons of Brig .- Gen. Samuel Meredith, major 3d Battalion, Philadelphia Asso- ciators, Col. John Cadwalader, 1775; major 3d Battalion Philadelphia Militia, Col. John Nixon, 1777; brigadier-general Pennsylvania Militia, April 5, 1771, at Tren- ton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Valley Forge ; also great-great-grand- sons of Lieut. Isaac Marshall, private Capt. Moses Parker's Company, Chelmsford Mass. Militia, "Lexington Alarm;" private Capt. Zaccheus Wright's Company, Col. Brooks's Regiment, Massachusetts Militia, at White Plains; private Capt. John Minot's Company, Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment, Massachusetts Militia, May 10. 1777; lieutenant 2d Company, 7th Division, Middlesex County Mass. Militia, 1780. also, great-great-great-grandsons of Thomas Cadwalader, M. D., examining surgeor. Pennsylvania Militia, 1776.
Rice, Col. William Gorham .- Great-grandson of Private Joseph Rice, Capt. Robert Oliver's Company, Col. Ephraim Doolittle's Regiment, Massachusetts Continenta. Line, April-December, 1775.
Richardson, Rev. Leonard Woods .- Great-great-grandson of Rev. Joseph Wheeler, private in Captain Stone's Company. Colonel Prescott's Regiment, Massa- chusetts Militia.
Richmond, Adelbert G .- Great-grandson of Private Thomas Hart, Captain Stod- dard's Company, Colonel Hooker's Regiment, Connecticut Militia, on duty at White Plains and along the Hudson, 1777.
Root, Dr. Arthur Guernsey .- Great-grandson of Corporal Jonathan Root, Massa- chusetts Continental Line.
Sage, Dean .- Great-grandson of Chaplain Rev. William Linn, D. D., 5th and 6th: Battalions Pennsylvania Continental Infantry, February to December, 1776.
Sanford, Roscoe Conkling .- Great-great-grandson of Private Joseph Sanford, Col- onel Hooker's Regiment, Connecticut Militia.
Sanger, Hon. William Cary .- Great great-grandson of Richard Sanger, member Massachusetts Provincial Congress, 1775; also, great-grandson of Lieut. Joseph Requa, Dubois's Regiment New York Levies, to reinforce the army, 1780.
Sard, Grange .- Great-grandson of Private Joseph Russell, Capt. William Two- good's Company, Col. Thomas Nixon's Regiment, 6th Massachusetts Line, 1777-79: sergeant in Capt. Benjamin Haywood's Company, same regiment, January-De- cember, 1780.
Scudder, Myron Tracey .- Great-grandson of Col. Nathaniel Scudder, M. D ..
GEN. FREDERICK TOWNSEND.
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member of New Jersey Council of Safety, 1775-6; member of New Jersey Legisla- ture and speaker of Assembly, November, 1776; member of Continental Congress, 1777-79; colonel 1st Regiment Monmouth County N. J. Militia, November 28, 1778. Killed in action near Shrewsbury, N. J., October 16, 1781.
Shoemaker, Angus McDuffie, and James Duncan .- Great-grandson and great- great-grandson of Private Gottfried Shoemaker, Van Rensselaer Regiment, New York Line; siege and capture of Saratoga.
Slingerland, Cornelius H .- Great-great-grandson of Ensign Robert Andrews, Captain Colton's Company, Colonel Brewer's Regiment, Massachusetts Continental Line.
Stedman, Francis W .- Great-great-grandson of Corporal Amos Hooker, Colonel Leonard"s Regiment, Massachusetts Continental Line.
Townsend, Gen. Frederick .- Great-great grandson of Samuel Townsend, member of New York Provincial Congress, 1775-7; member of committee to draft the Consti- tution of New York, 1777; paymaster 5th Regiment, New York Line, Col. Lewis Dubois, June 25, 1777-January 1, 1778.
Treadwell, Col. George Curtis .- Great-great-grandson of Gov. John Treadwell of Connecticut.
