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LIFE SKETCHES 
 
 OF 
 
 GOVERNMENT OFFICERS 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE 
 
 OFTHS 
 
 STATE OF NEW YORK 
 
 inOR 187-i. 
 
 ♦ • 
 
 By w. h. Mcelroy and alex. mobride. 
 
 ALBANY: 
 
 WHD, PABS0N8 AND COMPANY, PBINTBBS. 
 1874 
 
A)3 
 
 Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and 
 seventy-four, 
 
 By w. h. Mcelroy and alex. mcbride. 
 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 ^po^^)4. /:^oVcr^ 
 
 ALBAirr, 
 
 WEKD, PARSONS AND OOMPAKT. 
 
 PHINTEES, 8TEBE0TTPEB8 
 
 AND PUBLISHEBS. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAQC 
 
 Introduotion, ---..-----5 
 
 State Officers, with portraits of Governor Dix, Lieat.>Governor 
 
 Robinson, etc., ---------- 7 
 
 Senators, .-----------47 
 
 Members of Assembly, with portrait of Speaker Husted, - 121 
 List of Senators, with District, County, Post-oflSce and Politics, 339 
 List of Assemblymen, with District, County, Post-office and 
 
 Politics, - 340 
 
 iyi1ll800 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 The publication of "Life Sketches" began in 1858, and 
 has been continued, with an occasional hiatus, ever since. 
 Each volume contains a condensed biographical sketch of the 
 Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, State Officers and Members 
 of both branches of the Legislature, and thus fills its niche 
 and has its value in the not unimportant department of 
 works of reference. The present editors prepared the annual 
 for last year, and met with such encouragement and success 
 as induced them to continue the series. The editor of Life 
 Sketches for 1858 expressed the aim and limitation of all 
 the volumes when he wrote, in his preface: "Beyond its 
 usefulness as a work of reference, it is, comparatively, of but 
 little interest to the public. The private details embodied in 
 the sketches are designed only to give it interest as a volume 
 for private circulation among the friends of those whose lives 
 constitute its pages." 
 
 As regards the merits of the present volume, the editors 
 have only to say that they have taken great pains to avoid 
 errors, either of fact or date, and to render the sketches as 
 complete as possible within the limits prescribed. 
 
 It will be noticed that, the sketches being arranged alpha- 
 betically, the necessity of an index is removed. 
 
LIFE SKETCHES. 
 
 JOHN A. DIX, 
 
 GOVERNOR. 
 
 "Nothing," says De Quincy, "makes such dreary and 
 monotonous reading as the old hackneyed roll-call, chronolo- 
 gically arranged, of inevitable facts in a man's life. One is 
 so certain of the man's having been born, and, also, of his 
 having died, that it is dismal to lie under the necessity of 
 reading it." There would be more force in this utterance of 
 the great opium-eater, were it not for the fact that Nature 
 never repeats herself. No two of her children exactly cor- 
 respond. Characters are not duplicated any more than faces. 
 In an hundred biographies we are sure of perfect agreement 
 in but two particulars — all the hundred were born, and they 
 all died ; but what a wide divergence as to the " inevitable 
 facts " that go to make up the record lying between the sta- 
 tions Life and Death ! 
 
 In the present biographical sketch and those which succeed 
 it, the editors profess to have given such and such only of 
 the inevitable facts in the history of those treated of, as the 
 public have a right to know. No fitter rule can be laid down 
 for the guidance of the biographer, who would write of living 
 subjects without offense to them or the canons of taste, than 
 that enunciated by Mrs. Stowe in her volume "The Men of 
 Our Times." "Every public man," she says, "has two lives, 
 his public and his private. The one becomes fairly the 
 property of the public in virtue of his having been connected 
 Avith events in which every one has a share of interest; but 
 the other belongs to himself, his family and his intimate 
 friends, and the public have no more right to discuss or pry 
 
8 ,'.",: r ; •'•^^■'^ Sketches. 
 
 into its details than they have into those of any other private 
 individual." 
 
 In considering the long and illustrious career of John" A. 
 Dix, we are forcibly reminded of a remark that lRAa]S"G makes 
 in regard to the first President. Washikgton", he tells us, 
 had very little private life. The words can be most appro- 
 priately transferred to General Dix, for probably no public 
 man living has occupied so many important positions of trust, 
 has had so long an experience in political life as he. The 
 salient facts of his history are as follows: John" Adams 
 Dix, twenty-fourth Governor of New York, was horn at 
 Boscawen, New Hampshire, July 24, 1798, and was the 
 son of Lieutenant-Colonel Timothy Dix of that place. 
 After spending some time in a French college at Montreal, 
 young Dix was appointed a cadet at the United States Mili- 
 tary Academy in 1812, but gave up the appointment to bear 
 his part in the war of 1812-15, having in 1813 received an 
 appointment as ensign in the fourteenth United States 
 infantry. A year subsequently he Avas made third lieutenant 
 in the twenty-first regiment of infantry, in March, 1814, 
 became second lieutenant, and in the fall of that year was 
 transferred to the artillery arm. 1815 found him adjutant, 
 and 1818 first lieutenant. In 1819 he received the appoint- 
 ment of aide-de-camp to General Jacob Brown, a dis- 
 tinguished officer, then commander-in-chief of the army, 
 and spent much time at Washington, where he enjoyed the 
 acquaintance of Calhoun, Clay, Van Buren and other 
 prominent party leaders of the time. In the spring of 
 1821 he was transfesred to the third artillery, and in the 
 summer of 1825, became Captain Dix. Serving as cap- 
 tain until December 31, 1828, he then resigned his com- 
 imssion, having spent sixteen years in the military service. 
 Going abroad not long after, he enjoyed the delights and 
 benefits of extensive travel, and then returned to this coun- 
 try and entered the legal profession at Cooperstown, in this 
 State, where he soon became prominent in political circles 
 
John A. Dix. 9 
 
 as a zealous partisan of Andrew Jackson and democratic 
 principles. In 1831 he was appointed adjutant-general by 
 Governor Throop, and two years later was elected secretary 
 of state. A recent writer in the New York Commercial calls 
 attention to the fact that with General Dix's adjutant-gen- 
 eralship began one of the most memorable chapters of his 
 political life. We quote : 
 
 " Gen. Dix's connection with the political * ring,' known 
 as the Albany Regency, dates from his acceptance of the 
 position of adjutant-general. That 'ring' was made up of 
 such material as Van Buren, Marcy, Butler, Croswell, 
 Wright, Ben Knowek, Flagg, James Porter, Beards- 
 ley, Bronson, Dickinson, Young and Dix — men irre- 
 proachable in private life — men famous for their upright- 
 ness and intellectual political vigor. They were the brains 
 of the party, and when the places that knew them so well 
 knew them no more, the old democratic party went out with 
 the tide. They played an imj^ortant part in the stirring 
 events that make history from 1815 to the present time, A. 
 C. Flagg and Gen. Dix, as we observed, being the last of 
 the race. Mr. Weed, in his autobiography, could hardly 
 be expected to do more than incidentally refer to this 
 political galaxy of statesmen, diplomats, senators, judges, 
 financiers, lawyers and controversialists, who * went to the 
 front' and participated in the fierce excitement and masterly 
 exhibition of talent at a time in tlie history of our State and 
 national politics most intensely interesting." 
 
 While General Dix was secretary of state — and by virtue 
 of his office he was also superintendent of common schools, 
 a member of the canal board and one of the commissioners 
 of the canal fund — new canals were being constructed, the 
 enlargement of the Erie canal was commenced, and the net- 
 work of railways that now covers the State was j list begin- 
 ning to be spread. The secretary's position, it will thus be 
 seen, was one of unusual responsibility, and that he filled it 
 with great honor to himself and to the entire satisfaction of 
 
10 Life Sketches, 
 
 the people there is abundant evidence. His administration 
 was especially distinguished for what it accomplished in 
 behalf of the schools of the State. Hon. Samuel S. Ran- 
 dall, in his " History of the Common School System of 
 the State of New York," reviews General Dix's career as 
 superintendent, and thus concludes : 
 
 " In passing from the administration of General Dix to 
 that of his successor, it is scarcely necessary to observe that 
 the exertions of the former, during the six years in which the 
 interests of the common schools were committed to his 
 charge, in the elevation and expansion of the system of 
 popular education, were unsurpassed dy any of his predeces- 
 sors. The impress of his clear, discriminating and cultivated 
 mind tvas stamped upon every feature of that system ; and 
 the order, arrangement and harmony which prevailed in all 
 its parts, were due not less to the ceaseless vigilance of his 
 supervision than to the symmetry and beauty of the system 
 itself. In 1837, under the authority of the Legislature, he 
 collected together and published a volume of the decisions of 
 his predecessor and himself, embracing a full exposition of 
 nearly every provision of the school act — estaUishirig upon 
 a permanent basis the principle of future interjjretation, and 
 exerting a highly beneficial influence upon the councils and 
 proceedings of the' officers and inhabitants of the several dis- 
 tricts, in repressing litigation, and in defining the powers, 
 privileges and responsibilities of those called to the perform- 
 ance of any duty in relation to the common schools. TJie 
 system of district school libraries luas also organized and put 
 into successful operation under his immediate sup>ervision ; 
 and to his clear and convincing exposition of the principles 
 upon which that useful and beneficent institution was based, 
 the ends it was designed to subserve, and the objects it was 
 capable of accomplishing, a large share of the success which 
 has attended the establishment is unquestionably due." 
 
 At the expiration of his term as a State officer. General Dix 
 
John A. Dix. 11 
 
 resumed the practice of law, and devoted himself to the duties 
 of his profession until 1842, when he was sent to the Assembly 
 from Albany county. In 1845, Silas Wright was called 
 from the United States Senate to be Governor of New York, 
 and John A. Dix was elected to fill the place which he 
 left. He appeared in the Senate at a time when questions 
 of vast moment were agitating the country — the annexation 
 of Texas, the war with Mexico, the joint occupation and 
 disputed boundary of Oregon, the power of Congress over 
 slaves in the territories, and others that will readily occur to 
 the reader. He took an active and distinguished part in the 
 discussions, and showed a broad and statesmanlike compre- 
 hension of, and thorough aptitude for affairs. He was chair- 
 man of the committee on commerce, and was an efficient 
 member of the committee on military affairs. He fathered 
 a bill for reciprocal freedom of trade with the British prov- 
 inces, and one for defining the duties and reducing the 
 salaries of officers of the customs in the large ports. 
 
 William H. Seward succeeded him in the Senate. In 
 1848 he ran on the " free-soil " ticket for Governor, but was 
 defeated by Hamilton Fish. He took an active part in 
 1852 in the presidential campaign, doing much effective work 
 in Frank Pierce's canvass ; but, after his candidate was 
 elected, declined the portfolio of State, offered him by Pierce, 
 in favor of Governor Marcy. In 1853 he was appointed 
 assistant treasurer in New York city, a position which he 
 filled only for a short time, resigning, and devoting himself 
 exclusively to his profession until 1860, when he was ap- 
 pointed postmaster of New York city. And so we come to the 
 grey dawn of the great rebellion — a rebellion on whose world- 
 regarded stage General Dix played a prominent part, adding 
 new lustre to an already famous name, and rendering ines- 
 timable services to his country. Near the end of Buchanan's 
 term, the secessionists, taking advantage of the approaching 
 interregnum, had appointed a convention to meet at Mont- 
 
12 Life Sketches. 
 
 gomery, Alabama, and take measures for raising an army. 
 Tiiey proposed, as part of their treasonable programme, to 
 seize AVashington, and prevent the inauguration of Lincoln". 
 Early in December, 1860, Howell Cobb resigned the con- 
 trol of the treasury, giving as a reason its bankrupt and 
 liopeless condition, and was succeeded by Philip F. 
 Thomas, who had been commissioner of patents. Thomas 
 resigned after a few weeks, being displeased with the attempt 
 to reinforce Sumter. It was at this serious juncture that 
 Attorney-General Stanton induced a number of leading 
 capitalists of New York to demand from Buchanan the 
 appointment of John A. Dix as Secretary of the Treasury — 
 a demand that was complied with. " For once," says Dr. 
 Draper, speaking of the incalculable benefit that resulted 
 to the cause of the Union from the presence of Dix in 
 Buchanan's cabinet, " for once the financial embarrassment 
 of the nation proved its salvation. The condition of the 
 treasury was deplorable. The government could do nothing 
 without the aid of capitalists of New York. Through 
 the influence of the Attorney-General, who was instructed by 
 his own patriotism, and by the clear information of the 
 existing imminent danger, a deputation of capitalists hast- 
 ened to Washington and gave the President distinctly to 
 understand that the treasury department must be placed in 
 charge of one in whom they had confidence, and that they 
 should not be satisfied unless John A. Dix, of their State, 
 was selected." A French writer, Laugel, says that Stan- 
 ton, Holt and Dix saved "Washington to the Union ; and, 
 in the opinion of Dr. Draper, "the obligations of the 
 republic to those three ministers can never be repaid." 
 
 General Dix was called to the cabinet on the lltli of 
 January, 1861, and remained in it but little over a month, 
 resigning at the close of Buchanan's term. And, al- 
 though his tenure of the treasury was so short, yet, within 
 tlie limits of the narrow span of his life as a cabinet officer. 
 

 
 VH/- 
 
 
 
John A. Dix. 13 
 
 General Dix furnished a most striking exemplification of the 
 poet's lines — 
 
 We live in deeds, not years. 
 
 He most lives 
 
 Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. 
 
