and was chosen its president, which office he retained till his death. The Egberts Institute received from him an endowment of $20,000, and the Reformed Church of Cohoes, of which he was a member, is indebted in great measure to his taste and liberality for their beautiful house of worship. He was a friend of the poor, and for every good cause had an open heart and hand.-Evening Journal......... Rev. Ambrose M. O'Neil died, aged 29. He was endowed with extraordinary energy and fervor, and won a high place in the affections of the people of his church. The Cathedral was crowded to suffocation at his funeral.........Johanna, wife of Henry Boyle, died, aged 19. 29. The mild weather of the past few days, and a drenching rain of thirty-six hours duration, raised the volume of water in the river above the pier and dock, and drove the ice down below the city.........Old St. Peter's, the mother of the Episcopal churches in this section of the country, was this morning the scene of unusual excitement. For a century, and up to within the past two years, the election of wardens and vestrymen was a foregone conclusion, and attracted but little, if any, attention. But lately, by the infusion of a new element, more spirit has been engendered, which was exhibited to-day in the election of church wardens and vestrymen. The following is the result as published in the Evening Journal. 171 votes polled. At an election for wardens and vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, this day, the following were elected unanimously: Wardens, C. W. Bender, J. H. Van Antwerp. Vestrymen, William Lacy, James H. Osborn, William H. Rice, Thomas Squires, Ira Porter, J. Woodward, Jr., Hiram Perry, W. W. Hill. Church of the Holy Innocents: The following gentlemen were this morning unanimously elected wardens and vestrymen for the ensuing year: Wardens, William H. De Witt, William Mason: Vestrymen, Oscar L. Hasey, Samuel M. VanSantvoord, Frank Jones, Joshua Rathbone, Caleb Palmer, Gerritt T. Bratt, William Reynolds, Samuel Roak......... Matthew Clarkson died, aged 75. Patrick O'Rourke died, aged 53. Josephine Peterson died, aged 56. Richard L. Ross, formerly of Albany, died, at Malone, aged 59. 30. Michael Rice died, aged 21. 31. Alfred D. Shepard died, aged 68. APRIL 1. David F. Holdredge died, aged 72. Albany, died at Watertown, N. Y., aged 83. 40 Peter Vandervolgen died, aged 55. John Millington, late of 2. The ice barrier at Coeymans broke away, and left the channel open to New York......... William Smith died, aged 65. Mr. Smith was a well known merchant, having passed his whole long life, from his apprenticeship upwards, in the counting room. With the exception of a brief period in his youth spent in the service of Andrew Kirk, he has been engaged in the dry goods trade. In that traffic he pursued his apprenticeship under the tuition respectively of Mr. Tabor and of Richard Marvin & Co. In the latter house he was at length admitted a partner. Upon leaving that house he formed one of the firm of Smith & Strong; then he was one of the house of Smith, Woodburn & Deyermand; next of Smith, Cary & Mosely, and finally of Smith, Lansing & Hardee, with which he was connected at the time of his death. At the organization of the Albany City Bank in 1836, he was chosen one of the directors, and has uninterruptedly remained such ever since. Mr. Smith was a native of Albany, having been born upon the lot in Broadway next adjoining that which has of late been his residence. He was an active, sagacious and honorable merchant. He was of that type that is modelled upon the principle that integrity is the surest road to success, as it is the noblest attribute of the business man. He was mild in his disposition, unostentatious in his manner, affable in his demeanor, and kind in his intercourse. He never sought the distinction of place or power, but contented himself with the quiet pursuit of his business and the enjoyment of genial social intercourse. No act of dishonor or wrong stains the record of his life, and he has passed away with the sincere sorrow of all who knew him. Journal.......... Mary A. Gray died, aged 25. 3. Cyrus Hawley died. Within a few weeks past, death, without sparing meanwhile either youth or strength, seems to have been unusually busy among our old and well known citizens. Our records of mortality have rarely chronicled, within a brief period, so many familiar names. Whoever scans the death column of our city press will not fail to observe how many old friends are passing away, and how ripe has been the harvest of the Destroyer; and this, too, among those whose green old age has borne with it so much of vivacity and the spirit of the youth, that their summons seems almost as untimely as though youth itself had fallen. We add this morning to the mournful catalogue the name of Cyrus Hawley, a name especially familiar to the residents of the western portion of our city, but wherever known, regarded with esteem and honor. Mr. Hawley was born in Herkimer county, New York, in the month of March, 1800. He came to Albany in the year 1814, and was employed as a clerk in the produce store of the late Daniel L. Newton. He remained with Mr. Newton, who was his brother-in-law, until about 1821, when he became a dealer in grains, seeds and country produce, and for a short time, about the year 1830, was a partner of Mr. Newton's. Their store was situated on the hill near the Brick point, and was well known many years before the