Tucker, Willis Gaylord, M. D .- Great great-grandson of Stephen Tucker, corporal in Captain McClellan's Company, Woodstock, Conn., lieutenant in command of 6th Company of 11th Regiment of Militia at New York in 1776.
Van Allen, Theodore Frelinghuysen Collier, M.D .- Great-great grandson of Col. Frederick Frelinghuysen, New Jersey Militia; major in Colonel Stewart's Battalion New Jersey Minute-men, February 15, 1776; captain Eastern Company of Artillery, N. Y. State troops, March 1, 1776; colonel 1st Battalion Somerset County N. J. Mili- tia, February 28, 1778; member New Jersey Provisional Congress, 1775-8; member Continental Congress, 1778 and 1782-3.
Van Antwerp, John Henry .- Great-grandson of Lewis Simon Van Antwerp, member of Committee of Correspondence and Safety, Schaghticoke, Albany county, N. Y., 1776.
Vander Veer, Edgar Albert, M. D .- Great-great-grandson of Jacob Dievendorf, captain in 1st Company, 5th Battalion, Tryon County, New York, Militia.
Van Heusen, John Manning .- Great-great-grandson of Joseph Manning, private in Captain Olney's Company, Angell's Regiment, Rhode Island, 1780 and 1782.
Van Tuyl, George Casey, jr .- Great-great-grandson of John Van Tuyl, corporal in Lansing's Company, Orange County Regiment, New York Line.
Viele, Maurice Edward .- Great-grandson of Col. John Knickerbocker, Albany County Militia, 1775-8.
Wadhams, Frederick Eugene .- Great-grandson of Ebnezer Bostwick, private in Capt. Elizur Warner's Company, 7th Regiment Connecticut Line, Col. Heman Swift; corporal same company, and sergeant same company.
Wallace, Major William Addison .- Great-grandson of Abijah Thompson, Capt, Samuel Belknap's Company, Woburn, Massachusetts, Militia, at Lexington and Cam- bridge, 19 April, 1775; also, great-great great-grandson of Private Rowlandson Bond, Captain Warner's Company, Colonel Collins's Regiment, Massachusetts Line, 1777-80; also, great-great-grandson of Capt. John Wisner, captain of Florida and
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Warwick Company, Orange County Minute-men, Col. Isaac Nichols's Regiment March, 1776.
Warner, Gen. James Meech .- Great-grandson of Lieut. Joseph Little, Welch Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers; joined the Northern Army at Saratoga September 28, 1777. Gen. J. M. Warner died March 16, 1897.
Wetmore, Prof. Edward Willard .- Great-grandson of Surgeon Ellis Willard private Massachusetts Militia; at Boston, April, 1775; hospital surgeon, New Yori. 1775-9; surgeon in military hospitals at Boston, 1780-5.
Whitney, William Minott .- Grandson of Brig-Gen. Josiah Whitney, one of th "Boston Tea Party," December 16, 1773; at Concord, April 19, 1775; lieutenant colonel of Col. Asa Whitcomb's Massachusetts Continental Regiment at Bunker Hi and Siege of Boston, April to December, 1765; colonel of Massachusetts Militia in fore Boston, January to April, 1776; colonel of "Colony" Regiment raised to fortif the town and harbor of Boston, April, 1776-January, 1777; colonel in command . Massachusetts Militia, Rhode Island Alarm, April, May and June, 1777, and Be: nington Alarm, August, 1777; at Saratoga, September and October, 1777; memin of last Provincial Legislature, 1779; member of convention that framed State Cor stitution for Massachusetts in 1780; member of first State Legislature in 1780, an also those of 1788 and 1789; promoted to brigadier-general, July, 1781.
Williams, Captain Chauncey Pratt .- Great-grandson of Jehiel Williams, corpor in Captain Tilden's Company, engaged at Bunker Hill; enlisted from Connecticut.
Williams, Robert Day .- Great-grandson of Corporal Isaac Foot, gunner 2d Reg ment Connecticut Artillery, Col. John Lamb, 1777; corporal same, 1780.
