William C. Bouck

William C. Bouck
13th Governor of New York
In office January 1, 1843 – December 31, 1844
Lieutenant	Daniel S. Dickinson
Preceded by	William H. Seward
Succeeded by	Silas Wright
Assistant Treasurer of the United States for the New York City Sub-Treasury
In office August 8, 1846 – June 30, 1849
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	John Young
Member of the University of the State of New York Board of Regents
In office February 3, 1845 – May 6, 1847
Preceded by	Joseph Russell
Succeeded by	Samuel Luckey
Member of the Erie Canal Commission
In office March 21, 1821 – February 22, 1840
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	David Hudson
Member of the New York State Senate from the Middle District
In office March 21, 1821 – December 31, 1822
Preceded by	Multi-member Middle District
Succeeded by	Multi-member 3rd District
Member of the New York State Assembly from Schoharie County
In office January 1, 1813 – June 30, 1816 Serving with William Dietz (1813–1815) Thomas Lawyer (1815–1816) Peter A. Hilton (1816)
Preceded by	Herman Hickcok Peter A. Hilton
Succeeded by	Peter A. Hilton Isaac Barber Aaron Hubbard
In office July 1, 1817 – June 30, 1818 Serving with George H. Mann Nathan P. Tyler
Preceded by	Peter A. Hilton Isaac Barber Aaron Hubbard
Succeeded by	Aaron Hubbard Jedediah Miller Peter Swart Jr.
Sheriff of Schoharie County, New York
In office March 10, 1812 – March 9, 1813
Preceded by	Stephen Lawrence
Succeeded by	Peter Swart Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1786-01-07)January 7, 1786 Fultonham, New York
Died	April 19, 1859(1859-04-19) (aged 73) Fulton, Schoharie County, New York
Resting place	Middleburgh Cemetery, Middleburgh, New York
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Catherine Lawyer (m. 1807–1859, his death)
Relations	Joseph Bouck (brother)
Children	13 (including Gabriel Bouck)
Occupation	Farmer
Military service
Branch/service	New York Militia
Years of service	1809–1822
Rank	Colonel
Unit	28th Brigade 113th Regiment
Commands	18th Regiment

William Christian Bouck (January 7, 1786 – April 19, 1859) was an American politician from New York. He was the 13th Governor of New York, from 1843 to 1844.

A native of Fultonham, New York, Bouck was educated in the local schools while working on his family's farm and became a farmer himself. Originally a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and later a Democrat, he began a government and politics career with election as town clerk of Fulton (1807–1808), town supervisor (1808–1809) and sheriff of Schoharie County (1812–1813). Bouck served in the militia from 1809 to 1822 and rose through the ranks to become commander of New York's 18th Regiment with the rank of colonel.

As Bouck's career progressed, he served in the New York State Assembly (1814–1816, 1817–1818) and New York State Senate (1821–1822). From 1821 to 1840, Bouck served on the Erie Canal Commission, and during his long tenure, he oversaw construction of the western portion of the canal and several branch canals.

In 1842, Bouck was elected governor, and he served from 1843 to 1844. His term was largely occupied with responding to the Anti-Rent War, and he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1844. After leaving office, Bouck served on the state Board of Regents (1845 to 1847) and from 1846 to 1849 was Assistant Treasurer of the United States at the New York City sub-treasury.

Bouck died in Fulton, New York, on April 19, 1859. He was buried at Middleburgh Cemetery in Middleburgh, New York.

Early life

Bouck was born in Fultonham, New York, on January 7, 1786, a son of Christian Bouck (1753–1836) and Margaret (Borst) Bouck (1762–1806). His siblings included Joseph Bouck, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He was raised on his father's farm and educated in the local schools of Schoharie County. Bouck became a farmer and began a long career in government and public service in 1807, when he was elected as Fulton's town clerk. From 1808 to 1809, Bouck was Fulton's town supervisor. He served as Sheriff of Schoharie County from 1812 to 1813.

Military service

In 1809 Bouck was appointed adjutant of the New York Militia's 18th Regiment, a post he held until he was appointed sheriff. Bouck continued his service in the militia; he was appointed quartermaster of the 28th Brigade in 1815. In 1817, he was promoted to major in the 113th Regiment. Later in 1817, Bouck was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 28th Brigade. From 1819 to 1822, Bouck commanded the 18th Regiment with the rank of colonel.