 It was while he held this office, that he wrote his famous 
 dispatch, whose fac simile we present on another page, 
 which has well been characterized as " the most concentrated 
 and burning war-cry of the Union." The circumstances 
 under which it was written were these. General Dix had 
 sent W. H. Jones as special agent of the treasury depart- 
 ment, to secure three revenue cutters. Jones found one of 
 them, the " McClelland," in the possession of the authorities 
 of Alabama, and hastening to New Orleans, addressed a note 
 to Captain Breshwood, of that cutter, inclosing one from 
 the Secretary of the Treasury, directing him to proceed 
 immediately with his vessel to New York. Breshwood at 
 once replied, ''Your letter, with one of the 19th of Janu- 
 ary, (1861) frrm the Honorable Secretary of the Treasury, 
 I have duly received, and in reply, refuse to obey the order." 
 Jones immediately communicated the fact of this refusal to 
 the Secretary of the Treasury by telegraph, and further 
 informed him that Collector Hatch of New Orleans, sus- 
 tained the action of the rebel captain. It was under these 
 circumstances, that General Dix promptly replied to Jones 
 with a telegram, ending with that sentence touched with a 
 live coal from the altar of patriotism, "If any one 
 
 ATTEMPTS TO HAUL DOWN THE AMERICAN FLAG, SHOOT 
 
 HIM ON THE SPOT ! " This order speedily became a proverb 
 on every true American's lips, and Greeley, in his American 
 Conflict, most justly records that it " sent an electric thrill 
 through the loyal heart of the country." Probably one of 
 the highest, and certainly the most unique of the many 
 compliments paid to Dix's battle-cry, emanated from a Sun- 
 day school scholar, at Akron, Ohio. Moore, in his Rebellion 
 
14 Life Sketches, 
 
 Record, tells of him. He was a lad of eleyen, and on being 
 requested with other members of his class, to repeat from 
 the Bible a verse of his own selection, promptly gave the fol- 
 lowing : " If any one attempts to haul down the American 
 flag, shoot him on the spot ! " 
 
 In 1861 General Dix presided at the great meeting held in 
 Union Square, New York, and made a great and effective 
 speech, in the course of which he said : " I regard the pend- 
 ing contest with the secessionists as a death-struggle for 
 constitutional liberty and law — a contest which, if successful 
 on their part, could only end in the establishment of a 
 despotic government, and blot out, wherever they were 
 ascendant, every vestige of national freedom. "We stand before 
 the statue of the Father of his country ; [the stand from 
 which the General spoke was near the equestrian statue of 
 Washington] ; the flag of the Union which floats over it hung 
 above him when he presided over the convention by which 
 the constitution was framed. The great work of his life has 
 been rejected, and the banner by which his labors were con- 
 secrated has been trampled in the dust. If the inanimate 
 bronze, in which the sculptor has shaped his image, could be 
 changed for the living form which led the armies of the 
 Revolution to victory, he would command us, in the name 
 of the hosts of patriots and political martyrs who have gone 
 before, to strike for the defense of the Union and the Con- 
 stitution." A few weeks after making this speech. General 
 Dix was appointed Major-General in the army of the United 
 States, and in August of the same year, 1861, he relieved 
 General Banks of the command of the department of Mary- 
 land, with his head-quarters at Baltimore. It was while he 
 was in command at Baltimore that he manifested his military 
 genius by a strategic movement which relieved the eastern 
 shore of Maryland and Virginia from the rebel grasp. 
 
 General Dix was subsequently placed in command of 
 Fortress Monroe, and in 1863 performed one of the best 
 manoeuvres of the campaign. In June he sent a portion of 
 
John A. Dix. 15 
 
 his command to the White House, at the junction of the 
 Pamunkey with the York river. In this position he threat- 
 ened both Richmond and the communications of General 
 Lee, who was advancing along the peninsula. This move- 
 ment defeated all General Lee's plans, and so frightened 
 Jeff. Davis that he wrote an appealing letter to General Lee, 
 saying that it had " rendered him more anxious for the city 
 than at any former time." In July the department of North 
 Carolina was added to that of Virginia, and both placed 
 under command of General Dix, until he was transferred to 
 the command of the department of the east. 
 
 General Dix's general order to all provost marshals, with 
 regard to rebel and other refugees in Canada, crossing the 
 lines to vote at the presidential election in 1864, ordering 
 their arrest, excited a great amount of attention at the time, 
 and had the effect of checking such fraudulent voting, the 
 election being one of the most peaceable ever witnessed. He 
 also ordered that after the election, should any suspicious 
 persons cross into Canada, they were to be detained until 
 proper investigations could be made. He also organized the 
 courts for the trial of John Y. Be all and R. C. Kennedy, 
 as spies, conspirators and incendiaries, during Februaiy and 
 March, which resulted in their execution. 
 
 At the close of the war General Dix resigned his position 
 in the army, and, renewing his interest in politics, joined his 
 fortunes with the National Union party, of whose conven- 
 tion, at Philadelphia in the summer of 1866, he was chair- 
 man. In the same year he was appointed minister to 
 France, after having declined the mission to the Hague, and 
 was presented to the Emperor in January, 1867. As our 
 national representative, he added to his own and his 
 country's honor by discharging all his duties with the same 
 distinguished ability that had marked his previous career of 
 soldier and statesman. The prominent part he played in 
 the famous coup d'etat of last winter, by which the Erie 
 railroad was rescued from the ring who were running it for 
 
16 Life Sketches. 
 
 fcheir own aggrandizement, is too recent to need more than 
 a passing mention here. 
 
 General Dix received his degree of Master of Arts from 
 Brown University in 1820, and that of Doctor of Laws from 
 Geneva College in 1845. He has found time in the pauses 
 of his busy life to turn aside into his library long enough to 
 turn out some literary work of a high order of merit, notably 
 a book of travel, " A Winter in Madeira and A Summer in 
 Spain and Florence." His speeches and occasional addresses 
 and lectures have been compiled in two handsome volumes. 
 The late General Halpine, better known by his nom de 
 plume of " Miles O'Eeilly," the brilHant young Irishman who 
 was for some time on General Dix's staff, in his racy remin- 
 iscences of the war, to which he gave the title of " Baked 
 Meats," bears witness to the fine attainments of the General 
 in classics and belle-lettres. He writes : 
 
 " General Dix, as should be known to every one, is an 
 extremely elegant classical scholar, who has carried forward 
 with him, through all the varied and valuable labors of his 
 public life, an unfading love and continual study of those 
 great masters of antiquity by whose precepts, and upon whose 
 model, his own pure and noble mind was originally formed. 
 Let any one who seeks to know the value of such an educa- 
 tion contrast the dignity, urbanity and stainless integrity 
 which have marked the life of this gentleman with the far 
 different qualities for which many of our public men are 
 alone to be distinguished, and we think a full answer will be 
 given to the too common, though vulgar and senseless 
 inquiry : * Of what practical use are classical attainments ?' " 
 
 After these prefatory words. Miles submits to his readers 
 the following extremely literal and yet extremely elegant 
 translation, by General Dix, of Horace's famous ode (Liber 
 III, Carmen xxx) : 
 
John a. Dix. 17 
 
 EXEQI MONUMENTUM ^RE PERENNIUS. 
 I've reared a monument to fame 
 
 More durable tlian solid brass, 
 Whicli will, in loftiness of aim. 
 
 The regal pyramids surpass. 
 
 No wasting shower, no rending storm 
 Shall mar the work my genius rears ; 
 
 No lapse of time shall change its form. 
 No countless series of years. 
 
 I shall not wholly die : my name 
 Shall triumph o'er oblivion's power. 
 
 And fresh, with still increasing fame. 
 In glory posthumous shall tower. 
 
 While to the Capitolium 
 
 The Priest and Silent Virgin come. 
 
 Where Aafldus impetuous roars. 
 And Daunus, held on arid shores 
 
 Dominion o'er the rustic throng — 
 Shall I, once weak — now potent — live 
 As first of all the bards to give 
 
 iBolian verse to Latin song. 
 
 Grant me, Melpomene div!ne 1 
 
 The glory due to deathless lays ; 
 Propitious to my vows incline 
 
 And crown me with Appollo's bays ! 
 
 His translations of Dies Irae and Stabat Mater rank with 
 the most successful renderings of those two great mediaeval 
 hymns into English. 
 
 The nomination which resulted in calling General Dix to 
 the gubernatorial chair was not only unsought by him, but 
 distinctly declined. But finding that the Republican con- 
 vention at Utica deemed it of so much importance that his 
 name should head the ticket as to place it there in opposition 
 to his wishes, he waived his personal preferences and con- 
 sented to become the standard-bearer. His triumph was 
 such as any man might justly be proud of. In the entire 
 State his vote led that of General Grant, and in those local- 
 2 
 
18 Life Sketches. 
 
 ities in which he was best known he proved strongest, Jis in 
 Kings county, where he led the ticket by 5,000. 
 
 General Dix has already passed the allotted term of human 
 life as laid down by the psalmist, and yet so erect, alert and 
 vigorous is he, despite his three score and ten years, his eye 
 not dim nor his natural force abated, that he stands to-day 
 *• the unwasted contemporary of his own prime." 
 
 THE GOVERiq-OR'S STAFF. 
 
 Governor Dix's military family is composed of the fol- 
 lowing members : 
 
 Maj.-Gen. John F. Eathbone, of Albany, Adjutant- Gene- 
 ral, 
 
 Brevet Maj.-Gen. William H. Morris, of Cold Spring, 
 Inspector- General. 
 
 Brig-Gen. Kilburn" KisTOX, of New York, Chief of Ord- 
 nance. 
 
 Brig.-Gen. N. Gako Dukk, of New York, Engineer-in- 
 CUef 
 
 Brig.-Gen. J. HAMPDEiq" Wood, of Albany, Judge-Advocate- 
 General. 
 
 Brig.-Gen. William M. Smith, of Angelica, Allegany 
 county, Surgeon- General. 
 
 Brig.-Gen. Johk N. Kkapp, of Auburn, Quartermaster- 
 General, 
 
 Brig.-Gen. Rufus H. King, of Albany, Faymaster- 
 General. 
 
 Brig.-Gen. Henry Heath, of Brooklyn, Commissary- 
 General of Subsistence. 
 
 Col. George G. Hayen, of New York; Col. Chester 
 Griswold, of Troy ; Col. Robert C. Pruyn, of Albany ; 
 Col. Hamilton Fish, Jr., of New York ; Col. Wm. A. W. 
 Stewart, of New York ; Col. Hiram P. Hopkins, of Buf- 
 falo, Aides-de-Cam2?. Military Secretary , Col. Sidney 
 De Kay. 
 
John A. Dix. 19 
 
 General Rathbone has long shown a deep interest in 
 the National Guard, and his distinction as the commanding 
 officer for years of the Ninth Brigade, his high executive and 
 organizing ability, combined to eminently fit him for the im- 
 portant position of Adjutant-General. He has long been the 
 ardent friend of our State military organization. During the 
 war, as the commandant of the Albany Depot of Volunteers 
 and all the branch depots subsidiary to it, and having some- 
 times from twenty to forty thousand men under his imme- 
 diate charge, he evinced great capacity for organization, and 
 few men rendered such signal service in the preparation of 
 New York's quota for the war of the Union. 
 
 General William H. Morris, the Inspector-General, has 
 served upon the staff as Commissary-General of Ordnance, 
 and also in the army of the Union. He is a good soldier 
 and a cultured gentleman. Gen. Knox was for some time 
 Captain of the 13th Regular Infantry, and subsequently served 
 on the staff of General McPherson. He is every way qualified 
 for the honorable place assigned him. Gen. N. Gang Dunn, 
 the Engineer-in-Chief, has been prominently identified with 
 the military in New York, where he has acquired the reputa- 
 tion of a thorough and accomplished officer. General Wood, 
 the Judge- Advocate-General, is a young lawyer of honorable 
 standing in his profession, and the highest personal worth. 
 He is a son of Hon. Bradford R. Wood, late American 
 Minister to Denmark. 
 
 Gen. Smith is a physician, occupying a front place in his 
 profession. 
 
 Gen. John N. Knapp, Quartermaster-General, late the able 
 and efficient secretary of the Republican State Committee, 
 is a gentleman of high business and social position. The 
 Paymaster-General, Gen. Rufus H. King, bears a name and 
 is identified with a family honorably associated with the staff 
 in the past, and is himself a genial, cultivated gentleman. 
 
 A word or two about the aides. Col. George G. Haven is 
 a gentleman of high standing in the financial and social cir- 
 
20 Life Sketches, 
 
 cles of the metropolis. Col. Chester Griswold is the 
 eldest son of the late Hon. John" A. Griswold, and his 
 appointment is a graceful testimony, both of the regard of 
 Gov. Dix for the memory of his lamented father, and of his 
 appreciation of the worth of the accomplished son. Col. 
 Egbert C. Pruyn is the son of Hon. Egbert H. Pruyi^, 
 and is equally fitted for the position of Aide, by his military 
 tastes and his gentlemanly bearing. Col. Hamiltgn Fish, 
 Jr., inherits not only the name but the culture of the dis- 
 tinguished Secretary of State. Col. William A. W. Stew 
 art is the son of Jghk" A. Stewart, the well-known 
 President of the Trust Company. Col. Hiram P. Hgpkiks 
 js the son of Comptroller Hopkins, and worthily represents 
 the city which is honored in his selection. 
 
 Col. De Kay got his practical military education by long 
 and arduous service in our own war, and afterward in Greece, 
 whither he went as a volunteer and nearly lost his life through 
 a severe wound. Both from his legal and military acquire- 
 ments he is peculiarly fitted to discharge the duties of the 
 place to which the Governor has called him. 
 
» > 1 > J 
 
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John C. Robinson. 21 
 
 JOHN C. ROBINSON, 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. 
 
 Men often in a single sentence as perfectly reveal their 
 ruling passion and peculiar traits of character, as in long 
 years of public service. Grant's saying, " We will fight it out 
 on this line if it takes all summer," affords as clear an illus- 
 tration of his sturdy persistency, as if he had written a score 
 of volumes to prove that perseverance is the cardinal virtue. 
 
 General Dix's mental activity and proverbial promptitude 
 found expression in his famous saying, " If any one hauls 
 down th« American flag, shoot him on the spot ! *' The sen- 
 tence is an embodiment of uncompromising patriotism, and it 
 affords a perfect illustration of the energetic character of the 
 man. Scarcely less striking, and more epigramatic was the 
 expression made use of by the distinguished soldier, the pres- 
 ent Lieutenant-Governor of N^ew York, whose name stands at 
 the head of this sketch. When General Robinson was lead- 
 ing his division, amid a shower of bullets, against Spottsyl- 
 vania, he encouraged his followers with the battle-cry, "This 
 PLACE MUST BE OURS." The words indicate that peculiar deter- 
 mination and courage which constitute the leading features 
 in the General's character — features that are prominently 
 brought out in a survey of his life. 
 
