USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VI > Part 24
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My acquaintance with Mr. Spencer commenced in the spring time of life-at least of active life, more than forty-five years since. During this long period I have entertained towards him, personally, feelings of profound respect-respect for his talents, and for his patriotic efforts during the war of 1812, but more especially re- spect for his social virtues, his kindness of heart and enduring friendship. I desire to condole with his relatives and many friends, assuring them, as I do, that his de- parture from among us has afflicted me most keenly.
R.
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THE OLD STATE HALL.
From the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer.
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After due deliberation-after looking with divided heart at the elegant and well-arranged plans of the architect on the one side, and at the treasury on the other, the commissioners of the land office have determined to pull down John Jay's old State Hall, and grace the southern side of State street with an edifice of beauty- thus giving to St. Peter's, just opposite, an example. The walls of the one are already in ruins-the spire on the other imitates the inclination of Pisa's tower. By civil and ecclesiastic expenditure, this broad avenue shall yet be renowned for something better than mere width and declivity. Our new City Hall is not ordered with- out nights of debate-excellent, doubtless-oratorical, possibly-aldermanic, certainly. Its marble sculptures come into being after perilous rivalry between a centre that is for us-and one that with its hot palpitation of throng and earnest life is to throb for the future-Carpe diem and the hall with it.
The state quietly determines that its agriculture and its science deserve a suitable room, and in a section utterly passed over, amidst the turmoil of strong arguments concerning tolls and taxes, the building is ordered-and in fulfillment of their duties, the officers designated pro- ceed to make a wreck and a ruin of the goodly structure which, in the days of the chief justice-then the gover- nor-was deemed so useful, and, perhaps, so ornamental.
John Jay was a chief magistrate of the old school- perhaps not wiser or better than the modern, but waving that debatable point, he is, in history, one of the orna- ments of the early career of this state. George Clinton
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beat him in the gubernatorial canvass-that is to say, the canvassers so decided. It was a page of strategy concerning which the chronicles of the "good old times" had best remain silent. He succeeded over the intel- lectual Robert Yates, and the powerful Robert R. Living- ston, and the century ended in his administration.
Whether in the construction of the old hall, the economical government of those days took the material which had formed the bastions and parapets of Fort Frederick, which stood opposite, does not appear, but they took the fortress as a model in strength. The walls now being demolished were massive-there was solid measure in its fabric. I recollect, and so will all whose duties were in other days those of the student in the law -with what admiring wonder we traversed that curious stone staircase, so ingeniously built in the wall at one end of each step, that, no pillar or column appearing, it was a perpetual puzzle to us, whether the staircase held up the iron rail, or whether it was itself suspended by it.
How many were the pilgrimages to the "common rule book" where the absurdity of legal fiction made a record necessary. Legal reform, if it has accomplished little, has some claim on our gratitude for its obliteration of the devices that caused us to make such weary ascent daily.
The old hall witnessed the comptrollership of Archi- bald McIntyre, of Silas Wright, of William L. Marcy. It was the scene of some deliberations-not so immediatey "on official business." Thence issued the decrees-there spun the web of the famous and powerful Albany Regency -the men who touched the springs whose vibrations thrilled through all the length and breadth of the state. . That power centered in the elevation of Martin Van Buren, and while it remained a phalanx, he could smile at danger. Where is "the Regency?" Almost its very memories are fading. It lives, I suspect, warmest and raciest, in some delicious dozens, yet preserved-dusty and delightful-opened occasionally, and hugely enjoyed when brought to the chandelier's light. They who ruled
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a great republic, mingling the agreeable with the power- ful-had the taste to import some delicious wine. It has lasted longer than the old and strong walled structure where their counsels were held, and whence their might was promulgated.
Upon its ruins an edifice is to rise, devoted to the uses of the most useful of all the departments-the agricultural, and extending space enough also to the already large and valuable geological collection, so that there will be no want of opportunity to the legislator to know, as it has been said Brougham does-"a little of everything."
The old hall has existed more than a half century. It
is, therefore, in the antiquity peculiar to our country, quite of another age and period. The men who made high place then the aim of honorable ambition, many of them-I will not say-linger yet in life-they remain. Marcy is, I suppose, as much comptroller (varying the orthography) now as then, though of men rather than accounts. And others who were in this hall in power, even yet make their mark on public event. The passing away of the old rooms and galleries does but, however, prefigure the gliding into history of these statesmen and their compeers-and to the coming hall the coming men are preparing.
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ANNALS OF THE YEAR 1854.
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JANUARY.