Continued career

As a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, Bouck served in the New York State Assembly from 1813 to 1816 and again from 1817 to 1818. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1821 to 1822. From 1821 to 1840, he was a member of the Erie Canal Commission, first selected to fill a newly created seat. When the Federalist Party became dormant and the Democratic-Republican followers of Andrew Jackson began calling themselves Democrats, Bouck became a leader of the Albany Regency, the clique led by Martin Van Buren which dominated New York state's Democratic Party.

Erie Canal Commissioner

While serving as a canal commissioner, Bouck developed a strong reputation for both competence and integrity. During the nineteen years he served on the commission, he oversaw construction of the Erie Canal west of the Genesee River. In addition, he supervised design and building of several branch canals connected to the Erie, including the Cayuga, Seneca, Crooked Lake, Chemung and Chenango Canals. The canal projects overseen by Bouck required the expenditure of more than $8 million in state funds (more than $243 million in 2019), all of which he was able to account for during audits of his work.

During his service as a canal commissioner, Bouck frequently carried large sums of cash from Albany in order to pay construction crews in western New York. Both well-known and highly visible as he traveled alone on his favorite mount, he earned the nickname "White Horse Bouck", and was held in such great esteem that he was never accosted or robbed. When the Whig Party came to power in New York in 1840, Bouck was so strongly identified with the Erie Canal that he could have obtained reappointment to the commission despite his party affiliation if he had desired it.

Governor of New York

Gubernatorial portrait of William C. Bouck.

During the New York Democratic Party's factional dispute between the Barnburners and Hunkers, Bouck was identified with the conservative Hunker faction, causing him to fall out with President Martin Van Buren, who was the leader of the Barnburners. In November 1840, Bouck was the Democratic nominee for governor and Daniel S. Dickinson the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and they were defeated by the Whig incumbents, William H. Seward and Luther Bradish.

In November 1842, Bouck and Dickinson ran again. They won the November general election by defeating Whig candidates Bradish for governor and Gabriel Furman for lieutenant governor. Bouck's term was occupied primarily with the state's response to the Anti-Rent War. Tenants who held perpetual leases under the patroon system first implemented when New York was a Dutch colony objected to the "quarter sale" provision of their leases. Under this provision if a tenant sold his lease, he had to pay his patroon one quarter of the sale price or one additional year's rent. In addition, while the wealthiest patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, had generally proved a benevolent landlord usually willing to accept partial or late payments rather than evict tenants who fell behind on their rent, after his death in 1839 his heirs attempted to collect long-overdue payments. When the tenants could not pay and could not negotiate for favorable repayment terms, they were threatened with eviction and a revolt ensued. Bouck was sympathetic to the tenants, but as part of the effort to restore order during a violent demonstration, near the end of his term he sent units of the state militia to Hudson, which was viewed unfavorably by the tenants and their supporters.

In 1844, the Democratic Party desired to nominate a candidate who would consistently enforce the law against the rioters. Rather than renominate Bouck, they nominated Silas Wright, who won the general election. During his term, Wright also used the militia to restore order, and in 1846 he was defeated for a second term by Whig nominee John Young, who had taken the side of the tenants.

Later career

After completing his term as governor, Bouck served as a delegate to the 1846 state constitutional convention. He served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York from 1845 to 1847. From 1846 to 1849 he served as Assistant United States Treasurer in New York City.

Death and burial

In retirement, Bouck was a resident of Bouck's Island, his family's Boucks Island farm on the Schoharie Creek in Fulton. He died at his Bouck's Island home on April 19, 1859 and was buried at Middleburgh Cemetery in Middleburgh.

Family

In 1807, Bouck married Catherine Lawyer (1787–1865). They were the parents of 13 children, including:

• James Madison (1808–1865)
• Joseph William (1809–1886)
• Margaret (1811–1837)
• Ann (1813–1890), the wife of Lyman Sanford
• Christina (1818–1836)
• Christian (1818–1909)
• Catherine (1820–1899), the wife of Erskine Danforth
• Caroline (1822–1913), the wife of Dr. Volney Danforth
• Elizabeth (1825–1826)
• Phillip (1822–1895)
• Gabriel (1828–1904)
• Charles (1829–1910)
• Nelson

Gabriel Bouck commanded the 18th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. He later served as Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, Attorney General of Wisconsin and a member of the U.S. House from Wisconsin's 6th congressional district.

