Henry A. Van Alstyne
Encyclopedia
Henry Arthur Van Alstyne (October 9, 1869 North Chatham
, Columbia County, New York
- January 23, 1947) was an American civil engineer
and politician from New York
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
from 1904 to 1906.
from Union College
in 1893. In 1892 and 1893, he was employed as Assistant City Engineer of Schenectady, New York
, and in 1893 and 1894 he was Engineer-in-Charge of constructing a system of sewers in Fort Plain, New York
. From 1894 to 1897, he worked in the State Engineering Department as leveler and Assistant Engineer. In 1897, he became Engineer and Superintendent for the Furnaceville Iron Co., at Rochester, New York
. In 1898, he resigned this position to accept one with the Union Bridge Co., at Athens, Pennsylvania
.
In 1899, he was appointed First Assistant Engineer, and later Resident Engineer, and in 1901 Division Engineer of the Eastern Division of the State Canals. Upon the resignation of Edward A. Bond
in May 1904, Governor Benjamin B. Odell appointed him State Engineer and Surveyor. In November 1904, he was re-elected on the Republican ticket, and remained in office until the end of 1906, but was defeated for re-election in 1906. Afterwards he practiced as a consulting engineer until 1938 when he retired.
He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
.
Chatham (town), New York
Chatham is a town in Columbia County, United States. New York, United States. The population was 4,249 at the 2000 census.The Town of Chatham has a village also called Chatham on its south town line...
, Columbia County, New York
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
- January 23, 1947) 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 1904 to 1906.
Life
He was the son of Charles G. Van Alstyne and Rachel Landon (Huyck) Van Alstyne. He was educated at Nassau Academy, Marshall Seminary Preparatory School and 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 1893. In 1892 and 1893, he was employed as Assistant City Engineer of Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, and in 1893 and 1894 he was Engineer-in-Charge of constructing a system of sewers in Fort Plain, New York
Fort Plain, New York
Fort Plain is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,288. The village is named after a fort built during the American Revolution....
. From 1894 to 1897, he worked in the State Engineering Department as leveler and Assistant Engineer. In 1897, he became Engineer and Superintendent for the Furnaceville Iron Co., at Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. In 1898, he resigned this position to accept one with the Union Bridge Co., at Athens, Pennsylvania
Athens, Pennsylvania
Athens is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, two miles south of the N. Y. State line on the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers. Population in 1900, 3,749; and in 1910, 3,796. The population was 3,415 at the 2000 census...
.
In 1899, he was appointed First Assistant Engineer, and later Resident Engineer, and in 1901 Division Engineer of the Eastern Division of the State Canals. Upon the resignation of 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:...
in May 1904, Governor Benjamin B. Odell appointed him State Engineer and Surveyor. In November 1904, he was re-elected on the Republican ticket, and remained in office until the end of 1906, but was defeated for re-election in 1906. Afterwards he practiced as a consulting engineer until 1938 when he retired.
He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
.
Sources
- Engineers' bios, at Rochester history
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/valerius-vancamp.html Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9501E7D61230EE32A25753C1A9679D946597D6CF&oref=slogin Election results, in NYT on November 10, 1904