USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3 > Part 19
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In 1848 the question of building the Troy & Boston Railroad was laid before our citizens. Mr. Gale was foremost in advocating the building of the road. Ile brought to bear on this subject the foresight and sagacity that had done him such good ser- vice on numerous other occasions. He lent not only his influence and experience to the scheme, but he freely put his money into it, and was satisfied to wait for a return. Ile saw that the road would be of material benefit to the city in bringing trade and business to it, and he saw also that the route selected was the only one that could reach that fertile section of the country through which it was to run. Noother road could divert the trade to some competing centre, for the short route of the Troy and Boston practically excluded competing points against Troy. He wasfor many years connected with the Troy Gas Company, and was one of its original organizers. In the Troy Savings Bank he was a director, and in its board of trustees his financial ability was of vast value to the bank. The same conservative and far-seeing policy that marked his connection with the United National Bank was used here. Mr. Gale considered his trust a sacred one. He guarded the meagre holdings of poor . people with even more jealous care than he did those of more fortunate ones. In times of panic, when runs were made on the Savings Bank, he knew that the storm was but a passing one, and when it should leave, the atmosphere would again be clear and bright. He knew that the safe and sure policy of the institution during many years had prevented its vaults from being filled with wild-cat securities, and that as soon as the strain should cease and men's minds assume the natural bent, the old Troy Savings Bank would be found steady, strong and firm amid the financial wrecks. Kindly and firmly he told this story to the assembled people. Those who knew Mr. Gale only waited for his opmion, and having been assured of safety they went away content. Those who did not know him listened to the cool, dispassionate advice of the man. His very manner and bearing brought conviction, and thus many dollars of poor people were saved. In 1859 Mr. Gale became a director of the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad board. Much costly and valuable work was done during his term. llis profession of a civil engineer made him a safe adviser, and his suggestions were followed by the board.
In 1860 Mr. Gale was elected a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a position which he held at the time of his death. Some two years ago Mr. Gale said to the writer: " There are two things that I hope to see accomplished before I die. They are the endowment of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Young Men's Association." These objects were not lost sight of. When the work of years had begun to tell adversely upon his physical self, his brain was active and alert. While he sat is his quiet library at his home, he spent his hours in devising plans to
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reach these two great ends. His whole heart was in that work. " I will go about from house to house, from friend tofriend, begging money to help these great institutions," he said. Mr. Gale gave from his means liberally to these objects. He never asked anybody to give more than he could give himself, and in fact, none gave more. The men who had the means and the disposition to assist worthy publie objects, and who would outdo our respected townsman, were few-in fact, there were none. While in the perfect possession of his mental powers, he saw the great engineering school rise from want to a state of independence. He saw the institution that has given ltis native city a world-wide fame placed on a substantial basis and made perpetual. The Troy Young Men's Association was always a great pride to Mr. Gale. His de- sire for the education of the masses was ardent. He often remarked that education was the great leveler of crime; it was the hope of American institutions. He was one of the founders of the old free reading room, and he contributed liberally to its support. In its library was placed the "Gale Alcove," in memory of his son, Alfred de Forest Gale, whose death is noted above. He desired that the Troy Young Men's Association should share the prosperity of other like institutions in the country. The only way that this could be done was to endow it. For fifty years it has been maintained by the efforts of active young men of the city, who yearly sold membership tickets and gathered money for its maintenance. The task was be- coming too arduous to be successfully performed, and other objects called for the attention of those who had been active there in other years. Its library contained a choice collection after fifty years of careful work, but they were sealed to all but members. Mr. Gale desired to give the public the benefit of this store of knowl- edge. Ile licaded the subscription paper with a liberal sum, and induced others to do the same. The work that he engaged in here was a labor of love. He pursued it steadily until its end was accomplished, and when the fiftieth year of its existence expired it was turned over to a board of trustees, created by law to have the care and management of the funds that had been raised for its endowment.
The Troy Female Seminary was also an object of deep concern to Mr. Gale. He, with a number of other gentlemen, bought the property some eight years ago in order that the school of Mrs. Emma Willard, which edneated some of the brightest women of the land, should hold its identity. He subscribed liberally to the fund that brought about this, and he telt a just pride that he was able to aid so worthy an object.
