CIVILIAN
Johannes
Abeel
(1667-1711); Church Grounds
Second Mayor of Albany (1694), Alderman, Judge, Sheriff, Recorder
(1702). During his term as Mayor,
Colonel Pieter Schuyler took the sachems of the five Iroquois tribes to England
to meet the Queen. Re-interred from the South Dutch Church burial ground.
Wacheka Albanya
(Sophie
HighDog)
(c1890-1900); lot 155 ½, sec 26
Sioux Indian. A
ward of the Albany Indian Association, originally from South Dakota.
She died of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Age 10.
William
Alexander
(Lord
Stirling)
(1726-1783); Church Ground
Major General in the Revolutionary War; one of Washington's most trusted generals during the Revolutionary
War. He was an uncle to the original
Lord Stirling in Scotland. A
committee in Scotland decided he should be awarded the title ÒLord StirlingÓ
but the British House of Lords refused to recognize him. He was originally buried in the Livingston
family vault under the Dutch Church in downtown Albany. Those interments were later moved to Albany
Rural Cemetery.
William
Appleton
(1811-1883); lot 20,
sec 19
Grain merchant, malting, he owned barges on the Hudson, operated
between Albany and New York City. Monument by William Manson ($9,000).
Ezra Ames
(1768-1836); lot 1, sec 59
Portrait painter, painted miniatures and oils of celebrated New Yorkers. His portraits of George Washington and New York's first governor, George Clinton, hung in the legislative chambers and later the Executive Chamber of the Old Capitol Building. Today Washington is in the Education Building and Clinton in the present Capitol. President of Mechanics and Farmers Bank; Grand Master of the Masons.
George I. Amsdell
(1825-1906); lot 20, sec 21
His father William Amsdell came to America in 1845 and established Amsdell Brewery, one of Albany's largest breweries. George continued the Amsdell Brewery after his father's death and his brother, Theodore, purchased the Dobler Brewery. Theodore's son-in-law George C. Hawley continued the Dobler Brewery. George's home is now the University Club on Washington Avenue.
Lawson Annesley
(1795-1865); lot 24, sec 58
He came to Albany in 1802 with his father William Annesley and they opened Annesley's Looking Glass Store. They also became engaged in the picture framing and art business founding what later became the Albany Art Gallery. In 1860, his son Isaac became proprietor and, when Isaac died in 1865, his son Richard Lord Annesley succeeded him. The members of the Albany Art Colony including Addison Durand, Thomas Cole, John F. Kinsett, Frederick E. Church, James McNeil Whistler, William and James Hart, George Boughton, Edward Gay, Frederic Remington, Will Hicok Low, Erastus Dow Palmer, Walter Launt Palmer and later Charles Calverley and Ezra Ames met in the back room of Annesley's store. The Annesley business was open in Albany for well over 100 years.
Dr. James H. Armsby
(1810-1875); lot 16, sec 12
With his father-in-law,
Dr. Alden March, he founded Albany Medical College in 1839 and later started
the Albany Hospital. He also
was one of the founders of Albany Law School in 1851. He drew up plans for the organization of the University of
Iowa and led a group that established a soldier's home in Albany following
the Civil War. He was a Trustee
of Albany Rural Cemetery. His
monument has a medallion by John Hartley.
Benjamin Walworth Arnold
(1865-1932); lot 13, sec 30
Albany ÒLumber Baron.Ó
Logged timber and shipped logs to Albany and then lumber over the Erie
Canal westward. Owned several timber holding companies,
lumber manufacturing businesses and three railroads.
Chester Alan Arthur
(1829-1886); lot 8, sec 24
President of the United
States, Quartermaster General of the New York State Militia during the Civil
War; signed the Pendleton Act prohibiting the solicitation of federal employees
for political contributions, created the Civil Service Commission, dedicated
the Brooklyn Bridge and Washington Monument, dubbed ÒFather of American Navy.Ó
He was a Civil Rights attorney early in his career and participated
in several precedent-setting cases. Monument by Ephram Keyser.
(Arthur Drive in Colonie)
Ellen Herndon Arthur
(1837-1880); lot 8, sec
24
Wife of President Chester
Arthur. Her father was Captain
Lewis Herndon who went down with his ship, the SS Central America in a hurricane.
William Arthur
(1797-1875); lot 8, sec 24
Baptist Minister at Newtonville's
First Baptist Church (now a Post Office near Colonie Town Hall), father of
the President, antiquarian. (Colonie's Arthur Drive)
Jeremiah J. Austin
(c1819-1879); lot 43, sec
21
Steamboat captain and owner
of the A&C (Albany & Canal) Towing Line on the Hudson River. In 1853, he purchased the 197-foot Austin that was custom built as a tow boat at Hoboken, N.J.
In 1855, Austin purchased the passenger steamboat General McDonald
and converted her to a tow boat. His
third tow boat, the 218-foot Syracuse, was built as a tow boat in 1857 and was considered
to be the most powerful tow boat on the Hudson River. His fourth steamboat, the Ohio was converted to a tow boat probably in the 1850s.
He also bought the Silas O. Pierce,
a transport vessel used to deliver troops and food and evacuate casualties
from the battlefields during the Civil War, and used her as a towboat.
His A&C Line of towboats suffered several accidents in the late
1860s and went out-of-business. Jeremiah
J. Austin was also a trustee of Albany Rural Cemetery. His grandfather, Benjamin Austin (1758-1844),
a Revolutionary War soldier, is also buried here.
Samuel N. Bacon
(1829-1889); lot 4, sec 20
With Leander Stickney, he was a dealer in coffee and spices; Bacon, Stickney & Co.
