USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 1 > Part 42
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The Rensselaer County bank was established January 1, 1853, with a capital stock of $200, 000 and John S. Fake as president. It was con- verted into a national bank in June, 1865, but six years later it resumed its old title. It ceased to exist July 13, 1872.
The 30th Regiment, N. Y. State Vols., the history of which is con- tained in a preceding chapter, had its inception in Lansingburgh, the first full company for that regiment being organized in this village. It was mustered into the service of the United States as Company A, with Samuel King as captain, John 11. Campbell as lieutenant and Francis Dargen as ensign. At the first battle of Bull Run Captain King, Ensign Dargen and five privates were killed. Lieutenant Campbell succeeded to the captaincy. The term of service of the company and the regiment was two years from June 6, 1861. Company K, 169th Regiment, was organized by Captain Daniel Ferguson and Second Lieutenant E. R. Smith. The former was killed at the explosion of the mine at Fort Fisher. The term of service of the company was three years from October 6, 1862. Captain Charles S. Holmes and First Lieutenant Cornelius Kelleher were members of Company C, 192nd Regiment.
The Lansingburgh soldiers who lost their lives while in the service of the United States in the War of the Rebellion were:
James Clark, George Lemon, Samuel King, David Ferguson, E. M. Smith, Albert Smith, Charles Remington, Artenius Wood, James Sickler, George Cook, George Lester, William McMurray, Edward Remington. James Kirkpatrick, Minot A. Thomas, Richard Barret, George Williams, James Denison, John A. Hardy, Andrew MeAusland, Joseph Whinnery, William Johnson, Charles Smith, George Van Vilite, W. S. Carr, William Son, John Hardy, George H. Hubbard, Frank Nittin, William Bell, Joseph Stout, Edwin Moss, E. Alderdice, William Cottrell, Melford Clark, Robert Bell, Nicholas Benjamin, Joseph Graham, George Britton, Andrew Kirk-
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patrick, William Rafter, Joseph Rafter, Daniel McGovern, Michael Connors, Al- mund D. Gardner, Silas Rowley, Albert White, Jacob Orth, Simon Ripley, Hugh Lennon, William Cooper, Andrew Wright, William E. Pratt, Joseph Mckinney, lleman Spotten, Moses E. Newell, Jerome Lee, C. R. Burlingame, B. S. Williams, George II. Watson, John Trong, Henry Oliver, Francis Dargen, William O'Keeffe, Thomas O'Keeffe, Owen O'Keeffe, Cornelius Murphy, Lawrence Sauds, Thomas Kelly, Hugh Brady, Christopher Farrell, Jarvis Smith, Thomas Winters, Jule Pres- cott, Lonis Delair, William McArlee, John Brady, John Broidy, Richard Walker, Walker, Lawrence Dorsey, Thomas Hilroy, George Loomis, Thomas Bulson, Samuel Stapleton, William Welsh, Michael English, Corneller Kelleher, James O'Keeffe, James Fitzpatrick, John Brennan.
March 48, 1875, Justice Westbrook of the Supreme Court granted an order for the appointment of John P. Albertson as seeretary of the Exchange Bank of Lansingburgh, and the following afternoon, with trucks and workmien, Isaac McConihe, president of the bank, with his counsel, John HI. Colby, and Mr. Albertson, came to Lansingburgh from Troy and removed the safe, books, etc., loading them on the trucks and taking them to Mr. McConihe's office in Troy.
In 1882 Mrs. Deborah Powers, then ninety-three years of age, de- sired to devote a portion of her estate to the use of those who had been less fortunate, and she decided to found a home for aged women. April 10, 1883, she purchased the property now known as the Powers Home for Old Ladies, formerly ealled the Daniel Davenport home- stead, which was remodeled and another story placed on both wings. The first inmate was received December 20, 1883. In 1884 the build- ing was again enlarged. The grounds embrace a half block in the northern part of the village between Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth streets and Second and Third avenues.
On the morning of Wednesday, December 11, 1895, a small house on Second avenue, just below Sixth street, was burned, the flames causing the death of Mrs. Hannah Eglin Sliter and Mary Harris, the former a well-known resident of the village.
INSTITUTIONS OF LANSINGBURGH.
When the public school system of the State was organized by the Legislature in 1807, Charles Selden and Thomas Wallace were chosen as the first school commissioners for Lansingburgh. Under the system of supervision by town superintendents in 1831, John G. Neal was eleeted to that office. In 1817 the Legislature passed an act permitting school district No. 1 of Lansingburgh to raise by taxation money
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enough, in addition to the public money, to establish a free school. This was one year before the free school system of the State was at- tempted by the Legislature, and four years before the fully developed system of 1851 was established. Prof. James C. Comstoek was made principal of the new free school.
