Martin Schenck
Encyclopedia
::The article is about Martin Schenck (engineer). For Martin Schenck (soldier), see Martin Schenck von Nydeggen.
Martin Schenck (January 24, 1848 Palatine Bridge
, Montgomery County, New York
- September 17, 1918 Albany, New York
) was an American civil engineer
and politician from New York
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
from 1892 to 1893.
from Union College
. In 1869, he began work as a rodman and leveler with the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway in Kansas
and the Indian Territory
. From 1871 to 1872, he was engaged in general engineering. In 1873, he became a leveler on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. From 1874 to 1881, was engaged in general engineering and contracting, and was a member from Montgomery County of the New York State Assembly
in 1875.
In 1882, he was engineer for one of the contractors on the West Shore Railroad
. From 1883 to 1885, he was inspector and leveler in the New York State Canal Department. From 1886 to 1891, he was Assistant Engineer in charge of the Hudson River
improvement and of canal lock lengthening.
He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1892 to 1893, elected on the Democratic ticket in 1891, but defeated for re-election in 1893
by Republican Campbell W. Adams
. In 1898, he ran again for State Engineer and Surveyor on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated again, by Republican Edward A. Bond
.
From 1894 to 1895, he was Consulting Engineer to the New York State Board of Health. From 1895 to 1899, he was City Engineer of Troy, New York
, and then Chief Engineer of the New York City Department of Parks, and later worked for the Barge Canal
Bureau.
Martin Schenck (January 24, 1848 Palatine Bridge
Palatine Bridge, New York
Palatine Bridge is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 706 at the 2000 census. The basis of the name is the community's location in a region settled by Palatinate Germans....
, Montgomery County, New York
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
- September 17, 1918 Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
) was an American civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
from 1892 to 1893.
Life
He graduated C.E.Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
. In 1869, he began work as a rodman and leveler with the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. From 1871 to 1872, he was engaged in general engineering. In 1873, he became a leveler on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. From 1874 to 1881, was engaged in general engineering and contracting, and was a member from Montgomery County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1875.
In 1882, he was engineer for one of the contractors on the West Shore Railroad
West Shore Railroad
The West Shore Railroad was the final name of a railroad from Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City, north along the west shore of the river to Albany, New York and then west to Buffalo...
. From 1883 to 1885, he was inspector and leveler in the New York State Canal Department. From 1886 to 1891, he was Assistant Engineer in charge of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
improvement and of canal lock lengthening.
He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1892 to 1893, elected on the Democratic ticket in 1891, but defeated for re-election in 1893
New York state election, 1893
The 1893 New York state election was held on November 7, 1893, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer and a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York...
by Republican Campbell W. Adams
Campbell W. Adams
Campbell W. Adams was an American civil engineer, surveyor and politician from New York. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1894 to 1898.-Life:...
. In 1898, he ran again for State Engineer and Surveyor on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated again, by Republican Edward A. Bond
Edward A. Bond
Edward Austin Bond was an American civil engineer and politician from New York. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1899 to 1904.-Life:...
.
From 1894 to 1895, he was Consulting Engineer to the New York State Board of Health. From 1895 to 1899, he was City Engineer of Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, and then Chief Engineer of the New York City Department of Parks, and later worked for the Barge Canal
New York State Canal System
The New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie Canal and other canals within New York...
Bureau.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/schenck.html Political Graveyard
- Engineers' bios, at Rochester history
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E0CEFD7103BEF33A25756C0A9679D94629ED7CF Presentation of the candidates for state office, in NYT on November 5, 1893
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A0CE4DB1531E433A2575BC1A96F9C946996D6CF Obit in NYT on September 18, 1918