Isaac McConihe

Hon. Isaac McConihe

Mayor of Troy, New York, 1860-1861

Find A Grave Memorial ID # 250018257

His grandfather, John McConihe, removed from Argyleshire, Scotland, to Londonderry, Ireland, in 1678, in order to escape the persecution then waged against the Presbyterians, and his father, John McConihe, emigrated from the latter place in 1751, settling at Merrimack, New Hampshire, where he was born August 22, 1787.

In the year 1812 he graduated at Dartmouth College with the usual honors, and the same year came to Troy and entered as a student in the law office of the late Stephen Ross, whose partner he became on his admission to the bar in 1815. He was a practicing lawyer in his adopted city for more than fifty years, and distinguished for his integrity and ability. Early in his professional career he was appointed master in chancery and elected to the office of police justice.

In 1826 he married Sarah Sophia, daughter of Hezekiah W. and Martha (Dwight) Strong, - a lady of rare intellectual culture, and descended from families of high rank, her father being a graduate of Yale in 1800, and one of the founders of Amherst College.

Mr. McConihe was appointed at different times to many offices of trust and responsibility. In 1828 he was appointed judge of the court of common pleas of Rensselaer County, the youngest judge who ever sat on that bench; in 1831, county treasurer; in 1832, post-master of Troy, which office he held for ten years in succession, being reappointed by President Jackson, and for the third time by President Van Buren.

At the time of his decease, November 1, 1867, he was the oldest bank director in Troy, and the oldest member of the bar of Rensselaer County. For many years he was a railroad director, president of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History, trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and of the Troy Orphan Asylum, and senior warden of St. Paul's Church (Episcopal). His association with public institutions benevolent, educational, scientific, literary, and monetary was very extensive. In his death the National American Association for the Advancement of Science lost a most devoted, keen, patient, and pains-taking adherent and member, while a large number of leading institutions of learning, including the ancient Dartmouth College, realized the departure of a wise counselor.

Judge McConihe's characteristics may be better expressed by quotations from speeches and resolutions of his associates at a meeting of the Rensselaer County bar upon the occasion of his death. Hon. Charles R. Ingalls, chairman, said, - "As a citizen he was true, faithful, and patriotic, and devoted to the best interest of the city and the country. He evinced a deep interest in the religious, educational, and charitable institutions of the city, and was indefatigable in his exertions to promote and advance all such objects. He expended money and devoted his time freely and without reward, save the consciousness that he was doing good. As a friend he was warm-hearted, sincere, reliable, and unselfish, ever untiring in his efforts to serve those who had his confidence and esteem."

"Resolved, That in the death of the Honorable Isaac McConihe we have lost an eminent lawyer, whose powerful mind was richly stored with legal knowledge which rendered him a safe and judicious counselor; that in prosecution of his professional duties he brought to the aid of his clients extraordinary abilities, a sound judgment, and untiring industry, and all regulated by a conscientious and high minded love of right and justice which won our admiration and commanded our esteem; that as a classical scholar he was erudite and brilliant; that in the promotion of general literature he was active and indefatigable, and that his connection with various institutions of learning throughout the country was as useful to them as honorable to him; that as a public man and private citizen he was kind, courteous, and amiable; that in all the varied relations of life, as our professional brother, as friend, as companion, as a politician, as a husband and father, and as a Christian gentleman, we have seen in his honest purpose and integrity of conduct much to admire and nothing to condemn."

His children are, Thomas Jefferson McConihe (deceased); Mrs. William M. Mallory, of Corning, N.Y. (deceased); Col. Isaac McConihe, ex-mayor of Troy; Maj. William McConihe; Gen. John McConihe, graduate of Union College and of Albany Law School, killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864; Gen. Samuel McConihe, of the regular army, United States; Thornton McConihe, lawyer (deceased); Alexander Douglass McConihe; Philander Wells McConihe; Mary C. (deceased); and Alonzo McConihe.
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Isaac McConihe, son of Hon Isaac McConihe and Sarah Sophia Strong, was b. Mar. 31,1830 in Troy, New York. He married, in 1866, with PHOEBE WARREN, b. Aug. 5,1845, dau. of Hon. Joseph M. Warren of Troy, NY. He d. Dec. 10,1903 in New York City, New York. He was a merchant, trader in mercantile, manufacturing, cotton mill owner, Mayor of Troy, NY; and alderman.