Jan. 1. The Bank of the Union went into operation, with a capital of $300,000 ...... A snow storm of the preceding night made the first good sleighing of the sea- son ...... William H. Lee, of this city, died at Palmyra, Mich., aged 29.
2. The festival of the New Year observed with great hilarity, heightened by the fine sleighing and the bright sun ...... Mrs. Betsey Kendall, wife of Benoni C. Allen, died in Philadelphia, aged 60.
3. Meeting of the legislature: Robert H. Pruyn elected speaker of the house, and Hugh J. Hastings clerk of the senate.
4. There were forty insane persons in the Alms House.
5. Edwin Croswell, late of Albany, was prostrated by paralysis, in New York . ... Adam Todd builder, died, aged 55.
6. A workman engaged on the Round House of the Central rail road, fell to the turntable, a distance of 70 feet, and escaped with a broken limb. .. Mrs. Ann Brown died, aged 87.
7. Rachel Ursula, wife of Jacob A. Lansing, died, aged 31 ...... Amanda, wife of Jason Russell, died aged 31. Francis C. Marble died, aged 23.
8. Col. John Osborn, died at Batavia, aged 44. He- was colonel of the 25th Regiment, commander of the Burgesses Corps and Emmet Guards, and took a great , deal of interest in military affairs.
9. Lydia Lush died, aged 53. [ Annals, vi.] 28
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10. Funeral of Col. John Osborn, attended by all the military in full uniform ...... Meeting of the new board of common council; present Wm. Parmelee, mayor; Wm. A. Young, recorder ; Bleecker, Chesebro, Davidson, Feltman, Godard, Harris, Jones, McCall, McElroy, Mor- row, Rossman, Russell, Thompson .. Townsend, Vanderlip, Van Rensselaer, Wilson. The officers of the board were appointed as follows: David M. Barnes, clerk of the board; Henry S. McCall, city attorney ; Henry T. Spen- cer, almshouse physician; Henry H. Burhans, marshal.
11. Prof. Carr commenced a series of lectures, forming · the chemical department of the University.
12. A rain storm removed all the snow which had fallen, and deluged the streets.
13. The ice moved down the river, carrying with it the two ferry boats, which came in collision, staving in their sides, and choking them in the ice ...... A lad was killed at the rail road crossing. Ira B. Cary, of the firm of Dows & Cary, died at his residence at Whites- town, Oneida county. He had been a produce commission merchant in this city and New York nearly thirty years, and was supposed to have left a fortune of more than three hundred thousand dollars ...... W. W. Groesbeeck, formerly of Albany, died in New York, aged 70. James Cahill died, aged 74.
14. Agnes Jane McClure died, aged 22.
17. Mathew Coulter died, aged 42. . Mrs. Elizabeth Bayard died at the manor house of Stephen Van Rens- selaer, aged 92.
18. Catharine, wife of Edward Reily, died, aged 37.
20. The Cavalry Corps made a formal presentation of a sword, valued at $200, to Capt. J. W. Harcourt, at Knight's restaurant, in Beaver street ...... Elizabeth, wife of James Farrell, died.
21. Michael Howard died, aged 31. . Clark died, aged 30.
Mrs. Margaret
22. Margaret Jane, wife of Wm. J. Caldwell, died, aged 32. ... Susan, widow of Josiah Clark, died, aged 53.
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23. The river was again covered with ice, so as to obstruct the passage of the ferry boats, for the crossing of which channels had to be cut ..... . Thermometer below zero. .. . . Donald Fisher died. aged 46. .... Nancy M. Redden, wife of J. H. Corbett, late of Albany, died at Greenbush, aged 31.
24. Thermometer below zero.
25. Thermometer below zero in the morning ...... Potatoes $1.25 a bushel; flour $9 to $10 a barrel; coal $8 a ton ..... /Amanda M., wife of Asa Fassett, died.
27. Mary Jane, wife of Paul Cushman. died ...... Lucy Ann Drummond, daughter of the late E. Fay, died at Sacramento, aged 30.
29. Thermometer ranged from four to eight degrees below zero in the morning ...... Diana Van Rensselaer died, aged 61 ....... Edgar Crapo died, aged 24.
31. J. H. Wood died, aged 20. . Mrs. Louisa, wife of John Meads, died, aged 69.
FEBRUARY.
1. A number of Germans assembled at the Capitol park, and burnt the effigy of the pope's nuncio, Bedini; as had been done by their countrymen in other American cities ...... Dr. P. Gannon died, aged 74; a native of Ireland, who practiced medicine in this city many years, and was much esteemed. . Catharine Fitzgerald died, aged 59.