These are but a few of the many acts of benevolence and public spirit that char- acterized the life of Mr. Gale. It is not possible to present the list in anything like its completeness. These are but the aets that necessarily came before the public. The greater portion of his good works he kept concealed from the world. His left hand rarely knew what his right hand did. In the deep recesses of his generous heart he kept the secret of his well-doing. He sought not the pleasures of the world. His reward and his satisfaction lay in the consciousness that he had lent a helping hand to a needy object. Creed and nationality were never considered by him. Ile looked only at the object that sought his help, and Catholic institutions, as well as those of his own faith, shared his gifts. The Memorial Chapel at the Day Home that overlooks Seventh street, was built by hun from his private purse. It stands there a pronder monument to his goodness than would ever be made by a polished shaft or a bronze tablet. Although his life race is run, and he sleeps the
EDWARD O. HOUSE.
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sleep of death, his works survive him, and this will ever keep his memory green in the community where he lived, and where every man called him friend.
Mr. Gale married Caroline de Forest, a daughter of Benjamin de Forest, a prominent merchant of New York. Mr. de Forest died in 1850 and Mrs. Gale in 1864. Seven children were born of this union, four of whom are now living-Mrs. John Clatworthy, Miss Margaret E. Gale, Edward Courtland Gale and Miss Caroline de Forest Gale, now Mrs. S. Alexander Orr .- Troy Daily Press, July 5, 1887.
RICHARD II. VAN ALSTYNE.
RICHARD H. VAN ALSTYNE was born in Troy, N. Y., May 23, 1851, being the son of Hon. William L. and Calsina (Johnson) Van Alstyne. Mr. Van Alstyne (William L.) was descended from a long lineof Dutch ancestry who were early and honored pioncers of the original colony and Empire State. Both he and his wife were natives of Columbia county, N. Y. After settling in Troy he engaged in the dry goods business on River street, and subsequently became a wholesale grocer at 221 and 223 River street. Ile served one term as mayor of Troy. Politically he was a Democrat. lle ran twice for Congress against Hon. John A. Griswold; it being a strong Republican district, he was defeated. He was a long and honored resident of the city for many years, where he continued to reside until his death. The death of his wife also oc- curred in Troy. They were both members of the Fifth Avenue M. E. church. Richard II. was educated in the public schools and academy of Troy, and then took a position as elerk in the First National Bank, subsequently became teller of the National Exchange Bank, which position he filled until 1878, when he engaged in the insurance business. In 1887 the present copartnership of Van Alstyne & Har- rington was formed. He was elected alderman of the Fourth ward in 1883, and afterwards was elected supervisor for six years. In 1889 he was appointed deputy col- lector of internal revenue for the county of Rensselaer, holding that office until Novem- ber 1, 1891. In 1895 he was elected county clerk, being the candidate of the Republican puty. He is a prominent Masou, being a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, the Mystic Shrine, and Royal Areamum. He is also member of the Pafraets Dael, the Laureate Boat Club and the Trojan Hook and Ladder Company, Troy Republican Club, and is likewise an honored member of the Holland Society.
Mr. Van Alstyne was married on the 6th of October, 1875, to Eleanor Morris, of Troy. lu polities he has always been an active Repubhean, exercising a strong influence in the ranks of his party in Troy and the county.
EDWARD O. HOUSE.
EDWARD O. Hlousk, son of Samuel A. and Elizabeth S. (Morrison) House, was born in Mechanicsville, N. Y., April 21, 1853. His parents moved to Troy, where he re- ceived his education, graduating from the Troy Academy in IS68.
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Ile became a member of the firm of S. A. House & Sons, which firm continued in the shirt and collar business until January 1, 1828, when Mr. S. A. House, father of Edward O., retired, and the name of the firm was changed to S. A. Hlouse's Sons. Mr. S. A. House died September 29, 1886. July 1, 1890, the United Shirt and Collar Company was organized by the consolidation of several independent firms, among them that of S. A. House's Sons. Of this company Edward O. House was elected director and secretary, in which latter office he continued until August, 1896, when he was elected first vice-president.
