William C. Bouck was an American politician. He is noted for his service as the 13th Governor of New York from 1843 to 1844.
Background
William Christian Bouck was born on January 7, 1786 and was of German ancestry. His great-grandfather having been one of the first of a company of German Palatines to settle in the Schoharie Valley beyond the Helderbergs. William Bouck, William C. 's grandfather, was the first male child born of white parents in the valley, and it was he who established the old Bouck farm in Schoharie County on which the future governor was born.
The latter's father was Christian Bouck and his mother before her marriage was Margaret Borst who, like her husband, was a descendant of one of the first settlers of the Schoharie district.
Education
Bouck's father, a man of abundant means, planned to give him an extensive schooling but the demands of the farm, the scarcity of labor, and the habit of frugality so characteristic of the German pioneer frustrated this plan and the boy did not get beyond the district school.
Career
Before his election as governor, Bouck held several offices including townclerk, supervisor, sheriff, and state assemblyman. His opposition to De Witt Clinton and his lack of confidence in Clinton's views on internal improvements were perhaps the chiefreasons why Bouck was at first skeptical about the wisdom of building the Erie and Champlain canals. He was one of the first of the unconvinced, however, to change his mind and to give the Clintonian proposal whole-hearted support.
In 1821, he was named as canal commissioner and assigned to superintend construction of the most difficult section of the Erie Canal that from Brockport to its western terminus. He was also selected to take charge of the work on the Cayuga & Seneca, the Crooked Lake, the Chemung, and the Chenango canals.
After serving nineteen years as canal commissioner, he was removed by the Whig legislature in 1840 for political reasons. His removal, if anything, increased his popularity with the people of the state, and in the autumn of 1840, he was unanimously nominated as the Democratic candidate for governor, but was defeated by Gov. Seward by a small majority of about 5, 000 votes.
His party became seriously split into two factions the conservatives or Hunkers and the radicals or Barnburners largely over the allied questions of internal improvements and state finances. Bouck, a leader of the former faction, was again unanimously nominated for the governorship in 1842 and was elected by a majority of about 22, 000.
From the outset, his administration was a stormy one despite his efforts to conciliate and harmonize the conflicting party factions. Toward its close he was obliged to call out the militia to protect Columbia County from the riots incited by the "Anti-Renters". Failing of renomi-nation, he returned to Schoharie County where he was chosen as a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1846. While the convention was in session he was appointed by President Polk federal assistant treasurer in the City of New York. He discharged the duties of this office until removed by President Taylor in May 1849.
Once again he retired to his Schoharie farm where, he died at the age of seventy-three.
Achievements
Bouck William achieved a fairy successful political career and served as a member from Schoharie County of the New York State Assembly from 1814 to 1816 and in 1818. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1820 to 1822. From 1821 to 1840, he was a member of the Erie Canal Commission.
He was known as "white horse" Bouck, in the days when the Erie Canal was being built. Bouck was responsible for carrying the pay for the workers at the western end of the Erie Canal project. He carried the full saddlebags of money regularly to the workers, alone, riding a white horse, and never once was molested or robbed.
The town of Bouckville, in central New York state, is named after Bouck. Bouck Hall at SUNY Cobleskill College in Cobleskill, New York, is also named after him.
Politics
Bouck early became interested in politics and, like the majority of farmers of his day, was an ardent and zealous adherent to the principles expounded by Thomas Jefferson. During his lifetime he was an undeviating Democrat and a loyal partyman.
Views
Quotations:
"Until I was twenty-two years of age, " he wrote, "no common laborer on my father's farm did more work than myself either in clearing land or in the harvest field. Often have I gone to the plough before daylight, and from it after dark. "
Personality
Bouck was regular and frugal in his habits and was blessed through life with good health. The official honors bestowed upon him he owed not so much to the backing of powerful friends as to his native talent and strength of character.
Connections
In 1807, Bouck was married to Catherine, daughter of Jacob Lawyer, by whom he had eleven children.
