USA > New York > Albany County > Cohoes > The history of Cohoes, New York, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 22
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most important structures, and the model of the first boat which was built for the Erie Canal. 1
Considerable difficulty was experienced by the canal commissioners in procuring a cement suitable for use in the construction of locks and it was finally proposed to import the needed article from England, at considerable expense. Mr. White gave his attention to the matter. however, and after repeated experiments, succeeded in manufacturing from a stone found in Madison Co., an hydraulic cement which exactly answered the purpose, and on which he obtained a patent in 1820. He was interested in its mannfacture for several years subsequent. Mr. White's share in the construction and development of the Erie Canal was an important one. As regards authority he was second only to Mr. Wright, and every plan or measure of importance was submitted to his judgment before being acted upon.
It was while he was engaged in the construction of the canal that Mr. White's attention was called to the eligibility of this locality as the site for a great manufacturing town. In 1825 he devoted himself to the formation of a company to develop the remarkable water power of the place, and with the assistance of Governor Clinton, succeeded in interesting a number of capitalists in his enterprise. The result was the incorporation of the Cohices Co., in March, 1826, Mr. White was the first president of the company, and acted as its agent. Though necessarily away a large portion of the time while engaged on other works, he devoted a good deal of his personal attention to the laving out of plans for the development of the company's resources and the formation of a manufacturing town. He was succeeded as agent by his brother Hugh White, in 1830, though continuing to have an active part in the direction of the company's affairs. He never had a resi- dence in Cohoes, but while engaged here, boarded in Troy. From the completion of the Erie Canal, until the time of his death, Mr. White was constantly employed in different parts of the country in public works of importance. Among the principal works which he planned or superintended during these years, may be mentioned the Susque- hanna and Schuylkill Canal, the improvements of the Schuylkill Navi gation Co., the New Haven and Farmington Canal, the Lehigh Canal, (1827-1828), the Delaware and Raritan Canal (1830), and the Delaware breakwater. Mr. White was induced to take a contract for the com- pletion of the latter structure, and by the mismanagement of others was a loser to a large amount.
In 1834 his failing health compelled him to leave business, and he went to Florida, hoping that the climate would have a favorable effect upon his disease, which was consumption, but the step had been taken too late, and within a month after landing, he died, on December 18th. His remains were brought north and interred at Princeton, N. J .. where his family were residing at the time. The estimate in which Mr. White's professional abilities were held by his contemporaries, may be seen by the following remark of Henry Clay, addressed to a gentle- man who was seeking an engineer for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal : " Get Mr. Canvass White ; no man more competent, no man more
I This boat, which was called the "Chief Engineer of Rome" in honor of IN : Wright, was launched upon the canal between White-town and Rome, anni-i'. greatest rejoicing of the people of the neighborhood. The model was kept ..
White's family for fifty years and then presented to the Buffalo Historical Society.
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capable. And while your faith in his ability and fidelity increases, your friendship will grow into affection." It was also said by Gen. Bernard, U. S. engineer, " as a civil engineer he had no superior ; his genius and ability were of surpassing magnitude." Mr. White's gentle disposition, and the kindly charm of his manner, had endeared him to all whom he chanced to meet, and his early death was mourned by a large circle of friends.
1841.
Nov. 27, Joseph Mudge, aged 57. "Removed to Cohoes in 1833, from Ipswich, Mass , and being a first-class mechanic, he made needles for the first knitting factory started in America, by Egberts & Bailey. He was a man of education and could speak several languages fluently. He invented a system of stenography. His daughter, Caroline Augusta Smith Mudge, who was married to E. G. Mussey, June 8, 1845, was the first female who learned to knit on machines run by water power." -- Biographical and Historical Account of the name of MUDGE in America.
1-844.
