USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. X > Part 27
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May 30. The steam boat South America made the passage from New York to Albany in the very short space of 7 hours, running time; the quickest trip ever made.
June 4. Capt. Thomas Bayeux died, aged 43.
June 9. Mary, wife of James Denniston, died, aged 52.
June 10. Stanwix Hall, which had been some time undergoing extensive alterations, was opened this day as a hotel by Wheeler & Bromley.
John L. Winne, Joseph Hall and others, having me- morialized the common council in relation to the condi- tion of the burial ground on Ten Broeck street, between Second and Third streets, the subject was referred to the land committee, consisting of George Dexter, H. R. Phelps and Wm. McElroy, who reported : That in 1765, this lot was conveyed by Stephen Van Rensselaer to D. Bradt and others for the purpose of a burial ground, on condition that the same should not be applied to any private purpose or secular use, but should remain as a burial ground for all persons in the manor of Rensselaer- wyck ; that in 1808, when the Colonie was annexed to the city of Albany, this lot came into the possession of the city authorities. Ever since the original grant it had been used as a burial place by the inhabitants of the north part of the city, but had now fallen into a ruinous condition, and comparatively few interments were made in it. By reason of the excavations which had been made around it, the ground was much higher than the adjoin- ing streets and lots ; the soil, loose and sandy, was easily washed away; and hence, from time to time, the
352
Notes from the Newspapers. 1844.
coffins and bones of the dead were exposed. This diffi- culty was likely to become more serious, since the ex- cavation of the adjoining lot would have a perpendicular bank 15 or 20 feet in height, which would be continually giving way, and the coffins and their contents must be precipitated into it. In other respects, the ground was in a deplorable condition ; the surface was broken and rough, and presented a ruinous aspect, which was not only painful to surviving friends, but a source of an- noyance to a neighborhood daily becoming more popu- lous. The committee proposed to remove the bodies to the projected Rural cemetery, and surrender the premises to Mr. Van Rensselaer, he having agreed to provide a suitable lot for the purpose of reinterment.
June 12. Ten clergymen of the city of different de- nominations signed a call published in the Argus for a hospital.
June 15. Philip Keith died, aged 33.
June 17. John Visscher died, aged 39.
June 18. Stephen V. R. Humphrey died, aged 43.
June 21. William Ellis died.
The remains of De Witt Clinton, which had been de- posited in the cemetery in Swan street, were removed to New York, for interment under a monument erected by the family.
July 2. Major James Gibbons died, aged 46.
July 4. At the general celebration the oration was de. livered by Charles L. Austin; reading the Declaration by A. D. Robinson. Colonel Samuel Van Vechten, marshal.
At the Young Men's celebration, oration by L. Sprague Parsons; poem by H. S. McCall; reading Declaration by M. Wendell L'Amoreux.
At the Youth's Temperance Society celebration, ad- dresses were delivered by Philip Phelps, Jr., president of the society, by M. Wendell L'Amoreux and J. H. Canoll; reading Declaration by David Wyckoff.
July 8. Westerlo Van Rensselaer died.
A meeting of citizens was held at the Capitol, John L. Schoolcraft presiding, which passed resolutions on the subject of the repeal movement in Ireland.
353
Notes from the Newspapers.
1844.
July 12. Cornelia Pruyn died, aged 75.
July 17. Catharine A., wife of Wilber F. Osborne, died, aged 27.
July 20. Mrs. Emeline Blakeman, daughter of Greene Hall, died in Troy.
July 28. Elizabeth Gibbons, wife of Nicholas Quack- enbush, died.
Thomas New died, aged 70.
July 29. The corner stone of the Third Presbyterian church at Clinton place, was laid with appropriate cere- monies.
July 30. Sylvester Wilcox died at Palmyra, aged 69. .
James Gourley, Jr., died at Galveston, Texas, aged 39.
There were at this time 28 churches in the city, and four more in the process of erection, namely, a Methodist church in Hudson street, a Baptist church in State street, a Presbyterian church in Patroon street, and a French catholic church.
Aug. 6. Cornelia, widow of Hon. Stephen Van Rens- selaer, died in New York. aged 64.
Aug. 13. A public meeting was held in relation to the Colonie burial ground, Hon. Jacob Lansing, chairman. A committee was appointed to investigate the subject of its condition, and the necessity of protecting it from fur- ther dilapidation, or of removing the remains to some other place.
