In Graveyard, part one, we discussed Troy born individuals who went on to contribute to local, state, and national politics. This week, we will show you an equally impressive number of individuals who were not necessarily born in Troy, but who made Troy their home either while holding office here or elsewhere, or after their terms. It is an impressive list as you shall see.

Mayors of Troy
John J. Ahern (1944-1947, reelected, but died in 1950; the recently demolished Ahern Apartments were named for him); Chester J. Atkinson (1937); Cornelius F. Burns (1912-1920 and 1928-1936, 16 years as mayor); E. A. Fitzgerald (1950 1954); Elias Plum (1853-54, served two months); Frank J. Hogan (1940-44, first mayor to hold 4 year term).

Congress

Representative
E. Harold Cluett (29th District, 1937-43); William Henry Draper (Republican, 1901 13 (19th District 1901-03, 22nd District 1903-13); Russell Sage (13th District, 1853 57; the Troy college is named for him); Dean P. Taylor (1943-61) (29th District 1943-45, 33rd District 1945-53, 31st District 1953-61); Taylor Apartments named for him.

Senate
Thomas Coleman (12th District, 1876-77); Michael F. Collins (1888-91, 1894-95 (16th District 1888-91, 18th District 1894-95).

NY State Legislature

Assembly
Michael F. Breen (Rensselaer County, 1st District, 1927-35); Harry M. Brooks (Rensselaer County 1st District, 1926); Thomas H. Brown (Rensselaer County, 1949-59); Arthur Cowee (Rensselaer County 2nd District, 1916-22); Michael D. Nolan (1906); John T. Norton (1895-96); Joseph F. Rourke (1922-23); Michael Russell (1898-1900).

Senate
Albert C. Comstock (16th District, 1884-87); Frederick E. Draper (31st District, 1921-22); Hugh C. Morrissey (1920-21).

Double Duty

David L. Seymour (member of NYS Assembly, 1836; U.S. Representative from New York, 12th District, 1843-45, 1851-53; delegate to New York state constitutional convention, 1867); Edward Murphy, Jr. (Democrat. Mayor of Troy; New York Democratic state chair, 1887-94; U.S. Senator from New York, 1893 99); Dwight Marvin, Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1944; Presidential Elector for New York, 1952; Frank S. Black (U.S. Representative from New York 19th District, 1895-97; Governor of New York, 1897-99).

Other Offices

President
President Chester A. Arthur lived in Lansingburgh (and is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery).

New York State Comptroller
James W. Fleming (1923-24).

Delegates to the Democratic or Republican National Conventions from New York

Democrats

Delegates

Cornelius A. Casey, Delegate, 1940; Fred C. Casey, Delegate, 1944, 1952; Sarah H. Catlin, Delegate, 1972; Solomon W. Russell, Delegate, 1876; John F. Shannon, Delegate, 1948; Moses Warren, Delegate, 1860; Joseph J. Murphy, Delegate, 1912, 1916; Thomas F. FitzGerald, Delegate, 1940; Bernard A. Fleishman, Delegate, 1972; Myra P. Kurtz, Delegate, 1972; Cornelius A. McGrath, Delegate, 1948; Donald C. Bowe, 1960.

Alternate Delegates
Joseph C. Behan, Alternate, 1936; James H. Caldwell, Alternate, 1916, 1924; Wilfred E. Campbell, Alternate, 1972; Charles A. Stone, Alternate, 1920; John F. Murray, Alternate, 1916; George F. Curley, Alternate, 1952; James T. Foley, Alternate, 1948; Richard A. Hanft, Alternate, 1972.

Republicans

Delegates
Harry E. Clinton, Republican,1924; Cornelius V. Collins, 1904, 1908.

Alternate Delegates
W. Leland Thompson, 1916; Lawrence J. Collins, 1948; Frank C. Cummiskey, 1960; Alba M. Ide, 1904, 1916, 1924, 1928.

A Note About Mr. Murphy!

Edward Murphy, Jr, the Senator from New York and formerly mayor of Troy between 1875-1883 was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1899. He was unsuccessful in getting reelected in 1898 and moved back to Troy becoming president of the Troy Gas Company and vice president of Troy's Manufacturers' National Bank. While in office he was lampooned (December 3, 1898) by JUDGE, a political magazine of the time, along with local newspapers such as the Troy Times. He was accused of being a puppet of the corrupt Tammany Hall.

Tammany Hall was the political machine of New York City headed by Boss William M. Tweed and others. It was the cartoons of Thomas Nast who brought Tweed and his machine down. Convicted on 204 criminal counts, Tweed escaped from jail twice. He made it to Spain the second time, but was caught when police recognized his face from one of Nast's drawings. Tweed died in jail penniless in 1878.

Judge had an interesting history and certainly was not an unbiased publication. Owner William J. Arkell was a big supporter of the Republican Party and encouraged his cartoonists to attack the Democratic administration of Grover Cleveland.