2. Mrs. Alida Groesbeck died, aged 97; supposed to have been the oldest inhabitant of the city at the time.
3. A fire corner of Lydius and Hawk streets, injured a dwelling house slightly ...... At an election of officers of the Young Men's Association, George C. Lee was chosen president. .... Mrs. Maria Dederick died, aged 76. 4. Peter B. Leddy died, aged 38.
5. An alarm of fire about 11 o'clock at night, caused by the burning of a carpenter's shop. ..... Mary Gibson died, aged 42.
6. The Franklin House took fire about 11 o'clock in
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the morning, and was considerably damaged by fire and water ..... John S. Vandervolgen died. aged 42.
7. Mrs. Jane Thompson died, aged 86; a colored woman, known as Jenny Dick. She was famous many years ago as the keeper of a restaurant, and having mar- ried Richard Thompson, who was called Dick, she ac- quired the name of Jenny Dick; and having outlived one or two generations, it was generally supposed to be her correct cognomen. When her death was published in the newspapers, no one recognized it as the well known Jenny Dick ...... Wm. J. Angus died, aged 36.
8. A great poultry show at Van Vechten Hall; the result of the chicken fever that had raged for only about one year among the amateurs of foreign fowls. It was a much greater exhibition than its friends anticipated when the affair was proposed ...... The State Agricultural Society held its annual fair, and elected officers for the ensuing year ....... The State Medical Society, in session at the City Hall, held its annual election for offi- cers .. An alarm of fire at nine o'clock in the evening was caused by the burning of a dwelling in Greenbush. · .Ellen, wife of David Lynch, died.
9. A fire broke out early in the morning, in the fourth story of the building corner Maiden lane and Dean st., occupied as a stove store by Vose & Co., which damaged the building and goods more than five thousand dollars.
11. Elisha Putnam died, aged 89. Mr. Putnam was an eminent builder in his day, and several of the older churches were erected by him.
14. A convention of women, male and female, held at Association Hall, when justice to woman was discussed eloquently by several of the shining lights among the sex ..... . Harriet Amelia, wife of Wm. J. Morrison, late of Albany, died at South East, aged 22.
15. A special election was held throughout the state to determine whether the people were in favor of borrowing money to enlarge the canals. The number of votes cast in Albany was 3,767 for the measure, and 876 against it.
16. The rise of water in the river submerged the docks,
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and penetrated the basements of the stores and dwellings near the basin. But the ice was too strong to be moved by the flood.
17. Francis McGuigan died, aged 43. . . Thomas A. Whalen died in New York, aged 20.
18. A bill was introduced before the legislature to authorize the construction of a bridge at Albany.
19. Fanton Lawlor died, aged 53.
20. A petition was presented to both branches of the. legislature, with 10,000 signatures, for the extension to women of certain rights which they claimed as belonging to them ...... William Gibson, stabbed by John Hough- taling in a scuffle some time previously, died of the wound, aged 30.
22. The birthday of Washington was celebrated by the. military, and the butchers decorated their stalls, and made the usual display of fatted meats. One of them presented the novelty of a huge bear, dressed and hung, the paws alone having the skin remaining ...... A fire on the corner of Pearl and Rensselaer streets destroyed a paint shop and several other buildings, a little past 3 o'clock in the morning. .. Robert Trumbull died at Belle Centre, Ohio.
24. The common council, at a private meeting, resolved to petition the legislature for permission to loan the credit of the city to the Northern Rail Road to the amount of $300,000 ...... Mrs. Mary Martin died, aged 89. Richard Bane died, aged 20.
25. Barbara, wife of George Medhour, died, aged 44.
26. A canal boat on fire at the foot of Maiden lane called out the engines, but was extinguished with little loss ...... Mark Stevenson died, aged 57.
28. A fire destroyed the oil cloth factory of Woolman & Pforth on the Schenectady turnpike about 9 o'clock in the evening. Loss about $4,000.
MARCH.
1. Stephen Mesick died, aged 53.
2. John Greishian died, aged 64.
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3. Mrs. Harriet Harvey, daughter of Lyman Philleo, late of Albany, died at Dubuque, Iowa ...... Dr. Harman G. Wynkoop died, aged 68 .. . Elizabeth Prey died, aged 30.
4. The water covered the pier and entered the ware. houses along the docks. ..... Francis Maloy died, aged 20.
6. Workmen commenced taking down the Hudson Street Temperance House, near the dock, with the view of erecting a large hotel upon its site ...... William J. Whitney died, aged 31 .... .. Thomas Thompson died,
aged 52. . ... Eleanor Jane, wife of Hiram Yates, died, aged 33. ..... Matilda Briggs, wife of Henry Merce, died.
