General Jacob H. Lansing was born in the city of 

 Albany, N. Y., March 9, 1824. His paternal ancestor 

 came to this country from Holland about the year 1620, 

 with the Van Kensselaers and many other prominent 

 families who became the first settlers in the vicinity of 



Albany. 



His great-grandfathers, on both sides, were officers in the 

 war for independence, and his grandfather, Jacob Lansing, 

 was a captain in the State troops in the war of 1812. 



His father, James Lansing, was a merchant, lived most 

 of his life in Albany, and died at the residence of his son 

 in Corning, in 1869, aged seventy. His mother, Sarah 

 McMurrey, died in Albany in 1828, at the age of about 

 twenty-seven. 



Their children were two sons, the youngest, Charles 

 Edward, dying while young. Mr. Lansing apprenticed 

 himself to learn the watch-making trade at the age of fif- 

 teen, serving out a term of six years. 



Upon reaching his majority he for two years worked as 

 journeyman, and in the year 1847 went to Rochester, and 

 soon after to Syracuse, and in 1848, in March, settled in Cor- 

 ning, and established business for himself, which he con- 

 tinued until 1858. From that time until the beginning 

 of the Rebellion he carried on business for William Walker, 

 of Corning. 



In August, 1861, he volunteered in the service of his 

 country as a private of Company C, and upon the organi- 

 zation of the 86th Regiment New York Volunteers, Col. 

 B. P. Bailey commanding, was elected captain of his com- 

 pany, with rank from August, 1861. After and including 

 the battle of second Bull Run the regiment was attached 

 to the 2d and 3d Corps of the Army of the Potomac, where 



Photo, by Evans, Corning, 



/^ 



it remained until the close of the war. While with the 2d 

 Corps, the old 3d Corps proper was known as " Birney's 

 Division of the 2d Corps." 



After the battle of Chancellorsville, on account of the loss 

 of superior officers, and for meritorious services, Capt. Lan- 

 sing was promoted to major. May 3, 1863; and after the 

 battle of Gettysburg he was made lieutenant-colonel, with 

 commission dated June 12, 1863. In April, 1864, at 

 Brandy Station, he was promoted to the rank of colonel, 

 and commissioned June 25, 1864. Colonel Lansing re- 

 mained in the service until November, 1864, and was dis- 

 charged on account of wounds and disabilities, upon his own 

 application, in front of Petersburg, Nov. 13, 1864, and came 

 home and was not connected with the service any more du- 

 ring the war of the Rebellion. In 1866 he was made briga- 

 dier-general N. G. S. N. Y., commanding 20th Brigade, com- 

 prising the counties of Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler. He 

 remained in command until 1877, when the brigade was dis- 

 banded, under orders from general headquarters at Albany. 



On his arrival in Corning in 1865 he started the jewelry 

 business on Market Street, which he still continues. Gen- 

 eral Lansing has ever been a member of the Democratic 

 party, and was always interested in the growth and prosper- 

 ity of the village of Corning. In 1858 and JL859 he was 

 president of the village of Corning ; was one of the orig- 

 inators of the fire department in 1851, and for many years 

 connected with the same officially. He is P. M. of Painted 

 Post Lodge, No. 117, F. and A. M. 



In 1847, Oct. 26, he married Sarah A., daughter of 

 William H. Oliver, of Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y. 

 They have an only daughter, Mrs. Alexander L. Ewing, 

 of Elmira, N. Y. 



