More biographical sketches of Albany notables from 1910’s “New York State Men: Biographic Studies and Character Portraits.” These are names that fans of Albany history run across from time to time, but may not really recognize.
Andrew Sloan Draper – Commissioner of Education, was born at Westford, N.Y., in 1848. he was graduated from the Albany Academy in 1866, and the Albany Law School in 1871; taught school, 1866-70; practiced law, 1871-86; member Board of Education, 1879-81; Legislature, 1881; State Normal College Board, 1882-86; chairman Republican County Committee, 1880-83; member Republican State Committee, 1883-84; chairman Executive Committee, 1884; delegate National Convention, 1884; Judge Court of Alabama Claims, 1884-86; State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1886-92; Superintendent of Schools, Cleveland, O., 1892-94; president University of Illinois, 1894-1904; elected Commissioner of Education, 1904; member Chicago Historical Society and State Historical Societies, New York, Illinois and Wisconsin; author “Rescue of Cuba” and “American Education;” silver medal, Paris Exposition, for monograph on American educational organization; gold medal and two commemorative diplomas for educational writings, and one of the two grand prizes for conspicuous services to education at St. Louis Exposition; president National Association School Superintendents, and North Central Association Colleges and Secondary Schools; chairman Department of Education International Congresses at St. Louis; chairman United States Board of Indian Commissioners; officer in various financial, educational and religious institutions of Albany. Honorary degree LL.D., Colgate University, 1889; Columbia University, 1903; University of Illinois, 1905. Married Abbie Louise Lyon, New Britain, Conn., 1872. Two children. Residence, 133 Lake Avenue, Albany.
William Barnes, Jr. – President of The Journal Company, was born at Albany, N.Y., November 17, 1866, and is a son of William Barnes, a prominent lawyer of Albany, and a grandson of the late Thurlow Weed, the founder of the Albany Evening Journal. Mr. Barnes received his education at the Albany Academy and Harvard College, from which he was graduated in 1888. Upon leaving college he obtained a position as a reporter on the Albany Evening Journal, and in December, 1888, purchased the Albany Morning Express, which he conducted for several years. On April 2, 1889, he secured a controlling interest in the Albany Evening Journal. Since the beginning of his active career Mr. Barnes has been a leader in the political affairs of Albany County. He has been a member of the Republican State Committee since 1892, and was chairman of its executive committee for eight years. He was appointed Surveyor of the Port of Albany by President McKinley, and was reappointed by President Roosevelt. He is a member of the Union League Club of New York City, Republican Club of the City of New York, and of the Fort Orange, the Albany, the University and the Albany Country Clubs of Albany. On June 12, 1888, he married Miss Grace Davis, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Barnes resides at 229 State Street, Albany.
[The relationship between Barnes, who became as much a political boss as a journalist, and Roosevelt soured significantly, resulting in a famous libel trial in a Syracuse courthouse in 1915.]
Horace Gedney Young – Banker, president of the Albany Trust company, was born at Homesdale, Pa., January 26, 1854. He attended the Cornwall Heights School at Cornwall, N.Y. from 1869 to 1870, and the Edwards Place School at Stockbridge, Mass., from 1870 to 1873. He then entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy and was graduated from that institution with the degree of C.E. in 1877. In 1879 he entered the service of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company as assistant to the general manager, serving in that capacity for six years when he was promoted, in 1885, to the position of general manager of the company. He directed the affairs of the railroad as general manager until 1888., when he was made second vice-president, while still retaining the position of general manager. On July 1, 1903, Mr. Young resigned his position with the D.&H. Company, and in January, 1905, he was elected president of the Albany Trust Company; but in May, 1908, he relinquished the presidency of this institution and became chairman of its board of directors. March 13, 1906, Mr. Young was elected president of the Albany Bankers’ Association. He is a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, of Troy, and a member of the Fort Orange Club, the University Club of New York City, the Grolier Club, of New York, and the Albany Country Club. On October 12, 1881, Mr. Young married Miss Cornelia L., daughter of Oscar L. Hasey, of Albany. His address is 425 State Street, Albany.
William Bayard Van Rensselaer – Lawyer-financier, was born in Albany, October 4, 1856. He attended the State Normal School and the Albany Boys’ Academy, at Albany; Miss Gaylord’s Boarding School, at Catskill, N.Y., and St. Paul’s School, at Concord, N.H. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1879, and spent the next year at the Harvard Law School, in Cambridge. The following year he studied in a law office in Albany, and was admitted to the bar in 1881, beginning the practice of law the same year. He organized the Van Rensselaer Land Company in 1885, and was elected its treasurer. He was elected trustee of the Albany Savings Bank in 1883, vice-president in 1897 and president in 1900. He became a director of the New York State National Bank, Albany, in 1885 and its vice-president in 1900. He was one of the organizers and was later the vice-president of the Union Trust Company, Albany. In 1901 he was elected chairman of the executive committee of the Savings Banks Association of the State of New York and in 1904 was elected president of that association. In 1893 he organized the Albany Terminal Warehouse Company, of which he was the first president. On November 3, 1880, Mr. Van Rensselaer married Miss Louisa G. Lane, daughter of Professor George Martin Lane, of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Van Rensselaer died September 25, 1909.