 John Cleveland Robinson was born in Binghamton, 
 Broome county, April 10, 1817. He entered the Military 
 Academy in 1835, and remained there until 1838, when he 
 began the study of law, but received in 1839 a commission as 
 second lieutenant in the Fifth infantry. He was ordered to 
 the Rio Grande in 1845, and was promoted to be first lieu- 
 tenant during the Mexican war, in which he was distin- 
 guished at the battle of Monterey. At the close of that war 
 he served with his regiment in Arkansas, in the Cherokee 
 nation, and Texas ; was made captain in 1850, and was after- 
 
23 Life Sketches. 
 
 ward seufc against tlielndian;^ in Florida. In 1857 he accom- 
 panied the army in Utah, and was placed in command of 
 Fort Bridger. At the beginning of the civil war he com- 
 manded at Fort McHenry, Baltimore. When relieved from 
 this duty he was sent to the West, as mustering officer, and 
 remained as such until appointed colonel of the First Regiment 
 of Michigan volunteers. He was promoted to be major of 
 the Second infantry in February, 1862 ; was made brigadier- 
 general of volunteers in the following" April, and took com- 
 mand of a brigade at Newport News in May, but was soon 
 ordered to the army of the Potomac, and placed in command 
 of the First Brigade of Kearney's division, the corps of 
 G-eneral Heintzelmak. He was distinguished during the 
 seven days battles before Richmond, particularly those fought 
 on June 30 and July 1, 1862, when he was slightly wounded. 
 He participated in the Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Center- 
 ville, Culpepper, Mine Run and Rapidan campaigns. When 
 the army of the Potomac started on the overland campaign of 
 1864, General Robin'SON" was in tjommand of a division in the 
 Fifth corps, and at the opening of the battle of Spottsylvania 
 he was ordered to the advance on Todd's Tavern, with Gen- 
 eral Sheridan's cavalry. On reaching the Cross Roads, the 
 enemy made a determined stand behind breastworks. An 
 attempt was made to carry this position, which failed, when 
 General Robinson, riding coolly up to the head of his men, 
 said, " This place must be ours ! " and asked his command to 
 follow him. 
 
 The call was responded to with enthusiasm, and a charge 
 was made. A terrible fire of musketry was encountered, and 
 General Robinson received a bullet in his left knee, the 
 wound rendering amputation of the thigh necessary. After 
 his convalescence, General Robinson was unable to endure 
 the fatigues of active duty, and was employed in various 
 capacities until 1869, when he retired from active service with 
 the full rank of Major- General. Since that date he has been 
 
JoBN C. Robinson. 23 
 
 an active and efficient member of the Republican party, but 
 has taken no very prominent part in public affairs. 
 
 During the extended military service of General Robiis'SON", 
 he passed through many thrilling incidents and perils. 
 How he saved Fort McHenry at Baltimore from capture is 
 well worth relating here. It was the first of the series of 
 strategy which our government and our military command- 
 ers were so often obliged to resort to. He had with him 
 only one hundred men ; and, after the attack on the sixth 
 Massachusetts in the streets of Baltimore, the rebels contem- 
 plated seizing on the fort, succeeding in which, they would 
 have gained an advantage of the greatest importance. A 
 steamer opportunely came in to coal, and General Robin'SON" 
 seized upon the event to create the impression that she had 
 brought in reinforcements. He put up tents and made a 
 display, seemingly of a large force of troops newly arrived 
 and hastily accommodated. The rnse succeeded. The 
 rebels thought their attack had been anticipated and pre- 
 pared for ; so Fort McHenry remained in our possession ever 
 after, to declare to the rebels that, even though they cap- 
 tured Wasiiington, it would be of no permanent advantage 
 to them. 
 
 General Robinsox, with all the austerity of a military 
 nature, yet has a very kindly heart. He is a thorough 
 republican; loves the jieople, and has an abiding faith in 
 their capacity to govern themselves. He is inclined to socia- 
 bility, when once his " outworks of reserve " are penetrated, 
 and he then becomes as communicative as any one could 
 wish. 
 
 In the convention which nominated General RoBiifSOif 
 for Lieutenant-Governor, several admirable names were sug- 
 gested. Senator Thayer, of Troy, the chief competitor, 
 had hosts of wa^pi friends, and would have peculiarly graced 
 the position. But the soldierly qualities of General Robin- 
 son" gained him the day. His supporters adopted his motto, 
 and gained success to the cry " this place (on the ticket) shall 
 
24 Life Sketches, 
 
 be ours." The career of General RoBi:N"SO]!q- is well known 
 to the people. One of the most gallant and distinguished 
 soldiers of the Empire State, his record in the war is of the 
 brightest lustre. His comrades in arms presented him with 
 a unanimity and a zeal which showed their high appreciation 
 of his great soldierly worth ; and the people of the State 
 elected him by a most flattering vote. 
 
 General EoBiiq"SOi^ presides over the Senate with dignity, 
 courtesy, and strict impartiality. Not a skillful parliamen- 
 tarian, he impresses political friend and opponent alike with 
 the honesty of his intentions and as a consequence his rulings 
 are rarely appealed from. In addition to his duties as 
 President of " The Upper House," the General is a member 
 of the Canal Board, is one of the commissioners of the 
 Land Office, and of the Canal fund, is a trustee of the Capital, 
 State Lunatic Asylum and State Hall, and, ex officio, one of 
 the Regents of the University. 
 
Deidrich Willers, Jr. 25 
 
 DIEDRICH WILLERS, Jr., 
 
 SECRETARY OP STATE. 
 
 In the person of the present Secretary of State, we have 
 the first example, under our present State Constitution, of an 
 elective State oflBcer who has arisen through the various 
 gradations, from the lowest round of the ladder to the top- 
 most, through the positions of Clerk and Deputy, to that of 
 head of the Department, a notable instance of the workings 
 of " Civil Service Reform." 
 
 Mr. Willers was born of German parentage, in the town 
 of Varick, county of Seneca, where he still resides, on the 
 third day of November, 1833. 
 
 His father. Reverend Diedrich Willers, D. D., a native 
 of Bremen, Germany, who is still living at the advanced age 
 of seventy-six years (left an orphan in early childhood), was 
 educated in the public schools of his native city, and at the 
 age of sixteen years enlisted in the army of Hanover, for 
 the defense of his fatherland, against the French invader. 
 He was an active participant with the allied forces under the 
 Duke of Wellington at the memorable three days' battle of 
 Waterloo, in Belgium, in June, 1815, against Napoleon 
 Bonaparte, and received a silver medal for bravery in action. 
 
 After a military service of five years, he left the army, and 
 having spent a short time with his friends, he embarked for 
 America, in the year 1819, and landed in Baltimore, Mary- 
 land, in October of that year, with only a few dollars in his 
 pocket, but possessed of industry and perseverance, those 
 indispensable requisites to success. Following a purpose 
 formed in early life, he took up the study of theology, to 
 which he had previously given much thought and read- 
 ing. After a course of study under private tutors, he was 
 licensed in the ministry and accepted a call to preach to 
 congregations in Seneca countv, New York, in April, 1821, 
 4 
 
26 Life Sketches. 
 
 and has continued in the uninterrupted discharge of 
 ministerial duty, preaching in the German and English 
 languages to his congregations in that county, to the present 
 time, a continuous period of nearly fifty-three years. 
 
 As a clergyman he is highly esteemed and influential in his 
 denomination, and a number of years ago received the hon- 
 orary degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Franklin and Mar- 
 shall College, at Lancaster, Penn. 
 
 The mother of Secretary Willers, still living, was born in 
 New Holland, Lancaster county, Penn., of German parentage, 
 her ancestry having migrated to this country, from the 
 Palatinate, over 150 years ago. 
 
 The subject of our sketch was the sixth of a family of 
 eight children. Every one familiar with "life in a country 
 parsonage " will know something of the trials and privations 
 of the hard-Avorked and poorly-paid country pastor. ■ 
 
 It is not to be wondered at that young Willers thus early 
 became accustomed to a life of toil. Eesiding in a rural com- 
 munity, his time was divided between working upon a farm 
 in summer and attending a district school in winter. 
 
 With the exception of two terms of instruction at the 
 Seneca Falls Academy, during one of which, in 1853, he 
 recited to Gilbert 0. Walker, late Governor of the State of 
 Virginia, his course of study was confined to the district 
 school, and to instruction in German and the classics with 
 his father. When inquiry is made as to his Alma Mater, Mr. 
 Willers always frankly states that he is a graduate of a 
 people's college, " School District Number Two, Varick." 
 
 Subsequently, Mr. Willers engaged in teaching in the 
 district schools of his town, commencing his first term at the 
 early age of sixteen, at a compensation of twelve dollars per 
 month, and boarding himself, and continuing in this vocation, 
 when not laboring upon a farm, during five or six years. 
 
 After Mr. Willers had arrived at the age of twenty -two 
 years, he entered a printing office with a view to learn the 
 printing business, and enter upon an editorial career, he 
 
DiEDRICH WiLLERS, Jr. 27 
 
 having been a frequent contributor to the political press ; 
 but, after a service at the printer's case of about two months, 
 he was reluctantly compelled to abandon a cherished pursuit, 
 by reason of ill-health, from which he suffered for several 
 years. 
 
 Having, at intervals of toil, devoted himself to the read- 
 ing of law and attended a course of instruction at the Albany 
 Law University, he was admitted to practice as an attorney 
 at law a number of years ago, although he has never actively 
 engaged in the practice of his profession. 
 
 Designed by his father for the ministry, he however early 
 took a decided interest in politics, and long before he was 
 twenty-one years of age, espoused the cause of the Demo- 
 cratic party, joining the Hard-Shell branch of the Democracy, 
 and casting his first vote for Judge Greene C. Bronson, for 
 Governor, in 1854. After the re-union of the party in 1856, 
 Mr. WiLLERS took a very active part in the presidential can- 
 vass of that year, as well as in 1857. 
 
 Upon the election of the Democratic State ticket, in the 
 fall of 1857, Mr. W. was appointed by Hon. Gideon J. Tucker, 
 Secretary of State, to a clerkship in his office, upon the duties 
 of which position he entered in January following, and in 
 which, by his industry and faithfulness, he soon Avon the con- 
 fidence of his chief, and was re-appointed by Hon. David R. 
 Floyd Jones, and served with him during his term as Sec- 
 retary of State in 18G0 and 1861. 
 
 Although Mr. Willers actively supported Mr. Jones for 
 re-election, and the Democratic ticket, in the campaign of 
 November, 1861, he was, without solicitation upon his part, 
 re-appointed by Hon. Horatio Ballard, and remained in 
 the office of the Secretary of State during the years 1862 
 and 1863. 
 
 Upon the expiration of Mr. Ballard's term, Mr. Willers 
 was appointed by Governor Sey3I0ur as his Private Secre- 
 tary, and served as such during the most trying period of the 
 late civil war. 
 
28 Life Sketches. 
 
 How well Mr. Willers served in this capacity, the com- 
 plimentary remarks made by Governor Seymour, in the 
 Democratic State Convention at Utica, in October, 1873, 
 upon the occasion of Mr. Willers' second nomination for 
 Secretary of State, will best attest, when he said : 
 
 "Having known Mr. Willers for many years, having been 
 closely associated with him in the discharge of duty, I can 
 say that in my opinion there is no man in the State whom 
 I could vote for, for this position, with more pleasure than I 
 can vote for Diedrich Willers, Jr. He is not only an 
 honorable, capable and honest man, but a faithful one. Dur- 
 ing all the time he was in that office, he was never known to 
 be absent from his post of duty. For this office you want a 
 man who will faithfully discharge its duties himself, and Mr. 
 Willers is the man of all others to do this. It is no mere 
 form, when we take up a man who has performed his duties 
 at the lowest round of the ladder, and lift him to the highest. 
 It means that there is true merit in the man. I have known 
 Mr. Willers long and well, as I have already said. I knew 
 him all through the trying time, when I was Governor, and 
 of all the men surrounding me and my office, I found no 
 man upon whom I could rely with more implicit confidence." 
 
 Eetiring, at the close of his term of service with Governor 
 Seymour in December, 1864, to his home in Seneca county, 
 Mr. Willers resumed his old occupation as a farmer, and in 
 March, 1865, was elected supervisor of his native town, and 
 was re-elected the year following, serving as chairman of the 
 board both years, and rendering great assistance to his town 
 and county in the adjustment of war accounts, at the close 
 of the war. 
 
 In March, 1867, Mr. Willers was appointed, by President 
 JoHis^soiT, to a clerkship in the office of the Second Auditor 
 of the Treasury, at Washington, D. C, which position he 
 held to the close of that year. 
 
 The Democratic State ticket having been elected in the 
 fall of 1867, Mr. Willers was appointed by Hon. Homer 
 A. Nelso]^" as Deputy Secretary of State, which position he 
 
DiEDRICH WiLLERS, Jr. 29 
 
 filled with great acceptance to the public for four years, 
 developing executive ability of a high order. 
 
 In the summer of 1871, the name of Mr. Willers was 
 extensively canvassed by the Democratic press for the nomin- 
 ation of Secretary of State, Secretary Nelson declining a 
 renomination in favor of his deputy. 
 
 After a sharp preliminary canvass, during which nearly a11 
 the older or managing politicians of the party opposed his 
 nomination, the friends of Mr. Willers being strongly in 
 the ascendancy at the Democratic State Convention at Roch- 
 ester, he was nominated by acclamation for Secretary of 
 State. 
 
 Although the Democratic State ticket was borne down by 
 adverse circumstances in the disastrous campaign of 1871, 
 Mr. WiLLKRS handsomely led his associates upon the ticket, 
 receiving the highest vote cast for any nominee of his party 
 in that year. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1872, Mr. Willers received 
 from Governor Hoffman the appointment of Assistant Pay- 
 master General with the rank of Colonel, and was detailed 
 for duty in the Executive Chamber, in charge of the exam- 
 ination of bills passed by the Legislature, for which his 
 extensive acquaintance with statutory law and the machinery 
 of our State Government particularly fitted him. 
 
 Upon retiring from the Executive Chamber, Mr. Willers 
 received, in January, 1873, an appointment as one of the 
 Secretaries of the Constitutional Commission, then in session 
 at Albany. 
 
 After the final adjournment of the Commission in March, 
 1873, Mr. Willers returned to his home and again resumed 
 labor upon his father's farm, where he devoted himself 
 to the active duties of farm life during the year. 
 
 His name having been canvassed by the Democratic press 
 for the nomination for Secretary of State, Mr. Willers was 
 again strongly opposed by active leading political managers 
 who usually make up the party slates, but after a sharp can- 
 
30 Life Sketches. 
 
 vass, and notwithstanding a factious opposition in the Con- 
 vention, he was again unanimously nominated by the Demo- 
 cratic State Convention held at Utica, and his nomination 
 was indorsed at the Liberal Eepublican State Convention 
 held at Elmira, in the same month. 
 