Aug. 15. Wm. L. Stone died, aged 52; formerly editor of the Albany Daily Advertiser.
Mrs. Lydia Ettridge died at White Pigeon, Michigan, aged 61.
Aug. 17. H. G. O. Rogers died in New York, aged 48.
Aug. 22. Eleanor, wife of Col. Samuel Hawley, died, aged 57.
Aug. 26. Augusta, wife of Joshua Brockway, Jr., died.
Sept. 6. Jane Betts died, aged 90.
Sept. 10. Peter V. Bradt died, aged 45.
Sept. 11. Catharine Amanda Van Heusen died, aged 22. Sept. 19. Sophia, wife of Josiah Platt, died.
Sept. 28. Eliza, wife of Col. Nicholas Van Rensselaer, died at Greenbush, aged 85.
354
Notes from the Newspapers.
1844.
Sept. 30. The new route of the Mohawk and Hudson rail road having been completed, the trains began to pass over it on this day. The inclined planes were now dis- pensed with, and the locomotive passed down the Tivoli creek and into the heart of the city, to the Maiden lane depot and the Boston ferry, where two roads met, and the great mass of the traveling public was landed on the Maiden lane side walk from east and west. A very great change immediately came over this terminus. If any one had been curious about the exact number of carts, coaches. cabs, hacks and hand-carts which the city con- tained, he could have taken the census here when the cars arrived. Dean street was also metamorphosed. Nothing like the change now going on had been witnessed in that out-of-the-way place since Stewart Dean came home from China in his little Albany craft, when the corporation, in a paroxysm of public spirit, as the cheap- est way of doing honor to the renowned skipper, changed its ugly name of Dock street to Dean street. It had out- lived its worst days, and its destiny henceforward was onward and upward. Stanwix Hall, too, was no longer
EnUn nen
DEPOT
STANWIX HALL !!
Stanwix Hall.
a doubtful experiment of desolate granite, splendid as a building, and melancholy as an investment; but a bril-
355
1844.
Notes from the Newspapers.
liant and thronged hotel: its windows glittering with light, its gay concert room alive with the beauty and fashion of the town, its rooms and its saloons rife with the stir of busy merchants and planning politicians. Old Fort Stanwix had a lively child in this, its namesake; and its enterprising proprietor who had brave and hon- orable memorial associated with the name, saw brighter days smile at last on his spirit. Even the ice, which kept undisputed sway of Maiden lane for half the year, the sun having very little personal acquaintance with its pavement, now disappears before the first of July, and horses look less despairingly at its heavy ascent.
Sept. 30. Susan, wife of Wm. Mascord, died, aged 50. Juliaette, widow of L. G. Renaud died, aged 31. John Brower died, aged 85.
Oct. 1. Charles H. Boardman died, aged 35.
William Durant, an eminent merchant, died, aged 69.
Oct. 3. Jane, widow of Nathaniel S. Skinner, died, aged 72.
Oct. 7. The Albany Rural Cemetery was consecrated. The military and firemen joined with the citizens in an imposing procession, and the services were held on the grounds. An address was delivered by Hon. D. D. Bar- nard, and the clergy performed the customary exercises, which were published at length in the newspapers.
James Fitzpatrick died, aged 22.
Oct. 13. Wm. C. Covert died, aged 23. Amanda, wife of Wm. Thorn, died, aged 31.
Oct. 16. Addison F. Guernsey died, aged 36. George W. Wasson died, aged 24.
Oct. 17. Eliza C. wife of John M. Newton died, aged 36.
Oct. 24. John McCulloch died, aged 26.
David Strain died, aged 21.
Oct. 31. Cyrrel Gillett died, aged 52; keeper of the Washington Hall.
Nov. 1. Isabella, wife of Walter S. McCulloch, died, aged 33.
Nov. 3. Elizabeth, wife of James P. Gould, died, aged 54.
356
Notes from the Newspapers.
1844.
Nov. 5. Election. Henry G. Wheaton was elected to congress, and Ira Harris to the assembly. There was a whig majority in the county for Henry Clay. The aggre- gate vote of the county was very materially increased since the last gubernatorial election in 1842. At the presiden- tial election in 1840, the county gave for Harrison, 6,372, for Van Buren, 5,944, and 45 for the anti-slavery candid- ate; total, 12,361. In 1842, the vote of the county for governor stood, for Bouck, 6,076, for Bradish, 6,272. anti slavery, 87; total, 12,435. The presidential vote for the present year was, for Clay 7,109, for Polk, 6,907, anti-slavery about 100; total 14,116.