June 29, Levi Silliman, aged 59. He was born in Fairfield, Conn., in the year 1786. His ancestors came from Holland in the latter part of the 17th century, and settled in Fairfield, on a place whichi still bears the name of Holland Hill. About the year 1810 Levi moved to Albany, N. Y., and in 1816, was married to Clarissa Clark. He was a carpenter by trade, and was associated for some years with Jonathan Lyman, then a prominent builder in Albany. Afterward he was super intendent of the Townsend Furnace, and subsequently one of the firm of Rathbone & Silliman, in the furnace in Eagle street. In the year 1835 he formed a partnership with Jonas Simmons, Sen., and under the name of Simmons & Silliman, they built and operated the axe factory so long and widely known as the Simmons axe factory. After remaining in this connection for several years he sold out his interest and purchased a veneer mill owned by Hawes & Baker. Just before his death he sold this property. He died June 29th, 1844, leaving him surviving, his widow Clarissa, and son Horace B (both living 1876), four other children having previously died. Levi Silliman was one whose record is not found among those conspicuous in position among their fellow men, but few had more implicitly the confidence and esteem of the entire community where he lived. Ile was one gifted with great mechanical ability, and was often consulted by both practical and scientific men, and his opinions, especially when experience and study had been added to his natural powers, were sought and valued by many whose nanies stand high in the history of mechanical inventions and skill. In all subjects affecting the community where he lived, although never obtruding himself upon the public notice, his wise counsel and discriminating judgment were sought and he never hesi- tated either to speak or act his convictions. He was an active, earnest, humble Christian, and his religion, underlying every motive and action, made him what he was. To him perhaps more than any other, was due the organization of the Presbyterian church in this city, and the fostering care which nurtured it in its infancy. He always bore it on his heart and aided to hold it up by constant devotion and liberality, and when he heard the summons, " The Master is come and calleth for thec," he was ready to meet Him, and rest from his labors.
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APPENDIX.
1847.
April 7, Henry Winans, aged 58. Mr. Winans was the father of W. H S. Winans, editor of the Cohoes Advertiser.
May 5, Amos Russell Gay, aged 37.
1849.
Jan. 4, John Jackson, aged 78. Mr. J. was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and an old resident of Cohoes.
April 8, Thomas Boley, aged 44.
April 19, Reuben P. White, son of Dea. R. White, aged 34.
June 18, James Harris, aged 69.
June 20, Jacob Vanderwerken, aged 72. Mr. V. was born in Sara- toga Co., on the 16th day of December, 1777. He moved to Cohoes in 1823, where he resided until his death. He was well known as a charitable, public spirited citizen and was identified with the early history of the place and many of its improvements. Few residents of the village had a larger circle of acquaintances.
Aug. 14, William Martin, aged 41.
Nov. 9, James Yale, aged 88. Mr. Y was a revolutionary soldier and also served in the war of 1812. He left a widow about the same age, 10 children and 23 grand-children.
1851.
March 10, George W. Miller, aged 42.
March 15, John B. Harrison, aged 48. Mr. Harrison was for many years the collector of the village taxes and was much respected in the community.
April 9, James Dodge, aged 63.
Sept. 23, Philip Badgley, aged 27.
Nov. 27, Joseph A. Worden, aged 65.
Dec. 30, Samuel Ketchel, aged 42. 1852.
Feb. 3, at Caledonia Springs, county of Prescott, Canada West, David Wilkinson, aged 81. Mr. Wilkinson was born in Smithfield, R. I., Jan. 5th, 1771. He was the third son of Oziel Wilkinson who was a lin-al descendant from Lawrence Wilkinson who came from England and settled in the town of Providence, R. I., in 1645. Oziel Wilkinson had five sons : Abraham, Isaac, David, Daniel and Smith ; all of whom like himself, were bred to the blacksmith's trade. David Wilkinson, with his father, removed to Pawtucket in 1783. From his earliest boyhood he had been engaged in the manufacture or supervision of machinery, and his abilities in this direction enabled him while yet a young man to take a prominent position among the business men of Pawtucket. In 1789, Samuel Slater, the father of cot- ton manufacture in this country, came over from England, and two years later married Miss Hannah Wilkinson, sister of David Wilkinson. and at this time commenced the intimate business relations between the latter and Mr. Slater which continued for a number of years. Mr. Wilkinson then devoted his attention to the production of machinery for the manufacture of cotton and not only the extensive mills in Rhode Island, but most of those throughout the country were fitted out from his machine shop in Pawtucket. He was the originator of many improvements with which his name was never associated. As he said himself, " I was always too much engaged in various business
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to look after and make profit out of my inventions ; other people, I hope, have gained something by them."
