ded estate of his father, originally covering a large
section of the territory now occupied by the city, his wise and
generous policy toward purchasers of lots and tenants, contributed
much to its growth and prosperity. The lot, in the centre of the city,
on which stands the First Presbyterian church, one of the most
substantial and elegant structures of the kind in the State, if not in
the country, was his gift, before he had become of age; as were also
eight acres of land comprised in the spacious grounds occupied by the
Auburn Theological Seminary. These and similar deeds of generous
foresight, together with an amiable character and a blameless
Christian life, preserve in esteem and honor the name so closely
identified with the origin of our favored city.

Colonel Hardenbergh died after a brief illness, on the 25th of April,
1806, in the 59th year of his age, and was buried with military honors
in the North Street Cemetery. The Rev. David Higgins, then pastor of
the Congregational Church of Aurelius, and the founder of the First
Presbyterian Church of Auburn, preached the funeral sermon from the
Epistle to the Philippians, iii; 20, 21: _For our conversation is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like
unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able
even to subdue all things unto himself._ The horse bearing the sword
and uniform of the deceased officer, was led by Harry Freeman, one of
the Colonel's slaves to whom he had given his freedom. A long
procession of military and citizens followed the remains to the grave.
The whole scene was imposing, as a sincere tribute of the respect and
esteem cherished for the man who had braved the perils of the then
recent struggle for national independence, and with generous hand had
laid the foundations, in the wilderness, of a well-ordered community.
He had passed thirty years of his life as a soldier, a surveyor, and a
pioneer settler, and had occupied the most responsible trusts in the
rising settlement which owed to him its origin. He was moreover a
great favorite with his fellow pioneers, and with all who were seeking
new homes in the immediate vicinity, ambitious rather for the thrift
of the place than for personal gains, or the promotion of selfish
ends--forward and generous in all plans to establish religion,
education, justice and good order, with whatever tend