Stephen Clark (NY treasurer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Clark was an American politician.
. On February 4, 1818, he married Pamelia Fay (1801–1842), and they had five children. He was a contractor
and participated in the re-construction of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River
which opened in 1835; and the construction of the High Bridge
in New York City
which opened in 1848.
He was a canal commissioner
from 1842 to 1844, and from 1845 to 1847. He was first elected by the New York State Legislature on February 8, 1842, when the Democratic majority removed the Whig commissioners. Clark and James Hooker
, the two "non-acting" commissioners (the ones which did not receive an annual salary; the "acting" commissioners received $2,000 a year), were legislated out of office on May 6, 1844. Clark was re-elected to a four-year term in November 1844 to take office on February 3, 1845. He was legislated out of office again by the New York State Constitution of 1846, and left the Canal Commission at the end of 1847.
He was elected New York State Treasurer
on the American Party
ticket in November 1855, defeating both the Republican and Democratic candidates, and took office on January 1, 1856. At the time, the Governor served a two-year term elected in even years, and the cabinet officers a two-year term elected in odd years, so that Governor Myron H. Clark
, elected as a Whig but now a Republican, had to cope with a hostile majority in the Erie Canal Board
at a time when the political situation was very unstable and party feeling rose high. In June 1856, a majority of the Canal Board, including Treasurer Clark, exchanged the workplace of two resident engineers attached to the Canal. The members of the Canal Board, including the Treasurer, were accused by Lt. Gov. Henry J. Raymond and State Engineer Silas Seymour
of having committed an illegal act, having mettled in the exclusive competences of the State Engineer
. On June 23, 1856, Treasurer Clark was suspended by Governor Clark, since the State Constitution provided for the possible suspension of the Treasurer but not the other state officers. Soon after, the Treasurer answered the accusation in a letter to the Governor, arguing that the Canal Board had powers to supersede the State Engineer, and that the Treasurer could not be suspended for acts committed as an ex officio member of any executive board, but only for his acts as Treasurer regarding the public funds, and the suspension was revoked.
He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery
in Menands, New York
.
Life
He lived at Albany, New YorkAlbany, 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...
. On February 4, 1818, he married Pamelia Fay (1801–1842), and they had five children. He was a contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
and participated in the re-construction of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
which opened in 1835; and the construction of the High Bridge
High Bridge (New York City)
The High Bridge is a steel arch bridge, with a height of almost 140 feet over the Harlem River, connecting the New York City boroughs of The Bronx and Manhattan...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
which opened in 1848.
He was a canal commissioner
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
from 1842 to 1844, and from 1845 to 1847. He was first elected by the New York State Legislature on February 8, 1842, when the Democratic majority removed the Whig commissioners. Clark and James Hooker
James Hooker
James Hooker was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
, the two "non-acting" commissioners (the ones which did not receive an annual salary; the "acting" commissioners received $2,000 a year), were legislated out of office on May 6, 1844. Clark was re-elected to a four-year term in November 1844 to take office on February 3, 1845. He was legislated out of office again by the New York State Constitution of 1846, and left the Canal Commission at the end of 1847.
He was elected New York State Treasurer
New York State Treasurer
The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed by the...
on the American Party
Know Nothing
The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by...
ticket in November 1855, defeating both the Republican and Democratic candidates, and took office on January 1, 1856. At the time, the Governor served a two-year term elected in even years, and the cabinet officers a two-year term elected in odd years, so that Governor Myron H. Clark
Myron H. Clark
Myron Holley Clark was an American politician from the U.S. state of New York.- Biography :Clark was born in Naples, Ontario County, New York on October 23, 1806...
, elected as a Whig but now a Republican, had to cope with a hostile majority in the Erie Canal Board
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
at a time when the political situation was very unstable and party feeling rose high. In June 1856, a majority of the Canal Board, including Treasurer Clark, exchanged the workplace of two resident engineers attached to the Canal. The members of the Canal Board, including the Treasurer, were accused by Lt. Gov. Henry J. Raymond and State Engineer Silas Seymour
Silas Seymour
Silas Seymour was an American civil engineer and politician from New York.-Life:...
of having committed an illegal act, having mettled in the exclusive competences of the State Engineer
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...
. On June 23, 1856, Treasurer Clark was suspended by Governor Clark, since the State Constitution provided for the possible suspension of the Treasurer but not the other state officers. Soon after, the Treasurer answered the accusation in a letter to the Governor, arguing that the Canal Board had powers to supersede the State Engineer, and that the Treasurer could not be suspended for acts committed as an ex officio member of any executive board, but only for his acts as Treasurer regarding the public funds, and the suspension was revoked.
He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery
Albany Rural Cemetery
The Albany Rural Cemetery was established October 7, 1844, in Menands, New York, just outside of the city of Albany, New York. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pastoral cemeteries in the United States, at over . Many historical American figures are buried there.-History:On April 2,...
in Menands, New York
Menands, New York
Menands is a village in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 3,990 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Louis Menand...
.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/clark8.html Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9804E2D9113CE13BBC4052DFB667838E649FDE The American Party ticket, in NYT on October 18, 1855
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F04E7DD1339E134BC4B51DFB066838D649FDE Charges before the Governor, in NYT on June 23, 1856
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D05E0D91F3DEE34BC4C51DFB066838D649FDE Suspension by the Governor, in NYT on June 24, 1856
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A02E5DC1339E134BC4952DFB166838D649FDE The controversy over the Treasurer's suspension, and Clark's answer to the Governor, in NYT on July 11, 1856
- http://books.google.com/books?id=E3sFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA35 The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 35f and 42; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- http://www.albanyruralcemetery.org/albrurcem/Public_Officials.htm Public officials buried at Albany Rural Cemetery
- Fay Genealogy (1898; page 90)