One of the best known and most widely used of Mr. Wilkinson's inventions was the sliding lathe, invented in 1798, for which he re- ceived no adequate compensation until 1848, when congress, recog- nizing the justice of his claims on the country, voted him an appropria- tion of $10,000, " as a remuneration to him for the benefit accruing to the public service from the use of the principle of the guage and sliding lathe of which he was the inventor," - (Report of Com., on Military Affairs, March 28, 1848).
In 1820, having suffered severe reverses, Mr. Wilkinson was c. m- pelled to give up his business, and in 1831, at the earnest solicitation of the Cohoes Company, came to Cohoes. His part in the early history of this place has been elsewhere spoken of. To show the estimation in which he was held in Rhode Island, the following may be quoted : " David Wilkinson became a machinist of great skill and carried on the business in an extensive manner. He is a man of great enterprise and judgment, and his failure in 1829 was very much regretted. The capitalists of Rhode Island ought not to have allowed David Wilkinson to leave the state. But he is now planted at Cohoes Falls, and that place has already felt the benefit of his business talents, and his ardent zeal in internal improvement "- (History of Cotton Manufacture, Philadelphia, 1836.)
Mr. Wilkinson did not long remain in active business in Cohoes. He had much to call him away, and in his later years, was here only at intervals. The following, giving an account of some of the enter- prises in which he was engaged, is from a letter written by him in Dec., 1846: " The prospects at Cohoes were flattering for a time. But nullification, Loco-focory, Jacksonism, free trade, and such abomina- tions, killed the new village just born. Europeans who were applying for water power at Cohoes at this time went away, saying, now we were going to have free trade ; they could do their work cheaper 'at 'ome' than they could in this country and they would build their factories there. We were compelled now to get our living where we could, to go abroad if we could not get work at home. I went to work on the Delaware and Raritan Canal, in New Jersey ; then on the St. Lawrence improvements in Canada ; then to Ohio on the Sandy and Beaver Canal ; then to the new wire bridge on the Ottawa River, at Bytown, Canada, and Virginia. Wherever I could find anything to do, I went."
He was born and bred up in the faith of the Quakers, and always had a great respect for them. In mid life he connected himself with the Episcopal church, of which he was ever after a most active member. He was one of the principal founders of St. Paul's church, in Paw- tucket, and one of its largest supporters for years. At Wilkinsonville, Sutton, Mass., where he afterwards had large interests, he built a church, and supported a minister at his own expense ; and on coming to Cohoes, his first achievement was the establishment of St. John's church, of which he and Mr Howe were the principal founders. He was an active Mason, and one of the founders of Union Lodge, Paw- tueket, besides being chiefly instrumental in the establishment of the Cohoes Lodge, in 1816. He was a man of sterling integrity of cha- racter, and commanded the respect and affection of a very large circle
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of friends. His remains were brought to Cohoes, and the funeral took place from St. John's church, Feb. 11th.
Feb. 6, M. C. Kirnan, aged 35.
March 24, Evart A. Lansing, aged 62. Mr. Lansing wasan old resi- dent of the Boght -one of a family of six children, of whom two sur- vived him. In his death the community lost an honest and conscien- tious citizen, the Dutch church of Cohoes a judicious counsellor and an active, zealous member.
April 28, Paul Weidman, aged 30.
May 15, James Abel, aged 54.
