It Happened Here-- Some Lesser Lights and Supporting Actors

Popular history often focuses on the leaders, the great thinkers, the most important artists that shape  historical periods, but tends to ignore the less than great, the supporting artists and actors and thinkers, and in doing so ignores their contributions to the development of their "greater"contemporaries art, thought or actions. The thoughtful unheralded teacher, critic, supporter are often crucial to the development those people we remember as historically "important". Occasionally a NYSHM will recognize one of these people. Here are three of them.

NY Rte 49, Constantia

George Washington invited him to America and after his retirement corresponded with him regularly about "agricultural economy" as well as farm practices; Benjamin Franklin corresponded with him; Thomas Jefferson discussed via letters his ideas about the "ethical Jesus," independent of the trappings of religion and sought his advise about the consequences of publishing his ideas; John and Abigail Adams considered him a life-long, though distant, friend writing to them from the New York wilderness; and their son, John Quincy Adams valued his friendship, as well.  Dewitt Clinton, governor of New York (1817-1822),  met him by accident.  He was hunting small game when he chanced upon Francis Adrian Van der Kemp and a friend trout fishing near Barneveld in Oneida County. When he came to know the man, he would declare Van der Kemp  "the most scholarly man in the America," and would eventually commission him to translate the archaic colonial Dutch records housed in the state archives in Albany.*

Francis Adrian Van der Kemp was born in Holland in 1752 and educated as a theologian. He became involved in the "Patriot" movement trying to overthrow the Prince of Orange and bring democracy to the people of the Netherlands. The movement was crushed by an invading army from Prussia and other German states and Van der Kemp was imprisoned in 1787.  Ransomed by his supporters, he was given asylum in the United States. He settled outside of Kingston, then moved to Constantia on the shores of Oneida Lake, where he built Kempwyk.  Eventually he moved to Barneveld where he became involved in the creation of a new town and the development of land bought by a group of Dutch investors called the "Holland Land Co."

Dutchess Co. Rte 2, Leedsville Road, Amenia

Myron B. Benton was a farmer and poet who lived and wrote from his family farmstead, an old dutch farm built in 1761 in Dutchess county. A poet of nature and rural country life he became fast friends with John Burroughs.  Together they met Emerson and shared many discussions on his work.  In 1862 Benton wrote a glowingly supportive letter to Thoreau and Thoreau, though dying, wrote him back.  In corresponding with Benton, Burroughs founds a reader who critically appreciated his work and someone with whom he could hone his skills as a critical thinker. Before publishing an essay called "Science and Theology" Burroughs sent Benton a copy, asking him if he thought people might consider it offensive, "Too much nature;" "slighting theology." In Benton he found someone to share his great enthusiasm for Walt Whitman and although he could never arrange a meeting between Whitman and Benton he told Whitman about a camping trip he had with Benton in the Adirondacks and Whitman so enjoyed the story he commented he should 'make a leaf of grass' about it.

NY Rte 9N, Bolton Landing

The last figure may be important enough in her own right that the label of "lesser light" and "supporting actor" may be unfair, but in the sense she was a teacher, critic, and supporter of others she deserves to be associated with the first two subjects of this post. Marcella Sembrich, born
Prakeda Marcellina Kochanska in Poland in 1858 was a coloratura soprano of impressive musical talent who came to America in 1883, after years of struggling in the European opera scene that was marked by fierce competition and nationalistic politics, to join the fledgling New York Metropolitan Opera in its first season.  She continued with the Met until retiring in 1909. Thereafter she founded vocal training programs at both the Curtis Institute and Julliard, teaching and giving recitals, and summering in the Alps.  When World War I prevented her from returning to Europe she turned to the Adirondacks, vacationing in Lake Placid from 1915 to 1921.  In 1922 she came to Lake George, establishing her studio for vocal operatic training, in 1924. The best of a generation of operatic students were tutored by her with several becoming tutors of the next generation of opera stars that would become famous in the latter half of the 20th century.


*Unfortunately, most of Van der Kemp's work was destroyed in the State Capitol fire of 1911.

Marker of the Week -- On June 2, 2013 I wrote a post on the Pillbox industry in the early 1800's in the little hamlet of Knox. This week when I drove through the town I discovered
a new marker had been erected.

NY 156, Knox