Woodruff, Hon. Timothy Lester, Lieutenant-Governor of New York State. -- Grea grandson of Private Samuel Scott, Capt. William Judd's Company, Col. Samu Wylly's 3d Regiment, Connecticut Line, served on the Hudson May 1, 1777-Januar 1, 1778.
Youngman, Hon. Vreeland Houghwout .- Grandson of Private John Youngmar Wingate's New Hampshire Militia Regiment; private, also, in Frye's Company, 2 New Hampshire Line; at Saratoga, Monmouth, and Valley Forge; and Har! Vreeland Youngman, great-grandson of above.
Following are lists of members of other organizations of the charar acter under consideration, which have been prepared for this work :
Order of the Cincinnati .- J. Howard King, Richard Varick De Witt.
Sons of the American Revolution .- William H. McClure, Archibald Jermain M Clure, Wiiliam Herrick Griffith, George Comstock Baker, Captain C. C. Cussic Captain Chauncey Pratt Williams, Hon. Erastus Corning, Dr. Frederick Jose: Cox, Hon. James A. Roberts, William N. Stetson, John N. Cutler, Hon. Edward ' Bartlett.
Society War of 1812 in the State of New York .- Henry Harmon Noble, Willia Herrick Griffith (Pennsylvania Society), George Comstock Baker, Elijah Warrin Murphey, James William Cox, jr., Frederick Eugene, Wadhams, James Dunca Shoemaker.
U. S. Daughters of 1812 .- Mrs. Henry Harmon Noble.
Society of Colonial Wars .- There are thirty-six members, nearly all of whom a members of Sons of Revolution.
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Military Order of Foreign Wars of the U. S .- Henry Harmon Noble, George Lawyer.
Military Order of the Members of the Loyal Legion in Albany .- Major Richard L. Annesley, Lieut. John M, Bailey, Judson Hooker Bailey, 2d class, Major Herman Bendell, Major Charles J. Buchanan, Col. Stephen P. Corliss, M. H., Lieut .- Col. Frank Chamberlain, Eugene T. Chamberlain, 2d class, Capt. Louis Dietz, Lieut. Bertold Fernow, Lieut. William Kidd, Henry M. Kidd, 2d class, Capt. Charles R. Knowles, Gen. Selden E. Marvin, Selden E. Marvin, jr., 2d class, Lieut .- Col. An- drew E. Mather, Major John S. McEwan, Major John L. Newman, Lieut .- Col. Dud- ley .Olcott, Capt. John Palmer, Ensign Clarence Rathbone, Capt. Oscar D. Robin- son, Gustavius C. Sniper, Lieut. Col. Alexander Strain, Lieut. David A. Teller, Major Jacob H. Ten Eyck, Franklin Townsend, 3d class, Gen. Frederick Townsend, Frederick Townsend, jr., 2d class, Major Albert Vander Veer, Edgar A. Vander Veer, 2d class, Capt. Samuel B. Ward, Lieut. Andrew G. White, Major Bradford R. Wood, Major George H. Treadwell, George Curtis Treadwell, 2d class, Col. Fred Phisterer, Gen. Nathaniel Wales, Mass. Commandery; Gen. Robert Shaw Olliver, Mass. Commandery; Edward Bowditch, 3d class, Mass. Commandery.
Ancient Chivalric and Heraldic Order of Knights of Albion .- Major Harmon Pumpelly Read, Director-General and Herald, William Herrick Griffith, Registrar General and Genealogist,
Order of Old Guard, Chicago .- George Comstock Baker, William Herrick Griffith.
Daughters of the Cincinnati .- Mrs. Abraham Lansing.
Society of the Colonial Dames of America .-- Mrs. Erastus Corning, Mrs. Selden E. Marvin, Mrs. Anna Parker Pruyn, Miss Hybertie L. Pruyn, Mrs. William Gor- ham Rice.