July 2, Franklin Waring, aged 38. Mr. W. was for a number of years one of the leading merchants of the place.
Nov. 17, E. D. Gill, foreman in Miles White's axe factory, aged 45 Dec. 25, Baltheus Simmons, aged 52.
1853.
Jan. 16, Joshua Bailey, Sen., a revolutionary soldier and father of Joshua and Timothy Bailey, aged 90. Mr. B. was born in East Hamn- ton, Conn., in 1763, removed to Meredith, Delaware Co .. N. Y., in 1503. and lived in a log cabin seven years, enduring the hardships and pri- vations incident to the life of a pioneer. He removed from Meredith to Cohoes, in 1835, where he continued to reside with his son Joshua until the day of his deathi.
April 9, Philip Vosburgh, aged 22.
July 31st, John B. Vanderwerken, aged 43. Mr. V. was a son of Jacob Vanderwerken and succeeded to the business so many years conducted by him at the corner of Mohawk and Oneida streets, which he retained until he was appointed gate keeper of the Watervliet turn- pike Co., between West Troy and Albany, in which he was a leading stockholder. He held the position until his death.
1854.
July 26, Dewitt D. Slocum, aged 21. Sept. 27, Jolin D. Perry, aged 72. Oct. 16, James Manton, aged about 28. Oct. 27, Alexander Ten Eyck, aged 32. 1855.
March 16, William Pundison Mansfield, aged 80. Mr. Mansfield was born at New Haven, Conn., in 1775, moved with his father's family to Litchfield, South Farms, and was educated at Morris Academy. He subsequently went into mercantile business in Kent, Litchfield Co .. where he remained until about 1833, when he came to Saratoga ('o., Northside. He married in Kent, Sally, daughter of Bradley Mil's. and of four children born there, Mrs. Hugh White and L. W. Mans- field are the only survivors - the other children, a brother and sister. having died at the old home in the Housatonic Valley a few years be- fore the family left it for their new home in this state, and here also, the mother of these children died in Feb., 1842. This family. in both branches, and their own kindred betore them, as far back as is known to the writer of this sketch, were all brought up in the faith and practice of the Congregational church, and all who have departed this life died in that faith. Mr. M. was a man of remarkable firmness of character and firmness of principle and of most unquestioned integrity in all his dealings, both with others and with himself. * *
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April 13, Asahel Goffe, father of Demas and Augustus J. Goffe, aged 74.
May 24, William H. Vanderwerken, aged 25.
June 3, In Bellevue Hospital, New York, H. N. Pettis, aged 44.
July 22, Samuel Stiles, aged 35.
Sept. 11, in Picton, Canada West, Charles O'Brien, of Cohoes, aged 26.
Sept. 20, Milton, son of Joshua Bailey, aged 28. Mr. B. was secre- tary of the Bailey Manufacturing Co.
Oct. 14, Christopher White, aged 43.
Oct. 16, Nathaniel Selleck, aged GS.
Dec. 3d, in St. Louis, Mo., Charles H., son of Guy Blakeley, aged 24.
1856.
April 27, Nicholas W. Smith, aged 26.
May 4, Norton T. Raynsford, aged 39.
Aug. 15, Wm. J. Clements, for many years the efficient clerk of the Cohoes Co., aged about 35 years.
Sept. 27, in Meriden, Ct., Elias Howell, only son of Dea. Maltby Howell, aged 44.
Nov. 28, Patrick Mc Entee, merchant, aged about 60.
1857.
Jan. 2S, in Albany, Dr. C. F. Goss, formerly a resident of Cohoes, aged 41.
Feb. 3d, in Richmond, Va., William Brooks, printer, formerly of Cohoes, aged 21.
Feb 13, Chas. F. Ferguson, aged 28.
Feb. 19, at the Boght, Cornelius V. Fonda, aged 17.
March 10, Liddell Peverly, foreman of the Cohoes Iron Foundery, aged 37 years.
March 23, Jonathan Hastings, aged 35 years.