'The Lansingburgh academy is an old institution. The petition for its incorporation was signed December 24, 1995, by Benjamin Tibbits, William Bell and twenty-five others, and the charter was granted by the Regents February 20, 1796. The first trustees of the academy were Rev. Jonas Coe, John D. Diekinson, John Lovell, Willian Bradley, Nicholas Schuyler, Michael Henry, George Tibbits, Christopher Hut- ton, Annanias Platt, Elijah Janes, Cornelius Lansing, Charles Selden, Ilenlock Woodruff, Jonathan Brown, Philip Smith, Josiah Masters and John Thompson. The first building was erected on the site fronting the old "green," which is now the village park. It was of wood, and in it the school was maintained for twenty-five years. A new building was ereeted in 1820 on the north side of Fourteenth street near Fourth avenue. In that building the school has since been maintained, and under the charter of 1796. The first principal of the academy was Chauncey Lee. After him came Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, Norris Bull, George A. Simmons, afterwards member of congress; Alexander McCall, E. B. Jones, 1835 to 1838; E. B. Foote, 1840; II. White, 1841 to 1842; Ebenezer D. Maltbie, 1842 to 18447; C. G. Pease, 1847 to 1849; Rev. Cyrus Bolster, 1849 to 1851; J. Hooker Magoffin, 1851 to 1854; Rev. John Smith, 1854 to 1856; Daniel J. Mann, 1859 to 1860; Peter R. Furbeck, 1860 to 1865; Rev. A. B. Whipple and Henry A. Pierce, 1870 to 1823: C. T. R. Smith, 18;3 to Among those who received their early education at this time-honored institution were Chester A. Arthur, afterwards president of the United States; Judge Jolin K. Porter, Thomas G. Alvord, and many others.
The fire department of Lansingburgh was organized by act of the Legislature April 17, 1844, with Thomas C. Davenport as the chief en- gineer. This volunteer fire department came to an end December 9, 1874, when a paid department was organized in accordance with an act of the Legislature, the first chief engineer being Thomas H. Mason ; first assistant, John Franklin; foreman of hose, William M. Lea; assist- ant foreman, Milford Osborne ; superintendent of steamers, John Brooks; assistant superintendent and engineer, Frank Spotten.
Upon the failure of the Bank of Lansingburgh, the only one in the
J. K. P. PINE.
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village, Albert E. Powers, son of Mrs. Deborah Powers, became its receiver. In order to facilitate the liquidation, the firm of D. Powers & Son opened a bank under the title of Bank of D. Powers & Sons, the other partner being Nathaniel B. Powers, the other son of Deborah Powers. From March, 1877, until the death of Deborah Powers May 28, 1891, the mother and sons jointly conducted the bank in connection with their oileloth factory.
The factory was established many years before by Deborah Powers and her husband, William Powers. The couple were married Febru- ary 23, 1816, while Mr. Powers was teaching school in Lansingburgh. Having been successful in experiments in the manufacture of this product, Mr. Powers abandoned teaching in 1821 and devoted his time from that time on to this industry. Mrs. Powers was her husband's active helper in all his experiments, both in counsel and labor. In 1828, the building they occupied being too small for the accommodation of the work, the factory now standing on the west side of Second avenue was erected. In 1829 Mr. Powers lost his life while making varnish and Mrs. Powers was also severely burned in the same accident. But she bravely de- termined to carry on the business, which she did with great success to the day of her death, amassing a great fortune. In 1842 Albert E. Powers was admitted into the business as his mother's partner, and five years later Nathaniel B. Powers became a member of the firm, Jona- than E. Whipple, who had become a partner in 1832, retiring. After the death of Mrs. Powers both the oilcloth manufactory and the bank con- tinued under the ownership of the two sons.
Since the failure of the Bank of Lansingburgh many years before no State of National incorporated banking institution had existed in Lans- ingburgh until ISSS, when, October 19, it was decided by capitalists of the village to organize a bank with a capital stock of $68,500, to be paid in February 12, 1889, with a limit of $250,000. Subsequently the capital stock was reduced to $50,000 and these officers were elected : President, J. K. P. Pine; vice-president, Robert C. Haskell; cashier, Edward Van Schoonhoven. The bank was named the People's Bank of Lansingburgh, and the lot No. 604 Second avenue was purchased for a site for a banking building, for $2,000. Ground was broken No- vember 2, 1889, and the bank began business in the following Feb- ruary.