Nov. 8. Julia Ann, widow of Hugh Frazer, died, aged 37.
Nov. 10. John Thomson, a noted botanic physician, and son of the founder of that system of practice, died in New York, aged 43.
Nov. 11. Levinus G. Winne died, aged 24.
Nov. 12. The projectors of the Gas light company having obtained a charter some years before this, but failing to get the stock subscribed, now made a new effort with entire success.
Nov. 18. Elizabeth, wife of John Van Buren, died. Peter Joraleman died, aged 56.
Nov. 25. At a meeting of the common council, Alder- man Dexter proposed to raise the salary of the deputy chamberlain to $900; the city superintendents to $600 each, and the marshal to $600. Mr. Van Ness thought it singular that salaries should be raised at a time when produce was so low. Mr. McMullen remarked that but- ter was 15 cents a pound, and that was not low!
Nov. 28. Josephine L., wife of H. A. Hopkins, died, aged 25.
Nov. 29. Charles E. Whitney died, aged 24.
Nov. 30. Jane Ann, wife of Gerret W. Bell, died, aged 26.
The following report of the commerce of Albany was made by the harbormaster for the present year:
357
1844.
Notes from the Newspapers.
47 steam boats, 14,539 tons.
245 schooners, 17,431
65 tow boats, 10,256
411 sloops, 22,905
7 scows, 386
The tonnage for seven years was as follows:
1838, 36,721 1842, 49,356
1839, 40,369 1843, 55,354
1840, 39,416
1844, 65,507
1841 50,797
Dec. 1. Eleanor, wife of Adam Shields, Jr., died. Elizabeth Gillespie died. aged 54.
Dec. 5. Susan, wife of Samuel W. King, died, aged 24. Henry Trowbridge, founder of the Albany Museum, died, aged 69.
Dec. 6. Christian Miller died, aged 78. He was born in Hanau, Germany, March 7, 1767, and coming to this country at the age of 14 years, became a clerk to Mr. Thomas, an extensive grocer in the city of New York, with whom he remained until he was 21 years of age, His deportment during this time secured to him the con- fidence and esteem of others, who were anxious to secure his services. Through the solicitations of John Tayler, an Albany merchant, he was induced to come to this city in 1789. He continued in the employ of Mr. Tayler as chief clerk until 1792, when he opened a store on his own behalf, and continued actively and prosperously engaged until 1825, when he retired from business. He was some time agent for John Jacob Astor in the fur business. On the 30th April, 1789, he was on duty as an artillerist at the inanguration of Washington. For very many of the last years of his life he discharged with usefulness and ability, the duties of several offices, both civil and ecclesi- astical. He was long an officer of the Second Reformed Protestant Dutch church, and noted for his charities. A tablet to his memory has been placed in that church.
Dec. 7. N. B. Bassett died at Schenectady, aged 74,
Dec. 8. John Meacham died, aged 59.
Dec. 11. James Hunter died, aged 21.
[ Annals, x.] 31
358
Notes from the Newspapers. 1844.
Dec. 13. Catharine Ann, wife of Thatcher Pool, died, aged 37.
Dec. 17. The river closed.
Dec. 18. The State Normal School was opened in the building now known as Van Vechten Hall, which was leased by the city authorities of the Mohawk & Hudson rail road company at an annual expense of about $1200.
Dec. 19. The supervisors in conjunction with the mayor and recorder, directed a proper site to be pro- cured upon which to erect a penitentiary.
Dec. 25. Jane, widow of Adam Todd, died, aged 82.
The First Methodist society dedicated their new church edifice in Hudson street, near Philip, the Rev. John N. Maffit officiating.
The Burgesses Corps went down to Hudson at the re- quisition of the sheriff, to assist in protecting the jail against a threatened invasion by the Antirenters. The Emmet Guards went down also a few days after.
Dec. 28. Mrs. Hannah Rodgers died, aged 41.
Dec. 31. The Governor ordered out the Artillery, the Van Rensselaer Guards and the Washington Riflemen, to assist in quelling the disturbances in Hudson. The five Albany companies on duty numbered 250 rank and file.
During the past year there had been 29 fircs and 9 alarms .. Loss of property valued at $17,278; insured, $12,705.
1845.
Jan. 1. The Townsend House, which had been erected on the site of the old Montgomery Hall, was opened as a hotel.