June S, in Shaftsbury, Vt., Benjamin Hutchins, formerly a resident of Cohoes, aged 32 years. He was tor some time clerk of the village, and occupied other positions of trust.
July 6, Dr. Henry Adams (father of Hon. Chas. H. Adams), aged 70 years. Dr. Adams was born in Coxsackie, N. Y., on July 6, 1787, and had thus just completed, on the day of his death, three score and ten. He made profession of religion under the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Livingston, and was for many years an active and useful member of the church in Coxsackie, until about 1849, he removed to Cohoes, where he connected himself with the Dutch church. At the time of his death he was an acting elder; an office which for many years he had held in the churches of his earlier and later affection. In his profession. by his kind and sympathizing manner, he gathered around him the affection and confidence of those to whom he ministered, and won for himself the title of the " beloved physician." He was buried in the family burial place at Coxsackie.
Dec. 20, Thomas Brown, aged 62.
1858.
March 8. Douw Vandenburgh, aged 86.
March 1, Daniel Nugent, aged 17.
March 20, in East Paw Paw . De Kalb Co., Ill., John Lansing, father of Deacons Jacob I. and Thomas Lansing, of this city.
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June 20, James Barclay, aged 36.
Aug. 19, in Dubuque, Iowa, E. H. Johnston, aged 39. Mr. J. was for some time principal of the Depot school in the 2d ward, but resigned about 1851. The Galena Daily Courier in noticing his death said : " In the death of Mr. Johnston, our city has lost a most valuable citizen and an estimable man. He came to Galena in October, 1855, and as- sumed charge of the Institute, which he conducted successfully up to the present time. Possessed of considerable experience as a teacher, great energy, and devoted to his calling, under his auspices the Insti- tutte became at once flourishing. Mr. Johnston was a native of Sydney, Delaware Co., N. Y."
Sept. 20, Garret R. Lansing, aged 45.
Nov. 2, in La Crosse, Wis., Henry, son of Paschal Brooks, M.D., aged 25. For several years Mr. Brooks, with his brother Thomas, was engaged in the drug business.
Nov. 30, at Toboga, in the bay of Panama, Henry E. La Salle, first telegraphic operator in Cohoes.
Dec. 3, John Eastwood, aged 43. Mr. E. was a prominent fireman and an influential member of the masonic fraternity.
Dec. 6, William Dickey, aged 52. Mr. D. was well known as a con- tractor and prominent citizen of the 3d ward.
Dec. 14, By accident at D. Simmons & Co's axe factory, Thomas Golden, aged 45.
Dec. 31, Robert Leckie, father of William Leckie, Esq., aged 68. Mr. L, was one of the earliest settlers in Cohoes.
1859.
Jan. 28, in Charleston, S. C., David Warren Leland, aged 64.
March 11, Henry L. Landon, M. D., aged about 35. Dr. L. had been for many years a resident of the place and as a citizen had been closely identified with every enterprise that had for its object the welfare and prosperity of the village. For a long time he had been president of the village, and had held other important offices of trust. As a public official he discharged his duties faithfully and conscientiously. From the Cataract of March 19, 1859, is taken the following notice of his funeral : " The funeral of Dr. Henry L. Landon, which took place in this village on Sunday afternoon last, was one of the largest gather- ings of the kind ever witnessed in the village. Besides our citizens, who attended en masse, there were large numbers of the friends and acquaintances of Dr. L. from abroad, together with delegations of the masonic fraternity from Waterford, Lansingburg, Troy and Albany. An eloquent and impressive discourse was delivered by Rev. C. N. Waldron, from Isaiah 38: 10: 'I am deprived of the residue of my years.' After the services at the church. the body was taken to the Waterford cemetery, where the masonic rites were conducted by Past Master Geer, of King Solomon's Lodge, assisted by Worshipful Master Ball, of Mount Zion's Lodge, Troy."
March 17. Jacob Upham, aged 53. Mr. U. had been for several years an overseer in the Ogden Mills.
