Samuel Pruyn

Samuel Pruyn was born June 19. 1820 on a farm south of Cambridge, New York. He was the youngest of seven children of Hendrik VanNess and Hannah (Norton) Pruyn.

When he was about 30 years old he worked for 3 years at a lumber mill in Stillwater, New York. After that he worked in Brooklyn for awhile before coming to Glens Falls. He went to work for the Cheney and Arms Company. Part of the time he worked for Cheney and Arms was spent at their lumber camp in Newago, Michigan. In 1855, after much first hand experience, he felt he had saved enough to set up his own lumber business.

After five years in business he felt sure enough of his community position to marry and raise a family. He married Eliza Jane Baldwan, a girl 15 years his junior, who had grown up near his family’s farm in Cambridge. He purchased his first house at 11 Bay Street from William and Cornelis Lovelass in 1863 for $3200.00. Their first child, a son, was born in1864. He died before reaching his first birthday. Charlotte (later to become Mrs. Louis Hyde) was born in 1867. Mary was born in 1879. Nellie was born in 1875.

He became very busy with the building of his business and the community around it. In 1865, in partnership with Samuel, Jeremiah W., and Daniel Finch, they bought the Glens Falls Company on the north bank of the Hudson River. They were engaged in the sale of lime, lumber, grains and marble, including the only vein of black marble in this area. In this year he also became director of the newly reorganized First National Bank. In 1866 the new Finch Pruyn Co. had become prosperous enough to buy the Abraham Wing III sawmill next to it. High water washed out the mill and a covered bridge in 1869.

The great depression began on “Black Friday”, August 19, 1872 and lasted until 1878. Samuel had been frugal with his money and was able in 1876 to swap houses with T. S. Collidge. This move was good for both men. Businessmen in that era worked together for the community as an extension of family life. Samuel was elected to the Board of Education in 1881 and worked to better the schooling in the community. In 1891 he had the brick school at South and Broad Streets rebuilt.

In politics, Samuel was an independent Democrat. He served as an active village trustee. He was involved in improving an adequate water system for the village. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and contributed liberally. Mrs. Pruyn was a philanthropist on an extensive scale. She assisted needy families in the village to build homes.

Samuel inherited many fine character traits from his forbearers including an iron constitution, generosity, hard working and frugal. He died at his home December 24, 1908 at the age of 88.

Source: Chapman Historical Museum Biography File