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J. Townsend Lansing is a descendant of (1) Frederick Lansing, of Hassel, Holland, who came to New Amsterdam (New York) with three sons and three daughters and probably settled in Rensselaerwyck about 1650. Gerrit Frederick Lansing (2), his son, was no doubt the progenitor of all the Lansings in America. The line is (3) Gerrit, born in Hassel, Holland; (4) Jacob Gerritse, 1681-1767, who built the old "Peraberton House;" (5) Gerrit J.; (6) Abraham G., 1756-1844; (7) Gerrit Y., 1783-1862, member of the State Legislature, chancellor of the Regents of the University of New York, and member of Congress, married Helen Ten Eyck; (8) Charles B., married Catharine Clinton; and (9) J. Townsend.
John Townsend Lansing, born in New Haven county, Conn., was educated in Albany and in 1866 engaged in the manufacture of saws with Robert C. Pruyn and James Goodwin, under the firm name of Pruyn & Lansing, succeeding the fathers of Messrs. Lansing and Pruyn. They continued this business until 1878 and also manufactured files under the name of the Sheffield File Works and were interested in the embossing company.
Since 1878 Mr. Lansing has been interested in the care of trusts, estates and real estate and has often acted as administrator. He is a director in the New York State National Bank, the Albany Insurance Company, the Public Market Company and the Wheeler Rent and Power Company; a trustee of the National Savings Bank, the Dudley Observatory, the House of Shelter, the Albany Medical College, the Charity Organization Society, the Albany Historical and Art Society, the City Mission, and the Young Men's Christian Association; and is a member of the Fort Orange Club of Albany, the Reformed Club of New York, the Holland Society and the Old Guard Albany Zouave Cadets. He is also identified with several other organizations of the capital city.
In 1870 he married Helen Franehot Douw, daughter of Volckert P. Douw of Al-
bany.