Jan. 5. Mrs. Betsey Wood, daughter of the late Ste- phen W. Johnson, died, aged 58.
Jan. 6. At a meeting of the common council, on motion of Alderman Worthington, the hour for ringing the morn- ing bell was changed from 8 o'clock to sunrise, to com- mence on the Ist February. The time was afterwards changed to 7 o'clock. It was also ordered that the Fourth Presbyterian bell should be rung.
359
1845.
Notes from the Newspapers.
Jan. 7. David V. P. Colvin died, aged 45.
Jan. 13. James Leddy died, aged 53.
Jan. 14. James Wilson died, late of Glasgow, aged 42. John S. Beeckman died at Greenbush.
Jan. 15. Joseph W. Lloyd died, aged 39.
Lucy Ann, wife of James C. Crocker, died, aged 25.
Jan. 18. Elizabeth, wife of Capt. Thomas Hallett, died, aged 43,
Jan. 20. Lydia, wife of F. G. Oliver, died, aged 25.
Jan. 22. Isaac L. K. Miller died, aged 23. Mrs. Nancy Paul died, aged 103.
Jan. 23. A defalcation of $40,000 discovered in the account of Alex. H. Lovett, teller of the Commercial Bank.
Jan. 30. Mrs. Walter Whitney died, aged 85.
Feb. 3. John Ramsey died, aged 80.
Feb. 5. Mrs. Catharine Burton died at Blandford, Mass., aged 70.
Feb. 10. John Outwin died, aged 55.
Feb. 13. Maria Catharine, wife of Wm. Egglestone, died, aged 37.
Feb. 15. Henry, son of L. K. Norton, died, aged 26 ..
Feb. 16. Samuel Carey died, aged 79.
Elizabeth Harris died, aged 24.
Feb. 17. Mrs. Anna Walker died, aged 57.
Feb. 18. Lydia, wife of William Bishop, died.
Feb. 19. Julia, wife of S. V. R. Watson, died, aged 23.
Feb. 20. Mrs. Eliza E. Smith died, aged 26.
Feb. 24. River open; steam boat Norwich arrived. It was again temporarily obstructed.
Feb. 25. Rebeckah, widow of Samuel Payn, died, aged 70.
Feb. 26. Ten Eyck Quackenbush died, aged 26.
Feb. 27. Sarah, wife of George Crawford, died, aged 45,
Feb. 28. A fire destroyed the African Methodist church, a wooden edifice in rear of District school No. 2, on State street.
March 2. Mary H. Moor died, aged 77.
360
Notes from the Newspapers. 1845.
March 7. Mary M., widow of Myndert Lansing, died, aged 78.
March 10. Tabitha wife of Lemuel Steele died at Utica. Leverett C. Dyer died.
Henry Y. Webb died, aged 88.
Sarah, widow of Wm. Bates, died, aged 84.
March 13. Enoch McCammon died, aged 70. He was reared in the iron region of New Jersey, and in 1807 was induced to take charge of what is now Townsend's Fur- nace, believed to be the oldest north of the Highlands, and established by men reared in an iron district, like himself. The connection continued uninterrupted for a single hour during nearly forty years; maintained by rare skill, untiring diligence and the most scrupulous in- tegrity on the one side, and by warm respect and confi- dence without limit on the other.
March 14. Jane, wife of Evert Wynkoop, died.
Elizabeth, wife of John Hermans, died, aged 58.
March 20. Samuel Swazey died, aged 67.
March 22. John O'Neil died, aged 53.
March 25. Donald McDonald died.
The corporation, having obtained possession of the Arbor hill burial ground, resolved to convey it to Mr. Van Rensselaer. It appears that two lots, Nos. 35 and 36, north of the city of Albany, were conveyed by Ste- phen Van Rensselaer, 31st Oct. 1764, in consideration of £2, to Dirck Bradt and eleven other individuals, pro- vided they did not apply the same to private or secular use, but the same to remain and be used for a cemetery or church yard, " to bury dead corpses of all persons whatsoever that now dwell in or may hereafter inhabit the manor of Rensselaerwyck, or any part thereof." (Deed Book G, p. 587.) This was not in the city, but what was afterwards Watervliet. In 1801, Colonie, a part of Watervliet, was erected into a separate district, with five trustees. . In 1808, the town of Colonie was erected from the town of Watervliet. In 1815, that part of the town of Colonie in which the burying ground was
36 1
Notes from the Newspapers.