8. Joachim Miller died, aged 29.
9. William Gill, aged nearly 20 years, died of a wound received by the bursting of a grindstone.
10. The ice made a slight movement downwards; . several persons had fallen through the ice during the two preceding days.
11. The ice cleared away in front of the city about four o'clock in the morning, and formed a dam about three miles below, causing a great risc of water, submerg- ing the dock and the lower part of the city .. .. Mrs. Sarah Woodbridge died, aged 81. . . .. Elisha Blanchard died, aged 57 ..... Catharine Frinton died.
12. James Quinn died. aged 23.
13. In the afternoon the ice moved out of the gorge, where it annually chokes the passage, throwing back the current and deluging all the low land, and causing a stampede among the honest tradesmen on the dock and pier ...... Capt. John Buckbee, an ancient skipper, who sailed a sloop on the Hudson river twenty-five years, and had resided in Albany half a century, died at the age of 81, much respected. . . . Thomas W. Gibb died, aged 35.
14. The Old Folks' concert, at which most of the performers were past the middle age, and the pieces ancient, was given at the Congregational church. The proceeds, $125.80, was donated to the Home of the Friendless ...... Mrs. Harriet Clark King, widow of the late James King, died at Woodlawn.
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15. Friend Humphrey died, aged 67. He was born at Simsbury, Ct., 1787, and was the youngest of eleven children. He was a tanner and currier at Lansingburgh, under Russell Forsyth, now also of this city. He came to Albany in 1811, and acquired a moderate fortune as a leather merchant. He was elected to various offices of responsibility and honor, for his great moral worth, integrity and efficiency, among which were those of state senator and mayor of the city. He was for a long period an officer in the First Baptist church, and assisted mate- rially in the erection of their edifice in Pearl street. . . .. . James Taylor, nineteen years cashier of the Commercial Bank, died, aged about 65.
16. The steam boat P. G. Coffin, from Catskill, was the first boat that reached the wharf from below. The pro- peller Hoboken was the first steam boat from New York.
17. The great steamer Oregon arrived from New York, the first of the passenger boats.
18. A tremendous gale. which began the previous evening, swept over the city, blowing off roofs and chimneys. Its greatest fury was about 11 o'clock in the morning. So great a tornado had not been known here in half a century.
19. John Whitmore, a North river pilot, died on the Young America steam boat, on his way up the river.
20. Henry Yates, of the late firm of Yates & McIntyre, who conducted the great state lotteries, died at the man- sion on Westerlo street, aged 84.
21. Fire corner of North Pearl and Van Schaick sts., injured several buildings. . .. Mrs. Laura Ann Phillips died, aged 27.
22. John Adams died, aged. 19 . Alana, wife of Alexander Shepherd, died, aged 57. .John Young died, aged 72.
23. Meeting of citizens at the Capitol to deprecate the bill before congress, introduced by Senator Douglas to extend slavery to the new territory of Nebraska. Mary, wife of John McCaffrey, died, aged 26.
25. Harriet Penniman died.
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26. A very adroit robbery of two watches and a ring was perpetrated by one McDonald, upon Messrs. Williams & Co., jewelers, in State street. McDonald was arrested on board the Isaac Newton. and the stolen property taken from him ...... Henry A. Walker, a native of Albany, died at Morristown, N. J. He was for several years one of the most influential and worthy planters of the island of St. Croix.
27. The river was nearly closed with ice again, and the water so low that the large boats were grounded at Castleton, as well as other heavily laden vessels ...... Jane Ann, wife of Capt. C. L. Gager, formerly of Albany, died at Buffalo, aged 47.
28. Two lumber yards, between Centre and Water streets, were fired by incendiaries, about 4. o'clock in the morning, by which more than $10,000 worth of Ium- ber and other property was consumed . .. John I. Wen- dell died, aged 76.
29. A fire partially destroyed a carpenter shop in Pat- roon street ...... Maximilian Bergeron died, aged 67.
30. The severity of the weather had been so great for more than a week that the navigation of the river was so much impeded as to prevent the steam boats from making their regular trips. The Isaac Newton was much damaged by floating ice, and laid up for repairs. . ... William Henry Slawson died, aged 22 ...... The Old Folks gave their second concert at the Congregational church, when there was a proud time for the ancient psalmody.
31. The south wind cleared the river of its icy obstruc- tions and raised the water so as to release the bar of a part of the flotilla that had been accumulating there, and among them the Oregon, which had remained there nearly a week ...... An alarm of fire in the evening, which proceeded from the bonfires lit up on occasion of the veto of the anti-liquor bill, by Gov. Seymour. Mrs. Esther A. Cordell died, aged 44.