Mr. House is a member and first vice-president of the City Club of Troy, a director of the Central Branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, and of the National Machine Company; an official member of the State Street Methodist Episcopal church, and a trustee of the Oakwood Cemetery Association. Politically he has al- ways been identified with the Republican party. As a business man, he is recog- nized as broad-minded, liberal, energetic and clear-headed, and has been a potent influence for good in the commercial life of the community in which his life has been spent.
He was married on October 14, 1874, to Annah K., daughter of Joseph Hillman, of Troy, and they have two children, Edward H. and Beatrice A.
REV. THEOPHILUS P. SAWIN, D. D.
REV. THEOPHILUS PARSONS SAWIN, D. D., was born at Lynn, Mass., January 1. 18-11. ITis ancestors came to this country in 1632 and settled in Boston. His grand- father, Robert Mason, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a participant in the battle of Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates. His father, the Rev. T. P. Sawin, was a prominent Congregational minister of New England, who died in January, 1886. His mother, Martha MeIntyre Mason, was born in Andover, Mass., and died in 1895.
Rev. Theophilus graduated from the High School at Manchester, N. 11., and pre- pared for college at the Kimball Union Academy and entered Vale in the class of 1864. Ile left college in the sophomore year on account of poor health. He subse- quently went to New York city where he taught in the Mount Washington Collegiate Institute two years, later he engaged in newspaper work and still later went to Mil- waukee, Wis., where he was a professor of Latin and Mathematics in the Milwaukee Academy, during the time pursuing his theological studies, and was ordained to the gospel ministry at Racine, Wis, where he preached for four years. He was then called to the Congregational church in Janesville, Wis., where he served for six years.
During this period his well known interest in educational work led to a State ap- pointment as lecturer before the Teacher's Institutes. He was also made a member of the Board of Examiners at the Whitewater Normal School. From Janesville he received a unanimous call to the Mystie Congregational church in Medford, Mass. After serving here for nearly five years he was called to the First Presbyterian church of Troy, the oldest church in the city, and was installed June 17, 1886.
CHARLES L. ALDEN.
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This church celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1891, and Dr. Sawin prepared the historical records of the same, which were published in a volume of 140 pages.
During his ministry here he has been in demand as a lecturer on literary and his- torieal subjects. He has been invited to deliver the Baccalaureate sermon before the R. P. I. five times, and every year since his coming here he has delivered the Memorial Address before the Grand Army Posts on the Sunday evening preceding Memorial Day. He is an associate member of Post Griswold, G. A. R. He is also a trustee of the Troy Academy. He received the degree of D. D. from Williams College. Many of his sermons and addresses have been published in pamphlet form, but his most extensive work is a volume entitled THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE CROSS.
Ile was married in 1864 to Emeline T. Farel, and has had two children, the younger of which died in 1887. The elder, Cara Angenette, was graduated at the Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, Mass., in 1896.
CHARLES L. ALDEN.
CHARLES L. AIDEN was born in the town of Essex, Essex county, N. Y., on August 21, 1827. lle is the son of Isaac and Hannah (Snow) Alden. Mr. Isaac Alden was a native of Massachusetts and Mrs. Alden of Vermont, she being the second child born in Montpelier. Isaac Alden on his removal from Vermont to Esses, N. Y., in 1891, established the first nail works in that part of the country, subsequently moved to Westport, N. Y., where he owned saw mills, and afterwards moved to Lewis, N. Y., where he had a saw mill and a farm and where he died August 17, 1860; the death of his wife occurred November 23, 1869, at Sand Lake, N. Y. This branch of the Alden family are lineal descendants of the celebrated John Alden of colonial fame and onr subject, Charles L., is of the eighth generation in regular descent. William Alden, grandfather of Charles L., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and his son, Isaae, served in the war of 1812, and Gen. Alonzo Alden, a brother of Charles, participated in the war of the late Rebelhon, becoming a distinguished offi- ver; thus it will be seen that the family is one of patriotism and soldierly valor.