Society of Colonial Dames of State of N. Y .- Mrs. William H. McClure, Mrs. John DeWitt Peltz, Miss Mary B. S. Tibbets, Mrs. Garret A. Van Allen, Mrs. Will- iam Bayard Van Rensselaer, Mrs. Levi P. Morton, Mrs. James W. Cox, jr.
BANKS.
This city has always been the home of banking institutions of high character and ample means. Failure in such institutions have been comparatively few, while the facilities afforded by them to tradesmen and manufacturers have been liberal and progressive. The first dis- cussion, as far as known, relating to the establishment of a bank in Albany took place in Lewis's tavern on February 3, 1792. At that early date the need of a bank in the northern part of the State was felt, there being but one in the whole State. At a subsequent meeting plans were outlined, the name, Bank of Albany, settled, and the capital fixed at $75,000, in five hundred shares, with a board of thirteen directors, nine of whom should reside in Albany. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Jacob Van Derheyden and Barent Bleecker were to open subscription books
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in the following week and close them when five hundred shares were taken. The books were opened February 17, and the stock was over- subscribed in less than three hours. After the books were closed offer- of ten per cent. advance on the stock were made, and within a week it rose to one hundred per cent. Considerable difficulty was encountered in obtaining a charter, and the price of the stock fluctuated somewhat until towards the close of the legislative session, when the act of incor- poration became a law. The first board of directors was elected Jun 12, 1792, as follows: Abraham Ten Broeck, Cornelius Glen, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, John Maley, Abraham Var Vechten, Henry Cuyler, John Stephenson, James Caldwell, Jacob Var Derheyden, Goldsboro Banyar, Daniel Hale and Elkanah Watson. Mr. Ten Broeck was elected president of the bank, and business was com. menced on the 16th of July. The incorporating act limited the bank capital to $260,000, but in February, 1794, it was increased to $540,000, i: 135 shares. In 1832 the charter of the bank was extended to January 1855, at which time, for the purpose of more widely diffusing the stock. its par value was reduced to $30 and the number of shares proportion. ately increased. The bank was at first located in an old Dutch edifice in North Pearl street, but in 1794 a bank building was erected and oc. cupied until 1810, when a second building was erected by the bank or the corner of State and Broadway. This was demolished in 1832 ir widening State street, and the bank removed to No. 42 State street. and from there to the Merchants' Bank building, where it remained until 1861. The presidents of this bank from 1792 to 1861 were Abra. ham Ten Broeck, 1792-98; Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, 1798-1806; Philip S. Van Rensselaer, 1806-10; Dudley Walsh, 1810-14; John Van Schaick 1814-20; Barent Bleecker, 1820-40; Jacob H. Ten Eyck, 1840-61 During this period of seventy years there were only four cashiers namely: Garret W. Van Schwaick, 1792-1815; John Van Zandt, 1815- 32; Jellis Winne, jr., 1832-49; E. E. Kendrick, 1849-61.
This bank failed on May 11, 1861, at a time when the utmost con fidence was felt in the institution and $100 shares commanded $150 il the market. It resulted from a combination of causes from which fou Albany banks failed in that year. Adam Van Allen was appointed receiver of the bank and closed up its affairs.
New York State Bank .- This institution owed its existence largely to Elkanah Watson, and was incorporated and began business in 1803. The original directors were: The State comptroller, Elisha Jenkins
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John Tayler, Thomas Tillotson, Abraham G. Lansing, Peter Ganse- voort, Elkanah Watson, John R. Bleecker, Francis Bloodgood, John Robison, Gilbert Stewart, John De Peyster Douw, Richard Lush and Thomas Mather.
At a meeting of the directors on March 25, 1803, John Tayler was chosen president, and John W. Yates, cashier. The bank began busi- ness on September 7. Opposition to the incorporation of this bank was very bitter, especially from the officials and prominent stockholders in the Bank of Albany. The original capital was $460,000. It is at the present time $250,000 and the surplus is an equal amount.
