George Vail

George and his brother Henry established the first wholesale dry goods store in Troy. Upon retiring, he became a banker and philanthropist, living in a mansion on the NE corner of First and Congress. The first president of the Merchants’ and Mechanics’ Bank of the City of Troy and president of the board of overseers of the Troy Orphan Asylum, Vail was also considered the father of the Rensselaer County Agricultural Society, and one of the originators and earliest presidents of the State Agricultural Society.

1798-1872