 The result of the election was favorable to the Democracy, 
 and Mr. Willers was declared elected Secretary of State by 
 about 10,000 majority. 
 
 Mr. Willers entered upon his office with an intimate 
 knowledge of the duties thereof and of the machinery of 
 the State Government, and having an extensive acquaintance 
 with the politics and public men of the State. 
 
 Emphatically a man of the people, self-made, a determined 
 enemy of all rings and monopolies, aiming at the rights 
 of the people; courteous, attentive, faithful and capable, he 
 entered upon office under the most favorable auspices. 
 
 Although active as a Democratic politician, and a frequent 
 delegate at State and County Conventions, he has preserved 
 a deserved personal popularity wherever he is best known, 
 and when running as a candidate he received the highest 
 majority ever given to a Democratic nominee in his town 
 and county. 
 
 Reserved and modest in demeanor, firm and decided in his 
 convictions of duty, Mr. Willers has always carefully 
 guarded the public interests, and is, in the true sense of the 
 term, a " Reformer." 
 
 Having never embarked in matrimony, it is no wonder 
 that Mr. Willers has been so closely wedded to his State. 
 
 It is a somewhat curious coincidence, that Mr. Willers 
 was born in the first year of the term of Hon. John" A. Dix, 
 as Secretary of State, in 1833. 
 
 The career of Mr. Willers affords another illustration 
 how, under our form of Government, the humblest citizen 
 may, by pursuing right paths, attain to high positions of 
 honor and trust. 
 
» 5 » > 
 
 1 3 ^ » ^ 
 

 c c 
 ( c 
 
 « . . « 
 
 ^AA^ 
 
Nelson- K, Hopkins, 31 
 
 NELSON K. HOPKINS, 
 
 COMPTROLLER. 
 
 The family of Hon. Nelson K. Hopkins, Comptroller of 
 the State, was of New England origin. His father. General 
 Timothy S. Hopkins, emigrated in the year 1800 from 
 Great Barrington, Mass., to Williamsville, a small town in 
 the vicinity of Buffalo, in the then county of Niagara. By 
 occupation a farmer, he was a man of sterling sense and 
 worth, and held various public offices of trust and honor, 
 both in the civil and military service. He was commissioned 
 as a Captain by Gov. George Clinton, as Major, by Gov. 
 Morgan Lewis, and as Lieutenant-Colonel and Brigadier- 
 General, by Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins. Nelson, the second 
 of the five sons now living, was born on the 2d of March, 
 1819. He remained on the farm until he was about sixteen 
 years of age, when he attended school for a time at Fredonia, 
 in the county of Chautauqua. From 1838 to 1840, he was 
 a student in the Genesee "Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, wliere 
 he completed his collegiate preparations, and in the spring 
 of the latter year entered the sophomore class of Union 
 College, graduating in 1842 with high standing. Among his 
 class-mates were several who have since attained distinction, 
 including Hon. Clarkson N. Potter, member of Congress, 
 and Hon. James Wood, late of the State Senate. In connec- 
 tion with the latter, an interesting circumstance is related of 
 young Hopkins. The two students, as was not unfrequent 
 among their associates, visited Albany on one occasion, and 
 neither being blessed with a surplus of money, they found 
 themselves, at the close of their stay, without the means of 
 returning. In this exigency, nothing daunted, the spirited 
 young men started on foot, and faithfully trudged all the way 
 from Albany to Schenectady. 
 
 Even before entering college, the subject of this sketch had 
 
32 Life Sketches. 
 
 evinced strong force of character and energy of purpose. At 
 the age of nineteen, he had been elected captain of a company 
 in the State militia, and at the time of the "Patriot War," 
 which centered about the Niagara river, though still a student 
 at Lima, he was called home to enter the service with his 
 company, and for a month had command of Black Rock in 
 the vicinity of Buffalo. Eeturning from college, Mr. Hopkins 
 began the study of law in the office of Hon. Elbridge G. 
 Spauldiistg, at Buffalo, and, in 1846, was admitted as an 
 attorney. From the very first, he has enjoyed an honorable 
 and lucrative practice. He has especially had confided to 
 him the most delicate duties in the settlement of estates, the 
 establishment of titles and all that branch of professional 
 service, and, in these positions of fiduciary trust, has secured 
 the highest respect for his honor, fidelity and capacity. Jn 
 1848, he married the only daughter of Hon. Orlando Allen. 
 This union was severed by death in 1853. In 1855 he 
 married his present wife, who is the eldest daughter of the 
 late Hon. Hiram Pratt, and a most estimable lady. His 
 family consists of five children, one by his first wife and four 
 by his second. 
 
 Although Mr. Hopkins has always been actively engaged 
 in professional labors, he has, at various times, been called to 
 serve his fellow-citizens. Frequently elected supervisor and 
 alderman, he was also one year president of the common 
 council. In 1866, he was appointed Collector of Internal 
 Revenue, and filled that position with credit and satisfaction. 
 He has also been for many years a director and attorney of ' 
 White's Bank at Buffalo ; attorney for the Western Savings 
 Bank ; life-member of the Young Men's Association ; trustee 
 of the Free Grosvenor Library, and has held many positions 
 of public and professional trust, attesting the high esteem 
 with which he is regarded by the community where he lives. 
 Such was the great respect entertained for him by those 
 among whom he has always resided, and such their elevated 
 opinion, especially of the conscientiousness and ability for 
 
Nelson K. Hopkins. 33 
 
 » 
 
 financial administration which he has displayed throughout 
 his career, that, without his own solicitation or knowledge, 
 he was unanimously presented by the Erie delegation at the 
 Republican State Convention of 1871, as a candidate for 
 Comptroller, and promptly nominated. He and his associates 
 were recognized as embodying the reform sentiment then so 
 pronounced among the people, and the ticket was elected by 
 a handsome majority. 
 
 Mr. Hopkins having served the State for two years, and 
 made a shining reputation for ability and integrity, the dele- 
 gates to the Republican State Convention of 1873 were 
 unanimously of the opinion that one good term, such as his, 
 pre-eminently deserved another, and, accordingly, when the 
 time came to name a candidate for Comptroller, Nelson K. 
 Hopkins was renominated by acclamation, amid the hearty 
 applause of the convention. This nomination was also made 
 by the Liberals, and, on election day, the people handsomely 
 ratified it. Mr. Hopkins, although he was figured out badly 
 defeated the morning after the November election, was. a few 
 days after shown, by the official vote, to have been successful 
 by a majority of 4,065. Tliis result, in view of the fact that 
 the rest of the State ticket met with very "heavy weather," 
 was peculiarly gratifying. It was celebrated in a befitting 
 manner by the members of the Republican General Commit- 
 tee and the Unconditional Political Club of Albany, who, 
 accompanied by a goodly number of the other leading Repub- 
 licans of the city, serenaded, paid their respects and offered 
 their congratulations to Mr. Hopkins a few evenings after 
 his election. ' Governor Dix, who was serenaded on the route, 
 made a speech, in which he said : 
 
 Fellow-Citizens — I am greatly obliged to you for this 
 friendly call on me. It is the more gratifying because it 
 affords me the opportunity of saying to you how cordially I 
 concur in the principal object of your demonstration to-night 
 — to congratulate Mr. Hopkins on his re-election to the 
 office of Comptroller of the State. His success, and the 
 popular approval he has received; are a just and well-merited 
 5 
 
34 Life Sketches. 
 
 m 
 
 tribute to a faithful, efficient and conscientious public officer. 
 Indeed, I should have regarded his defeat, at this juncture, 
 as a calamity to the State. We all know that in past years, 
 and years not very remote, there has been in the administra- 
 tion of our finances much which was loose, much which was 
 unauthorized and wasteful, and some things which, in my 
 judgment, were in violation of our faith to public creditors. 
 These wrongs I know Mr. Hopkins to be earnestly desirous 
 of redressing, and I do not doubt that, with the co-operation 
 of the Legislature, the good work may be accomplished within 
 the time for which he has been re-elected. 
 
 The Comptroller himself was found in one of the spacious 
 parlors of Congress Hall, and an informal reception was 
 held, during which nearly all of the Kepublicans present 
 took advantage of the opportunity afforded to personally 
 congratulate him on his re-election and the victory he had 
 achieved. Hand-shaking over, the party proceeded to the 
 front of the building, and after several airs had been per- 
 formed by the band, Mr. H. made his appearance on the 
 piazza, and, after being introduced to the large crowd in 
 attendance by the Chairman of the Central Committee, he 
 spoke as follows : 
 
 Citizens of Albany — Accept my sincere thanks for the 
 compliment of this beautiful serenade. I do not receive it as 
 personal to myself, but as an expression of your satisfaction 
 at the popular indorsement, so far as they were represented in 
 my candidacy, of the principles and the public policy to which 
 w^e are all equally attached. However glad I should per- 
 sonally feel to be relieved of the onerous duties of the Comp- 
 trollership, I share your congratulations upon the measure 
 of success which attends our good cause. Beyond sincerely 
 shrinking from another term of the always exacting and sel- 
 dom agreeable labors of the office, my gratification in this 
 hour of rejoicing, like yours, is only tempered by the reflection 
 that some of your excellent and worthy candidates have been 
 defeated at the polls. But it is a matter of satisfac- 
 tion that the canvass through which we have passed has 
 been marked, on both sides, by so little of personal criticism, 
 and has left so little of personal feeling, and I trust that it 
 may be found that the officers you have chosen, and who 
 
Nelson K. Hopkins. 35 
 
 • 
 will be associated in the administration of public affairs, 
 however much they may differ in their political affiliations, 
 will be able to rise above all merely partisan considerations 
 and work together in harmony for the public good. 
 
 The great need of the present time is honesty and economy 
 in the management of public trusts. It is a time to enforce 
 retrenchment of expenditures, reduction of taxation and 
 relief of the popular burdens whenever practicable. During 
 the period of my service I have tried faithfully to fulfill 
 these duties, and, so far as the popular expression is an ap- 
 proval of these labors, it will be an encouragement and a 
 stimulus to still more earnest efforts in the same direction. 
 If, in this capacity, I can render any aid to the illustrious 
 and honored statesman whose administration as Chief 
 Magistrate of the State is so entirely and successfully devoted 
 to the public welfare, and so universally applauded by the 
 people, it will be to me a source of peculiar and heartfelt con- 
 solation and pleasure. 
 
 None of his predecessors have received more general and 
 cordial commendation than Mr. Hopkins has for the sleep- 
 less vigilance with which he has guarded the interests of the 
 State and the marked abilit}'^ with which he has administered 
 its finances. At the outset, Mr. Hopkins adopted the rule 
 of giving the most careful scrutiny to every matter coming 
 before him, and this rule he has scrupulously observed, 
 transacting the business of the State with the same care and 
 watchfulness and frugality which he would carry into the 
 conduct of private business. He reduced the number of 
 assistants in his office, subjected every claim to rigorous in- 
 spection, and made the auditing of accounts something 
 more than a mere ministerial duty. So great is the confi- 
 dence felt in his integi*ity and discretion that the Legislature 
 has vested him with larger powers over the expenditure of 
 appropriations in connection with public institutions than 
 were ever before confided to the Comptroller, and it is not 
 an undue estimate to say that by his prudence and firmness 
 he has sav^d the State at least half a million dollars. Not 
 only in his practical administration of the department, but 
 in his official discussions and recommendations, he has 
 
36 Life Sketches. 
 
 • 
 shown conspicuous talent for the position. His annual 
 
 reports presented to the Legislature have attracted unusual 
 attention, and commanded the hearty and unreserved ap- 
 probation of men and journals of all parties, for their incom- 
 parably clear exposition of State finances, and their valuable 
 suggestions. The general judgment is that they fairly rank 
 among the best of our State papers. 
 
 Always among his own neighbors, and now throughout 
 the State, Comptroller HoPKiiq"S is respected for his un- 
 swerving probity, his sound judgment, and his large ability. 
 Personally he is a man of strong friendships, warmly at- 
 taching to himself those with whom he is brought into con- 
 tact. Frank, direct and outspoken, he is at the same time 
 cordial and unaffected, and his fine, clear-cut features express 
 at once a firm decision of character and winning amiability 
 of disposition. 
 
Daniel Pratt. 37 
 
 DANIEL PKATT, 
 
 ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 
 
 Hon. Daniel Pratt, Attomey-General, was born in 
 Washington county in 1806 — a county which gave birth to 
 such well known men as Judges Savage, Cowan, Gray, 
 Parker, Bacon and Judge Nelson of the Supreme Court 
 of the United States. The parents of Judge Pratt were of 
 New England origin, and in early life the mind of their son 
 was embued with the positive qualities and sturdy strength 
 that characterized the descendants of the Pilgrims. Judge 
 Pratt's boyhood was passed in attending school in the 
 winter, and working on his father's farm at other times. 
 At school he easily led all the scholars, and was recognized 
 as the brightest boy in all the region round. At the age of 
 eighteen he taught a district school, and was looked upon 
 by every one as a prodigy. 
 
 In early life he placed his mark high and determined to 
 work his way up to it, unaided by any one. Entering Cam- 
 bridge Academy, Washington county, at the age of twenty- 
 one, he remained there fifteen months. In 1833, he entered 
 the junior class of Union College — a class of which, it is 
 interesting to note, William Cassidy, the late brilliant 
 and accomplished editor of the Argus, was a member. So 
 complete and thorough was his preparation that he found 
 no difficulty in entering this advanced class. Mathematics 
 and Greek were his favorite studies, and to these and the rest 
 of his curriculum, he devoted twelve hours out of every twen- 
 ty-four. He graduated in 1835, taking the highest honors 
 in his class. Then the struggle with the world for fame 
 really began. He determined to strike out into new fields, 
 and journeyed to Memphis on a visit to an acquaintance. 
 He remained there some time employed in teaching a select 
 school, where he made the acquaintance of the late D. D. 
 
38 Life Sketches. 
 
 Hills, at that time a lawyer in Camillus. Mr. Hills was 
 greatly impressed by the strength of mind and brilliant tal- 
 ents of his new acquaintance, and invited him to study law 
 in his office. 
 
 Judge Pkatt studied hard and determined to master the 
 intricacies of his arduous profession, not content with merely 
 grasping the rudiments. In 1836 he was admitted to prac- 
 tice in the Supreme Court. He removed with Mr. Hills to 
 Syracuse, and formed a copartnership with him. The firm 
 at once took a front rank in a profession already over- 
 crowded and adorned by leading minds. Their business 
 relations continued until 1843. 
 