When he was about six months of age the parents of Charles L. moved to West- port, and when he was about eleven years old they moved to Lewis, N. Y., he remain . ing there until January, 1843, being there employed on his father's farm. On Jann- ary 11, 1843, he left the parental home and after a narrow escape from drowning in Lake Champlain, arrived m Troy January 13, 18-13, and entered the dry goods store of his brother, J. J. Alden, where he continued until October 1, 1844. He then went to Oberlin, Ohio, where he fitted for college, spending the freshman and sophomore years; he then entered Williams College, Mass., in the junior year, from which in- stitution he was graduated in 1851. In 1852 he became clerk and student in the law office of Hunt, Fairbanks & Gale, of Troy, and after attending the Albany Law School was admitted to the bar in March, 1853.
In 1855 he beeame one of the firm of Fairbanks, Gale & Alden; the same year Mr. Fairbanks removed from Troy and the firm became Gale & Alden; in 188.1 Henry A. King became a member of the firm and so continued until 1890, when Mr. John
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B. Gale removed from Troy, and since that time Mr. Alden has practiced alone, be- ing engaged in a general practice. Ile has always enjoyed a lucrative practice and for years has been recognized as among the able lawyers of the bar of Troy. Much of his time has been given to that branch of the law relating to real estate and the settling of estates.
In October, 1868, Mr. Alden married Mary L. Taylor, daughter of James W. Tay- Jor of St. Paul, Minn. They have four children living and three others died in early youth. Politically since the beginning of the late Civil war he has been a Repub- ican, and for nearly thirty-two years has been treasurer of the First Presbyterian church of Troy. He has been president of the Troy Young Men's Association. Mr. Alden is a man of scholarly attainments, genial manners, graceful and pleasing ad- dress.
LEWIS E. GURLEY.
THE subject of this sketch is of New England parentage. His father, Ephraim Gurley of Mansfield, Con., having with his wife, Clarissa Sharpe, moved in 1818 tothe State of New York, and taking up their residence in Gibbonsville, now Watervliet, opposite the city of Troy. In 1818 he removed to that young and growing city, and with Alpheus and Truman Hanks erected on what is now the southeast corner of Fifth avenue and Grand street the first iron foundry in the place.
Their youngest child, Lewis E. Gurley, was born December 30, 1826, and three years after, with an okler brother, William, and a sister, Clarissa A., was left to the charge of his widowed mother, then a woman of delicate health and limited means. Lewis was sent to the best private schools and later entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he remained for three years, completing the course of instruction there, but not receiving his degree until some years later on account of his youth. In the year 1814 he became an apprentice to Jonas H. Phelps in the business of the manufacture of philosophical and mathematical instruments.
Funestly craving a better education he, in 184, entered Union College, Schenec- tady, and supporting himsel largely by working at his trade in vacations and holi- days, he graduated with credit in 1851, receiving the degree of A. B. In February, 1852, in connection with his brother William, he purchased the interest of Mr. Phelps and the firm assumed the now widely known name of W. & L. E. Gurley. The following April the brothers purchased the Hanks property on the northeast corner of Fifth and Fulton streets with the buildings thereon for the sum of $4, 250, and at once began the erection of a building suited to the needs of their business, completing it in time for the starting of the engine on the 10th of December. Here began au interest destined to an uninterrupted success, and which made the name of the firm almost a household word all over the world. The new firm commenced with about twenty-five workmen, but soon increased their force and supplied instruments to almost every civilized country, sending their products to all parts of the United States, Mexico, South America, Australia, China and Japan, and making constantly new friends by the superior character of their work.
The factory, with hundreds of other buildings, was completely destroyed in the
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great fire of May 10, 1862, but before the flames were extinguished they had secured a part of the building at No. 11 Ferry street, in which they commenced work on the following week. They immediately began the erection of a new building three times the size of the old one and on an enlarged site, and had the satisfaction of again starting a new engine and machinery on December 10 of the same year. To-day the firm is easily the largest in the world engaged in the manufacture of engineer's and surveyor's instruments and usually employs about 150 men.
On January 10, 1887, occurred the death of the lamented William Gurley, but the name of the old firm was still retained, the younger brother becoming the senior partner, with his son William F. associated in the business, and Paul Cook, a son- in-law of William, representing his estate in the concern.