John Tayler continued president until his death in 1829. He was succeeded by Francis Bloodgood, who died in 1840, the last survivor of the original board of directors. Rufus H. King was elected president in 1840 and remained as such until his death in 1867. He was suc- ceeded by Gen. Franklin Townsend. J. Howard King was elected president in 1879. John W. Yates died in 1828, and was succeeded as cashier by his son, Richard Yates, whose successor was Aaron D. Patchin. J. B. Plumb succeeded Mr. Patchin, who was succeeded by John H. Van Antwerp. He was followed by D. W. Wemple. In 1850 the charter of the bank expired, when it closed up its business, paying back to its stockholders their capital with a handsome surplus. Under the same name, with new articles of association, and under the general banking laws of the State, it commenced business on January 1, 1851. Nearly all the old stockholders subscribed for equal amounts in the new association. In 1849 the capital in this bank was reduced to $369,000. The new bank began with a capital of $350,000. In 1892 the bank gave back to stockholders fifty per cent. as an extra dividend. The present cashier is Willis G. Nash, who took the position in 1888. J. Howard King, president; J. H. Van Antwerp and Ledyard Cogs- well, vice-presidents; John H. Van Antwerp, J. Howard King, Fred- erick Townsend, James H. Pratt, Marcus T. Hun, Henry K. McHarg, Ledyard Cogswell, William Bayard Van Rensselaer, Edward N. Mc- Kinney, Nelson H. Salisbury, James Ten Eyck, J. Townsend Lansing and Rufus H. King, directors.
Canal Bank .- This institution was incorporated in 1829, with a cap- ital of $300,000. The first directors were John T. Norton, Jeremiah Clark, Edward C. Delavan, Lyman Root, Israel Smith, John I. God- frey, Aaron Thorpe, David Wood, Henry L. Webb, James Goold, Alexander Marvin, Edwin Croswell, James Porter, Richard V. De Witt, Lyman Chapin.
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From 1829 to 1835 John T. Norton was president. John Keyes Paige succeeded him, who a short time after was followed by Joseph Russell. The last president was Robert Hunter. Theodore Olcott was was the first and only cashier of this bank.
The failure of this bank in July, 1848, was memorable as the first failure of a banking institution in Albany. It was closed by order of the comptroller, and a commission appointed to examine into the affairs of the bank. No irregularity was discovered.
Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank .-- This institution was incorporated March 4, 1811, and opened for business July 29, 1811. By the act of incorporation, the following were named as directors: Samuel South- wick, Benjamin Knower, Elisha Dorr, Isaac Denniston, Benjamin Van Benthuysen, William Fowler, George Merchant, Thomas Livingston, Giles W. Porter, Willard Walker, Walter Weed, Peter Boyd, Isaac Hutton, Spencer Stafford and John Bryan. This bank was chartered ostensibly for the benefit of the mechanics and farmers of Albany county, and its charter provided that none but farmers and mechanics should be elected as bank officers; but some years after, application was made to the Legislature for an amendment to the charter, so as to authorize the election of president and directors without reference to the pursuits or employments in which they may have been engaged.
This bank was first located on the site of the post office building. It is a memorable fact and one that for a time created some uneasiness. that the entire first board of directors were Democrats. It had been understood that two Federalists would have a place on the board, and a substitution was made a little later.
The first president was Solomon Southwick, who filled the office un- til 1813, when he was succeeded by Isaac Hutton. Isaac Hutton was succeeded by Benjamin Knower in 1817, who remained president until 1834, when financial embarrassments having caused his resignation, he was succeeded by Charles E. Dudley as president pro tem., February 3, 1834. At the election in June of this year, Ezra Ames was elected president and Charles E. Dudley, vice-president. This seems to have been the first vice-president ever elected by this bank. Ezra Ames filled the office of president until 1836, when Thomas W. Olcott having resigned the office of cashier, was elected president, which office he held until his death in 1880. As a clerk, cashier and president Mr. Thomas W. Olcott had been connected with the bank for the long pe- riod of sixty-nine years, besides two or three years passed in the Colum-
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bia Bank of Hudson, N. Y., a period of time almost beyond parallel in this country. At his death, in 1880, he was succeeded by his son Dudley. There is no record of the election of a vice-president from the date of the death of Charles E. Dudley in 1841, until 1844, when Samuel S. Fowler was chosen. He was succeeded by William H. De Witt, who held this office until January 1, 1853, the date of the expira- tion of the charter of the old Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank. From this period, until June, 1865, the bank had no vice-president, when Mr. Thomas Olcott, resigning the position of cashier, was elected vice- president, which office he held until his death in 1873. From this date until January 1, 1879, there was no election of vice-president, when Dudley Olcott having resigned as cashier was elected to that office. He held it until March, 1880, when he was succeeded by John J. Ol- cott, who now holds the position.