 Under the Constitution prior to 1846, the judges were 
 appointed by the Governor and Senate, and in 1843, Gov- 
 ernor William C. Bouck appointed Dan'iel Pratt Judge 
 of the Court of Common Pleas of Onondaga county, a posi- 
 tion he held until the Constitution of 1846 went into opera- 
 tion in the beginning of 1848. For four years he held this 
 position, discharging his onerous duties with an impartiality, 
 fairness and justice that won the admiration of the entire 
 bar of the State. His opinions and decisions, officially pro- 
 mulgated, were characterized by sound judgment, practical 
 common sense and eminent learning, which characteristics 
 are the important elements of his character. The Constitu- 
 tion of 1846 divided the State into eight judicial districts, 
 and the Democracy of the counties of Onondaga, Oneida, 
 Oswego, Herkimer, Jefferson and Lewis, forming the Fifth 
 Judicial District, nominated Mr. Pratt as one of their' can- 
 didates for Supreme Court Judge. He was triumphantly 
 elected, and discharged the duties so acceptably that he was 
 renominated in 1851, and re-elected, serving until January, 
 1859. His career as a judge met the approval of all parties 
 by reason of his impartiality, while his opinions on cases 
 brought before him were considered among the ablest that 
 issued from any judge on the bench of the State. 
 
 Upon his retirement from the bench. Judge Pratt formed 
 
Daniel Pratt, 39 
 
 a partnership with D. J. Mitchell, Esq., one of the most 
 brilliant advocates in the State, and Wilder M. Browx, 
 an eminent oflBce lawyer. The firm at once took a com- 
 manding position as one of the strongest in the State, and 
 still continues. Judge Pratt was appointed by Governor 
 Hoffman a member of the Constitutional Commission, where 
 he at once took a leading position by his sound judgment, 
 his great legal ability, and his eminent learning. His posi- 
 tion in the profession is also shown by the fact that the 
 Impeachment Committee of the Assembly of 1872 selected 
 him as one of their counsel to conduct the celebrated trial 
 of the notorious Judge Barnard. In politics Judge Pratt 
 has always been a Democrat and an unwavering supporter 
 of the party. 
 
 Judge Pratt was elected to his present honorable and re- 
 sponsible position by a majority of 10,111 over Benjamin D. 
 SiLLiMAN. The Syracuse Coujier, to whom we are indebted 
 for many of the facts in the above sketch, in summing up a 
 brief biographical notice of the present Attorney-General of 
 the State, says : 
 
 Judge Pratt is a positive man whose clear and quick per- 
 ceptions, sound judgment and practical common sense 
 impress most forcibly all who come in contact with him. As a 
 citizen he is universally esteemed and respected, while his 
 charitable nature always displayed in an unostentatious 
 manner has endeared him to those toward whom it has 
 been exercised. As a lawyer, Judge Pratt occupies the 
 front rank in the profession. Firm as a rock when bat- 
 tling for the right, his mind is unswayed by extraneous 
 circumstances. His integrity is acknowledged by all, and 
 not a breath of suspicion was ever raised by a political or 
 legal foe. Judge Pratt is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian 
 school. He is a Democrat from principle, and his wisdom 
 and counsels are often consulted by party leaders. He will 
 add dignity to the office. 
 
40 Life Sketches. 
 
 THOMAS EAINES, 
 
 STATE TREASURER. 
 
 Thomas Eaines, the present Treasurer of the State of 
 New York, is one of the youngest men ever chosen by the 
 people for a position of so much importance. He is now in 
 his thirty-second year, and was first called to preside over the 
 Treasury when but twenty-nine. The American people, 
 liow^ver, have regard rather to ability than years, agreeing 
 with the Earl of Chatham, that youth is not that sort of an 
 " atrocious crime " which stands in need of any palliation or 
 denial. 
 
 Mr. Eaines was born at Canandaigua, Ontario county, 
 N. Y., on the 13th of August, 1842. He is of English 
 descent on his father's side, and Scotch on his mother's. His 
 grandfather, JoHiq" Raines, a sturdy Englishman, was born 
 in 1784. At the early age of twenty-eight he had acquired a 
 large fortune in mercantile pursuits, and, notwithstanding 
 the cares of business, had found time while amassing it to 
 fulfill the duties of the sacred office. He was the regularly 
 installed minister of a Methodist congregation, and had inti- 
 mate relations with the celebrated divine, Robert Hall, and 
 other illustrious contemporaries. 
 
 "We believe the historians are not at one, as yet, as to the 
 caicse that induced the return of Napoleon from his island 
 retreat at Elba, but very many men in England, France and 
 elsewhere, knew too well the effect of the re-appearance of the 
 Little Corporal. JoH:sr Raii^es was one of these, and his 
 financial losses were so heavy as to induce him to gather up 
 the remnants of his broken fortune and try to better his con- 
 dition in America. In the year 1821, the merchant-minister 
 arrived at Philadelphia, and soon after commenced the busi- 
 ness of manufacturing at that point. The usual ups and 
 downs marked his life in the City of Brotherly Love, and 
 
Thomas Raines. 41 
 
 after being twice burned out, and declining an offer of part- 
 nership from the since celebrated Thomas Tasker, he aban- 
 doned the Keystone for the Empire State, and took up his 
 residence at Canandaigua. 
 
 The father of the Treasurer, another John Raines, was 
 born at Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, in 
 the year 1818. While yet an infant he was brought to this 
 country by his i)arents, and here he has resided ever since. 
 
 After leaving school, and until his twenty-seventh year, he 
 followed farming for a living. He then abandoned secular 
 pursuits and entered the ministry. For many years he was 
 widely known in "Western New York, being recognized as 
 standing among the foremost of his Methodist brethren. 
 Mrs. Raines, the mother of the subject of our sketch, was a 
 Miss Mart Remington. Her ancestors came from New 
 England, but she herself was born near Canandaigua. 
 
 The leading facts in the life of the Treasurer are about as 
 follows : 
 
 After receiving the usual common school education, and 
 supplementing it with a good deal of self-taught instruction, 
 he closed his text-books at the early age of fourteen. Those 
 who think they can see the coming oak in every acorn, will 
 be interested in knowing that the future financial head of 
 the State left behind him, at the common school from which 
 he graduated, a reputation for unusual proficiency in mathe- 
 matics. Commencing his business life on the bottom round 
 of the long ladder, he accepted a clerkship in a store at 
 Lyons, Wayne county, in this State, at an annual salary of 
 one hundred dollars. His industry, talents and determina- 
 tion soon led to his promotion, and at the age of sixteen he 
 had charge of the books of a large mercantile establishment. 
 A little later we find him book-keeper in the Bank of Canan- 
 daigua, in which institution his education in fiscal matters 
 fairly commenced. Keeping the books of the bank for a year, 
 he developed so much capacity as a banker that he was pro- 
 moted to be acting cashier. 
 6 
 
42 Life Sketches. 
 
 At the age of twenty, Mr. Raines had attained a broad 
 and accurate knowledge of the important and intricate 
 branch of business to which he had resolved to devote his 
 future, and, in connection with a number of capitalists of 
 western New York, he then proceeded to start a I^ational 
 Bank, one of the first, it may be remarked, ever organized in 
 the country. This bank was located at Geneva, Ontario 
 county, and, under the management of Mr. Raines, enjoyed 
 a high degree of prosperity. 
 
 In 1867 he removed to Rochester, and at the age of twenty- 
 four, became financial officer of the Farmers and Meclianics' 
 National Bank of Rochester. In this position, as in his pre- 
 ceding ones, he has been eminently successful, and has built 
 up a large business. 
 
 On the 29th of December, 1864, Mr. Raines was married 
 to CiiARRiE, daughter of Hon. Joseph Halstead, of 
 Columbia county. She died on the 5th of March, 1870, to 
 the poignant grief of a large circle of friends. A lady of high 
 intellectual endowment, and the possessor of varied accom- 
 plishments, she was in very deed and truth a helpmeet for her 
 husband. Whatever of prosperity may haA^e attended the 
 later years of his life, he attributes, for the major part, to her 
 wise counsels, and her unfailing sympathy in all his under- 
 takings. 
 
 At the Republican State Convention, which met at 
 Rochester, in September, 1871, Mr. Raines was nominated 
 by acclamation for the position which he now holds. In the 
 canvass that followed, he made a most gallant fight, and 
 gained the day by an overwhelming majority. The estimation 
 in which he is held by his fellow- citizens is shown in the fact 
 of his running nearly a thousand ahead of the State ticket in 
 Rochester. When a prophet (or a banker) comes no nearer 
 than that from " being without honor in his own country,'' 
 the conclusion is irresistible that his neighbors have entire 
 confidence in the prophet (or banker). Mr. Raines' entire 
 
Thomas Raines. 43 
 
 majority in the State was 21,784; he polled the highest vote 
 on the ticket. 
 
 Mr. Raines was for many years an active and ardent Re- 
 publican. Sympathizing, however, with the Liberal move- 
 ment, he attended the Cincinnati Convention and helped 
 place Horace Greeley in nomination for the Presidency. 
 His position and ability received suitable recognition from 
 the Convention, he being chosen one of its Vice-Presidents. 
 Since that time Mr. Raines has acted with the Liberals, 
 and is recognized as one of the leaders of his party in this 
 State. At the Democratic Convention, called to nominate a 
 State ticket, at Utica, in September last, Mr. Raines was 
 named by acclamation for the office which he now holds, 
 by virtue of a re-election. The mutations of our politics is 
 thus strikingly illustrated — a renomination and election at 
 the hands of Democrats and Liberals following directly after 
 a nomination and election at the hands of Republicans! 
 Although he was embarrassed in his canvass by the defalca- 
 tion of one of his clerks, which came to light soon after 
 his name was hoisted, yet, nevertheless, he led all the 
 nominees on the State ticket, save the State Engineer, and 
 secured his election by the handsome majority of 12,G30. 
 
 Since his induction into the office which he now holds, 
 Mr. Raines has justified the high expectations of his friends, 
 demonstrating both his capacity and disposition to wisely 
 administer the finances of the State. 
 
 Entering office without particular political experience, but 
 with the training and aptitude of a successful banker, he at 
 once displayed quick apprehensions, a ready grasp of public 
 questions, a clear insight into State polity and a broad under- 
 standing, especially of its fiscal interests and public works. 
 He initiated in the Canal Board, at an early day, a direct 
 movement for the repeal of the repair contracts. Mr. Raines 
 undertook the task of pushing it into operation, and brought 
 the question to a direct issue by a series of resolutions, pre- 
 sented in the board shortly after his entrance into office. He 
 
44 Life Sketches. 
 
 was the prime mover in the adoption of the low-toll sheet of 
 1872 and 1873, having prepared the schedule and offered it in 
 the Canal Board. He gave effect to the general desire for 
 cheap transportation, sharing the common fear of the diver- 
 sion of commerce from New York. It was mainly through his 
 efforts that the State resumed specie payments on its bonds. 
 Holding that the good faith of the State required it to meet 
 these obligations in coin, he took an honorable share in se- 
 curing the adoption of a policy so conducive to public credit. 
 The estimation in which Mr. Eaines was held by those who 
 differed with him politically, is shown in the tribute paid him 
 by the Democrat and Chronicle, the leading Eepublican paper 
 of Eochester, at a time last fall when the danger of his be- 
 coming the nominee of the Democracy was among the possi- 
 bilities. The following is an extract from the Democrat arid 
 Chronicle, September 15, 1873 : 
 
 " He made, early in his career," an earnest effort to se- 
 ciire a thorough investigation of the whole management of 
 canal affairs. Believing, from personal observation, and the 
 inspection of the records of his department, that the popular 
 suspicions as to its extravagance and corruption were not un- 
 founded, he called upon the Legislature for a complete 
 examination. His speeches delivered before the Canal Com- 
 mittee of the Assembly, last winter, on the necessity of re- 
 trenchment in canal expenditures, created universal interest. 
 Mr. Eaines carried his point in reducing the appropriations 
 to the extent of a million dollars, a curtailment due almost 
 entirely to his individual efforts. In the Canal Board he has 
 steadily opposed all fraudulent claims, extravagant allowances 
 and profligate jobs, exercising ceaseless vigilance in detecting 
 and baffling every species of dishonesty which is continually 
 endeavoring to obtain a foothold in this department of the 
 public works." 
 
 By virtue of his office, Mr. Eain"Es is a Commissioner of the 
 Land Office and of the Canal Fund, a member of the Board 
 of State Canvassers, and, as we have already indicated, of the 
 Canal Board. 
 
JSvLVANus H. Sweet. 45 
 
 SYLYANUS H. SWEET, 
 
 STATE ElfGINEER AND SURVEYOR. 
 
 Sylvanus H. Sweet, State Engineer and Surveyor, is a 
 native of Oswego county. New York, and is a son of the late 
 Garret C. Sweet, of Phoenix, Oswego county. He com- 
 menced his professional career under 0. W. CHiLDS,Esq., 
 in the year 1847. In 1850 and 1851, he was engaged under 
 Mr. Childs in making a survey for a Ship Canal across the 
 Isthmus of Nicaragua, in Central America, and opening of 
 the Nicaragua Transit Route, for California traflBc and travel, 
 under Commodore Vanderbilt. 
 
 Upon his return, he received an appointment upon the 
 New York State canals, in 1852, where, owing to great dili- 
 gence and application, he remained undisturbed through all 
 the political changes of the next eight years, and in 1860, 
 through the earnest application and recommendation of 
 Hon. Van R. Richmond, the then State Engineer and 
 Surveyor, was appointed by a Republican Canal Board 
 Resident Engineer at Syracuse. While holding this position, 
 he compiled and perfected a complete set of plans of the 
 most important canal structures, which were published in 
 connection with the State Engineer's report for 1860. 
 
 Upon his removal, Mr. Richmond appointed him principal 
 assistant, under 0. W. Childs, on the " New York Harbor En- 
 croachment Survey. '* By reason of his skill and characteristic 
 energy, Mr. Sweet had the honor of being the first to estab- 
 lish, successfully, the original high and low water lines 
 around Manhattan Island and the shores of Brooklyn, from 
 which the first map was published in 1861, showing these lines. 
 
