James Barclay Jermain
A Philanthropist, was born in Albany, N.Y., August 13, 1809, a son of Sylvanus P. and Catherine (Barclay) Jermain. His mother died when he was seven years of age and he was placed in the family of his uncle, Rev. Nathaniel S. Prime, at Cambridge, Washington County. He entered Middlebury College in 1824, subsequently attended Yale, but left because of ill-health. He was graduated from, Amherst College in 1831, studied law and was admitted to practice in the New York State Supreme Court in 1836. Upon The Death of his Father he inherited a large fortune, and to it’s care devoted the greater portion of his time. In memory of his father he erected at Watervliet the Jermain Memorial Church, which was completed in 1876. After the death of his only son, Barclay Jermain, he endowed the Barclay Jermain professorship at Williams College, his son’s Alma Mater. Mr. Jermain was the principal founder and chief patron of the Home for Aged Men, between Troy and and Albany, and of the FairView Home for Friendless Children, near Watervliet. His best known gift was the Young Men’s Christian Association building in Albany. In 1842 he married Catherine Ann Rice, of Cambridge, who died in 1873. Mr. Jermain Died July 12, 1897.
Source:
(This Biography And Picture Taken From Pages 138/139 of his listed Biography in the New York State Men: Biographic Studies and Character Portraits. Frederick S. Hills, Compiler & Editor; The Argus Company, Albany, N.Y., 1910)