Matthew Vassar, Junior

MATTHEW VASSAR, JUNIOR 1809 - 1881

Matthew Vassar, Junior, was born 1809 and died 1881. He was the son of John Guy and Margaret Van Kleeck Vassar, nephew of Matthew Vassar, the founder of Vassar College. This prominent Poughkeepsian of the nineteenth century was born in the first substantial house built in Poughkeepsie, the 1702 Van Kleeck house which stood on the south side of present day Mill Street, between Vassar and Washington Streets. Mr. Vassar's father was John Guy Vassar, a brother of Matthew Vassar, founder of Vassar College. His mother, Margaret Van Kleeck, was the granddaughter of Poughkeepsie's first settlers, Baltus Barentszen and Tryntje Buys Van Kleeck. His birthplace was demolished in 1835 and he built near the site a modern frame house which was his home until his death forty-six years later. Mr. Vassar preserved however several pieces of furniture and the lintel stone which bears the initials of the first occupants; BVK-TVK-1702. The lintel is carefully preserved in Poughkeepsie by a descendent of the builder of Poughkeepsie's first house.

Matthew Vassar, Jr., first married Mary Parker whose death occurred in 1851, and nineteen years later he married Irene Beach, the daughter of Edward and Louisa Van Kleeck Beach. Mrs. Beach was a direct descendent of Poughkeepsie's first residents, Baltus and Tryntje Van Kleeck. There were no children by either marriage and, at Mr. Vassar's death, he was survived by Mrs. Vassar and his brother, John Guy Vassar. Matthew received his education at the Lancaster School which later became Public School Number 2 on lower Church Street, near the present approach to the Mid-Hudson Bridge, and will be remembered as the home of the Lindmark Book Store until the structure was demolished several years ago. In 1826, at the age of seventeen, he entered the employ of his uncle, Matthew Vassar, and was joined by his brother, John Guy, a few years later. The Vassar brothers were admitted to partnership in the very successful brewing business of the elder Matthew Vassar and continued until the latter's death which occurred in 1861. The brewery was sold and Matthew Vassar, Jr., devoted his time to Vassar College. He was one of Vassar's original trustees and, at the particular request of the founder, he became Treasurer from the beginning, continuing in that capacity until his death. Although he served without pay, he was at his office at Vassar College daily, and a newspaper article of August 11, 1881 reporting Mr. Vassar's death states: "He attended personally to every detail, and it is largely due to this fact and to his judicious investt• ment of the funds entrusted to him that the College owes much of its financial prosperity."

Mr. Vassar amassed a large personal fortune and during his later years he contributed much of it to various charitable institutions of Poughkeepsie. It is said that he was firmly opposed to "borrowing funds or dipping into principal". He strongly opposed the building of a new Baptist Church although he realized that the church building was not

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adequate for the needs of the time. He found himself overruled in the case, but subscribed $1,000 to the original building fund, added several donations for a year or two and finally made a gift of $5,000 to pay the balance of the debt. At another time, the trustees of Vassar College decided to build a new laboratory for the Departments of Chemistry and Physics. The subject of a debt was debated at length, Mr. Vassar taking a very strong negative stand in this connection. A day or two before the meeting of Trustees, Mr. Vassar learned that a motion would be offered authorizing the Treasurer to borrow sufficient funds to build the new buildings and that enough affirmative votes would be available to pass the resolution. When the Trustees convened and before the expected motion was offered, Mr. Vassar arose and again stated his strong opposition to borrowing funds. He said a new laboratory was badly needed and therefore he and his brother, John Guy, had decided to pay the entire cost of construction, and also that they would meet the expenses of the equipment. When the Chemistry and Physics building was completed, it was considered one of the finest in the country, and Vassar College did not have to dip into principal or go into debt due to the generosity of the brothers Vassar.

Matthew and John Guy Vassar provided funds to establish and build Vassar Home for Aged Men and the elder brother in particular gave his attention to the planning and construction of the fine building for the Home at the corner of Main and Vassar Streets. Shortly before his death, Matthew had the idea for providing the community with an organization for scientific, literary and artistic purposes. He secured a site, perfected the plans, and after gaining the interest and aid of his brother, started the project shortly before he became seriously ill. In his Will, however, provision was made to complete and endow Vassar Brothers Institute. Mr. Vassar's Will created and endowed Vassar Hospital, since the entire residue was left for that purpose. He directed his executors to obtain a site and to erect a building, furnish it, the total cost not to exceed $85,000. The balance of his residual estate was ordered invested "on Bond and Mortgage, being the first lien on a good title to realty in this state and in the registered Scrip, Stocks, Bonds or securities issued by the Government of the United States of America and in Registered Bonds of any of said United States lying north of the 36th parallel of North Latitude, and in the registered 1st Mortgage Bonds of any good sound completed Rail Road lying north of said parallel of Latitude". When the hospital was completed and ready for use, his executors were instructed to turn over the property and securities to a Board of Trustees or Managers. Further, Mr. Vassar's will stated that if his brother, John Guy Vassar, would join in the building and endowment, then the hospital would be named Vassar Brothers Hospital. John Guy immediately agreed to make a very ample addition to the hospital fund and so, by the generosity of these two men, Poughkeepsie's Vassar Brothers Hospital came into being.

Mr. Vassar never held public office although he often was urged to run for Mayor. He was a Trustee of the Village of Poughkeepsie and

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served several terms as a Member of the Board of Education where he was very active in promoting the developing public school system as the community grew. He was a director for forty years of the Farmers and Manufacturers National Bank, now the Empire National Bank, a director and one of the active managers of the Commercial Insurance Company of New York, a Trustee of the Lyceum, president of the Board of Trade, president and one of the founders of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Poughkeepsie and an active advisor to the Board of Managers of the Old Ladies Home of Poughkeepsie.

Perhaps his wide spread interests and his generosity can be best appraised by listing the institutions that benefited under the terms of Mr. Vassar's Will: The Poughkeepsie Orphans Home, The Old Ladies Home, Baptist Minister Widows Fund, Baptist Home Missionary Society, Poughkeepsie Associated Fire Department, Vassar College, the Young Men's Christian Association, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Seaman Friend Society, House of Industry, St. Barnabas Hospital, Vassar Brothers Home for Aged Men; and the following Poughkeepsie Churches: Hedding Mission, Congregational, German Lutheran, German Methodist, Baptist, Holy Comforter and Orthodox Friends Society. Dutchess County has had many very generous men and women over the years who contributed their talents and time, as well as their money, very generously to our hospitals, churches, colleges and to other organizations very important in our community. The Vassar family of Poughkeepsie, Matthew the founder of Vassar College, Matthew Jr. and Irene Beach Vassar, as well as John Guy Vassar, gave bountifully not only their money but also their time and sound management talents to a vast number of organizations that through the years have been very important to Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County.

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