May 3, James Groves, aged 28
Sept. 11, Henry Lyons, aged 40.
Sept. 22, John Downs, aged 41.
Nov. 19, Matthew Fitzpatrick, aged 53. He was one of the oldest and most enterprising residents of the 3d ward, and took a leading part in local affairs.
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Dec. 4, Owen Sweeney, aged 36.
Dec. 6, Isaac Fonda, aged 80.
ISAP.
Feb. 12, Stephen P. Van Woort. aged 40.
August 27, William Penfold, asvi 7.
Oct. 22, Nathaniel Wilder, aged ?!.
Nov. 1, Jonathan Wightman, aged 69. Mr. Wightman, as a member of the firm of Wightman and Youmans, was for some years prominently connected with the manufacturing interests of Cohoes, and was universally respected.
Nov. 6, James Maitland, aged about 60.
Nov. 10, Octavius Cole, aged 50.
Nov. 14, Aaron L. Ferguson, ag si 69. Mr. F., was for many years identified with the business interests of Cohoes, as a contractor and builder.
Nov. 20, Jeremiah Houlihan, aget US.
Dec. 29, Daniel Simmons, aged 5S. Mr. Simmons was one of the first to engage in business in Cohoes, and to his industry and enter- prise the place is largely indebted for its reputation as a manufacturing town. Beginning in a small way the manufacture of axes and edge tools in 1835, he, in a few years, succeeded in building up an establish- ment which was one of the most important of its kind in the country, and in gaining a widespread reputation for energy and ability. The main facts in regard to the connection of Mr. S. with the business history of Cohoes, have been elsewhere mentioned.
1861.
Jan. 1st, John R. Bullock, aged 54. Mr. B. was for many years & resident of the village and was frequently selected by his fellow citizens to represent them in official positions.
Jan. 21, Christopher C. Stow. aged 26.
March 12, Origen Orcutt, aged ot.
April 20, William II. Mead, aged 31.
June 13, John Vandercook, aged 30.
July 3d, Jenks Brown, aged 50. Mr. B. was for several years agent of the Ogden Mills, and in 1859 was president of the village. He died in Indian Orchard, Mass.
July -, Jesse D. Van Hagen, aged 22. Mr. V. H. was a member of Co. K, 34th N. Y. Vols., and was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va. Nov. 14, John McIntosh, aged 57.
1869.
Jan. 22, A. C. Byrant, aged 46. Mr. B. was a foreman in D. Sim- mons & Co's axe factory and was widely known and respected.
Feb. 12, William Orelup, Sen., aged 69. Mr. O. had been identified with the interests of Cohoes since its settlement and was known as an enterprising citizen and a prominent member of the M. E. church.
Feb. 27, George M. Howes, aged about 32. Mr. H. was for a long time the only news dealer in the place.
March 10th, Dr. J. H. Tripp, aged 45. . .
AApril -, in West Troy, N. Y., Supply F. Wilson, for several years a justice of the peace in Cohoes and a leading politician of the town.
May 31, James Galbraith, killed in battle at Seven Pines, near Richmond.
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Aug. 30, Leonard G. Fletcher, aged about 22. This young man was a member of Capt. J. L. Yates' Co., 22d Reg't, N. Y. Vols. He was en- gaged in the battie before Sharpsburg, Md., and from the fact that no tidings were subsequently heard of his fate, it is probable that he there lost his life.
Sept. 4, William Osterhout, aged 44. He was a foreman in D. Sim- mons & Co's axe factory, a skillful mechanic and a well known citizen.
Sept. - , James Young, a private in Capt. Win. Shannon's company, 113th Reg't, died in the hospital at Georgetown, D. C.
Sept. 17, William Orelup, Jr., aged about 45 years. Mr. O. was a member of the Board of Education and a director in the Bank of Cohoes at the time of his death. During a long residence in Cohoes he held many public positions and was much respected as a citizen.
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