Daniel Dewey Barnard
(1796-1861); lot 33, sec 56
U.S. Minister to Prussia, District Attorney for Monroe County, Congressman (1827), Assemblyman (1838), noted Whig politician allied within the party with Millard Fillmore as a conservative Whig (in favor of Henry Clay's slavery compromises of 1850) against Senator William Seward and Thurlow Weed (who strongly opposed slavery). He supported the removal of Lewis Benedict, a Weed appointee, as Albany Postmaster as retaliation when Weed and Seward passed an anti-slavery resolution as part of the Whig Party platform in 1852. He delivered the Dedication Address at the opening of Albany Rural Cemetery.
Thurlow Weed
Barnes
(1853-1918); lot 3, sec 109
Member of the New York State Republican Committee, he negotiated the Hankow-Canton Contract with the Chinese Government in 1898. Authored The Life of Thurlow Weed. Grandson of Thurlow Weed.
William ÒBillyÓ Barnes
(1866-1930); lot 3, sec 109
Purchased the Albany Morning Express and later the Journal Company, publisher of the Albany Evening Journal; New York State Republican Chairman. Grandson of Thurlow Weed.
Capt. Thomas Bayeux
(1802-1844); lot 27, sec 16
Captain and one of the founders of Albany's Burgesses Corps. Monument by James Gazeley
Matthew Bender
(1845-1920); lot 2, sec 80
Worked for his father in the lumber business, joined William Gould law book publishers, started his own business as a legal book editor and bookseller, published the New York Lawyer's Diary.
Matthew Bender, Jr.
(1868-1958); lot 2, sec 30
Along with his brother John, continued the law book publishing business started by their father, expanded worldwide, the business eventually was purchased by the Times-Mirror Co. (now AOL Time Warner).
Lewis Benedict
(c1785-1862); lot 38, sec 3
Albany merchant, an early 1800s ad in the Albany Evening Journal lists 10,000 cases of cut nails and spikes for sale and lists him as Òagent for the Troy Iron and Nail factory.Ó Also lists ÒCanal and Boat spikes, Ship spikes, and Rail Road spikes as manufactured in H. Burden's Patent Machines from the best quality of iron.Ó It also lists Òvarious shovels, spades, crowbars and drills for sale.Ó
Also an active anti-slavery Whig, supporter of the Thurlow Weed Ð William Seward faction of the party. He was removed as Albany Postmaster (a Weed appointment) when Weed and Seward forced an anti-slavery resolution onto the Whig platform in 1852 in opposition to Henry Clay's negotiated Compromise of 1850. Father of General Lewis Benedict (see ÒMilitaryÓ section). Monument by William Gray, medallion by Erastus Dow Palmer
Samuel O. ÒOne ArmedÓ Berry
(1839-1873); sg 19, tier 9, sec 98
Partner of Marcellus Jerome Clarke otherwise known as ÒSue Mundy,Ó Confederate soldiers but later guerrillas, murderers and thieves. Their gangs included Bill Marion, William Quantrill, James Younger and Frank James. They terrorized the residents of the State of Kentucky during the Civil War, robbing, killing and raping many people. Berry alone was convicted of 12 counts of murder and 6 counts of robbery although these were probably but a small portion of his crimes. His sentence to be hanged was commuted to ten years at hard labor at Albany County Jail where he died after serving seven years.
Adam Blake
(1773- ); lot 22, sec 42
Servant at the home of the Van Rensselaer family. He was educated at the Van Rensselaer Manor and brought up in the Dutch religion. He served as Òbody servant' to Patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer III, and later went on to manage and supervise the staff at the Patroon's home. He also served as the Master of Ceremonies at Albany's Pinksterfeest, a Dutch-African Spring celebration held annually in Albany.
Adam Blake
(c1829-1881); lot 22, sec 42
Owner of the Kenmore Hotel and considered to be the most successful Black businessman in the United States. He was born to parents who were servants in the Van Rensselaer Mansion in Albany. Together with other Van Rensselaer children, he received a grammar school education at the mansion. He went on to become a restaurant owner and hotelkeeper. He owned Congress Hall, one of Albany's most prestigious hotels and residence of many legislators during the Legislative session. When Congress Hall was taken by the State to build the new Capitol, Blake used the money to build the Kenmore Hotel, which at that time was Albany's most beautiful hotel. Son of Adam Blake (above).
Charles Edward Bleecker
(1826-1873); lot 1, sec 101
Mayor of Albany (1868), wine merchant, planned Washington Park. During his term as Mayor, the construction of the Capitol was started; Broadway was paved with wood blocks of Canada pine; and the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads were consolidated, trains could now go from Chicago to Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany and New York City.
Harmanus Bleecker
(1779-1848); lot 61, sec 3
Congressman (1811), State Assembly (1814), Ambassador to the Netherlands (1837), Regent of State University of New York (1822), one of the signers of a call for a meeting at the Tontine Coffee House in Albany on February 7, 1816 to petition for the construction of the Erie Canal. He left $80,000 to his wife but upon her death it was to be used to finance improvements for the city of Albany. When his wife returned to the Netherlands, she released the funds to J.V.L. Pruyn to decide on a proper public project, by then the fund had grown to $130,000. (Harmanus Bleecker Hall, Harmanus Bleecker Library, Bleecker Stadium, Bleecker Street are named after him or his family).
Jan Jansen Bleecker
(1641-1732); lot 1; sec 61
Member of the Provincial Assembly (1698-1701), Mayor (1700), Indian Commissioner, Captain of the Militia during the Indian War (1689), City Recorder, Justice of the Peace, fur trader. While he was Mayor, 15,241 beaver skins were exported in a single year. The main issue confronting him was to obtain support from the Iroquois tribes in the struggles against the French in Canada. After many days of deliberation, the Indian Sachems told him that they would support the group that gave them the most presents and gave them the best trade deals. Originally interred at the Middle Dutch Church on Hudson Avenue in Albany, he was moved here by his descendents. Re-interred from the Dutch Church burial ground.