In 1858 Lewis E. Gurley married Olive E. Barnes of Brunswick, whose death oc- curred in 1871, leaving a son, William F., and a daughter, Grace, now Mrs. J. L. Young of Watervhet. In 18GS Mr. Gurley was again married, his second wife being A. Louise Brown of Newport, N. Y., and of this union were born two daughters. May L. and Edith B.
Mr. Gurley has always been a busy man and though ardently attached to his own chosen business, has yet found time to fill numerous positions of honor and useful- ness. In 1861 he was elected a school commissioner and served the schools with nin- wearied interest for twelve years, in the last of which he was president of the board. Upon the death of his brother in 1857 he was elected president of the Union Na- tional Bank, which office he has since continued to fill.
Taking a great delight in rural occupations and scenery, he was for years presi- dent of the Rensselaer County Agricultural Society and has many choice friends among the farmers of his vicinity. He has been always active in religious move- ments and work, having been for over forty years superintendent of the Sunday school of the Fifth Street Baptist church and president of the County Sunday School Union for at least half that period. Mr. Gurley has been ever interested in all that concerns the welfare of his native city and has been president of the Citizens' Asso- ciation, vice-president of the Orphan Asylum, a governor of Marshall Infirmary and trustee of Colgate University at Hamilton, N. Y. His warm interest and arduous Ltbors in the cause of education have been conspicuous in the time and money he has given to the preservation and development of the Troy Female Seminary, now the Emma Willard School. This famous school, endeared to him as the source of his cherished sister's education, was saved in 1848 very largely through the heroic de- votion of William Gurley, assisted by his younger brother. After William's death there came the thought of giving to the school a larger and more modern building, which should not only serve as a lasting and beautiful home for the institution, but be as well a sacred memorial of his brother and sister, so dearly associated with its history. The structure was created in 1891 and dedicated complete in June, 1892. the furnishing being supplied by the munificence of the heirs of William Gurley. The Gurley Memorial Hall, costing a fortune in itself, forms the center of a group of magnificent buildings to which every resident of Troy points with feelings of pride.
Mr. Gurley has been president of the trustees of the seminary for ten years and beside the gift already named has been unwearied in his devotion to the interests of
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the school and marvellously successful in securing the beneficence of others m its behalf.
Mr. Gurley has ever been a man of strong religious nature, with hand and heart ready for the furtherance of every Christian and charitable work and has bestowed largely of his time and means for the support of the smaller churches of his own and other denominations. Especially has this been true of the South Baptist church, of which he has been the leader and constant reliance in all its history. He has also warmly sympathized with the Young Men's Christian Association in all departments of its work, and largely contributed to the Railroad Branch in Troy from the time of its first inception.
Though in many ways a publie man, Mr. Gurley has always found his truest hap- piness in the more private circle of domestic life, and there surrounded with his dear ones, with choice books and the companionship of his many friends we are glad to leave him now.
JOHN M. FRANCIS.
Hos. Joux M. FRANCIS, the founder, editor and senior proprietor of the Troy Daily Times, comes of a hardy stock, noted for its physical and intellectual vigor and marked force of character. The Hon. Thomas L. James, ex-postmaster-general of the United States, is of the same race origin. In a recently published article Mr. James related in a most interesting manner the journey from Wales, in the latter part of the last century, of a party including " Joseph Harris and family and Thomas Price and family of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, and Richard Francis, probably the ablest and wealthiest man aboard the ship, with his family. This party came from Wales and made their new home at Utica, N. Y. Subsequently Mr. Francis purchased a tract of land at Frankfort Hill, four miles from Utica, and still later he removed with his large family to Prattsburgh, Steuben county, then little better than a wilderness. Joseph Harris was the grandfather of Mr. James's father and Thomas Price was his mother's father. Richard Francis was the father of John M. Francis. Hence the close personal relations which have always existed between the litter and Thomas L. James are founded on ancestral ties created about one hundred years ago, as well as the fact that they sprang from the same virile Welsh race." In concluding his article Mr. James paid this tribute to Mr. Francis:
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