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APRIL.
1. Henry L. Winants died, aged 44.
2. A fire about two o'clock in the morning destroyed a bakery in Ferry street.
3. A German company commenced a series of per- formances at the Green Street theatre, which was called German opera, the first thing of the kind here.
4. A demonstration was made in the evening by the enemies of temperance reformations; the govenor called out and addressed by the editor of the Freie Blatter; and a torch light procession and row followed. . Alphonso Walker died, aged 37.
5. George H. Hurll, of this city, died in New York.
7. There was a great concourse of people assembled at the City Hall to witness the final sentence, by Judge Harris, of John Hendrickson, Jr., for the murder of his wife; forming the conclusion of one of the most exciting trials ever held in this city ... ... Mary, wife of P. Smith, died, aged 38.
10. A fire in the Bowery destroyed a part of the oil- cloth factory, which had just risen from the ruins of a previous fire.
11. Thomas Linacre died, aged 73 ...... Edward B. Slason died, aged 44 ...... Patrick Ryan died, aged 48 .John S. Vedder died, aged 43.
15. Six inches of snow fell early in the morning, obstructing rail roads, and preventing steam boats and stages from making their morning ingress. ... .. Ann, wife of Luther Frisbee, died, aged 49.
16. A fire in Jefferson street destroyed a couple of woodsheds ....... Louis Labreche died, aged 39 .. Sheldon Main died, aged 57.
17, Snow fell all day.
18. Thomas Bateman died, aged 46 ..... Daniel Gifford died, aged 74.
19. Elizabeth Smith died, aged 26.
20. A false alarm of fire ...... Nancy Gifford died, aged 39. .. .. Patience Smiley died, aged 72.
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21. Rowland Jones died, aged 81.
22. John G. Waterman, late of Albany, died at Castle- ton, aged 38 ...... Henry Bendall died at Brooklyn, aged 44, late of Albany.
23. Amos Fanning died, aged 67 ...... Wm. Cameron died, aged 55. ..... Mary Powers died, aged 40.
25. William A. Perkins died, aged 24.
28. Alarm of fire caused by the burning of a canal boat ...... The pier and wharves were submerged for the seventh time this year. ..... Charles Priest died.
30. The freshet, caused by the almost incessant rains of the previous four days, reached a higher point than had been known during several years, in the absence of any ice. The loss and damage to property in the vicinity of the river was very great ....... A fire occurred at 9 o'clock in the morning in the building near the corner of the dock and Hamilton street, which was arrested with slight damage. Another alarm of fire in the evening was caused by the ringing of a furnace bell to call the work- men together to remove property beyond the reach of the water. .... Samuel Smith died, aged 43.
MAY.
1. Moving day. Many families moved out of their houses by the aid of boats, several streets being under water ...... The canals were opened, but owing to the high water the weigh lock was inoperative, and boats that cleared were weighed at other locks .... .. There were three or four alarms of fire during the afternoon and evening, but the damages were slight.
2. Michael Carroll died, aged 39. .. Patrick Dennin died, aged 42.
3. The first boat arrived by the Erie canal, with 120 tons of corn ...... Lansing B. Taylor, formerly an Albany merchant, died at Glen's Falls, aged, 25 .... .. Stephen Van Valkenburgh died.
4. The first canal boat arrived by the northern canal.
5. John Hendrickson, Jr., of New Scotland, was exe-
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cuted in the Jail in Maiden lane, for the murder of his wife by poison. ... . Betsey, wife of Richard I. DeForest, died, aged 57.
6. David Hosford died, aged 87.
7. Ice found in many places in the city in the morning ; fruit and vegetables suffered by the severity of the cold.
8. A fire destroyed a grocery store corner Franklin and Mulberry streets, about 3 o'clock in the morning .. In the afternoon a couple of small buildings were damaged by fire in Howard street ... .. The six-penny savings bank, in connection with the Bank of the Capitol, went into operation, the first of the kind in the city .Maria M. Potter died.
10. A force of several hundred men under Major Fra- zier began operations upon the channel of the river with a view to improving the navigation between this city and .Castleton, the government having appropriated $50,000 to that object ...... Reuben Wilson died, aged 26. . John Roe died, aged 62. ..... Patrick Campion died. .
11. Charles Buel died, aged 43.
12. A fire destroyed a carpenter's shop early in the morning, in Elm street.
15. A fire at 11 o'clock at night partially destroyed a wooden house in Park street ...... Mr. Joel Rathbone while walking up Elk street early in the evening was knocked down by an unknown hand. A reward of $100 was offered for the discovery of the aggressor William E .- Hays died, aged 30.
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