Henry Hull Martin

Henry Hull Martin was born at Avon Genesia in 1809. His father died when a comparatively young man, leaving just enough money to educate his son, and support his widow and three daughters who found it somewhat of a strugle to live. But as soon as Henry Martin graduated at Union College he gave what little mooney he had to his mother and started out to support himself.

His life at college was one of absolute self denial; his chief aim was to avoid embarrassing his mother in any way and I'm sure that he must have suffered many things in silence. He was a tall man had his clothes had always to be made for him so that when his overcoat was worn out and a new one meant a call on the slender home finances, Henry would wrap himself up in a shawl and unconcernedly brave the elements and the storm of chaff which invariably assailed him when he went to his classes.

After leaving Union Colege, Henry became private secretary to Enos T. Throop who was Governor of the State of New York and whilst resideing at Albany he met Anne Townsend with whom he fell in love at first sight. Without more ado, the young man went at once to Isaiah Townsend and demanded his daughter in marriage.

After the marriage they lived near the Townsend house in Albany wwhere Henry started as a lawyer and where he continued to practice until 1854 when he became a banker.a wise decision for eventually he became very successful The Albany City Savings Institution was incorporated March 29 1850 beginning business at No 47 State street Hon Erastus Corning mayor of Albany was its first president and the board of trustees was composed of the representative men of the city Although Mr Martin was then only forty years of age he was sought to take a place on the board upon organization This did not yield the direct activity he desired in order to be in touch with the financial world and learn the ways of banking so he awaited the favorable opportunity When Watts Sherman who was the first cashier of the Albany City National Bank which was organized April 30 1834 resigned the post was offered to Mr Martin He accepted and continued to fill the office until his resignation in December 1870 when he was succeeded by Amos P Palmer In 1846 he was elected a director of the Albany Insurance Company incorporated March 8 1811 by a number of influential men and he was also chosen a director on the board of the Mutual Insurance Company organized in 1836 The Albany Gaslight Company one of the largest and most important corporations in the city was incorporated March 27 1841 at the time of the introduction of gas and while the business was yet in its infancy Mr Martin was elected president In 1866 he was appointed by the mayor one of the Albany City IVater Commissioners and continued to hold the office until 1879 He was a trustee of the Albany Steam Trap Company organized in 1871 by General Frederick Townsend a relative and Hon James H Blessing who later became mayor of the city and inventor of the first practical device for returning the water of condensation under pressure back to the boiler Mr Martin perceived the merit of the struggling enterprise and backed it until it finally grew to an enormous extent and became owner of more than twenty five patents connected with the process

The Albany Savings Bank had been incorporated March 25 1820 General Stephen Van Rensselaer being its first president this was the largest and most influential of all the savings banks in the city Mr Martin was made its treasurer in 1874 and subsequently its vice president Harmon Pumpelly its president resigning on account of his advanced age Mr Martin was elected president on May 17 1882 at which time the post of vice president was assumed by Mr Martin's relative General Rufus H King who was succeeded in his post of second vice president by Marcus T Hun who became president in 1911 The institution prospered greatly throughout the entire time that Mr Martin was at its head and he became regarded as one of the ablest bankers in the state of New York On October 8 1835 Mr Martin was married at the First Presbyterian Church Albany New York by Dr_ Campbell to Anne Townsend who was born in Albany April 11 1814 and died there March 4 1866 She was the daughter of Isaiah and Hannah Townsend Townsend her parents having been cousins

• Residence: 1855 - E.D. Eastern, Ward 10, Albany City, Albany, New York, United States
• Residence: 1860 - 10th Ward City of Albany, Albany, New York, United States
• Residence: 1865 - District Eastern, Ward 10, Albany, Albany, New York, United States
• Residence: 1880 - Albany, Albany, New York, United States
  • Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Feb 19 2024, 20:48:34 UTC

    ---

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 19 2024, 20:55:06 UTC