Johannes Bleecker, Jr.
(1668-1738); Church Grounds
Mayor of Albany (1701), carried captive to Canada by French and Indians (1686), returned (1687), member of the Colonial General Assembly (1701), Indian interpreter. During his term as Mayor, the city wall was strengthened expecting an attack from the French. Re-interred from the Dutch Church burial ground.
Rutger Bleecker
(1675-1756); lot 1, sec 61
Mayor (1726), son of Jan Jansen Bleecker, brother of Mayor Johannes Bleecker, Jr., first President of the Albany Common Council, merchant. While Mayor, he enacted laws restricting the sale of intoxicants to the Indians. Re-interred from the Dutch Church burial ground.
Rutger Bleecker
(c1745-1787); lot 1, sec 61
Gunsmith. He provided much of the armament for the Albany Militia during the Revolutionary War.
Anneke Jans Bogardus
(1605-1671); lot 1, sec 61
At one time owned 62 acres of downtown Manhattan referred to as Domine's Bouwerie that she inherited from her first husband, Roelof Janszen. She also inherited a farm of 84 acres called Domine's Hook on the Long Island shore of the East River from her second husband, Domine Everardus Bogardus, Minister of the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam (New York City).
Domine's Bouwerie was sold
to British official Francis Lovelace by her heirs, although not all of them
participated in the sale. Lovelace's
lands were confiscated by the British and in 1705 given to Trinity Church
by Queen Anne. The legality of
the sale was disputed unsuccessfully for years. Her farm was the origination of the term
ÒThe BoweryÓ for this section of New York City. Originally interred in the ÒOld Dutch ChurchÓ in the intersection
of (today's) State and Broadway, she was moved to the Middle Dutch Church
on Hudson Avenue in Albany and then to Albany Rural Cemetery by her descendents,
the Dudley family. She was originally
buried in a vault under the Dutch Church and later moved to Albany Rural Cemetery.
Jeptha Richard Boulware
(1820-1887); lot 30, sec 30
Physician, invented specialized surgical instruments, developed surgical procedures, served in the Civil War (177th Regiment), principal surgeon at Albany Hospital. Monument by Charles Calverly.
James Boyd
(1762-1839); lot 69, sec 33
New York Assemblyman (1811), Weighmaster on the Erie Canal. He was born in County Atrim, Ireland.
Herman Bradley
(1908-1998); sg 12, tier7, sec 24
Noted Jazz Drummer during the ÒSwing EraÓ from 1928 to 1950. He later played with various swing groups until 1988. During the Swing Era he played in the bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Jimmy Lunceford as well as jazz groups the Savoy Sultans, Savoy Dictators and Herman Bradley's Rhythm Dons which he founded in 1933. He played in many locations around New York City and also the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Terrence Brady
(c1840-1869); lot 1, sec 84
Headstone inscription: ÒKilled on the Susquehanna Railroad, Jan 19, 1869.Ó
John Bridgford
(c1819-1898); lot 71, sec 28
Prominent Albany builder, he supervised the initial phases of the construction of the New York State Capitol. He built and donated one of the Egyptian style receiving vaults at Albany Rural Cemetery. He served on the original Washington Park Commission.
Arthur John Bright
(c1872-1921); lot 21, sec 36
Survivor of the sinking of the Titanic. Bright was a crewman and was assigned to collapsible lifeboat ÒD,Ó the last lifeboat to depart the Titanic. The last lifeboat contained 25 passengers out of a capacity of 49. At the time of the sinking Bright lived in Southampton, England, he later moved to 50 Dove Street, Albany. He was buried in the St. George's Society burial plot.
Jesse Buel
(1778-1839); lot 106, sec 33
Agriculturist, printer, publisher, founded Albany's Argus newspaper voice of Albany's Democratic Party and counterbalance to Thurlow Weed's Whig and later Republican Albany Evening Journal, Assemblyman, unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1836 against William Marcy. Re-interred from the Dutch Church burial ground. Monument by John Dixon.
Rev. Peter Bullions DD
(1791-1864); lot 5, sec 16
Presbyterian minister, scholar and world-renowned author of Bullion's Grammar, or The Principles of English Grammar, a book widely used by American schoolchildren in the 1800s. An 1800s writer described: ÒBy how many thousands is that name associated with vivid recollections of weary hours and days spent in endeavoring to elucidate grammatical conundrums É it still holds an honored place among the text books of the period.Ó Published in 1850 it was republished in at least 32 editions. He was professor of Latin and Greek at Albany Academy from 1824 to 1848.
He also authored The Principles of Greek Grammar that had its 42nd edition published in 1882 and The Principles of Latin Grammar republished at least 22 editions by 1856.
Henry Bullions MD
(1832-1858); lot 5, sec 16
Medical doctor, son of Rev. Peter Bullions (above). He graduated from Union College and Albany Medical College in 1853. He served as a house surgeon at the Troy Hospital until poor health forced him to move to Honolulu in 1854, where he and Dr. Seth Porter Ford formed the City Hospital at the corner of Kaahumanu and Queen Streets. By October 1855, he was listed as one of six physicians on the staff of Honolulu Marine Hospital. In 1856 he returned to Troy where he practiced as a physician but also owned and operated a drug store. Poor health forced his return to Hawaii at the end of 1857, but as his condition worsened he returned to Troy where he died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1858 at the age of 26.
John G. Burch
(1827-1905); lot 71, sec 44
Mayor of Albany (1874) appointed to serve during the contested election between George Thacher and Edmund Judson, President of the Common Council, master painter and foreman at the New York Central's West Albany Shops. He owned a general store selling coal, wood and groceries. He lived at 2 Watervliet Ave.