1845.
situated, was annexed to the city of Albany, and the other part to the town of Watervliet. In 1842, Sept. 27, the cemetery was sold by the corporation for assess- ments.
April 5. Obed M. Coleman, inventor of the Æolian attachment to the piano, and the automaton accordion player, died at Saratoga, aged 28.
April 6. Rebecca, wife of William B. Winne, died, aged 66.
The steam boat Swallow was wrecked near Athens, and several lives were lost, among whom were the follow- ing belonging to this city :
William Davis, aged 23.
Anna Wood, aged 30.
Lucinda Wood, aged 28.
This was felt to be one of the most appalling disasters that ever happened on the river, the particulars of which were fully given in the papers of the day, and also a dia- gram showing the position of the wreck; by which it would seem, looking at it from this distance of time, that it could only have been the result of design.
April 7. Charles S. Raymond died, aged 40.
April Charter election; the democrats elected a mayor and a majority of aldermen.
John K. Paige, democrat, for mayor, 3148
Friend Humphrey, whig,. 3124
Jacob Lansing, native American, 160
Nathaniel Safford, abolition,
12
WHIG. Aldermen. DEMOCRAT.
1st Ward .- William Mink, 157
Samuel Watson, 138
2d Ward .- Wm. H. Hill, 220
Elijah Cobb, 221
3d Ward .- G. V. S. Bleecker, . 477
H. B. Haswell, 459
4th Ward .- James Goold, . . 425
John D. Hewson, . 473
Thos. Kirkpatrick, . 83
5th Ward. - Jacob H. Ten Eyck, .. 292
Robert H. Pruyn, .... 282 6th Ward .- J. A. Livingston, .... 296 Robert McColiom, ... 296
Patrick B. Rooney, .. 296
Homer R. Phelps, ... 323
Benj. Thomas, .. 347
Samuel Westcott, ... 342
John E. Hermans, ... 424
John M. Hughes, ... 450 John W. Harcourt, .. 345 Legrand Smith, ...... 307
Edward Artcher, .... 223
Hiram Bromley. ..... 220 D. V. N. Radcliff, .. 210 C. Van Benthysen, . 310
362
Notes from the Newspapers. 1845.
WHIG. Aldermen.
DEMOCRAT.
7th Ward .- John W. Cluett .... 142 Timothy Spears, .... 308
W. Frothingham,. 134 S. V. R. Ableman, . . 317
8th Ward .- Wm. B. Scott, . 246 John McKnight, .... 329
Giles K. Winne, . 235 David D. Ramsey, .. 335
9th Ward .- George Traver, . 459
Eli Perry, . 469
Thomas Coulson, . 467 Watts Sherman, . 416
10th Ward .- Michael Artcher, . .. 306 James Rose, . 282
Philander Coley, 285 Robert D. Watson, .. 280
In the 7th ward there was a Native American ticket for all the offices, numbering about 67 votes.
April 8. Ann Dunkin, wife of John S. Van Rensselaer, died.
April 9. A weekly Antirent paper was begun by Thomas A. Devyr, called The Albany Freeholder.
April 10. Catalina Visscher, widow of Isaac H. Bo- gart, died, aged 76.
Eliza, wife of P. J. Arnott, died, aged 37.
April 14. The Albany Daily Advertiser, begun in 1815, and the Albany Gazette, begun in 1784, and the oldest newspaper in the state of New York, were discontinued.
April 13. Sarah, wife of Abraham Vosburgh, died, aged 84.
Henry H. Bailey died, agcd 35.
April 15. The new board of common council met and elected its officers.
S. H. H. Parsons, clerk.
H. H. Hickcox, deputy chamberlain.
Lewis Benedict, Jr., attorney.
April 16. Jacob Hochstrasser died.
John Gilligan died, aged 36.
April 21. Mrs. Mary McGourkey died, aged 77.
April 24. Abigail, wife of Asaph Beebe, died, aged 40.
April 27. Daniel Hawe died, aged 22.
April 29. Sarah A. wife of E. P. Freeman, died, aged 33.
Caroline M., wife of Christopher Y. Lan- sing, died.
Expenses of the almshouse for the past quarter, $2,754. Expended in the year ending April 1844, for out-door relief, $4,365.02; do 1845, $2,015.79.
363
1
Notes from the Newspapers.
1845.
May 6. Timothy Fassett died, aged 64.
Margaret E., wife of Benjamin Havens, died, aged 28.