Erie canal was completed, and before railroads were thought of. The Great Western turnpike in those days, and until the Erie canal offered greater facilities for transportation, was the grand thoroughfare to and from the West. All country produce was then brought to the Albany market by teams, and merchandize was carried to villages and country stores by wagons or sleighs, even to Rochester, which was then the far west. Real estate on Washington street, now dignified as Washington avenue, was greatly valued, and at one period went up to almost fabulous prices. The Erie canal, changing the method of transportation from land to water, brought down values. In Mr. H.'s day as a merchant, his cotemporaries in commercial enterprise were such men as William Durant, Clark Durant, Wm. Jones, William Chapman, Wm. and John M. Newton, Duncan Robinson, Messrs. McNab, Morgan, McEntosh and Cumming, Aaron Roggen, Hubbell Knapp, John Taylor, Robert Boyd, Robert Dunlop and Andrew Kirk. From 1832 to 1840 he was connected more or less with Mr. Batchelder, in the purchase of flaxseed, &c. In the year 1841 he engaged largely in the purchase of wool, with Alexander Cumming and Robert Worden. In 1843 he formed a general partnership with William Appleton, which continued until 1849, when he retired from business with an ample competence. Since the period of his retirement from active business, Mr. Hawley has quietly and reasonably enjoyed the years allotted to him. He was always fond of exercise and intelligent companionship, and during recent years was accustomed to make frequent journeys on foot with favorite friends as far as Saratoga Springs and back, from Saratoga to Lake George, and from Gorham to the summit of Mt. Washington. Though never married, a marked trait in Mr. Hawley's character was his peculiar fondness for children. They were ever his favorites, and the kind hearted and the pleasant old gentleman will be remembered in years to come by many a little friend whose childish sorrows he soothed, or to whose innocent happiness he contributed. Mr. Hawley was not, we believe, a regular member of any church. But in his principles and deportment he exemplified the Christian gentleman. In all his relations to society he acquired and merited the approbation and respect of his fellow men. In his personal habits he was neat and careful without being too fastidious. In business he was singularly prompt and accurate, and always scrupulously honest. He was judicious but liberal in charities, and delighted in those quiet kindnesses which exhibit the true hearted gentleman far more than ostentatious display. His pathway to the grave was scattered with the blessings of the poor whom he relieved. The deceased was a relative of ex-Mayor George H. Thatcher, from whose residence the funeral took place. Journal.......... John Rector died, aged 69. 4. The robins and blue birds were seen flitting about in the morning but disappeared as the day grew colder and winterish........The first boat from New York, the Connecticut, reached the steam boat landing at 9 o'clock in the morning.......... Rev. Mr. Abbot preached his farewell sermon in the Ashgrove church......... John Rector died, aged 69. Rev. S. L. Stillman, formerly pastor of the Pearl street Methodist church, died, in Bethlehem, aged 74. Linda Miller, wife of Gilbert Hunter, died, aged 41. Avann died, aged 78. Mary Woodin, widow of Peter Van Santvoord of Middleton, Saratoga Co., died, aged 82. Thomas 5. The horse cars on the Pearl street line, which had been unable to use the rails for about four months, this day resumed their trips, in place of sleighs......... Mrs. Bethia Haskell died, aged 86. 6. Elizabeth Breen, wife of Derrick C. Hayner, died, aged 36. Anne O'Connor died, aged 23. 7. Alida, wife of Hugh McGaughan, died, aged 48. Thomas Martin died, aged 60. Patrick Nolan died, aged 35. 8. Although Albany is supposed to be a mountain of clay suitable for brick, and vast hills have been converted into buildings, yet common bricks, which used to bring $3.50 a thousand when manufactured by the old hand process, now that greatly improved machinery had been brought into use, sold at $20 per thousand.........Mary, widow of Henry Freeman died, aged 84. Robert Thompson, Jr., died, aged 32. John Donnelly died, aged 30. 9. Annie E. Fleming, wife of S. Strauss, died, aged 25. Catharine Storey died, aged 25. James Grogan died, aged 25. 10. Air, 41........ Rose Gallagher died, aged 24. Anna C. Martin, wife of Joseph Kennedy, died. Sarah, widow of Matthew Clarkson, died, aged 76. Her husband died only two weeks before her. 11. Air, h. 43, 1. 29.........The State Street Presbyterian Sunday school held its 8th anniversary, Archibald McClure, Jr., superintendent. Of the 938 members of this model school, 800 were present. It was thought to be the largest school between New York and Chicago; had 70 teachers, and supported two missionaries, one at home and one in Kentucky; contributed $1,831.73 in money the year past; had 216 scholars over 16 years of age......... David J. Hotaling died, aged 59. Mary Collins died, aged 29. Catharine, wife of Thomas Connelly, died, aged 34. 12. Air, h. 44, 1. 