William C. Bouck

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William Christian Bouck (January 7, 1786 – April 19, 1859) was an American politician from New York. He was the thirteenth 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,Template:Sfn a son of Christian Bouck (1753–1836) and Margaret (Borst) Bouck (1762–1806).Template:Sfn His siblings included Joseph Bouck, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.Template:Sfn He was raised on his father's farm and educated in the local schools of Schoharie County.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn From 1808 to 1809, Bouck was Fulton's town supervisor.Template:Sfn He served as Sheriff of Schoharie County from 1812 to 1813.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn Bouck continued his service in the militia; he was appointed quartermaster of the 28th Brigade in 1815.Template:Sfn In 1817, he was promoted to major in the 113th Regiment.Template:Sfn Later in 1817, Bouck was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 28th Brigade.Template:Sfn From 1819 to 1822, Bouck commanded the 18th Regiment with the rank of colonel.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1821 to 1822.Template:Sfn From 1821 to 1840, he was a member of the Erie Canal Commission, first selected to fill a newly created seat.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

Erie Canal Commissioner

While serving as a canal commissioner, Bouck developed a strong reputation for both competence and integrity.Template:Sfn During the nineteen years he served on the commission, he oversaw construction of the Erie Canal west of the Genesee River.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

In November 1842, Bouck and Dickinson ran again.Template:Sfn They won the November general election by defeating Whig candidates Bradish for governor and Gabriel Furman for lieutenant governor.Template:Sfn Bouck's term was occupied primarily with the state's response to the Anti-Rent War.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn When the tenants could not pay and could not negotiate for favorable repayment terms, they were threatened with eviction and a revolt ensued.Template:Sfn Bouck was sympathetic to the tenants,Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

In 1844, the Democratic Party desired to nominate a candidate who would consistently enforce the law against the rioters.Template:Sfn Rather than renominate Bouck, they nominated Silas Wright, who won the general election.Template:Sfn 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,Template:Sfn who had taken the side of the tenants.Template:Sfn

Later career

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

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.Template:Sfn He died at his Bouck's Island home on April 19, 1859Template:Sfn and was buried at Middleburgh Cemetery in Middleburgh.Template:Sfn

Family

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

Legacy

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

References

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Sources

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Newspapers

Additional reading

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