Henry
Burden
(1791-1871); lot 4, sec 61
Iron mill owner, invented machines to make horseshoes, hook-headed
railroad spikes, and rolling iron into cylinders. His horseshoe machine could make sixty
shoes in 1 minute; previously it took 2 men 1 full day to make 60 horseshoes.
He was a leading resident of Troy.
This mausoleum was designed by his widow, Helen Burden, who is also
interred here. Woodside Memorial Church in Troy is also
dedicated to Mrs. Burden.
Walter
R. Bush
(1815-1885): lot 9, sec 28
Partner in Gilbert, Bush & Co. one of the world's largest
manufacturer of street cars and later railroad cars. He succeeded Uri Gilbert as president
of the company in 1864. During
the Civil War, the company made about 500 gun carriages for cannon for the
Union Army. The cannon were probably
cast at the Watervliet Arsenal.
Charles
Calverley
(1833-1914); lot 109, sec 107
Sculptor, executed the Robert Burns statue in Albany's Washington Park,
did many busts and medallions including those on the graves of newspaper publisher
Horace Greeley and sewing machine inventor Elias Howe in Brooklyn's Greenwood
Cemetery; he has several works in Albany Rural Cemetery.
Lizzie
M. Calhoun
(1858-1877); lot 39, sec 65
An Albany High School student who, on May 31, 1877 while visiting
the cemetery with two friends, jumped from a carriage attached to a team of
run-away horses and was killed in the cemetery in the ravine behind this gravesite.
George Campbell
(1828-1900); lot 45,
sec 85
Member of the New York Assembly in 1881. He was a machinist and constructed many
knitting mill machines. With
John Clute, they erected Òa commodious modern blockÓ opposite the Harmony
Hotel in Cohoes.
Rev.
John N. Campbell
(c1798-1864) lot 25, sec 41
Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albany for 34 years.
He was also Chaplain to Congress in 1820 and pastor of a church in
Washington, D.C. Regent of the University of the State
of New York; he wrote many of their annual reports.
William
Cassidy
(1817-1867); lot 27, sec 4
President and owner of Albany Argus newspaper, he was on the Board of
Park Commissioners that established Washington Park and moved the burial ground
to Albany Rural Cemetery.
Daniel
D. T. Charles
(1821-1892); lot 32, sec 34
One of the founders of the Van Heusen - Charles Co. retailers
of fine china, silverware, lamps and other furnishings. In 1897, the Van Heusen - Charles Co.
was already listed as the oldest enterprise of its kind in the Eastern United
States. Founded in 1843, the
firm lasted into the late 1900s.
Norton
Chase
(1861-1922); lot 35, sec 4
Member of the N.Y. Assembly in 1885; member of the N.Y. Senate
in 1890-1891. He was an attorney
in the firm of Judge Samuel Hand.
Rev. John Cheshire (Chesshire)
(1821-1881); lot 192, sec 26
Headstone inscription: ÒReady for Either.Ó
Reuel
Clapp
(1792-1850); lot 1, sec 6
One of Albany's chief builders and contractors. For the last 13 years of his life, he
was the principal proprietor and manufacturer of Townsend's Sarsaparilla,
in its day a most popular and curative medicine. It was later sold as a soft drink. His son, Augustus Henly Clapp owned a popular book, stationery
and periodical business in Albany.
Edward
W. Clark
(c1849-1907); lot 4, sec 102
Son of Rev. Rufus Clark, he was graduated from Albany Academy
(1864) as a student of the famous physicist Joseph Henry (later the first
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution). The Emperor of Japan recognized that science was going to become
of great importance in the future of civilization and hired Clark to come
to Japan and instruct Japanese educators on the design of proper scientific
curriculum. Japan now credits
Clark with having started them on the road to preeminence in scientific research.
John
Mason Clarke LL.D., Ph.D.
(1857-1925); lot 268, sec 105
New York State Paleontologist appointed in 1898 and State
Director of Science, Geology and Paleontology in 1904. He served as a professor of Paleontology,
Geology and/or Zoology at Smith College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
He authored more than 200 books on various technical subjects. He served on many different committees and societies.
Frederick
Cleveland
(1838-1897); lot 1, sec 108
Founded and operated the Cleveland Brothers Baking Powder
Company in Albany. He previously
owned the Cleveland & Snyder Drug Co. in Chicago, and a baking powder
business in Peoria, Ill.
General
(?) George Cooke
(1788-1873); lot 241, sec 95
Self-Promoter, General (?), Professor (?), Lawyer (?), Physician
(?), sold medicinal elixirs. In
his will he donated a bust of himself, by famous sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer,
and $1,000 to the YMCA that was used to purchase books for their library.
Today, the bust is on his headstone.
Arnold
Cogswell
(1924-2008); lot , sec
Chairman of Pittsburgh Tube Company, he served as President
of Albany Medical Center, Albany Hospital for the Incurables, Wildwood School,
Vice Chairman of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, governor and treasurer
of Union University.
Ledyard
Cogswell
(1852-1929); lot 30, sec 29
President of Townsend Furnace and Machine Shop, President of New York State National Bank, Secretary of Albany Savings
Bank, Cashier of First National Bank.
Ledyard
Cogswell, Jr.
(1878-1954); lot 30, sec 29
President of New York State National Bank, Chairman of Pittsburgh
Tube, President of Albany Lumber and Planing Mill, Director of Albany Insurance
Company and Albany Savings Bank.
Mason
Fitch Cogswell, M.D.
(c1810-1865), lot 19, sec 89
Medical Doctor. He
served as Medical Inspector of troops enlisting at Albany during the Civil
War. He also served on a commission
to interview candidates for the positions of surgeon and assistant surgeon
treating New York State troops. Together
with Doctors John Swinburne, John V. Lansing, and Sylvester D. Willard, he
established a Civil War hospital nicknamed the White House on the Pamunkey
River. He served as a volunteer
surgeon with the Army of the Potomac during the peninsular campaign in 1862.