May 9. Silas F. Hedges died, aged 28.
May 12. Judge Sutherland died in this city, on his way to Geneva.
Mrs. Rebecca Main died, aged 84.
May 13. Jared L. Rathbone, of the firm of Rathbone & Chapin, died. He was a native of Salem, Ct., and came to this city in 1812. He was an enterprising mer- chant; had been a member of the common council, and mayor of the city.
May 14. Ann, widow of David Williams, died, aged 80.
May 17. Louisa, wife of Ira Harris, died, aged 35.
May 21. Ann Elizabeth, wife of James Hartness, died, aged 36.
May 22. Isaac S. Ward died, aged 25.
May 25. Mrs. Margaret Grant died, aged 83.
May 29. Margaret Thompson died.
June 1. Rev. Dr. Potter took leave of his congregation at St. Peter's church, with the purpose of visiting Europe.
June 5. Elsie, wife of Abram Rosekrans, died, aged 63.
June 7. John Brinckerhoff died, aged 32.
Samuel Swan died, aged 52.
June 9. A new bell weighing 2800 pounds was put into the tower of the Second Presbyterian church.
June 9. John Hill died, aged 47.
June 10. Oliver C. Gracie died, aged 56.
June 16. John Alden died, aged 36.
Annette Hall died, aged 97.
June 15. An effort was made in the common council to restore the water pumps in State street, which had been recently removed.
June 18. Killian K. Van Rensselaer died, aged 82. He was the son of Killian Van Rensselaer of Greenbush; was born in 1763, and educated for the legal profession, in which he for many years held a high rank in this city. He served for several years in the common council, and was a representative in congress five terms, from 1801 to
-
-
364
Notes from the Newspapers. 1845.
1811. He was also a member of the consistory of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church.
June 19. Margaret Jones died, aged 52.
June 30. The funeral obsequies of Gen. Jackson were performed by the civic societies and military companies. Great preparations were made on the occasion, but a drenching rain fell during the whole time of the proces- sion.
July 4. At the general celebration, Isaac Vanderpoel delivered the oration, and R. S. Cushman read the De- claration. Before the Young Men's Association, Samuel Wilkeson, Jr., delivered the oration, and H. Terrell read the Declaration. Before the Temperance societies, ora- tions by Samuel G. Courtney and John H. Canoll; read- ing Declaration by Jacob C. Cuyler.
July 7. The mortality of the last month to this date was 64; males 37, females 27; under 5 years of age 38; between 5 and 10, 4; between 10 and 20, 2; between 20 and 30, 4; between 30 and 50, 10; between 50 and 70, 5; one 80; one 82; one 97; unknown 4.
July 9. Joseph Henry died, aged 23.
July 13. John Parker died, aged 62.
William Harrison Stewart, formerly a music teacher in Albany, died in New York.
July 14. Mary Helmes died, aged 87.
There were 11 fire engines (2 without companies), 2 hook and ladder companies, 1 hose and 1 axe company. During the last six months there had been 23 fires and 12 alarms; amount of property destroyed $36,152, on which was insured $28,609.
July 16. The steam boat Rip Van Winkle made her first appearance, Capt. L. D. Abell. She was 220 feet in length, 26 feet beam, and drew 3 ft. 10 in. water; was propelled by Lighthall's horizontal and half beam engine, having a 44 inch cylinder, and a 10 foot stroke.
July 17. Margaret wife of Robert Van Rensselaer died. July 21. William Voorhees died, aged 54.
Mary, wife of John Patterson, died, aged 66. July 22. John Allen died, aged 49.
1845.
Notes from the Newspapers. 365
July 30. Catharine, wife of W. W. Van Zandt, died, aged 34.
Alice J., wife of Alex. Sheldon, died at Florida, Mont- gomery county.
Aug. 13. Frederick W. Cole died, aged 30.
Aug. 15. Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen died, aged 59. Mr. Van Benthuysen was bred a bookbinder, but having associated himself with Mr. Robert Packard in 1813, be- came one of the best practical printers in the state. His highly inventive mind enabled him not only to avail himself of every improvement, but to advance and ele- vate his favorite art. He was one of the first to apply in this country, through his own ingenuity and capital, the steam engine to printing presses. He was also the first to apply steam power to the casting of types. From 1824 to 1839 he was an associate proprietor with Edwin Croswell, of the Albany Argus; and it was under his immediate supervision, during all that time, that the state printing was executed.
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