Legacy

The hamlet of Bouckville in the town of Madison, New York, is named for Bouck. Bouck Hall, the student activities building at the State University of New York at Cobleskill is also named after him. Bouck's Island, the Bouck family farm and home, is a New York State Historic Site.

Sources

Magazines

• Benjamin, Park, ed. (August 12, 1843). "Biography, William C. Bouck". The New World. New York, NY: J. Winchester. p. 177 – via Google Books.
• Persico, Joseph E. (October 1974). "Feudal Lords On Yankee Soil". American Heritage. Vol. 25, no. 6. Rockville, MD: American Heritage Publishing Company.
• "Biography, Governor William C. Bouck". Inside Education. Albany, NY: New York State Education Department. 1921. p. 221 – via Google Books.

Books

• Bureau of Power (1973). Final Environmental Statement: Blenheim-Gilboa Project No.2685. Washington, DC: Federal Power Commission. p. 229 – via Google Books.
• Mayham, Albert Champlin (1906). The Anti-Rent War on Blenheim Hill. Jefferson, NY: Frederick L. Frazee. pp. 39-40 – via Internet Archive.
• Dearstyne, Bruce W. (2015). The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-4384-5659-1 – via Google Books.
• Forward-Magnusson, Mishell Kyle (2012). Madison and Hamilton. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7385-7676-3 – via Google Books.
• Hastings, Hugh; Noble, Henry Harmon (1901). Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783-1821. Vol. II. Albany, NY: James B. Lyon – via Internet Archive.
• Hutchins, S. C. (1870). Civil List and Forms of Government of the Colony and State of New York. Albany, NY: Weed, Parsons, & Co. p. 418 – via Google Books.
• Kimball, Francis Paton (1942). The Capital Region of New York State. Vol. III. New York, NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 12 – via HathiTrust.
• Moses, Robert, New York Secretary of State (1927). New York Manual for the Use of the Legislature. Albany, NY: J. B. Lyon. p. 285 – via HathiTrust.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Parker, Hershel (1996). Herman Melville: 1819–1851. Vol. I. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-8018-5428-6 – via Google Books.
• Simms, Jeptha R. (1845). History of Schoharie County and Border Wars of New York. Albany, NY: Munsell & Tanner. p. 628 – via Internet Archive.
• Sobel, Robert; Raimo, John (1978). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Vol. III. Westport, CT: Meckler Books. p. 1078. ISBN 978-0-9304-6600-8 – via Internet Archive.
• Summerhill, Thomas (2005). Harvest of Dissent: Agrarianism in Nineteenth-century New York. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-2520-2976-9 – via Google Books.
• Torrance, Mary Fisher (1939). The Story of Old Rensselaerville. New York, NY: Privately Printed. p. 16 – via Internet Archive.
• Valentine, D. S. (1847). Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York. New York, NY: Casper C. Childs. p. 332 – via Google Books.
• The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. New York, NY: James Terry White. 1921. p. 484 – via Google Books.

Newspapers

• "Results of the Late Election in this State". The New-Yorker. New York, NY: H. Greeley & Co. November 28, 1840. pp. 169–170 – via Google Books.
• "Melancholy and Remarkable Coincidence". The Morning Express. Buffalo, NY. April 26, 1859. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
• "Gabriel Bouck Called Hence". The Daily Telegram. Eau Claire, WI. February 22, 1904. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
• Simonson, Mark (December 1, 2008). "Growth for SUNY Cobleskill". The Daily Star. Oneonta, NY.
• Gibson, Wendy; Jimenez, Catherine (July 19, 2006). "Schoharie County Cemetery Recognized For Its History". Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Newsroom. Albany, NY: New York State Agency of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

External links

• William C. Bouck at National Governors Association
• William C. Bouck at New York State Hall of Governors
• William C. Bouck at Find a Grave
• William C. Bouck at The Political Graveyard

Additional reading

• William C. Bouck: New York's Farmer Governor by Edward A. Hagan, Mark Sullivan and Lester Hendrix (Heritage Books, 2007, ISBN 0-7884-3836-0, ISBN 978-0-7884-3836-3)
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 31, 42, 124, 138, 188, 190, 194, 260 and 407; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)