In 1863, he volunteered to serve with the Christian Commission inspecting
military hospitals in the west and southwest.
John
Cochrane
(1818-1898); lot 15, sec 53
Ran for Vice-President of the U.S. with John Fremont against
Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson in 1864 (Fremont withdrew prior to the
election), Congressman (1857), New York Attorney General (1863), Brigadier
General during the Civil War. Declined
an appointment by President U.S. Grant to become U.S. Minister to Uruguay
and Paraguay in 1869.
Lorenzo
D. Collins
(1821-1898); lot 46, sec 5
In 1895 when the Town of Colonie was established, he was elected
the first Town Supervisor. He
was re-elected in 1897. He had
previously been a Trustee (1852) of the Village of West Troy (now Watervliet)
and in 1853 was President of the same village. In 1859 and 1860, he was a member of the
Assembly and in 1866 was a member of the N.Y. State Senate. He was President of the N.Y. State Farmer's
League and chairman of the executive committee of the N.Y. Farmer's Congress.
Dr.
Charles D. Cooper
(1770-1831); lot 15, sec 19
He was a medical doctor and son-in-law of Judge (later Governor)
John Tayler. The fateful comments
uttered by Alexander Hamilton that led to his duel with Aaron Burr were spoken
at Tayler's home at a dinner attended by Hamilton and his father-in-law Philip
Schuyler and Cooper. Cooper wrote a letter that was published in the Albany
Evening Register
newspaper that later appeared in the New York Post reporting what Hamilton had said.
Even though General Schuyler later wrote a separate letter to both
newspapers stating that the report was not correct, the duel resulted in Hamilton
being killed.
Edwin
Corning
(1883-1934); lot 2, sec 31
President of Ludlum Steel (later Allegheny Ludlum, later Altec
Steel) producers of stainless and alloy steels; Treasurer of Albany Felt Company;
Director of the New York State National Bank, and Albany Savings Bank, managed
a large farm at Kenwood. He was
chairman of the Executive Committee of the Albany County Democratic Committee
and the New York State Democratic Committee, grandson of Erastus, father of
Erastus 2nd. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York (1927-1928) under Governor
Alfred E. Smith.
Elizabeth Platt Corning
(1912-1993); lot 2,
sec 31
Wife of Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd, noted horticulturist,
President of the Garden Club of America.
Erastus
Corning
(1794-1872); lot 2, sec
31
Founder of the New York
Central Railroad, at the time it was founded it was capitalized for $23 million
making it the largest corporation in America. Director of the Michigan Central Railroad and Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Railroad, owned Albany Ironworks and Rensselaer Ironworks (plates
and bars for the Civil War ironclad Monitor were cast and rolled here); State
Senator (starting in 1842), Congressman (1857) during the Civil War, Mayor
(1834), Regent and Vice Chancellor of the University of New York, President
of the Hudson River Bridge Company.
He started in business with Hart & Smith hardware store in Troy,
New York. Later went into business
with John Spencer in a hardware store in Albany and later, Corning, Horner
& Co. Hardware in Albany at 11-13 South Market Street (South Pearl). He owned the largest plot in Albany Rural
Cemetery.
During his term as Mayor, Albany's Patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer
III split his huge estate in half giving all the land on the east side of
the Hudson River to his son William and all the land on the Albany side to
his son Stephen IV. (Corning,
New York is named after him.)
Erastus
Corning Jr.
(1852-1893); lot 2, sec 31
He ran iron mills in Troy, noted collector and horticulturist,
President of Albany Rural Cemetery. Son of Erastus Corning
Erastus
Corning 2nd
(1909-1983); lot 2,
sec 31
Mayor of Albany for
41 years (1942-1983), Assemblyman, New York Senator, Democratic leader. Unsuccessful candidate for New York State
Lieutenant Governor in 1946 on a Democratic ticket headed by gubernatorial
candidate James Mead. Great-grandson
of Erastus Corning. (Corning Preserve Park, Corning Tower).
Parker
Corning
(1874-1943); lot 2, sec 31
One of the founders and President of Albany Felt Company,
later Albany International. He was the First Vice-President of Ludlum Steel
Company and the New York State National Bank; Director of Mechanics and Farmers'
Bank, Albany Insurance Company, and City Safe Deposit Company; Congressman
(1923), grandson of Erastus Corning.
Edgar
Cottrell
(1838-1890); lot 9,
sec 11
Tailor, furrier, with
Daniel Leonard he started the formal cap and gown rental industry, Cottrell
& Leonard.
James
C. Covert
(1835-1911); lot 10,
sec 108
Founded Covert Manufacturing
in Troy, later moved to West Troy (now Watervliet), he had over 50 patents,
famous bolt harness snap, various snaps, ropes, halters, ties, chain goods.
Also owned Dr. Bury Medicines including Lung Balsam, Catarrh Snuff,
Camphor Ointment.
John Schuyler Crosby
(1839- 1914); lot 1, sec 14
Territorial Governor of Montana (1882-1884), U.S. Consul to
Florence Italy (1876-1882), First Assistant U.S. Postmaster General (1885-1889),
Colonel during the Civil War, later stayed in the regular army serving under
General Philip Sheridan and fought in battles with the Plains Indians as aide-de-camp
to Sheridan. Organized big game
hunting trips accompanied by President Chester Arthur, Colonel George Armstrong
Custer and William F. (ÒBuffalo BillÓ) Cody. Grandson of General Philip Schuyler and
husband of Harriet Van Rensselaer (granddaughter of Patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer).
