James Ten Eyck, Mason
www.schenectadyhistory.org/families/hmgfm/teneyck-2.html
James, son of Visscher and Eliza Ann (Youngs) Ten Eyck, was born in Albany, February 16, 1840, died in Albany, July 28, 1910. He received his earliest education at the Albany Academy; he then attended Burlington College, New Jersey, from which he was graduated in 1855. Having successfully passed the required examinations, he was admitted a junior at Yale, but because of poor health he was forced to change his plans. As a consequence, he began a mercantile life, taking first a position in the office of the Central railroad. He entered the employ of Bacon & Stickney, dealers in coffee and spices, in September, 1857. He became a partner, March 1, 1865, and when Mr. Samuel Bacon died, Mr. Ten Eyck became the senior partner of this firm, which enjoyed prosperity which warranted the erection of a large building of its own in 1907, and which is of great utility.
In Masonic circles he was known the breadth of the land, and was most actively identified with the fraternity since his initiation into Masters Lodge, November 23, 1863. He was the oldest thirty-third degree Mason in Albany. He was made master in 1873, continuing until 1877, passing all the chairs. He was elected grand master of Masons in the state of New York, June 8, 1892, and on being unanimously re-elected declined. In this capacity he had a larger jurisdiction than any other Mason in the world, excepting only the Prince of Wales, and had the honor of presiding over eighty thousand Masons. He officiated at the laying of the corner-stones of the New York State Armory in Albany, of Harmanus Bleecker Hall, the Albany Masonic burial lot and of the Burns monument in Washington park. He presided at the jubilee of the Masonic fraternity when it celebrated the final payment of the debt on the Masonic Temple of New York City, April 24, 1889, and bore a large share in the work of erecting the handsome temple in Albany, one of the ornaments of the city.
For many years Mr. Ten Eyck was an active participant in the city's affairs, being at one time on the directorate of no less than thirteen boards. He was chosen president of the Home Savings Bank in January, 1896. He was a member of St. Peter's (Episcopal) church, of the Fort Orange and Albany clubs, and was the only honorary member of the Acacia club. He was a principal shareholder in the Hotel Ten Eyck, the leading hotel of the Capital City. He was a Republican all his life, taking an interest in clean politics and civic government. He served as chairman of the general county committee, and was at the head of the citizens' committee having in charge the reception in 1891 to President Harrison. In fact, he was named upon almost every public committee of importance having a civic undertaking in charge, and always did his share.
Mr. Ten Eyck was elected president of the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society, an organization dating back to 1791, and it was under his officiation that the handsome, new building on Washington avenue was opened. It had an enormous debt encumbering it, which he was largely instrumental in having wiped out, calling meetings weekly until he had accomplished his praiseworthy object. As a collector of coins he was known all over the country as possessing one of the finest collections in America. It contains rarities of great value, and in this chosen field he was regarded as an expert. His collection of historic and old china was not only extensive, but of rare merit and wonderful beauty. It had engaged his attention for forty years, and purchases were made in all parts of the country aiming at completeness. In the fall of 1909 he presented this collection to the society of which he was the president, and installed it in cases purposely made, as a memorial to his father, the late Visscher Ten Eyck. Mr. Ten Eyck was regarded by his fellow-citizens as a man of absolute integrity and determination, and as these qualities were most frequently displayed, either in the form of some public trust or act of charity, the city gained considerable by his living in it. He married, October 18, 1864, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of Teunis and Margaret T. (Lush) Van Vechten. She died May 23, 1865, leaving no children.
James Ten Eyck, Mason
www.schenectadyhistory.org/families/hmgfm/teneyck-2.html
James, son of Visscher and Eliza Ann (Youngs) Ten Eyck, was born in Albany, February 16, 1840, died in Albany, July 28, 1910. He received his earliest education at the Albany Academy; he then attended Burlington College, New Jersey, from which he was graduated in 1855. Having successfully passed the required examinations, he was admitted a junior at Yale, but because of poor health he was forced to change his plans. As a consequence, he began a mercantile life, taking first a position in the office of the Central railroad. He entered the employ of Bacon & Stickney, dealers in coffee and spices, in September, 1857. He became a partner, March 1, 1865, and when Mr. Samuel Bacon died, Mr. Ten Eyck became the senior partner of this firm, which enjoyed prosperity which warranted the erection of a large building of its own in 1907, and which is of great utility.
In Masonic circles he was known the breadth of the land, and was most actively identified with the fraternity since his initiation into Masters Lodge, November 23, 1863. He was the oldest thirty-third degree Mason in Albany. He was made master in 1873, continuing until 1877, passing all the chairs. He was elected grand master of Masons in the state of New York, June 8, 1892, and on being unanimously re-elected declined. In this capacity he had a larger jurisdiction than any other Mason in the world, excepting only the Prince of Wales, and had the honor of presiding over eighty thousand Masons. He officiated at the laying of the corner-stones of the New York State Armory in Albany, of Harmanus Bleecker Hall, the Albany Masonic burial lot and of the Burns monument in Washington park. He presided at the jubilee of the Masonic fraternity when it celebrated the final payment of the debt on the Masonic Temple of New York City, April 24, 1889, and bore a large share in the work of erecting the handsome temple in Albany, one of the ornaments of the city.
For many years Mr. Ten Eyck was an active participant in the city's affairs, being at one time on the directorate of no less than thirteen boards. He was chosen president of the Home Savings Bank in January, 1896. He was a member of St. Peter's (Episcopal) church, of the Fort Orange and Albany clubs, and was the only honorary member of the Acacia club. He was a principal shareholder in the Hotel Ten Eyck, the leading hotel of the Capital City. He was a Republican all his life, taking an interest in clean politics and civic government. He served as chairman of the general county committee, and was at the head of the citizens' committee having in charge the reception in 1891 to President Harrison. In fact, he was named upon almost every public committee of importance having a civic undertaking in charge, and always did his share.
Mr. Ten Eyck was elected president of the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society, an organization dating back to 1791, and it was under his officiation that the handsome, new building on Washington avenue was opened. It had an enormous debt encumbering it, which he was largely instrumental in having wiped out, calling meetings weekly until he had accomplished his praiseworthy object. As a collector of coins he was known all over the country as possessing one of the finest collections in America. It contains rarities of great value, and in this chosen field he was regarded as an expert. His collection of historic and old china was not only extensive, but of rare merit and wonderful beauty. It had engaged his attention for forty years, and purchases were made in all parts of the country aiming at completeness. In the fall of 1909 he presented this collection to the society of which he was the president, and installed it in cases purposely made, as a memorial to his father, the late Visscher Ten Eyck. Mr. Ten Eyck was regarded by his fellow-citizens as a man of absolute integrity and determination, and as these qualities were most frequently displayed, either in the form of some public trust or act of charity, the city gained considerable by his living in it. He married, October 18, 1864, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of Teunis and Margaret T. (Lush) Van Vechten. She died May 23, 1865, leaving no children.