The Leonard hospital was incorporated in 1893, and the institution has since been under the direction of the State Board of Charities. The
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property was formerly owned by Mrs. Hugh L. Rose, who was a daughter of Dr. Leonard, and when she died she directed that the building should be devoted to the purposes of a hospital. Her wishes were fulfilled and the institution was named in honor of her father. It is located on the northeast corner of Fourteenth street and Sixth avenne, and the grounds surrounding it extend from Sixth to Seventh avenues and from Four- teenth to Fifteenth streets. The building is a two-story brick structure and well adapted to the purposes for which it is used.
Reference has been made to the establishment of the First Presby- terian church. The second church edifice was commenced in Isit and opened for service April 25, 1845. In 1866 and 1867 a commodious chapel was erected at a cost of $8,000, and since then the church has been enlarged and remodeled at a cost of $20,000. The work was completed in the summer of 1870 and the edifice, then practically a new one, was dedicated, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Anson J. Upson, D D.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Lansingburgh was organized July 23, 1827. The first house of worship was constructed at the foot of Elizabeth street near the river. A class had been formed as early as 1698, and in 1803 Rev. Laban Clark and Martin Ruter preached. In 1810 a house of worship was erected, and in 182> and 1829 a church was built at the corner of North and Queen streets. Rev. S. D. Fer- guson was the first stated pastor, though others had preceded him be- fore the society became organized in due form. In Isis a new church was built on the northeast corner of Elizabeth and Congress streets, which has been enlarged and remodeled. The society has always been a prosperous one.
The John Street Baptist church was organized June B, 1803, and the first church editice was on the east side of State street between Hoo- sick and Lansing streets. September 6, 1804, the work of erecting a larger and more convenient church was begun on the northwest corner of Congress and Richard streets. This building subsequently became the property of the Second Presbyterian society and was known as Olivet church. It later was given over to secular uses. The John Street Baptist church, having labored under heavy financial difficulties, was finally dissolved in 1857 and the church edifice was sold to satisfy a mortgage. The society was reorganized July 28, 1>58, with A. B. Whipple as pastor. The edifice formerly occupied by the Second Pres- byterian church on John street was purchased and improved, and soon after occupied.
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The Second Presbyterian church, later named Olivet, was organized June 24, 1835, as the First Free Presbyterian Society of Lansingburgh. Soon after organization had been effected a brick church was erected on the east side of John street, between Elizabeth and Richard streets. The first pastor was the Rev. Samuel P. Spear, and during his minis- try the name of the organization was changed to that of the Second Presbyterian church of Lansingburgh. May 17, 1861, the congrega- tion having been reorganized as Olivet church, it purchased the prop- erty formerly owned by the Baptist church, located on the northwest corner of Congress and Richard streets. In 1877 a chapel was erected on the northeast corner of Clinton and Congress streets.
Trinity Protestant Episcopal church was organized Jannary 5, 1804, and the first house of worship was erected on the corner of Market and John streets. The first rector was the Rev. Dr. David Butler, who served St. Paul's at Troy at the same time. The church was destroyed by fire on Christmas morning, 1868, but was rebuilt almost imme- diately, being ready for occupancy within two years. The new editiee cost about $60,000.
The Reformed Presbyterian church of Troy and Lansingburgh was incorporated December 21, 1831, but in the following year sold its property and disbanded
The Universalist church was organized in 1833, its edifice being lo- cated on the corner of North and John streets and its first pastor being the Rev. Charles Woodhouse. The society did not prosper and ulti- mately sold its property to St. John's Roman Catholic church and went out of existenee.
St. John's church was the first Roman Catholic church to be estab- lished in Lansingburgh. Its first house of worship was the building purchased of the Universalist society, located on the corner of North and John streets, which, after being repaired, was consecrated by Bishop MeCloskey in 1844 as " The Catholic Church of the Village of Lansingburgh." The first pastor was the Rev. W. P. Hogan. For a while it was known as St. Joseph's church. The new church was built in 1864 and given the name of St. Augustine's.
The African Methodist Episcopal church was incorporated May IS, 1816, and after a career of twenty-five years it ceased to exist. The society maintained services at No. 549 Whipple avenue.
The Free Methodist church was established in 1866 and its house of worship on Ann street, south of Elizabeth, was dedicated November 15, 1867. The first pastor was the Rev. George E. Ferrin.
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The Germondville Union church of North Lansingburgh, incorpo- rated July 23, 1844, occupied during its career the house of worship afterwards owned by the Methodist church at Speigletown.
