Chauncey Vibbard

{{About|the railroad executive and politician Chauncey Vibbard|the steamboat|PS Chauncey Vibbard}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Chauncey Vibbard

| image = Chauncey Vibbard.jpg

| image_size = 175

| alt =

| caption = From the April, 1860 edition of the American Phrenological Journal.

| state = New York

| district = 18th

| term_start = 1861

| term_end = 1863

| predecessor = Clark B. Cochrane

| successor = James M. Marvin

| birth_date = {{birth date|1811|11|11}}

| birth_place = Galway, New York, United States

| death_date = {{death date and age|1891|6|5|1811|11|11}}

| death_place = Macon, Georgia, United States

| resting_place = Riverside Cemetery, Macon, Georgia, United States

| party = Democratic

| occupation = Railroad executive

}}

Chauncey Vibbard (November 11, 1811 – June 5, 1891) was an American railroad executive and a U.S. Representative from New York during the American Civil War.

Early life

Born in Galway, New York, on November 11, 1811, Vibbard attended the common schools and graduated from Nott's Academy for Boys in Albany, New York (now The Albany Academy).Thomas William Herringshaw, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gMTTAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA551 Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography], 1914, page 551D. Appleton and Company, [https://books.google.com/books?id=FUcoAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA659 Appletons' Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events], Volume 16, 1892, pages 659-660Albany Academy, [https://books.google.com/books?id=eccyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA43 Celebration of the Semi-centennial Anniversary of the Albany Academy], 1863, page 43

After graduation he served as clerk in a wholesale grocery store in Albany. He then moved to New York City, and in 1834 went to Montgomery, Alabama.Donald C. Ringwald, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_4JPAAAAMAAJ&q=montgomery%2C+alabama Hudson River Day Line: The Story of a Great American Steamboat Company], 1990, page 22

Upon returning to New York in 1836 Vibbard settled in Schenectady, and was appointed chief clerk of the Utica & Schenectady Railroad. He became a railroad freight and ticket agent in 1848.Engineering Journal magazine, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ivk6AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA332 Obituary, Chauncey Vibbard], Volume LXV, Number 7 (July, 1891), page 332

In the early 1850s Vibbard was one of the businessmen who consolidated several small New York railroads into the New York Central Railroad. From 1853 to 1865 he was the New York Central's General Superintendent.Larry Hart, Schenectady Gazette, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3RQxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T-AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1100,52870&dq=vibbard+new-york-central&hl=en Famed Railroader Chauncey Vibbard Got Start in Schenectady], May 1, 1995

Election to Congress and Civil War activities

Vibbard was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863). He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1862.Frederick Phisterer, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ocMBAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22chauncey+vibbard%22+congress&pg=PA113 New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1865], 1880, page 113

During the American Civil War he served as the Union's director and superintendent of military railroads. In 1864 he was a supporter of George B. McClellan for President.John T. Hubbell, James W. Geary, Jon L. Wakelyn, [https://books.google.com/books?id=5icXs8tT3XsC&dq=vibbard+%22new+york+central%22+superintendent&pg=PA557 Biographical Dictionary of the Union: Northern Leaders of the Civil War], 1995, page 557

Post Civil War

File:Chauncey Vibbard by Stanton.jpg

File:Mabbett Railway Chair Manufacturing Company - share certificate - 1867.jpg

Following the war Vibbard continued his business career. He was an organizer of the Family Fund Insurance Company in 1864, and served as its President until 1886.Our Society Journal, [https://books.google.com/books?id=m_pKAAAAYAAJ&dq=vibbard+%22family+fund%22&pg=PA12 The Hon. William Barnes Chosen as President of the Family Fund Society], Oct./Nov. 1886, page 12 He was also an owner of Foote, Vibbard & Co., a venture formed to provide supplies and equipment to railroads.American Railroad Journal, [https://books.google.com/books?id=a0IjAQAAMAAJ&dq=vibbard+%22south+america%22&pg=PA970 Advertisement, Foote, Vibbard & Co.], Volume 38, October 7, 1865, page 1019

In 1865 he moved to New York City and became active in constructing and operating steamships lines and elevated railroads. He was a part-owner of the record-breaking Hudson River steamboat Chauncey Vibbard, which was named for him.Kenneth J. Blume, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r_jTIbdFUnYC&dq=vibbard+owner+%22day+line%22&pg=PA228 Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Maritime Industry], 2011, page 228Engineering News, [https://books.google.com/books?id=WesRAQAAMAAJ&dq=vibbard+elevated+railway&pg=PA561 Obituary, Chauncey Vibbard], June 13, 1891, page 561

In his later life Vibbard was interested in the development of railroads in the former Confederacy, as well as several ventures in South and Central America.Railway World, [https://books.google.com/books?id=sYFRAAAAYAAJ&dq=vibbard+macon+brunswick+railroad&pg=PA106 Macon and Brunswick], January 31, 1880, page 106

Vibbard retired in 1889, and moved to Macon, Georgia, for his health. He died in Macon on June 5, 1891, and was interred in Macon's Riverside Cemetery.New York Times, [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1891/06/06/103313325.pdf Chauncey Vibbard Dead], June 6, 1891Atlanta Constitution, [https://www.proquest.com/docview/193696179 Funeral of Chauncey Vibbard: The Ex-Congressman Is Laid to Rest in Macon Yesterday], June 8, 1891

Since 1907 his former home in Schenectady has been the location of the Mohawk Club, a private social club that began in the 1870s.The Mohawk Club, [https://sites.google.com/site/clubmohawk/ History], retrieved November 26, 2013Michael DeMasi, Schenectady Gazette, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1960&dat=20001030&id=Q-lQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DekMAAAAIBAJ&pg=904,8051617 Mohawk Club's Room No. 33 May Host Ghost], October 30, 2000