Johannes Cuyler
(c1661-1740), Church
Grounds
Mayor, Alderman, Deacon,
Elder in the Dutch Church, Indian Commissioner, trader. Re-interred from the
Dutch Church burial ground.
William
Dalton
(1869-1968); lot 34, sec 21
Chief Engineer for American Locomotive in Schenectady (ALCO).
Cinerarium by Marcus T. Reynolds.
Rev.
Henry Darling
(1823-1891); lot 48,
sec 30
Pastor of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, President of Hamilton College from 1863 to 1881.
George
Dawson
(1813-1883); lot 1, sec
33
Editor (later partner
and owner) of the Albany Evening Journal for Thurlow Weed. Born in Scotland, he started as a printer and later foreman
of the paper. He left to edit
papers in Rochester and Detroit, returning as Associate Editor in 1846. Also wrote books on angling. His son, Major George S. Dawson of the
2nd NYVI, who died at Petersburg during the Civil War, is also
buried here. Postmaster of Albany.
Amos
Dean LL.D.
(c1803-1868); lot 2, sec 52
Author of History of Civilization, and one of the organizers of the
Young Men's Association to foster continuing education. He was a founder and a member of the first
faculty of Albany Medical School in 1839 and Albany Law School when it was
started in 1851 (4th law school in the country). He was also the first Chancellor of the
University of Iowa in 1855. He
authored several books and many lectures including, ÒManual of LawÓ (1838),
ÒPhilosophy of Human LifeÓ (1839), ÒMedical JurisprudenceÓ (1854), ÒBryant
and Stratton's Commercial LawÓ (1861), and left unfinished a 7-volume elaborate
work on the ÒHistory of CivilizationÓ (1869).
Archland
M. Dederick
(1880-1950); lot 13, sec 29
Brought the first Òhorseless carriageÓ
to Albany on December 26, 1899. Son
of Peter Kells Dederick.
Peter
Kells Dederick
(1838-1911); lot 13,
sec 29
Founded Albany Agricultural
and Machine Works. Invented and
manufactured hand and power presses to bale hay, cotton, rags, flax, hemp
and many other products. His
inventions led to the start of the hay baling industry; he had branches and
warehouses in Montreal, Chicago, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Francisco,
Denver and offices in France, Germany, Austria and Russia. Also manufactured horse-powered hoisting
equipmen, and steam-powered hoisting equipment for coal, ore, iron, stone,
grain, etc., self-dumping carts, tubs and brick and tile machines.
Edward
C. Delavan
(1793-1871); lot 10, sec 53
Owned the Delavan House - Albany's pre-eminent hotel at the
time, hosted the Lincoln family, many political and entertainment figures. He was a noted temperance advocate; President
and founder of several of the first temperance organizations. He traveled extensively promoting temperance
including to Rome, Italy where he presented his views to the Pope. On July
4, 1845, he was assigned the first deed in Albany Rural Cemetery (16' x 16'
plot for $25). Monument by T.
K. Kenney.
Johannes DePeyster
(1694-1789); Church Grounds
French Huguenot, Mayor (1729), son of J. DePeyster Ð Mayor
of New York City, Provincial Assembly, Captain in the Militia Ð participated
in the first expedition against Crown Point (French-Indian War), Indian Commissioner,
lived on Yonkers Street (State Street). As Mayor, he purchased Albany's first fire-fighting equipment,
ladders and fire-hooks. Re-interred
from the Dutch Church burial ground.
Simeon
DeWitt
(1756-1834); lot 30, sec 56
First Surveyor General of the State of New York. He held the office for 50 years. He also served as the second Surveyor
General to the Army of the United States of America appointed by George Washington
after the death of Robert Erskin. He founded Ithaca, New York. He also served in the Continental Army and fought at Saratoga.
DeWitt was originally buried in Ithaca but in 1844 he was
moved to a vault in the Old Middle Dutch Church in Albany. In the 1890s he was moved to Albany Rural.
DeWitt, along with the land commissioners, were responsible for distributing
land grants to soldiers who served in the American Revolution.
Many of the Greek and Roman place-names in Central New York were chosen
by DeWitt (Aurelius, Camillus, Cicero, Homer, Manlius, Pompey, Rome, Greece).
He also prepared a 1790 map of Albany where he named east-west streets
after animals (Deer, Beaver, Elk, Hare, Fox and Lion) and north-south running
streets after birds (Eagle, Hawk, Swan, Dove, Lark, Robin, Quail). He was also a Regent of the State University of New York.
Richard
Varick DeWitt
(1832-1901); lot 30, sec 56
Grandson of Surveyor General Simeon DeWitt (above) and great-grandson
of Continental Army General Richard Varick. He was Secretary of the Commerce Insurance
Company from 1872 to 1890 and Secretary of Albany Insurance Company from 1890
to 1896; President of the Albany Board of Fire Underwriters and a Trustee
of Albany Medical College.
William
H. DeWitt
(1798-1872); lot 16, sec 4
He built the Church of the Holy Innocents in Albany in memory
of his four children who died. He
also installed a monument to them at Albany Rural. He was a Trustee of the cemetery.
John
Alden Dix
(1860-1928); lot 11, sec 41
Governor of New York (1911-1912). Dix entered the lumber business with his father and eventually became associated with the paper manufacturing business and several banks. He was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for New York State Lieutenant Governor in 1908. Liberal Democrats denied Dix a second term as Governor and replaced him with William Sulzer who was later impeached. He was State Chairman of the Democratic Party in 1910 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1904 and 1912, Trustee of Albany Rural Cemetery. During his term as Governor, the State Capitol Building in Albany burned.
Margaret (Peg) Doherty
(1926-1997); lot 124, sec 205
First female Lettercarrier in the United States Post Office in 1943.