Gorham A. Worth was the first cashier, which position he held until 1817, when he resigned to accept the position of cashier of the Branch Bank of the United States, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Thomas W. Olcott was appointed to the vacancy and held the position until June 7, 1836, when he was succeeded by E. E. Kendrick. E. E. Kendrick held the office until February 23, 1849, when he was succeeded by Thomas Ol- cott, who resigned the position in June, 1865. Dudley Olcott was his successor in the office, until January 1, 1879, when he was succeeded by George G. Davidson. At the time of the appointment of Thomas WV. Olcott as cashier, in 1817, the bank's capital had become impaired, owing to the financial troubles growing out of the depression following the close of the last war with Great Britain; but from this date, the financial history of the bank has been one of unvarying prosperity.
At the expiration of the charter of the old bank January 1, 1853, the stockholders received about 115 per cent., besides their stock in the new bank, which was $350,000. The first charter expired in 1833 and was renewed for twenty years. At the expiration of the second charter, 1853, the bank closed its affairs, dividing its surplus, and went into operation again with the same officers. During the war of the Rebel- lion it again wound up its affairs, and went under the national bank system ; this was abandoned in 1868. Thomas W. Olcott, to whom must be credited a large share of the success of this institution, is by general consent acknowledged to have been the great banker of Albany.
The present capital of this bank is $250,000, and it has a surplus of nearly a million dollars.
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National Commercial Bank .- A bill for the incorporation of the Com- mercial Bank of Albany was passed by the Senate of the State of New York on March 30, 1825, and by the Assembly on April 8, 1825, and became a law by the signature of Governor De Witt Clinton on April 12, 1825. The following were named as commissioners in the bill. and constituted the first board of directors: Willard Walker, Joshua Tuffs. George W. Stanton, Lewis Benedict, William Cook, David E. Gregory, Seth Hastings, Ira Jenkins, Joseph Alexander, Robert Gilchrist, Rich- ard Marvin, John Townsend, Asa H. Center.
The directors of the bank were for a time enjoined from opening on account of the dissatisfaction of the subscribers with the distribution of the capital stock, but August 29, 1826, the chancellor decided that the bank might go into operation so far as to issue bills and discount notes, but prohibited any transfer of stock, or making any loan or pledges on stock. A meeting of the board of directors was held at Knickerbocker Hall on the evening of May 23, 1826, at which all the directors, with the exception of William Cook were present. At this meeting the board was organized and Joseph Alexander was elected president. On July 13, 1826, Henry Bartow was appointed cashier.
The bank began business September 5, 1826, with a capital of $300,- 000, and continued until the expiration of its charter on July 1, 1845. and under an extension of its charter until July 1, 1847, when it was reorganized under the general banking law of the State. On May 31. 1865, the bank was chartered under the act of Congress as a national institution, and was reorganized and began business under that act Au- gust 1, 1865. It continued under this charter for twenty years, until May 31, 1885, when an extension of the charter was granted to May 31. 1905. The capital stock was increased to $500,000 February 1, 1855, and on June 10, 1875, was reduced to $300,000, in shares of $100 each. the amount of the reduction being paid to the stockholders. On Jan- uary 13, 1880, the number of directors was reduced to nine, and or September 10, 1887, the number was again changed, so that it should not be less than five nor more than fifteen.
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