BIO: Charles H. Gaus; New York State
surname: Gaus

submitted by W. David Samuelsen (no relation)
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An Illustrated Legislative Manual
The New York Red Book
Containing the Portraits and Biographies of the U.S. Senators, Governor, State
Officers and Members of the Legislature; also with the Portraits of Judges and
Court Reporters, the New Constitution of the State, Election and Population
Statistics, and General Facts of Interest.
By Edgar L. Murlin
New Constitution Compiled by R. C. Cumming, O. L. Potter and F. B. Gilbert
Published, Albany, J. B. Lyon Company, Publishers, 1909

Copyright by J. B. Lyon Company, 1909

     Charles H. Gaus, Comptroller, was born of German parents at Zanesville,
O., on September 1, 1840. When he was two years old his parents moved to
Brooklyn, N.Y., where he obtained his education. He came to Albany in 1857,
and there became a druggist.

     He represented the Thirteenth Ward of Albany in the Board of Supervisors
in 1875 and 1876, and subsequently filled the position of member of the Board
of Public Instruction fo reight years and one year as president. In 1894, 1895
and 1896 he served as Street Commissioner, and in 1899 was elected a City
Assessor of Albany for a term of four years. During two years of the term he
was president of the Board of Assessors and resigned upon assuming the office
of Mayor on January 1, 1902.

     During Mr. Gaus' mayoralty many improvements were made in methods of
transacting public business. City departments were maintained at a high state
of efficiency, his advice upon important matters constantly being sought by
the department heads. Mayor Gaus was a consistent advocate of the improving
the Hudson River front, for which the State Legislature had passed the
necessary permissive laws. He recently appointed an able commission to erect a
memorial to the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War, the Legislature of 1908
and the Common Council having passed laws empowering him to do so.

     Mr. Gaus' record as a member of the National Guard of the State covers a
period of twenty-seven years. In recognition of his long service in the Guard
Governor Hughes in 1907 commissioned him Brigadier General by brevet. During
the war with Spain he was the Assistant Inspector of Small Arms Practice of
the whole State, with the rank of Colonel. In 1889, 1890, 1891 and 1892 he won
the Wimbledon Cup, which is an international trophy for markmanship open to
all comers.

     He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Albany County
Veterans' Association. He enlisted in Albany in the Ninety-first New York
Volunteers.

     He is a member of the German Alliance of the State of New York and
honorary president of the German Hall Association of Albany.

     Mr. Gaus is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Fort Orange
Club, a charter member of the Albany Club, a vice-president and trustee of the
Albany Exchange Savings Bank, a director of the Albany Mutual Fire Insurance
Company,and was one of the founders and a director of the Park Bank up to the
time when that institution was absorbed by the Union Trust Company of Albany.
He is also a vice-president of the Albany College of Pharmacy, a member of the
Board of Governors of the Albany Hospital, a trustee of the Albany Free
Dispensary Association and is an honorary member of a large number of
fraternal organizations.

     He was elected Mayor of Albany in 1901, defeating Amasa J. Parker,
Democrat by 2,354 votes. He was re-elected in 1903 over William G. Rice,
Democrat, by 4,563 votes. In 1905 he was chosen for a third term over william
J. Wansboro, Democrat, by 8,536 votes and was again re=-elected in1907 by
3,045 majority over Edward A. Durant, Citizens' Union, Democrat and
Independence League candidate.

     Nominated for State Comptroller in 1908 mr. Gaus received 817,015 votes
to 720,166 cast for Martin H. Glynn, his Democratic opponent.