Volkert Petrus
Douw
(1720-1801); lot 19, sec 52
Vice-President of the First Provincial Congress (1775), Member of the Colonial Assembly (1759-1766), Mayor of Albany (1761-70), merchant, Alderman (1749), Captain of the Colonial Militia (1775), Presiding Judge of the Albany County Court of Common Pleas (1757-1775), Indian Commissioner (1774), Chairman of the Committee of Safety (1775), First Judge of County Court (1778), Commissary of the Northern Army (1779), New York State Senate. One of the founders and member of the first board of Albany Savings Bank, the second oldest bank in New York.
As Mayor, and with the Common Council's permission, he purchased five tickets in the New York lottery Òfor the benefit of the city's fundsÓ which apparently worked out as he proceeded to New York City for the drawing and received 4 pounds 5 shillings on one of the tickets. The others were losers. Also during his term, the city purchased James Knox, a bond-servant, for nine pounds to serve as public whipper. Residents of Albany were upset at Britain's passage of the Stamp Act. Originally interred at Wolven-Hoeck (later Greenbush, later City of Rensselaer), he was moved to Albany Rural.
Charles Edward Dudley
(1780-1841); lot 1, sec 61
U.S. Senator (1829-31) replacing Martin Van Buren, State Senator (1823-25), Mayor of Albany (1821-4, 1828-9), President of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank, President of the Merchants' Insurance Company; merchant. With Stephen Remsen and Stephen Van Rensselaer and others, he bought the land surrounding the Cohoes Falls and established the Cohoes Company harnessing the power of the Mohawk River. He was one of the original petitioners to attend a meeting at the Tontine Coffee House in Albany on February 7, 1816 to pressure the State Legislature to build the Erie Canal; while he served in the Senate, he was an important member of the Albany Regency. His widow, Blandina Bleecker Dudley, donated $105,000 to found the Dudley Observatory.
During Dudley's term as Mayor: the State Legislature reduced the pay of the members from $4 to $3 per day; Martin Van Buren moved his law office from Broadway to 109 State Street; Dr. Alden March instructed 14 young men in medicine in a building on Montgomery Street-the start of Albany Medical College; Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain visited Albany; newspapers boasted of the speed of the mails when letters mailed in New York City on the 19th of July reached Rochester on the 23rd; Thorpe's stagecoach left Utica and made it to his offices at State and Broadway in 9 hours 10 minutes (67 miles Ð 7.4 mph), the stagecoach trip from Schenectady to Albany down the Albany- Schenectady turnpike had taken 67 minutes for 16 miles (14.3 mph); the Albany Basin of the Erie Canal was under construction; the Erie Canal was completed and opened to much fanfare; and the estate of the late Governor DeWitt Clinton was auctioned off by the Albany sheriff to satisfy a judgment. DeWitt Clinton's body, originally interred with the Spencer family in Albany, was removed to a cemetery in New York City. (Dudley Heights)
Rev. David Dyer
(c1811-c1870) lot 58, sec 3
Chaplain of the Albany Penitentiary and author of a history on that institution.
John Hanbury
Dwyer
(c1780-1843); lot 50, sec 41
Headstone inscription: ÒProfessor of Elocution. One of the most distinguished actors of his day. A man of brilliant talent and dedication: an ornament of the British American stage: author of the best Essays on Elocution ever published in this country. Born in Clonnel, County Tipperary, in 1780, came to America in 1811, died December 14, 1843.Ó His book, An Essay on Elocution, was first published in Cincinnati in 1824 and a later version was copyrighted in Albany in 1843 and the Weare C. Little Company of Albany published six editions of the 300-page book.
Franklin Edson
(1932-1904); lot 16, sec 15
Mayor of New York City (1883-1884), Congressman (1891) and Secretary to the committee on the Erie Canal. He was a member of the anti-Tammany Democrats and was chosen by Tammany boss John Kelly as a compromise candidate in 1882 to prevent a split in the party. He represented the City of New York at the dedication of the Brooklyn Bridge and appointed the committee to create parks in the Bronx that eventually included Van Cortlandt, Bronx, Pelham Bay, Croatan, Claremont and St. Mary's Parks. Edson supported the construction of the Croton Aqueduct as well as the conversion of Rikers Island to a prison.
Carlton Edwards
(c1829-1862); lot 14, sec 55
Editor of the Albany Express
newspaper.
Egbert Egberts
(1791-1869); lot 22, sec 58
With Timothy Bailey, he developed the principle of operating knitting mills with waterpower. He was the owner and founder of Ontario Mills in Cohoes. By 1886, 25 knitting mills were located there employing 4,000 people and representing 25% of the knit goods manufactured in the U.S. at that time. He was President of the Bank of Cohoes and founded Cohoes High School.
James Eights
(1798-1882); lot 53, sec 56
Painter, historian, geologist. Sailed to the South Seas Islands in 1829-1830, prepared papers and drawings on zoology, botany and geology. He was a participant in the first study of Antarctica. He also did sketches of early 1800s Albany.
Thomas Elkins
(1818-1900) lot 97; sec 100
A Black doctor in Albany in the mid-1800's. He was an officer of the Vigilance Committee of the Underground Railroad in Albany. He was reported to have been a member of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry in the Civil War.
Chesselden Ellis
(1808-1854); ?
Congressman (1843). Graduate of Union College; Prosecuting Attorney for Saratoga County. Reported to be buried at Albany Rural but we have no record.
