William Gurley: Difference between revisions
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Early Life | = Early Life = | ||
William Gurley was born on March 16th, 1821, in the city of Troy. His parents, Ephraim and Clarissa were natives of Connecticut that settled in West Troy in 1813. Ephraim and his partner Alpheus Hanks established the first iron foundry in Rensselaer County in 1816. This became an important industry for the region going forward. William’s father passed away in 1829, leaving Clarissa in the care of William, his sister Clara, and his brother Lewis. His mother instilled in all of her children the value of education, and put her children in the best schools in the area. William attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seeking a degree in civil engineering and graduated in 1839. | William Gurley was born on March 16th, 1821, in the city of Troy. His parents, Ephraim and Clarissa were natives of Connecticut that settled in West Troy in 1813. Ephraim and his partner Alpheus Hanks established the first iron foundry in Rensselaer County in 1816. This became an important industry for the region going forward. William’s father passed away in 1829, leaving Clarissa in the care of William, his sister Clara, and his brother Lewis. His mother instilled in all of her children the value of education, and put her children in the best schools in the area. William attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seeking a degree in civil engineering and graduated in 1839. | ||
Engineering Career | = Engineering Career = | ||
After working as a surveyor for some years, William went to work for Alpheus Hanks, his late father’s business partner where he decided to become a manufacturer of the instruments he worked with. Hanks was a well-known maker of these instruments, and William worked with him for five years to learn the trade. He then started his own firm in 1845 with Jonas H. Phelps, manufacturing surveying and engineering tools. After seven years, his brother, Lewis, replaced Phelps and the company was renamed to W. & L. E. Gurley. They were the preeminent manufacturer of these instruments for decades. The Great Fire of 1862 completely destroyed their factory, but this did not deter either of them. They built an entirely new plant in less than a year, which had four floors. The firm originally took up only the second floor, as the other floors were rented out to other businesses, but the company soon expanded to use the entire building. | After working as a surveyor for some years, William went to work for Alpheus Hanks, his late father’s business partner where he decided to become a manufacturer of the instruments he worked with. Hanks was a well-known maker of these instruments, and William worked with him for five years to learn the trade. He then started his own firm in 1845 with Jonas H. Phelps, manufacturing surveying and engineering tools. After seven years, his brother, Lewis, replaced Phelps and the company was renamed to W. & L. E. Gurley. They were the preeminent manufacturer of these instruments for decades. The Great Fire of 1862 completely destroyed their factory, but this did not deter either of them. They built an entirely new plant in less than a year, which had four floors. The firm originally took up only the second floor, as the other floors were rented out to other businesses, but the company soon expanded to use the entire building. | ||
Philanthropy | = Philanthropy = | ||
Gurley felt it was his duty to elevate all the members in his community, and he was a very prominent public figure. He became the president of the Young Men’s Association in 1851, and in 1867 he represented Troy in the New York State Legislature. He is the oldest trustee of RPI, and was the vice-president of the institute from 1872 to 1887, even serving as acting president form 1886 to 1887. He died in January of 1887. | Gurley felt it was his duty to elevate all the members in his community, and he was a very prominent public figure. He became the president of the Young Men’s Association in 1851, and in 1867 he represented Troy in the New York State Legislature. He is the oldest trustee of RPI, and was the vice-president of the institute from 1872 to 1887, even serving as acting president form 1886 to 1887. He died in January of 1887. | ||
References | = References = | ||
[1] Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, History of Rensselaer Co., New York, 1880, pp 284-285 | [1] Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, History of Rensselaer Co., New York, 1880, pp 284-285 | ||
Revision as of 20:45, 15 March 2023
Early Life
William Gurley was born on March 16th, 1821, in the city of Troy. His parents, Ephraim and Clarissa were natives of Connecticut that settled in West Troy in 1813. Ephraim and his partner Alpheus Hanks established the first iron foundry in Rensselaer County in 1816. This became an important industry for the region going forward. William’s father passed away in 1829, leaving Clarissa in the care of William, his sister Clara, and his brother Lewis. His mother instilled in all of her children the value of education, and put her children in the best schools in the area. William attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seeking a degree in civil engineering and graduated in 1839.
Engineering Career
After working as a surveyor for some years, William went to work for Alpheus Hanks, his late father’s business partner where he decided to become a manufacturer of the instruments he worked with. Hanks was a well-known maker of these instruments, and William worked with him for five years to learn the trade. He then started his own firm in 1845 with Jonas H. Phelps, manufacturing surveying and engineering tools. After seven years, his brother, Lewis, replaced Phelps and the company was renamed to W. & L. E. Gurley. They were the preeminent manufacturer of these instruments for decades. The Great Fire of 1862 completely destroyed their factory, but this did not deter either of them. They built an entirely new plant in less than a year, which had four floors. The firm originally took up only the second floor, as the other floors were rented out to other businesses, but the company soon expanded to use the entire building.
Philanthropy
Gurley felt it was his duty to elevate all the members in his community, and he was a very prominent public figure. He became the president of the Young Men’s Association in 1851, and in 1867 he represented Troy in the New York State Legislature. He is the oldest trustee of RPI, and was the vice-president of the institute from 1872 to 1887, even serving as acting president form 1886 to 1887. He died in January of 1887.
References
[1] Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett, History of Rensselaer Co., New York, 1880, pp 284-285
[2] Nelson, Gary and Suzanne Spellen, “The W. and L.E. Gurley Company”, Published in Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, https://hudsonmohawkgateway.org/the-gurley-company
[3] Nason, Henry B., ed. Biographical Record of the Officers and Graduates of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1824-1886. Troy, NY: William H. Young, 1887, pp. 48-49