Jonas C. Heartt
Encyclopedia
Jonas Coe Heartt was an American businessman and politician.
In 1822, he was elected assistant alderman for the Second Ward. He was also supervisor of this ward for 1833, 1835 and 1836, and in 1838 he was elected Mayor of Troy by the City Council. He was re-elected each following year until 1843, and was the first mayor elected by popular vote, in 1840. During his mayoralty measures were adopted for building the Schenectady and Troy Railroad
. It was through the united efforts of Mayor Heartt and Jonathan Edwards that Troy was made the terminus instead of a branch of the Hudson River Railroad. He was instrumental in having a direct line of steamboats from Troy to New York, and for twelve years was a director in the River Steamboat Association. He was a director of the Troy and Boston Railroad
from the time of its construction until his death.
In 1852, he was a Whig member of the New York State Assembly
and was elected Speaker
.
Life
He was the son of Philip Heartt, and was the first child baptized by the first pastor of the Troy First Presbyterian church, and for this reason he was given the name of the pastor, Jonas Coe. On August 30, 1814, he married Catherine Lamberson.In 1822, he was elected assistant alderman for the Second Ward. He was also supervisor of this ward for 1833, 1835 and 1836, and in 1838 he was elected Mayor of Troy by the City Council. He was re-elected each following year until 1843, and was the first mayor elected by popular vote, in 1840. During his mayoralty measures were adopted for building the Schenectady and Troy Railroad
Schenectady and Troy Railroad
The Schenectady and Troy Railroad was incorporated May 21, 1836. The stock was divided into five hundred shares at one hundred dollars each. The building of the road began in 1841, and trains began running from Schenectady to Troy, New York in the fall of 1841 . It was constructed by the city of...
. It was through the united efforts of Mayor Heartt and Jonathan Edwards that Troy was made the terminus instead of a branch of the Hudson River Railroad. He was instrumental in having a direct line of steamboats from Troy to New York, and for twelve years was a director in the River Steamboat Association. He was a director of the Troy and Boston Railroad
Troy and Boston Railroad
The Troy and Boston Railroad was chartered April 4, 1848 and organized November 22, 1849. It completed a railroad from Troy, New York to the Vermont state line in 1852. This was also the main track of the Troy and Rutland Railroad, Rutland and Washington Railroad, and the Rutland Railway...
from the time of its construction until his death.
In 1852, he was a Whig member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
and was elected Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
.
Sources
- Jonas C. Heartt, a short biography from History of Rensselaer Co., New York by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, published in 1880. (retrieved from RootsWeb, 2007-12-26), giving wrong year of his speakership.