32...... Benjamin P. Johnson died, aged 76. He had been since 1847, the secretary and principal manager of the New York State Agricultural Society, and by his energy and peculiar fitness for the position, greatly contributed to the success of that organization. He was born in Canaan, Columbia county, on the 30th of November, 1793. He graduated at Union College in 1813, and studied law at Hudson with Elisha Williams, Esq., after which he settled at Rome, Oneida county, where he practiced law. He was a member of the assembly, elected from Oneida county, in the years 1827, 1828 and 1829. In 1845 he was elected president of the State Agricultural Society. 13. Air, h. 43, 1. 33......... The onion market was excited, sold at $13, a barrel; oranges $4 a barrel......... Gen. John Meredith Read, Jr., was nominated by the president, consul general at Paris..........John James died, aged 75 Margaret Brennan died, aged 68. 14. Air, h. 42, 1. 31.........Rebecca Van Heusen, widow of Ira Jenkins, died, aged 78. Alice J. De Witt, wife of Augustus D. Depeyster, died. 15. Air, h. 48, 1. 33........Extraordinary auroral display, the greatest since the electric storm in 1859. The telegraphs were worked by the electric current without the aid of the battery.........Maria Hoffman, wife of Robert Van Heusen, died, aged 66. Maria Elmendorf, wife of Peter Sanders, died at Scotia, aged 73. Thomas Tyrer died, aged 64. 16. Air, h. 49, 1. 39.........John S. Baxter died, aged 57. Mary E Adams, wife of Wm. P. Treadwell, died, aged 42. Paul Tessier died, aged 79. 17. Air, h. 62, 1. 46......... Margaret Hoyt died, aged 49. 18. Air, h. 50, 1. 43.........The quarterly meetings of the Unitarian Sunday school, since they sold their church, were held in the Friends' meeting house in Plain street. 19. Air, h. 71, 1. 47......... The water over the docks, the immense snow banks north of us beginning to liquidate.........Oscar F. Stevens died, aged 45. Phoebe, wife of James N. Cobb, died, in New York. 20. Air, h. 73, 1. 61......... Water rising all day under a burning sun...... The will of Sylvanus P. Jermain, late of the town of Watervliet, who died April 20, came before the surrogate, bearing date Feb. 13, 1846, and by its provisions the following disposal is made of the estate: to the niece of deceased, Catharine Barclay Porter, he bequeathed the sum of $500, and an equal amount to his nephew, Sylvanus B. Jermain, 2d. The remainder of the property, real and personal, he bequeathed to his son James Barclay Jermain, whom he appointed sole executor for the estate. Attached to the will was a codicil bearing date January 20, 1856, in which the following additional bequests were made; to each of his brothers and sisters who should be living at the time of his decease, an annuity of $400, to continue during the terms of their respective lives. The survivors are Julia Ann Prince, Alanson Jermain, Caroline Porter, John Jermain, George W. Jermain, and Margaret P. Slocum. To Frances, widow of his late son John Jermain, and to Emily, relict of his grandson Sylvanus Jermain, deceased, a life annuity of $250 each was left, to be annulled, however, in case of the parties marrying again. The property was a valuable one, the net estate footing up a little over $1,500,000. Seven hundred and fifty dollars worth of internal revenue stamps were required for stamping the will. Silvanus P. Jermain died, aged 86. He came to this city about 1800, while a lad, and was one of the first stockholders of the State Bank. He was a man of close business habits and of rigid economy; and by pru-dent and slowly gathered gains accumulated a fortune of a million and a half of dollars. While his life was devoted to the pursuit of riches, and he frankly acknowledged the mastery which this passion had obtained over him, he was strictly honest and in all ways free from blame. His large fortune was constantly in use, and in active investment, and he was little more than treasurer or actuary of the large fund. Riches afforded him neither luxury nor leisure; but only a care which absorbed his time and most of his thoughts. He was, however, successful in all his undertakings, and lived a cheerful, simple and frugal life to a remarkable old age. Argus. The Journal of Commerce says of him: He was a native of Sag Harbor, on Long Island, but went into business at Albany in 1802, and continued for sixty-seven years an active man of business, having amassed a very large fortune, and continuing in attendance at his office until within. ten days of his decease. A history of his earlier life would form a very interesting chapter on our internal commerce and the navigation of the Hudson, in which much of his property was invested before the days of steamers. His first partner was Capt. Sherman, who became the well known pioneer of steam navigation on Lake Champlain. Mr. Jermain was distinguished for his steady, upright and invariable business habits, though for many years past he has occupied himself with but little other work than the management of his immense property. He was a communicant in the Presbyterian church (now under the care of Dr. Sprague) from its organization, more than fifty years ago. Few, if any, merchants now survive who remember the commencement of Mr. Jermain's business life, but there are many in this city who recall their relations with him in the times of the war and the succeeding years, and who will be reminded now of the vast changes which have taken place in the whole system of commercial affairs during the period covered by his long experience...... John McDonald died, aged 40. James Carlin died, aged 50. 21. Air, h. 71, 1. 54.........Joel Linsley died, aged 67. Edward G. Sheldrick died, aged 55. Margaret Cassidy, wife of Bernard Murphy, died, aged 26. Hist. Coll. iv. |