 Upon the election of William B. Taylor as State 
 Engineer, in 1862, he was tendered and accepted the position 
 of Deputy State Engineer. During his term as Deputy, 
 Mr. Sweet devoted his leisure hours to writing a complete 
 *' History of the New York Canals," a work embracing 384 
 
46 Life Sketches. 
 
 pages ; also a history of the Hudson Kiver Improvements, 
 some thirty or forty pages iu length, and a scientific report 
 of great practical value on coal. This last work, contained 
 in about 100 pages, set forth the cost of coal over different 
 routes to market. It was furnished, upon call, to the Senate 
 during the session of 18G4, and was read with interest by 
 coal consumers geuerally, since it contained all the informa- 
 tion necessary to a full and clear understanding of the 
 actual cost of the commodity treated of in market. 
 
 During the war (1865), he was the nominee of the Demo- 
 cratic party for the same position he now holds, and although 
 running ahead of the ticket about 4,000, was defeated with 
 his party when all placed upon the ticket — made up of 
 JoHK Va:n- BuREiT, Gen. H. W. Slocum, Lucius Eobinsok, 
 etc. — were vanquished by the war cry. 
 
 In 1865-6, Mr. Sweet had charge of surveys, plans and 
 estimates for a canal across the State of Maryland, from 
 Washington to Annapolis, thence along the shore of Chesa- 
 peake to Baltimore, thereby saving in distance between these 
 points 190 miles, and the danger of navigating the bay with 
 small crafts, and perfecting an inland canal navigation from 
 Albany or New York to Washington, upon a scale of navi- 
 gation equal to the Delaware & Earitan. 
 
 Upon the election of Hon. Van- E. Eichmon^d for State 
 Engineer and Surveyor, in 1868, Mr. Sweet was tendered 
 and accepted the position of Deputy, which he held during 
 the two terms of Mr. Eichmoi^d's administration, serving 
 also as Engineer and Inspector of the New Capitol, which 
 latter position he retained after the defeat of his party in 
 the fall of 1871. 
 
 Mr. Sweet received the nomination from the Democratic 
 party at a convention held at XJtica, in the fall of 1873, for 
 State Engineer and Surveyor. He was also nominated at 
 the Liberal Convention held at Elmira the same fall, and 
 was elected to that office, receiving a majority some 4,000 
 larger than any of his associates on the ticket. 
 
SENATORS. 
 
 JAMES W. BOOTH. 
 
 The fifth Senatorial district consists of the eighth, ninth, 
 fifteenth and sixteenth wards of the city of New York. It 
 is represented in the present Senate by James W. Booth 
 who was born in the city of New York, on the ninth of 
 September, 1822. After receiving a good education in 
 various private schools in that city, he turned his attention 
 to mercantile pursuits with marked success. As a dyer 
 and manufacturer of cotton goods he was long known to the 
 world of trade no less for his business sagacity than for his 
 integrity. At present Mr. Booth is not actively engaged in 
 business, being one of those fortunate mortals to whom 
 effort has brought the wherewithal on which to complacently 
 retire from the noisy marts of trade. 
 
 In politics Mr. Booth was for many years a Whig, but 
 since the formation of the Republican party he has been an 
 ardent supporter of that organization. Until nominated for 
 the Senate he had never been prevailed upon to accept a 
 political office, although for many years he has been devoted, 
 with his time and his means, to the support of honesty and 
 efficiency in public affairs. In him the cause of education 
 has ever had a warm friend, and to it he has given a long 
 term of service. From 1850 until 1870 he was trustee of 
 the Common Schools of the Ninth ward of New York. On 
 the organization of the Fire Department, under its present 
 system, he was made one of the Commissioners, a position 
 which he held for three months and then resigned. In 1873, 
 
48 Life Sketches. 
 
 Avlien the Legislature was called upon to name a Regent of 
 the University in place of Oswald Ottej^dorfer, Mr. 
 Booth received the unanimous nomination of the Republi- 
 cans and was duly elected. In the election which resulted 
 in placing him in his present position of Senator he ran 
 against Vijtcei^t 0. Kikg and received a majority of 2,437. 
 Mr. Booth is Chairman of the Committees on Literature 
 and Public Health, and is also a member of the Committees 
 on Cities, and Commerce and Navigation. 
 
 GEOKGE B. BEADLE r 
 
 George B. Bradley, who now represents the Steuben, 
 Chemung and Schuyler district, was a candidate for the 
 position which he now holds two years ago. At that time 
 he made a gallant, but an unsuccessful fight. Although the 
 Republican majority in that district had been counted by the 
 thousands, he was beaten by a scratch, his opponent being 
 chosen by a majority of seven. 
 
 Senator Bradley was born in the town of Greene, county 
 of Chenango, on the fifth day of February, 1825, and conse- 
 quently he is now in the full maturity of his powers. His 
 father, Orlo F. Bradley, now dead, came from Litchfield 
 county, Connecticut. The Senator spent the early years of 
 his life on a farm which his father had purchased in Chenango 
 county, after leaving New England. Receiving a good com- 
 mon school and academic, education, he turned his attention 
 to law, and after pursuing the usual preparatory studies, was 
 admitted to practice. For the last twenty-five years he has 
 occupied a prominent position at the bar of this State, being 
 recognized in the profession as one of the ablest lawyers of 
 the southern tier. 
 
 The Senator was married in July, 1850, to Miss Lattimer, 
 of Steuben county. 
 
George B, Bradley, 49 
 
 He and Judge Rumsey of the Supreme Court were the 
 representatives of their respective parties from the southern 
 counties of their judicial district in the late Constitutional 
 Commission. The Judge resigned when appointed to fill a 
 vacancy, but Mr. Bradley served, and no man in the Com- 
 mission made a more favorable impression upon all those 
 familiar with the work of that body. 
 
 Mr. Bradley was placed in nomination by the Democrats 
 and Liberal Republicans. It was a significant fact that his 
 Republican opponent of two years ago, Hon. Gabriel T. 
 Harrower, was one of his most ardent supporters through- 
 out the canvass. He was triumphantly elected, carrying every 
 county in the district, by a majority of 2,859 over Eaton N. 
 Frisbie. 
 
 Mr. Bradley is an easy, effective speaker, and takes a 
 prominent part in all the debates of moment He signalized 
 his entrance into the Senate by his minority report from the 
 Committee on Privileges and Elections, on the Abbott-Mad- 
 den contested election case. He favored the retention of Ab- 
 bott as sitting-member until all the evidence in the case had 
 been offered and reported on by the committee. His speech in 
 support of his report was the most able and eloquent presen- 
 tation of Mr. Abbott's claims that was addressed to the 
 Senate. 
 
 Mr. Bradley is a member of the Committees on Judiciary, 
 State Prisons, and Privileges and Elections. 
 
i50 Life Sketches. 
 
 JOHN W. COE. 
 
 The Second Senatorial district of the State of New York 
 consists of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, 
 eleventh^ thirteenth, fifteenth, nineteenth and twentieth 
 wards of the city of Brooklyn. The Senator is John" W. 
 
 COE. 
 
 JoHTsr W. OoE was born in the city of New York, on the 
 26th of May, 1839. He received a good common school 
 education, and tJien turned his attention to mercantile pur- 
 suits. At the present time he is engaged in business as a 
 manufacturer. He was married in 1862. 
 
 The Senator has always taken a deep interest in politics, 
 and has held some prominent public positions. He was for 
 many years an active Republican, and, in 1872, embraced the 
 Cincinnati movement, so called. He was a delegate to the 
 convention that laid down the Liberal platform and nom- 
 inated Horace Greeley for the Presidency. In his own 
 county of Kings, he has long enjoyed a high degree of polit- 
 ical prosperity. In 1870 he was elected a member of the 
 Board of Supervisors, and proved such a popular representa- 
 tive, that, in 1872, the Liberal Republicans returned him to 
 the Board from a strong Republican district. His second 
 term as Supervisor was signalized by a most stubborn con- 
 test for the Chairmanship of the Board. After a campaign, 
 lasting five months, Mr. Coe was elected to that ofiice. 
 
 In the fall of 1873, the Liberal Republicans placed him in 
 nomination for Senator. The action of the convention was 
 indorsed by the Democracy, and the result was his election 
 over Hon. Johi^ C. Perry, who was chosen to the last Senate 
 by a majority of 1,968. Mr. Coe's majority was 1,414. 
 
 Mr. Coe's political position in the Senate is a peculiarly 
 
Dan H. Cole. 51 
 
 " independent" one. He was first nominated, as we have 
 said, by a distinctively Liberal Republican convention, and 
 afterward was indorsed by the Democrats. He made no 
 pledges whatever to the latter, and, in refusing to do so, told 
 tliem that they had simply to choose between him and his 
 Republican opponent. As a consequence, party ties sit very 
 loosely upon him, and he is left free to follow the promptings 
 of an unbiased judgment in considering all questions brought 
 before the Senate. He came to the Legislature with the 
 reputation of having materially assisted in unearthing the 
 labyrinth of frauds in the jail of Kings county, through 
 wliich the public were swindled out of thousands of dollars 
 annually. He signalized his entrance into the Senate 'by 
 casting his vote in favor of awarding tlie contested seat of the 
 tenth district to Mr. Madden. His speech, in explanation 
 of his action, proved him to be a clear and cogent speaker. 
 
 Senator CoE is a member of the Committees on Cities and 
 Public Health. 
 
 DAN H. COLE. 
 
 The Twenty-ninth Senatorial district of the State of New 
 York consists of the counties of Genesee, Niagara and 
 Orleans. The Senator is Dan H. Cole, of Albion, Orleans 
 county. 
 
 Senator Cole was born at Auburn, Cayuga county, in the 
 year 1814. He is descended from New England stock, both 
 of his parents being natives of Sharon, Conn., where his 
 father followed the profession of medicine for many years. 
 After receiving a good substantial education in the common 
 school and academy, he applied himself to the study of law. 
 He was for some time a student in the office of his brother, 
 Hon. A. Hyde Cole, who, it is interesting to note, occupied 
 a seat in the Senate in 1848-9. After being admitted to the 
 bar, the Senator entered upon the practice of his profession 
 
62 Life Sketches, 
 
 at Albion. Since 1850, other duties occupying his attention, 
 he has not been actively engaged at the law. Of late years 
 he has been prominently engaged in seyeral important 
 business enterprises, among others with the Curtis Agricul- 
 tural Works, of which he is President. 
 
 The Senator has had considerable experience of a varied 
 nature in public life. In 1840 he was appointed by Gov. 
 Seward Surrogate of his county, and held the office four years. 
 In the fall of 1846, he was elected to the responsible and 
 honorable position of County Clerk, and remained as such 
 two terms, six years. In 1855, on the death of Judge H. R. 
 Curtis, he was appointed County Judge and Surrogate, and 
 in the fall of the same year was nominated and elected a 
 member of Assembly from Orleans county. As a member 
 of the lower House of 1856, he participated in the long and 
 exciting contest for Speaker, which ended, on the forty-ninth 
 ballot, in the election of Orville Robin^son-. In all these 
 positions, Mr. Cole served the people to their entire satisfac- 
 tion, and established an enviable reputation for capacity and 
 integrity. 
 
 The Senator is now serving his second term as a member 
 of the Senate. He was first elected to that body in 1863, 
 and, during 1864-65, held the same important Chairmanship 
 which he now holds, of Canals. He was also Chairman of 
 the Canal Committee when in the Assembly, and thus brings 
 to bear in the discharge of his duties during the present 
 session a perfect familiarity with the duties of his responsible 
 position. He has also figured prominently, this session, as 
 Chairman of the Committee of Privileges and Elections. 
 There being no less than three contested election cases in the 
 present Senate, that committee has its hands full. Senator 
 Cole presented the majority report in the Abbott-Maddek 
 case, which excited so much interest all over the State, and 
 which the Senate, after an exciting debate, adopted. 
 
 Senator Cole was married, in 1836, to Frances M, 
 Elliott. 
 
Henry C. Connelly, 63 
 
 HENRY C. CONNELLY. 
 
 The Fourteenth Senatorial district consists of the counties 
 of Greene and Ulster. The Senator is Henry C. Con- 
 nelly. 
 
 Senator Connelly was born at Shandaken, Ulster county, 
 on the 25th of September, 1832, consequently he is now in 
 the full maturity of his powers. Shortly after his birth the 
 family removed to Esopus, in the same county, which has 
 remained the Senator's home ever since. His father and his 
 father's father were both born in the town of Olive, Ulster 
 county. His grandfather was a physician and Baptist min- 
 ister, and his father a farmer. The latter is still living at the 
 age of 66. 
 
 The Senator's education was received, for the most part, at 
 the common schools of his county. A portion of one year 
 he attended the Charlottcville Seminary at Schoharie. At 
 the early age of 15 he began to learn the great lesson of self- 
 dependence, and we find him teaching the young ideas to 
 fihoot He followed teaching for three months, and then 
 went to clerking it at Rondout. Here he remained four years, 
 and then removed to Eddyville, Cattaraugus county, where 
 he spent some time in mercantile pursuits. In 1856 he 
 embarked in business on his own account, and to-day finds 
 him in the same place in which he commenced, a successful 
 and respected merchant. The firm of Connelly & Shafer 
 is widely known as manufacturers of Rosendale cement. 
 
 In politics, the Senator, although brought up under Free 
 Soil Democrat influences, has always been a Republican. 
 For four successive years his friends and neighbors showed 
 their regard for him as a man of capacity and integrity by 
 electing him to represent his town in the Board of Super- 
 visors of Ulster county. He cares very little for public life. 
 
54 Life Sketches. 
 
 and never asked for an office in his life. Whenever he has 
 consented to represent the people the office has sought him, 
 not he the office. 
 
 Thoroughly known throughout the Fourteenth district, 
 and everywhere, as a man fitted, by his sound business capa- 
 city and inflexible integrity, to make a useful legislator, it 
 was not strange that his party friends placed him in nomina- 
 tion for Senator. The district had been counted unfailingly 
 Democratic, and yet, although Greene county went against 
 Mr. Connelly 543, his own county of Ulster gave him the 
 handsome majority of 809, thus securing his election by 26G 
 over Jacob H. Meech. In 1871 a Democratic Senator was 
 elected by 828 majority. 
 
 Senator Connelly is Chairman of two Committees, Erec- 
 tion and Division of Towns and Counties and Charitable 
 and Religious Societies ; he is also a member of Roads and 
 Bridges and Printing. 
 
 The Senator has been twice married. He was married to 
 his present wife, a daughter of Levi Manny, of West Path, 
 Ulster county, in 1858. He has been connected with the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church since 1852. 
 
 JESSE C. DAYTON. 
 