The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer started with four persons, John Knudsen and wife and John II. Lingenfelter and wife. During the summer of 1889 Paul Klingler, a student in the Lutheran Theological seminary at Philadelphia, Pa., spent his vaea- tion in an effort to gather together the anglieized Lutherans living in Lansingburgh, and succeeded in gathering fifty or sixty men, women and children. The time having arrived for Mr. Klingler to return to his studies in the seminary, the little flock was left without a shepherd. In the month of October Rev. Samuel G. Finckel came from Hartleton, Pa., to organize a congregation. In December about a score of mem- bers were incorporated, bought a lot and started a church, the corner stone of which was laid about March 1, 1890. The building was com- pleted and opened for service in May, 1890.
The newspapers of Lansingburgh have been : The Northern Centinel and Lansingburgh Advertiser, established May 21, 1787; the Federal Herald, established May 5, 1788, by Babcock & Hickok; the American Spy, April 8, 1791, by Silvester Tiffany; the Northern Budget ;1 the Lansingburgh Gazette, September 12, 1798, by Gardiner Tracy; the Rensselaer County Gazette, May 2, 1826, by Jesse C. and Jeremiah Young, subsequently, in the fall of 1828, becoming the Lansingburgh Democrat and Rensselaer County Gazette; the Farmers' Register, Jan- uary 25, 1803, by Francis Adancourt; the Democratic Press and Lans- ingburgh Advertiser, January 13, 1838, by William J. Lamb, subse- quently becoming the Lansinghurgh Democrat, then the New Adver- tiser; the Literary Cabinet, November, 1811, by James J. Peck; the Golden Rule, January 1, 1844, by Rev. Rolla J. Smith, changed in 1847 to the Young Ladies' Messenger; the Antiquarian and General Re- view, 1847, by Rev. William Arthur, who established it in Schenectady two years before; the Lansingburgh Daily Gazette, January 3, 1860, by Thomas Mitchell and Alexander Kirkpatrick; the Semi-Weekly Chronicle, April 6, 1864, by J. D. Comstock; Our Little Paper, Sep- tember 13, 1872, by E. D. Ayres; The Enterprise, November 29, 1873, by J. C. Comstock; the Lansingburgh Courier, December 24, 1875, by Isaac L. Van Voast and William H. Engel; Lansingburgh Times, estab- lished by Alexander Kirkpatrick.
I See new .papers, history of Troy.
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STEPHEN PARKS.
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Among the other leading organizations in Lansingburgh, the Sans Souci Yacht club was organized October 12, 1867; the Lansingburgh Choral union was organized March 20, 1879.
INDUSTRIES OF LANSINGBURGH.
The population of Lansingburgh is composed largely of persons whose business is located in Troy, but the village sustains several manufacturing concerns which contribute greatly to its wealth and prosperity. Even while Troy was yet a comparatively small village Lansingburgh enjoyed an immense trade with Vermont and Northern New York in grain, beef, pork, butter, cheese and other produce. There were many commission merchants or "middle-men " in the vil- lage. In the beginning of the nineteenth century there were at least a dozen warehouses on River street for storing grain. Lansingburgh was then the centre of a great grain trade, buying of the farmers for many miles around and selling at Albany, New York and other cities. About 1825, and even before that date, there were several leather tan- neries in operation in the village. Frederick Forsyth, Keating Raw- son, Cornelius Lansing, Asa Burt and William Guest owned the most important of these. There were also a number of slaughter and pack- ing houses, among them being those of Ives & Wilson, Tobias Loring, Noel Atwood and Thomas Turner. Before the year 1800 there were four or five " ship yards" in town, where sailing vessels for navigation on the Hudson were made. Armington & Hawkins and John Stilson were prominent in this line. The oilcloth industry has been a prom- inent one for many years. Reference to the factory of D. Powers's Sons has been made in preceding pages. T. C. Davenport, Jonathan E. Whipple and - -- Ferrin engaged in the business at an early day. Caswell's rifle factory began business about 1812 or 1813. Twenty- five men were employed for many years in the three shops. Brush manufacturing was also an early industry, David McMurray being the pioneer in the business. All of his five sons-William, John G., Rob- ert, David and Moses-were engaged in the same business. Large numbers of persons were employed in the various works for many years.
Edwin Chamberlain established a carriage factory in 1836, in Troy, removing to Lansingburgh in 1858. The business developed to large proportions and gave employment to a number of skilled workmen.
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The Ludlow Valve Manufacturing company, which was located for many years in Lansingburgh, made preparations in 1896 to move to Troy and occupy a part of the former plant of the Troy Steel company in the southern part of the city.1 The plant was originally established in Waterford, but was removed to Lansingburgh in 1822, remaining in the village for twenty-four years. One of the earliest grist mills in town was started about 1785 or 1790 by -- Leversee, near the Brunswick line. There were also several other grist mills and a number of lum- ber mills in town. Sherrill & Hedges had a nail factory in the village, and Fisher & Co, conducted a thread factory for a few years.
