Canvass White
Obituary from The History of Cohoes, N.Y. (1877)
http://www.todayinsci.com/W/White_Canvass/WhiteCanvas-Obituary.htm
Born: 8 Sep 1790, Died: 18 Dec 1834
Canvass White, aged 44. Canvass
White was born in Whitestown, N. Y., Sept. 8th, 1790. His health, from his
infancy, was always delicate, and being unable to share with his brothers the
severe labor of farm life, his earlier years were passed as clerk in a country
store at Whitestown. His mechanical ingenuity and inventive genius were
apparent at an early age, and were turned to practical account in the
improvement of many utensils in use on the farm.
In 1811, he was compelled on
account of poor health to take a sea voyage from which he returned the
following year. Soon after, he entered the army with the rank of lieutenant,
and saw some months of active service. At the close of the war lie returned to
his duties as clerk, but his strong taste for mathematical and scientific
pursuits rendered this life an irksome one, and he soon left it, to pursue his
studies in Fairfield, and afterwards in Clinton. In the latter place lie was engaged
for a short time in chemical manufacturing, but this proving unsuccessful, he
returned home, and assisted in the management of the farm.
In the spring of 1816 he joined
the corps of engineers for the Erie Canal under Benj. Wright, whose confidential
friend and associate he soon became. Mr. White had a most kindly and winning
disposition, which won for him the esteem and friendship of all with whom he
came in contact, and when in 1817, he made the acquaintance of Gov. DeWitt
Clinton, it was but a short time before that gentleman entertained the highest
regard for his personal qualities and the utmost confidence in his professional
abilities. Little was then known in this country of the actual details of canal
navigation and as the information given in English books was vague and
unsatisfactory, Mr. White went to England in the autumn of 1817, at the
solicitation of the governor, to examine in person the English canal system.
During his stay of several months abroad lie traveled over 2000 miles on foot,
studying closely the construction of every canal, gate, lock and culvert. On
his return he brought with him drawings of the most important structures, and the model of the first boat
which was built for the Erie Canal.
Considerable difficulty was
experienced by the canal commissioners in procuring a cement suitable for use
in the construction of locks and it was finally proposed to import the needed
article from England, at considerable expense. Mr. White gave his attention to
the matter, however, and after repeated experiments, succeeded in manufacturing
from a stone found in Madison Co., an hydraulic cement which exactly answered
the purpose, and on which he obtained a patent in 1820. He was interested in
its manufacture for several years subsequent. Mr. WhiteÕs share in the
construction and development of the Erie Canal was an important oue. As regards
authority he was second only to Mr. Wright, and every plan or measure of
importance was submitted to his judgment before being acted upon.
It was while he was engaged in
the construction of the canal that Mr. WhiteÕs attention was called to the
eligibility of this locality as the site for a great manufacturing town. In
1825 he devoted himself to the formation of a company to develop the remarkable
water power of the place, and with the assistance of Governor Clinton,
succeeded in interesting a number of capitalists in his enterprise. The result
was the incorporation of the Cohoes Co., in March, 1826. Mr. White was the
first president of the company, and acted as its agent. Though necessarily away
a large portion of tile time while engaged on other works, he devoted a good
deal of his personal attention to the laying out of plans for the development
of the companyÕs resources and the formation of a manufacturing town. He was
succeeded as agent by his brother Hugh White, in 1830, though continuing to
have an active part in the direction of the companyÕs affairs. He never had a
residence in Colmoes, but while engaged here, boarded in Troy. From the
completion of tile Erie Canal, until time time of his death, Mr. White was
constantly employed in different parts of the country in public works of
importance. Among the principal works which he planned or superintended during
these years, may he mentioned time Susquehanna and Schuylkill Canal, the
improvements of the Schuylkill Navigation Co., the New Haven and Farmington
Canal, the Lehigh Canal, (1827—1828), the Delaware and Raritan Canal
(1830), and the Delaware breakwater. Mr. White was induced to take a contract
for time completion of the latter structure, and by the mismanagement of others
was a loser to a large amount.
In 1834 his failing health
compelled him to leave business, and he went to Florida, hoping that the
climate would have a favorable effect upon his disease, which was consumption,
but the step had been taken too late, and within a month after landing, he
died, on December 18th. His remains were brought north and interred at
Princeton, N. J., where his family were residing at time time. The estimate in
which Mr. WhiteÕs professional abilities were held by his contemporaries, may be
seen by the following remark of Henry Clay, addressed to a gentleman who was
seeking an engineer for time Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. ÒGet Mr. Canvass White;
no man more competent, no man more capable. And while your faith in his ability
and fidelity increases, your friendship will grow into affection.Ó It was also
said by Gen. Bernard, U. S. engineer, Òas a civil engineer he had no superior;
his genius and ability were of surpassing magnitude.Ó Mr. WhiteÕs gentle
disposition, and the kindly charm of his manner, had endeared him to all whom
he chanced to meet, and his early death was mourned by a large circle of
friends."
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