Children were: Anna (11/30/1867-8/12/1868), Warren (7/8/1869), Malcolm (8/1871), and Elizabeth (1881).

From the New York Times obituary January 12, 1903:

Isaac McConihe, formerly Mayor of Troy, New York, and son of the late Judge Isaac McConihe of that place, died suddenly at his residence, 38 East Sixty-third Street. He was born in Troy, on March 31, 1830, and was graduated from Hamilton College in 1849. In Troy, he was Alderman in 1853, then Police Commissioner for several years, and in 1860 he was elected Mayor. Before his term expired he was nominated for Congress on the Democratic ticket, but shared the defeat of his party in the Lincoln campaign of that year. When the civil war broke out, he raised volunteers for Gov. Morgan, and was appointed mustering officer for Rensselaer and Washington Counties. He was a member of the Democratic State Committee for six years beginning in 1866. He was a delegate to the National Convention at Baltimore that named Horace Greeley for President. For many years he was an opponent of ex-Senator Edward Murphy, Jr., for control of Democratic politics in Troy. His only daughter was married to a son of Senator Murphy. He is survived by his widow and three children, ex-Judge Warren McConihe of the City Court of Troy, now practicing law in this city; Malcolm S. McDonihe and Mrs. Richard F. Murphy.

'Mr. Lincoln in the Collar City'

One hundred and fifty-one years ago, on his way to inauguration as President of a not-very-United States, Abraham Lincoln made a visit to Troy. Arthur J. Weise recounted the visit in "Troy's One Hundred Years":

"One of the memorable incidents of the year was the passage of Abraham Lincoln through the city, on Tuesday morning, February 19th, when going to Washington to be inaugurated president of the United States. In consequence of high water in the river great danger attended the plying of the ferry-boat between Albany and Greenbush, and as there was no other way of crossing the Hudson at that point it was deemed prudent to convey the president elect, his suite, and the delegations escorting him, by a train of six cars to Waterford Junction and thence on the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad to Troy. Not less than thirty thousand people were in and around the Union Depot to welcome the eminent statesman. While the train was crossing the bridge between Green Island and the city, a detachment of the Troy City Artillery fired a salute of thirty-four guns. As soon as the cars entered the station, the cheering multitude began struggling to get near the coach in which Mr. Lincoln was seated. It was the last car of the train. A plank was laid from the rear of it to a platform car that was covered with matting and guarded by the Troy Citizens' Corps. Mr. Lincoln crossed on the plank to the open car, and on it, the 'Hon. Isaac McConihe', mayor of the city, in a brief address, welcomed him to Troy and tendered him its hospitalities. The president elect, having courteously expressed his thanks for the honor paid him, was then conducted by D. Thomas Vail, vice-president of the Troy Union Railroad Company, to the Hudson River Railroad train; the rear car of which was entered from the one on which the addresses had been made. As the train left the depot, Mr. Lincoln, standing on the platform of the last coach, bowed with uncovered head to the multitude of cheering people."

And how did the president-elect courteously express his thanks? With the brevity, humility and grace that would come to characterize his public speeches. The Troy Daily Budget reported his remarks as follows:

Mr. Mayor and Fellow Citizens of Troy, New York:---I am here to thank you for this noble demonstration of the citizens of Troy, and I accept this flattering reception with feelings of profound gratefulness. Since having left home, I confess, sir, having seen large assemblages of the people, but this immense gathering more than exceeds anything I have ever seen before. Still, fellow citizens, I am not so vain as to suppose that you have gathered to do me honor as an individual, but rather as the representative for the fleeting time of the American people. I have appeared only that you might see me and I you, and I am not sure but that I have the best of the sight. Again thanking you, fellow citizens, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

The night before, at Albany's Gaiety Theater, Don Rittner reports that Mr. Lincoln first laid eyes on John Wilkes Booth.

• 1850 census: Isaac (20), b. NY; in Troy, NY w parents and sibs. He is a merchant.
• http://www.hoxsie.org/2012/02/
• http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyslhs/mill.htm. Owner of cotton mill at Sand Lake
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Lake,_NY
• http://www.capital.net/~kdanneil/sand_lake_historical_society.html
• http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/families/hmgfm/warren-1.html
• http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrensse/bio124.htm