James McQuide began the manufacture of brushes about 1855, and eleven years later he erected a large brick building for use as a factory. Subsequently he admitted his son, Joseph MeQuide, to the business under the firm name of James McQuide & Son. Sweeney & Bradshaw began the manufacture of brushes in 1857. The firm afterward became Bradshaw & O'Bryan, and finally John G. O'Bryan beeame sole pro. prietor. The brush factory of George Scott was established in 1842. E. & C. Woods began the manufacture of brushes about 1843. The Rensselaer Valve works, now located in Cohoes, were founded in Lans- ingburgh in 1853 by P. Southwick. S. V. Arnold subsequently be- came interested in the business. In 1879 S. V. Arnold & E. L. Rowe came into possession, and not long afterward the energies of the pro- prietors were turned toward the manufacture of valves. The factory employs a large number of experienced workmen. Edward Tracy was the founder of the big malt house in Lansingburgh, said to be one of the largest in the country. Bilbrough's knitting mill, founded in Cohoes in 1851 as a cotton yarn factory, was removed to Lansingburgh about 1880. Cross & Hlost established a brush factory in the village in 1838. Frederick M. Hoyt succeeded to the business in 1858. Milford 1 .. Facher established an insurance business abont 1858. The Cold Spring ale brewery was founded early in the century by John Topping. A brush factory was started in 1874 by James Reed. About 1825 A. Faden began the manufacture of carriages and sleighs. Owen Dennin began the manufacture of brushes in 1874, and Curran & Barker entered the same line of business in 1875.
The greatest modern industry in Lansingburgh is that conducted by the United Shirt & Collar company. This concern was formed by the
' See history of the industries of Troy.
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consolidation of the houses of James K. P. Pine, S. A. House's Sons, Sanford & Robinson, Beiermeister & Spicer and Marshall & Briggs, and was incorporated May 2, 1890, with a capital of $2,000,000. July I of that year it began business with these officers: President, Samnel B. Sanford; vice-presidents, Frederick Beiermeister, jr., David C. Briggs; treasurer, James K. P. Pine; secretary, Edward O. House. The manufactories which comprise this giant concern had all been in business for several years, and the new corporation became at onee one of the greatest in the world. The company started with three fac- tories -one in Lansingburgh, located on the corner of Second avenue and Twenty-first street; the Anchor factory, at Nos. 509, 511 and 513 River street, Troy, and the factory on the corner of Fifth avenue and Broadway, Troy.
One of the largest manufacturing industries in Lansingburgh is that of S. Bolton's Sons, located on the west side of Second avenue in the Fourth ward. It is known as the Eagle brewery and is one of the most important ale and porter breweries of Northern New York. The firm now consists of Samuel Bolton, jr., and Joseph Bolton, brothers. Sam- uel Bolton, jr., is the business head while his brother attends to the practical end of the business. The establishment has gained a high reputation and its output is enormous. Employment is given to a large number of hands. Samuel Bolton, jr., is one of the prominent citizens of the village. He is interested in the banking business and his real estate holdings are large, the firm being among the largest taxpayers of the village. The business was established in 1865 by the father of the present members of the firm, who came from England. From a small beginning it has grown to its present proportions and produces for its owners large fortunes.
SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWN OF LANSING BURGH.
1807-1818, Cornelius Lansingh; 1814-1816, James Hickok; 1817-1823, Levi Coley ; 1821-1826, Jacob C. Lansing; 1827, Elias Parmelee; 1828-1830, E. W. Walbridge; 1831-1832, Jacob C. Lansing; 1833-1836, John C. Filkins; 1837-1839, John M. Cas- well; 1840- 1843, Jonathan E. Whipple; 1814, Edwin Filley; 1845, John C Filkins; 1846, Charles C. Parmelee; 1847-1848, Edward P. Pickett ; 1849, Thomas II. Fisher ; 1850, James 1. Adams; 1851, William Bradshaw; 1852-1855, G. W. Cornell; 1856, Marcus 1. Filley : 1857-1858, James 1. Adams; 1859, Albert E. Powers; 1860, John S. Fake; 1861, Edward P. Pickett; 1562-1865, Jonathan E. Whipple; 1866, William A. Flack; 1867-1868, James Dougrey; 1869-1873, Peter B. King; 1874, A. A. Peebles ; 1875-1877, John C. Pushee; 1$78. A. A. Peebles; 1879-1882, James H. Spotten;
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