Joseph (Fritz) Kline Emmet
(1841-1891); lot 19, sec 29
World-famous performer in the 1860s; developed one of the first musical plays: Fritz our German Cousin. His home later became Woolfert's Roost Country Club. (Emmet Street)
Ebenezer Emmons
(1799-1863); lot 46, sec 16
Noted 19th century geologist and biologist; one of the first professors at the Rensselaer School (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). He proposed the Taconic System to describe the formation of the Taconic Mountains and rocks of eastern New York and Massachusetts. He was the first to accurately date the rocks from this area (505 to 540 million years old). He tried to explain how older rocks were positioned above younger rocks especially in the Mt. Ida Gorge. His theory of these older rocks being ÒthrustÓ above the younger layer led to this area being named ÒEmmons Thrust.Ó The idea of one rock layer colliding with and being thrust above another layer later led to the theory of plate tectonics. His work and that of James Hall and others led to Albany being the center of geologic research in America at that time. The Association of American Geologists, the parent of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, was formed at a meeting held in his house in Albany.
Brig. Gen. Addison Farnsworth
(1825-1877); lot 110, sec 18
During the Mexican War, a company of Albanians, Co. H, 1st Regiment, Albany Republican Artillery, commanded by Captain Abraham Van Olinda and Lieutenant Addison Farnsworth [later Brevet Brigadier General in the Civil War] went through the Gulf of Mexico to participate in the landing at Vera Cruz under Major General Winfield Scott.
Brig. Gen. John
Gosman Farnsworth
(c1832-1895); lot 53, sec 30
Captain and assistant quartermaster of the Fourth Army Corps under Gen. E.D. Keys in 1861. Served in the Quartermaster General Corps in 1863 and 1864 during the siege of Chattanooga and at the battles of Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. In 1863-1864, he was promoted to colonel and commanded the supply depot at Wheeling, West Virginia. At the end of the Civil War he was mustered out of service but remained in the New York State Guard eventually being promoted to Adjutant General of the State of New York by Governor Grover Cleveland. He also volunteered as a Washington Park commissioner and was a Trustee of Albany Rural Cemetery.
Fireman's Monument
lot 6, sec 72
Erected by members of Tompkins Engine Company No. 8 in 1872, it includes a fireman's hat and speaking trumpet and other fire-fighting medallions. Erected by W. Manson, stonecutter.
Samuel Fisher
(c1792-1840); lot 32, sec 92
ÒLamp-LighterÓ of the city of Albany. In 1829, Albany had Ò586 oil lamps, 100 of which held half a pint and the others a gill (of oil).Ó Each lamp needed to be filled and lit each night. Headstone inscription: Òwho was drowned by the falling of the bridge crossing from the foot of State Street onto the Pier, August 22, 1840, aged 48 years.Ó At 5 p.m. on that date, seventy to eighty people and three or four horses and carts fell about twenty feet into twelve feet of water when the bridge over the canal basin collapsed while hundreds were being loaded onto steamboats bound for New York. Twenty-two bodies were recovered. James Hinman, Albany's Constable also buried at this cemetery, died in the same accident.
George H. Fitts
(1851-1909); lot 150, sec 26
New York Supreme Court Justice.
Charles Fort
(1874-1932); lot 8, sec 28
Author of books on unexplained phenomena. He wrote four books: The Book of the Damned, New Lands, LO! and Wild Talents. He spent many years thoroughly researching unusual happenings such as raining frogs, UFO's, disappearing telephone poles and spontaneous combustion of human beings. He questioned almost all accepted scientific principles because he felt that scientists and newspapers only reported things that agreed with what they wanted people to believe. The Fortean Times, still published monthly in London, England is said to promote his philosophy.
Peter Van Vranken
Fort
(1821-1891); lot 8, sec 28
Founder and owner of Albany's largest wholesale grocers, P. V. Fort & Co. During the Civil War, coins became so scarce in Albany that P. V. Fort & Co. and Albert Wing Sons & Co. both wholesale grocers, began minting their own pennies to use for change. They made each penny worth one pound of flour. These pennies were distributed and accepted widely and even today are turning up as collector's items all over the country.
Joseph Fry
(c1774-1856); lot 10, sec 8
He was the first
publisher of the Albany City Directory.
He worked with Solomon Southwick publishing the Albany Chronicles.
Brig. Gen. Henry
Stanford Gansevoort
(1834-1871); lot 2, sec 55
A graduate of Harvard and an attorney, he volunteered for service in the Civil War and served with the 7th regiment. He later served with the 5th US Artillery. He fought in the Peninsular Campaign, Gainesville, Second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam. In 1863 he served in the 13th NY Cavalry which was partly recruited by him. He was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1863. He was brevetted Brigadier General at the end of the war in 1865 and served at Ft. Monroe in an administrative position. Returning from Nassau in the Bahamas in 1871, he died on the Day Line steamboat Drew near Rhinebeck, N.Y. Son of Peter Gansevoort, grandson of General Peter Gansevoort.
Leonard Gansevoort
(1751-1810); lot 7, sec 43
Chairman of the Provincial Congress in 1777 which made him the de facto Governor of New York State during the Revolutionary War. He was a Colonel in the Light Cavalry in the Revolutionary War, Treasurer of the Albany Committee of Safety during the Revolutionary War, Member of the Provincial Congress (1778-1779) and Continental Congress (1788), Assemblyman (1787-1788), New York State Senator (1790-1793 and 1796-1802), Judge of the Albany County Court of Common Pleas (1794).
After the Revolutionary War he was a member of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, the precursor to the Erie Canal Commission. On Nov. 17, 1793, a fire started in his stable destroying an entire city block at the northwest corner of what is now State and Broadway. His brother was Revolutionary War hero General Peter Gansevoort. (Gansevoort Street)
General Peter
Gansevoort
(1749-1812); lot
1, sec 55
Commanded the colonial troops during the defense of Fort Stanwix (Rome, New York) in the Revolutionary War, turning St. Ledger's troops back and preventing him from assisting British General Burgoyne at Saratoga. He also served under General Montgomery when Colonial soldiers invaded Canada in 1775. Maternal grandfather of Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick. Re-interred from the Dutch Church burial ground.
Peter Gansevoort