 Jesse C. Dayton, of Watervliet, represents the Thirteenth 
 Senatorial district, which consists of the county of Albany. 
 
 The Senator's ancestors were English, and as far back as 
 1600, certain of them emigrated from England and settled 
 near what is now East Hampton, Long Island, where his 
 father was born. His grandfather removed to Rensselaer- 
 ville in 1800. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born at Westerlo, Albany 
 county, in the year 1825. His life has been spent in Westerlo, 
 
Jesse C. Dayton, 65 
 
 Knowersville, Watervliet and New York city. After receiving 
 a good substantial education, he turned his attention to mer- 
 cantile pursuits, and in 1844, being then in his nineteenth 
 year, went to New York as a clerk. Developing good busi- 
 ness qualities, it was not long before he passed from the 
 position of clerk to the head of a flourishing house of his own. 
 He is still actively engaged in business in the metropolis, but 
 has his home away from its rush and roar in tranquil Water- 
 vliet, where he has an extensive farm. 
 
 The Senator takes a lively interest in politics, and has 
 always been identified with the Democratic party. Last 
 spring his friends and neighbors brouglit him forward as a 
 candidate for Supervisor. He accepted the nomination and 
 was elected by a majority of five hundred, in a town which 
 had been previously carried by the Republicans. In com- 
 menting upon his nomination for Senator, the AXhuny Argus 
 bore witness to the faithfulness and vigilance with which he 
 had represented his constituents in the Board of Supervisors. 
 It added, "taking his election for granted, he will be a credit 
 to Albany upon the floor of the Senate, and a valuable servant 
 in committees and all routine legislation. And his character 
 is as exemplary as his qualifications for the position of 
 Senator are superior." 
 
 The Troy Press, a newspaper published outside of the Four- 
 teenth district, noticed the nomination of Mr. Dayton for 
 Senator, as follows : " The Democracy of Albany county have 
 nominated Jesse C. Dayton, of Watervliet, for Senator. Mr. 
 Dayton is not an office-seeker, nor is he a man that office can 
 corrupt. He last spring accepted the nomination for Super- 
 visor in a Radical district, and illustrated his popularity by 
 carrying his election with nearly five hundred majority. In 
 the Board he has been one of the most vigilant members, 
 watching the interests of the people with constant care. 
 Being a man of wealth, he has personal interests that are 
 opposed to extravagant legislation, and that is one of the 
 strongest guards that can be put upon a legislator. As there 
 
56 Life l^ ketches. 
 
 is no doubt of Mr. Dayton^s election, we congratulate our 
 sister county upon the wise action of its convention." 
 
 Mr. Dayton was nominated for the honorable position 
 which he now holds by acclamation, and elicited a hearty 
 support. He was elected over Charles P. Easton", Repub- 
 lican, by a majority of 2,152. In 1871, Charles H. Adams, 
 Eepublican, was elected by a majority of 656, leading the 
 State ticket by 1,911. 
 
 Mr. Dayton" was assigned, by the President of the Senate, 
 to the following committees : Printing, Public Buildings, 
 and Indian Affairs. He is a man of quiet manner and modest 
 bearing. Although not a talking member, as a general rule, 
 he is always ready to take the floor when the success of any 
 measures which he has in charge seems to require it 
 
 WELLS S. DICKINSOK 
 
 The seventeenth Senatorial district, comprising the counties 
 of Franklin and St. Lawrence, is represented by Wells S. 
 Dickinson", of Franklin. He comes from a section of the 
 Empire State which has always been in the van of liberal 
 and progressive ideas, a section proud of its Preston King, 
 its Silas Wright, and which has produced many sons who 
 have been potent in shaping the policy of State and nation. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born at Bangor, Franklin 
 county, where he still resides, in the year 1827, and is of gen- 
 uine American descent. After receiving the rudiments of 
 his education at a common school, he entered the Franklin 
 academy in his native county, where he remained two years. 
 He then, in the year 1846, laid aside his books, and engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits with his father, whom he joined as 
 partner in 1850. In 1851 he took to himself a wife, marry- 
 ing Miss Thusa Fish. In 1853 he bought out his father's 
 
Wells S. Dickinson. 57 
 
 interest in the business and associated Mr. A. 0. Patterson 
 with himself. The copartnership thus formed continued 
 until the year 1865, when he also admitted Mr. Charles 
 Whitney into the firm, and carried on business under the 
 name of Patterson, Whitney & Co. In 1857, Mr. Whit- 
 ney went out of the concern and Mr. Dickinson's brother 
 took his place. During all this time, however, Mr. Dickin- 
 son had devoted himself chiefly to his private and individual 
 business, the manufacture of potato starch and speculation 
 in starch, hops, etc. In addition to the pursuits thus 
 indicated, Mr. Dickinson ran for some years extensive 
 grist and saw mills, of which he was the owner, and had 
 business interests at Red Wing, Minnesota, as member of 
 the firm of Smith, Meigs & Co. 
 
 Thus much for the Senator's business history, and now a 
 glance at his public and political life. In politics he was 
 formerly a Whig, but he now is and has been for years an 
 active and ardent Republican. His personal popularity at 
 home is shown in the fact that for three successive years, 
 1857-8-9, he was elected Supervisor of his native town. In 
 1859 the Legislature of New York appointed him one of the 
 Commissioners to whom was intrusted the settlement of the 
 claim and damages arising on the contract between the 
 State and J. D. Kingsland relative to convict labor. 
 
 Senator Dickinson began his legislative career some 
 years ago. In 18C0 he represented the county of Frani<lin 
 in the Assembly in a manner at once creditable to himself 
 and satisfactory to his constituents. He was a member of 
 one of the most important committees in the House, that on 
 Railroads. In 1864 he was a delegate to the memorable Re- 
 publican National Convention which met at Baltimore and 
 renominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency. 
 
 Senator Dickinson has already had one term's experience 
 in the Senate. In the fall of 1871 he was first nominated 
 for the office, going into the convention as the unanimous 
 choice of Franklin county, and proving entirely acceptable 
 
68 Life Sketches, 
 
 to the St. Lawrence delegates. Two years previous, when 
 his name had been presented by his connty, the convention 
 paid him the marked compliment of passing a resolution 
 recognizing him as " an upright and patriotic citizen, a 
 reliable and active Eepublican, and one whom the people of 
 the seventeenth district hold in high respect." He entered 
 actively into the campaign and was elected by the handsome 
 majority of 6,925. He was chairman of the Committee 
 on Villages and Indian affairs, and a member of the Com- 
 niittees on Claims, Roads and Bridges and State Prisons. 
 
 Mr. Dickinson made so good a record in 1872 and 1873 
 that the electors of the seventeenth district decided that he 
 well deserved to be returned. The New York Times, in an 
 editorial article on the senatorial nominations of last fall, 
 commended Senator Dickinson as a gentleman who had 
 had much experience in public affairs and who enjoyed the 
 confidence and respect of the Republicans among whom he 
 lived. He was re-elected by the comfortable majority of 4,626 
 over his Democratic competitor. 
 
 As a politician Mr. Dickinson has an honorable reputa- 
 tion and his course since he has been Senator has been such 
 as to entitle him to thorough confidence and respect reposed 
 in him by his constituents. He is chairman of two import- 
 ant Committees in the present Senate, Claims and Villages, 
 and is a member of Affairs of Cities and State Prisons. 
 
Albert 0. Dow. 69 
 
 ALBERT G. DOW. 
 
 The Thirty-second Senatorial district, consisting of the 
 counties of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua, is represented by 
 Albert G. Dow, of Randolph, Cattaraugus county. 
 
 The salient facts of his history are as follows : Albert G. 
 Dow was born in Plainfield, Cheshire county, New Hamp- 
 shire, on the 16th of August, 1808. His father, Solomon- 
 Dow, who was also a native of " the Granite State," followed 
 farming for a living. The Senator received his education in 
 the "common" and "select" schools, so called, of Vermont 
 and western New York, and after leaving his books, turned 
 his attention to mercantile pursuits. During many years 
 he was engaged in the hardware business, and he was 
 rewarded with a fair degree of success ; of late he has fol- 
 lowed the business of banking. It may be added, just here, 
 that he has been twice married, and has been a member of 
 the Congregational church for over thirty years. 
 
 The Senator's political history repeats that of a great 
 many of his contemporaries. Until the breaking out of the 
 late war he was a Democrat, and since that time has acted 
 with the Republican party. He has had considerable experi- 
 ence in public life, and evidently is held in high regard by 
 those who know him best. For ten years he represented the 
 town of Randolph in the Board of Supervisors of Cattarau- 
 gus county, a fact that speaks emphatically of his capacity 
 for affairs and his reputation for integrity. In the fall of 
 1862 he was elected to the Assembly from the Second district 
 of Cattaraugus county as a Union Democrat, by a majority 
 of 971 over Lemuel S. Jenks. He made such a satisfactory 
 record that he was returned the next year. When we have 
 added that the Senator filled the office of Justice of the 
 Peace for twelve years, and was, from 1857 to 1863, a Com- 
 
60 Life Sketches. 
 
 niissioner of Excise, it will be seen that his experience of 
 public service has been long and varied. 
 
 The Senator was elected to his present position by a 
 majority of 2,458 over David N. Brown, who ran on the 
 Democratic ticket. He is Chairman of the Committee on 
 Grievances; also of that on Indian Affairs; and is a member 
 of the committees on Public Health and Manufactures. 
 
 Senator Dow is a careful and sound legislator, always 
 keenly alive to the material and moral advancement of his 
 own locality in particular, and of the State in general. 
 Making no pretensions to oratory, he nevertheless has the 
 faculty of presenting his views clearly and forcibly. During 
 the present session his speech in favor of the appropriation 
 to academies was an able and well-considered effort The 
 Senator held that it would be in accordance with the dic- 
 tates of sound policy for the State to distribute $125,000 
 among the academies of the State, and supported his posi- 
 tion with quite an array of facts and figures. Whether or 
 no he is right or wrong is an open question, but he made one 
 thing certain beyond a cavil — his interest in the educational 
 interests of the State. 
 
 JOHN FOX. 
 
 The seat of the Fourth Senatorial district, which remained 
 vacant during the whole of last term by reason of the non- 
 appearance of the Senator elect, William M. Tweed, is 
 occupied this session by John" Fox. The district includes 
 the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, thirteenth 
 and fourteenth wards of New York. 
 
 Senator John Fox was born at Frederickton, New Bruns- 
 wick. His father, Patrick Fox, and his mother, Catharine 
 Ahern, were both natives of Ireland. The Senator received 
 
John Fox. 61 
 
 a common school education, attending school number twenty- 
 nine, New York city. After throwing aside his books he 
 commenced, while yet a mere boy, the great battle of life, 
 and the development of those qualities of self-reliance and 
 energy of character which have since marked his career. 
 
 Until he was twenty- three years of age he was a block and 
 pump maker. After that, thinking that he knew how to 
 keep a hotel, he tried that line of business for two years. 
 Since abandoning hotel keeping he has been engaged in the 
 real estate and brokerage business. 
 
 John Fox is a name that has long been familiar in the 
 ears of those at all acquainted with politics in the city of 
 New York. Few men of his years have been as long in pub- 
 lic life, in various positions of honor and trust, as the Senator. 
 Always an uncompromising Democrat, he has been frequently 
 called by his political friends to represent them. In 1861 he 
 was elected Alderman, defeating one of the most popular men 
 in New York, the late widely lamented Henry Smith, 
 Police Commissioner, by a majority of 800. Tn 1864 he 
 was chosen to the Board of Supervisors of New York 
 county by the overwhelming majority of 17,000. In 1866 he 
 defeated Horace Greeley for Congress, and in 1868 was 
 re-elected over General Lewis by a majority of over 16,000. 
 In Congress he served on the committees on Post-offices, 
 Post Roads and Invalid Pensions. The Senator's position in 
 the State councils of his party is shown in the fact that in 
 1873 he was made Chairman of the Executive Committee of 
 the Democratic State Central Committee. He has long been 
 a regular attendant at the State and National Conventions 
 of the Democracy. He was a delegate to the National Con- 
 Tentions of 1868 and 1872, and has been present in similar 
 capacity at every State Convention held during the past ten 
 years, saving only the year 1871, when the Tweed ring 
 defeated him and put in his place a man of their own. 
 
 The Senator was married in 1861, in New York city, to 
 Miss Ellen Byrne. He attends the Catholic church. 
 
62 Life Sketches. 
 
 In the canvass which resulted in placing him in the seat 
 which he now occupies he was opposed by Morgan Joi^es, 
 and defeated him by a majority of 6,063. He is a member 
 of the Committee on Cities, Erection and Division of Towns 
 and Counties, and Rules. 
 
 JOHN GANSON. 
 
 The Thirty-first Senatorial district consists of the county 
 of Erie. The Senator is John Ganson. 
 
 John Ganson was born in LeRoy, Genesee county, N. Y., 
 in 1818. After pursuing the usual preliminary studies, he 
 entered Harvard College, from Avhich institution he grad- 
 uated in 1839. He began the study of the law directly after 
 his graduation, and as a lawyer has been known ever since. 
 He occupies a prominent place in the ranks of his profession, 
 standing at the head of the bar of Erie county. 
 
 The first official position ever held by Mr. Ganson was 
 that of Senator, in 1863 - 63. The author of " Life Sketches '' 
 for those years, sketches him as follows: 
 
 " Senator Ganson is one of the most prepossessing men in 
 the Senate, both in his personal appearance and the general 
 tone of his character. He is somewhat above the medium 
 height, straight, active, and well formed, and has a brisk 
 energetic gait, which is strongly significant of his firm and 
 decisive character. His eye, which is deep blue, is intensely 
 brilliant, and as clear as the morning star. When he looks 
 at a man, it seems as though he were going, literally, to read 
 him through and through, and no amount of oily duplicity, 
 no brazen effrontery, no studied concealment could avail any 
 thing before his keen, penetrating glance. It is an eye to 
 make all rogues tremble, look round about them to be sure 
 that they have not been unwittingly engaged in some mis- 
 
John Ganson, 63 
 
 cliief. He has always persistently refused to allow his name 
 to be presented to the people as a candidate, aud.his nomina- 
 tion for Senator was conferred upon him without his knowl- 
 edge. Two committees were selected by the convention to 
 apprise him of his nomination, but, although he stated dis- 
 tinctly to both of them that he would not, under any circum- 
 stances, accept the distinction, the last appointed informed 
 the convention that he had consented to accept, and his 
 nomination was accordingly ratified and his election tri- 
 umphantly secured. Finding himself thus unavoidably 
 placed before the people, he made a short speech, defining his 
 position on the war, and sustaining the administration in a 
 successful suppression of the rebellion ; but beyond this he 
 did nothing whatever to secure his election, althougli his 
 opponent, who was one of the most popular men in the dis- 
 trict, labored zealously to secure his own triumph." 
 
