New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-03

Island. and cacl the territory PavOnia. few
years later he also acquired Staten Island. De
Nr:cs, Mcyn. and Others, were concerned III similar
enterprises None of these PATRONS, however, pros
pered and the first to affect q permanent immortal
establishment was Killian Van Rens 3elaer who in
partnership with several of his brother directors.
including the historian, De Laet, bought lands on
both sides OF the Hudson, including the sites OF
! ilbany and Troy, and in $50 sent out we'll
organized and fully equipped colony. When lie
died. in 1915, Rensselaerwyck, as it was called.
covered territory foIty-eght by twenty-four niles
in extent, besides another tract Of sXty-two thou
sand acres; and over two hundred colOnists had
been sent out from Holland. The Van Renssclacrs
were persons of note in Holland: Killan was a
reputable banker and general merchant. and u
dealer in precious stones There is traiition but
proof that lie visited America. -Four of his sons
came here; two returned to Holland; third Jere-
miah, was superintendent, of the colGny FOR sixteen
years, and married n Van Courtlandt. NlcolduS,
the fourth soE, took orders in both the Dutch AMI
the English Church. ami exercised the ministry III
NcwYOrk, where he was lnvOveI in violent cccIesl-
aslcal quarrels, account OF lis double Ordina-
ton lie married Schuyler johannes, the eldest
son of Killian ana the second PATRON, never i'll
this country After the transfer of Ncw-Am Sterdam
to the English the Van Rensselaers were confirmed
iii most of their rights aud privileges the colony of
l. Rensselaerwyck being erected into manor,
governed according to English usage, with kilian,
son of Johannes, lord of the manor The village
of Beverwyck which had grown up in the shadow
of the old Fort Orange, ana the jurisdiction OF
which had been IN dispute. was now detached from
the manor, ana the next yea. 1t was Incorporated
as the city of Albany. The intermarriagcs of the
Van RenssclaerS aud The Schuylers became very
frequent during the next few generations, and the
i, !, Lat
of the PATRONS and sixth lord of the manor, was
daughter of General Philip Schuyler of the Revolu-
ton. 1t was tine Revolution which pat an end to
the manorical system. Mr.. Schuyler gives an
interesting sketch OF Stephen Van Rensselaer,, who
was always addressed rs PATRON as long rs lie
lived.
He bad splendid estate. Although somewhat
diminished in its original extent. there We're several
townships Oh each side OF the river. Ills Gu ture,
his descent from long Inc OF ancestors, MS wealth
and his connections, confined with gentle temper
and unassumlng manners, made him gctlcman.
and gave him high position. lie now entered
upon the w0lk OF Improvement, with zrai ana inter-
lIgencc. Large tracts of immortal lands were yet
without inhabitants. NarlOus causes hid prevented
their development. The antagpnlsm OF the West
India Company, the frequent Indian wars the long
French wars, the war of the {evolutlon but chiefly
the oGten-recurring periods whcn Tor many years AT
q time, the estate was In the hands OF rus eeS or
admins ratOrs hal retarded the growth of the
indncoments to farmers to settle on his lands
Rentals were placed 80 low that they yielded only
one or two per cent on a far valuation. In mIhI
instances farms offered rent free Tor term Of
years. On such terms he found iittle difficulty IN
securing tenants. The country hal Just emerged
from an eXhGIsting war, and many OF the lnnaDlt-
ants were too poor To buy farms OF their own. The
best lands in the State were III the hands OF large
pronrcturs or were held By spectators At high
prices or still in the possession of the native
owners, so that people able 10 buy were preciudci.
Under such circumstances, farms offered on the
terms Of Van RrnSs 'laer's were quickly takcn up.
and il was not long before the greater part of the
lands on both sides OF the river were under cultya
ton.
moderate wants. aud placed his business III the
hands of careful agents and clerks he HAD leisure 10
devote TO other objects He united. IN 1877. will
tine church of his fathers, OF which he was an active
and conscientious member. and for many years an
officer. In the militia, IN l1o6. he was nDpr 81
infantry. and two years after promoted TO
coiOnclcy. In 1901 lie was made MaJor-Gencrdl OF
cavalry.
to the Assembly oi 1879, aud from l1Jl to 1876 was
4 State Senator. In 1875 he WAS elected Lieutenant
Governor and again in l137. At the last election
he had no opponent. HAVING been nominated Dy
of Assembly. The question whether tn; lakes and
Hudson River could be connected b. u cInai hal
for many years received attention. In 1910 the
Legislature appointed commission to explore the
route and report ut the next session. Mr. an l'enS
selaer was member Of the commissions ana win
others made the tour on horseback IN the summer
of 1910 The report interested the Legislature, and
another commission was appointed 10 consider All
matters relating 70 inland navigation OF winch also
he was member The war OF lol- occurred. am
DELAYED the project.
When war vas declared lie was offered the com
mand of the army the northern frontiers. Al
though opposed t. the war as premature, ne
promptly accepted He was quickly at his post,
and proceeded - organize the army: ms was
difficult task. 1t was composed of militia, not OF
regular soldiers. Difficult As u was, he soon Ia
force sufficient in Lumbers to have overrun TIE
provinre of inner Canada had it been oticcIcd
&C. md
battle Of Queenstown was fought and won; bnt
ultimately lost. because the militia IN large mum
Der, refused 10 fight The carly victory later IN the
day was turned into serious disaster. Van
Rensselaer, resigned his command, and retired 20
private life.
upon the canal comm ssIon, and was appointed ITS
chairman. The Legislature of 1SlG naugurated
the work of the canals the Erie and the ChlnpIain
and they were completed in 80. during which
time Van Rensselaer, was president OF the Board.
Hewa twice nominated by his pfTtv for Governor
was defeated by less than four thousand votes Had
he been as we-knOwn in other parts OF the state
as at Albany, his home, the result would have been
different. lie was member OF the Assembly IN
1878 and elected to the Congress Of the United
States IN 1923. to ill a vacancy, and twice re-
elected for full terms At the close Of his last term
March, 1929, he retired from political HE In
1919 lie was elected Regent OF the University OF
the State Of New York. and was subsequently It's
Chancellor until his death. agriculture,
he promoted the interests OF the state Agricultural
Society and Its president in 1920. He caused
a geological survey to he made along the line OF the
canal from Albany to Buffalo. and on another line
commencing in Massachusetts. From the infOrmG-
ton and data coll ,cted on these surveys, he was
convinced there was need OF more technical educa-
ton. TO supply the deficiency he established the
Rensselaer, Institute ut Troy.
He was a liberal patron of the various benevolent
societies of the day, IN many OF which ho held
official positions. HIS private charities were large,
and were yearly increasing to the close OF his pfc.
There few men who were so liberal III all di-
rections as Stephen Van Rensselaer, the last of the
Patroons His life full of activities and good
works. In all positions, large landed IrOpric
tor with tenants counted by the Thousand, as q
politician and a leading member OF n strong and
respectable party, rs an officer IN the church, as a
private citizen he proved himself man of honor
and Christian gentleman. In social life nc was
greatly respected, and i'll his family much beloved.
The Philip Schuyler with whom the present