 So much for the Senator as he appeared to one in pursuit 
 of his life ten years ago. He was elected as a representative 
 from New York to the Thirty-eighth Congress, and while 
 occupying a seat in that honorable body, served on the Com- 
 mittee on Elections. He was a delegate to the famous 
 Chicago Convention of 1864, that nominated McClellan" 
 for the Presidency. 
 
 The circumstances attending Mr. Ganson's nomination 
 for the position which he now holds, resembled those attend- 
 ing his former nomination in one particular, he seemed loth 
 to run and is said to have expressed anything but satisfaction 
 when informed of his nomination. The office evidently 
 sought him and not he the office, and it follows as a conse- 
 quence that he is confessedly the right man in the right 
 place. He has made an enviable record in the Senate, as the 
 unrelenting foe of special legislation, and has been zealous, as 
 member of the Judiciary Committee, in assisting in framing 
 adverse reports on a large amount of crude and improvident 
 legislation. It has been well said of him, with more force 
 than elegance, that " he invariably scents, instinctively, ' the 
 
64 Life Sketches, 
 
 nigger,' in a measure of questionable propriety." He cherishes 
 a contempt for all manner of combinations, log-rolling and 
 class-legislation. A Democrat of the conservative school, he 
 is not embarrassed in a free and conscientious discharge of his 
 duties by party drill or influence. He is justly classed 
 among the foremost orators of the Senate, and always speaks 
 clearly and forcibly. 
 
 Senator Ganson" is a member of the Committees on 
 Judiciary, Claims, and Commerce and Navigation. 
 
 JACOB A. GROSS. 
 
 The Sixth Senatorial district of the State of New York 
 consists of the tenth, eleventh and seventeenth wards of the 
 city of New York. The Senator is Jacob A. Gross. 
 
 Senator Gross is one of the youngest members of the 
 present Senate, having been born in 1842. He is a New 
 Yorker, and the son of Martik Gross, deceased. After 
 receiving his preliminary education in the private schools of 
 the metropolis, he devoted 'some time to the study of law at 
 the well-known Columbia College Law School. He gradu- 
 ated in 1864 with the degree of LL. B., and the next year 
 was made LL. M., by the same college. He has devoted 
 himself ever since to law as his profession, and has been 
 rewarded with a fair degree of success. 
 
 In politics the Senator has always been a Democrat, but 
 never a member of Tammany Hall until its re-organization 
 a few years ago. He is now a prominent member of the 
 Tammany General Committee. 
 
 The J;:'enator was elected to the position which he now 
 occupies by a majority of 3,312 votes over George Hencken, 
 Jr., the nominee of the Republican party. In 1871 there 
 was a Democratic plurality in the district of 2,425. 
 
Jacob A, Gross. 65 
 
 Senator Gkoss is an easy and fluent debater, and takes an 
 active part in the discussions arising on the important 
 measures presented for the consideration of the Senate. As 
 a legislator, he may be denominated cautious, deliberate and 
 conscientious. He speaks often, but seldom at any length, and 
 always with clearness and earnestness. He is a member of 
 the Committee on Banks, the Committee on Charitable and 
 Religious Societies, and the Committee on Villages. 
 
 Senator Gross is unmarried, and attends the Catholic 
 church. 
 
 JOHN C. JACOBS. 
 
 The Senator from the third district of Kings county, 
 having served in the lower House during the years 1867, 
 '68, '69, '70, '71, '72 and '73, was abundantly qualified, by 
 legislative experience and knowledge, to respond to the call 
 which came to him last fall from his constituents, " Friend, 
 come up higher." A leader in the Assembly for seven years, 
 it was to be expected, on the retirement of Hon. Henry C. 
 Murphy from the seat which he had filled so ably for twelve 
 successive years, that he would be given the succession. Mr. 
 Jacobs was elected to the Senate by a majority of 3,984 
 over John F. Henry. 
 
 The salient points in his history may be stated as follows: 
 He was born in Lancaster county, Penhsylvania, on the 10th 
 of December, 1838, and is therefore now in the thirty-fifth 
 year of his age. His paternal ancestors were of the old New 
 England Revolutionary stock, and several of them partici- 
 pated with honor in the memorable struggle for independ- 
 ence. Mr. Jacobs' mother was born in Pennsylvania, and 
 was of German origin, one of her progenitors having held a 
 high position under Frederick the Great of Prussia. 
 
 When Mr. Jacobs was quite young his parents removed to 
 
66 Life Sketches. 
 
 Brooklyn, where ho was placed in a select school as soon as he 
 had reached a sufficient age. The family removed to Phila- 
 delphia a few years later, and his school studies may be said 
 to have closed when he attained the age of twelve. He was, 
 nevertheless, able to turn every opportunity of obtaining 
 knowledge to account, and the loss occasioned by the check 
 thus given to his educational progress, is not as apparent as 
 it might be in a duller man. Eeturning to Brooklyn, after 
 a year's stay in Philadelphia, he entered a lawyer's office as a 
 messenger boy. The drudgery there required of him was, 
 however, very repugnant to his somewhat high-strung nature, 
 and he left it after a short experience, and sought and 
 obtained a position as copy-holder in the large printing 
 establishment of John" A. Gray & Co., New York. A 
 large number of journals being issued from the establish- 
 ment, Mr. Jacobs naturally came in contact with many 
 newspaper men, and he soon developed a taste for journal- 
 istic life. At the age of eighteen he became a reporter for the 
 New York Express. He showed great aptitude and ability 
 in the arduous duties belonging to the life he had now 
 entered, and was gradually promoted on the Express staff, 
 until he was given charge of the political news columns. In 
 1859 he became correspondent of the same paper at Albany, 
 remaining with it until 1865, when, in the same capacity, he 
 represented the New York World. He also won distinction 
 as a war correspondent, volunteering in 1862 to accompany 
 McClellan's army to the Peninsula. Becoming attached 
 to the 1st New York Volunteers, then in Kearj^'Ey's 
 division, he had a chance to see and participate in some of 
 the hardest fighting of the war. His account of the evacua- 
 tion of Harrison's Landing and the march to Yorktown, 
 which he sent to the Express^ was extensively copied by the 
 press of the country. 
 
 Mr. Jacobs began his political life when a mere boy. In 
 1856, when but eighteen years of age, he was active in his 
 opposition to Fremont's election. In 1860 he was well known 
 
John C. Jacobs, 67 
 
 in Brooklyn as a leader among the young men who com- 
 bined against the Lincoln ticket. In 18G3 he received the 
 regular Democratic nomination for Assembly, against John 
 0. Perry, Republican member of the last Senate. The- 
 OPHiLUS C. Callicott ran as an Independent Democratic 
 candidate, however, and the split thereby occasioned defeated 
 him. In 1865 he also ran, being again defeated by William 
 W. Goodrich, after an unusually spirited contest. Mr. 
 Jacobs' friends insisted that he should run again in 1866, 
 and the Democratic Convention nominated him by acclama- 
 tion. A strong effort was made by the Republicans to defeat 
 him, but the plucky young journalist was successful this 
 time by 900 majority. From that time until his elevation to 
 the Senate, he was regularly returned every fall to the 
 Assembly, his majority being usually larger than the State 
 ticket received. 
 
 In 1869 he served on the Committee on Commerce and 
 Navigation, and on several special committees. In 1870 he 
 was chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, and a 
 member of the Committees on Insurance, and Grievances. 
 In 1871 he was a member of the Committees on Grievances, 
 Judiciary, and Ways and Means, and Chairman of the latter. 
 In 1872 he was a member of the Committee of Ways and 
 Means, and Petitions of Aliens ; and in the last House he 
 was a member of Ways and Means, Insurance, and Rules. 
 During the session of 1872 Mr. Jacobs was honored by being 
 chosen as one of the managers to conduct the trials of Judges 
 Barnard and McCunn. In the years when the Democrats 
 held the majority in the House, Mr. Jacobs displayed great 
 effectiveness as a leader and party manager, winning deserved 
 repute for his readiness and ability in debate, his tireless 
 activity and his dauntless courage in battling for political 
 principles. Two or three times he has been a candidate for 
 the Speakership, but in the year when the party majority was 
 with him, the Tammany interest of New York city, with 
 which he was not always in entire accord, succeeded in 
 
68 Life Sketches. 
 
 defeating him. He was the candidate of the Democratic 
 minority for the position in the session of 1872, and also in 
 the last one, receiving the entire vote of his party. Inas- 
 much as he possesses peculiar qualifications for the post of 
 presiding officer, and is thoroughly versed in parliamentary 
 law, the compliment thus twice given him was in every way 
 deserved. 
 
 Mr. Jacobs is a great favorite among all his friends. 
 Though he is an ardent and active partisan, there is yet a 
 courteousness of manner and a frankness of language in all 
 his political endeavors, which invariably extorts admiration 
 and respect from his most decided opponents. He is a man 
 of large heart and warm sympathies to his friends, and gen- 
 erous to his foes, very few of the latter being such in other 
 than a political sense. In legislative matters he devotes the 
 largest share of his attention to local affairs ; but his ring- 
 ing voice is often heard, also, in defense of party policy, and 
 in denunciation of Eepublican measures and schemes. He 
 is very fluent in debate, occasionally rising to heights of ora- 
 torical eloquence ; and he never fails to command the atten- 
 tioi- of the Senate when once warmed up with his subject. 
 He unquestionably stands among the foremost members of a 
 minority which includes a number of very able men. 
 
 The Senator is a member of the important Committees on 
 Finance, and Affairs of Cities. 
 
William Johnson, 69 
 
 WILLIAM JOHNSON. 
 
 Senator Johnson probably does more than any other man 
 in the Senate to promote a general good feeling all around 
 the circle. Jolly himself, he is the cause of jollity in others. 
 He has a keen sense of the ludicrous, and frequently chooses 
 to place an adversary hors du combat by a racy repartee, 
 rather than force his surrender by the slow processes of logi- 
 cal reasoning. He rarely allows a subject to be disposed of 
 without putting his mark upon it, and 
 
 " is so full of pleasing anecdote, 
 
 So rich, 8o gay, so poignant in his wit, 
 Time vanishes before him as he speaks." 
 
 Urbane and pleasant in his address, and carrying around 
 with him " the atmosphere of gay, good cheer," he is a very 
 popular gentleman. A natural talker, fluent and ready on a 
 great variety of subjects, he is one of the marked men of the 
 Senate. 
 
 Senator Johnson represents the Twenty-sixth district, 
 including within its territory the counties of Ontario, Seneca 
 and Yates. He is a native of the good old Bay State, and 
 is now not far from 50 years of age. He is of unmixed 
 English descent, the son of David and Olive Stodard 
 Johnson. His father died in 1825, at Herkimer, Herkimer 
 county, this State. The subject of our sketch came^to New 
 York while he was yet an infant, with his parents, who took 
 up their residence in Herkimer county. He received a com- 
 mon school education, and subsequently was engaged some 
 five years in mercantile pursuits. From 1849 until 1856 he 
 followed the business of jobbing, as a contractor on the 
 canals, and afterward was engaged in the manufacture of 
 woolen goods at Seneca Falls, where he now resides. Of late 
 
70 Life Sketches. 
 
 years, he has become prominently known as a railroad con- 
 tractor. 
 
 The story of his life, as he himself tells it in familiar con- 
 versation, shows that his career has been indeed a chequered 
 one. Full of ups and downs, of fortunes made and fortunes 
 lost, it has been marked throughout by an unflagging energy 
 and a disposition to make the best of the allotments of Fate, 
 be the same fair or foul. Having tried his hand at a great 
 variety of pursuits he has accumulated a stock of experience 
 of a rich and varied nature. 
 
 In 1862, having the year previous represented the county 
 of Seneca in the Assembly, he felt moved to do his share in 
 putting down the rebellion, arguing, doubtless, that it was 
 useless to concern oneself about making laws for a country 
 until it had first been conclusively settled in the minds of all 
 men that there was, and was to be, a country capable of 
 enforcing obedience to its laws and maintaining its own exist- 
 ence. He raised the 148th regiment New York State volun- 
 teers and commanded it until near the close of the year 1863, 
 when he resigned and returned to civil life. 
 
 In the Assembly of 1861 he Avas assigned a place on two 
 important committees, Canals and Commerce and Naviga- 
 tion, and made an intelligelit and useful legislator. He was 
 adjudged to have possessed a large degree of representative 
 ability, and to have faithfully and efficiently discharged his 
 official duties. 
 
 Mr. Johnson has been elected and re-elected to the Senate 
 from a district usually carried by his political opponents, and 
 his success under the circumstances was a signal proof of 
 great popularity. Notwithstanding the other side had a rec- 
 ord of 332 majority for 1869 to take heart with, he succeeded 
 in 1871 in wiping those figures out and gaining the Senator- 
 ship by a majority of 964. In the last Senate he was on the 
 Standing Committees on Canals, Manufactures and Griev- 
 ances, and was Chairman of the Special Committee appointed 
 to investigate the charges against Tweed. 
 
Charles Kellogg, 71 
 
 The record made by the Senator during the last two years 
 commending itself to his constituents, he was unanimously 
 and by acclamation renominated to represent the Twenty- 
 sixth district. After an exciting and closely contested can- 
 vass he was re-elected over his Republican opponent, Nes- 
 tor WooDWORTH, by a majority of 174. He is a member 
 of the important Committees on Canals and Manufactures, 
 also of the Militia Committee. 
 
 The Senator was married in the summer of 1855, to 
 Angeline Chamberlain, daughter of the late Hon. Jacob 
 P. Chamberlain. 
 
 CHARLES KELLOGG. 
 
 'V\\(i Twenty-first Senatorial district of the State of New 
 York consists of the counties of Madison and Oswego. 
 The Senator is Charles Kellogg. 
 
 Senator Kellogg, one of the youngest members of the 
 present body, was born in Minden, Montgomery county, 
 on the 4th of December, 1839. His father, Daniel F. Kel- 
 logg, was a member of the Assembly in 1864. After receiv- 
 ing a thorough education at the Yates Polytechnic Institute 
 at Chittenango, the subject of this sketch applied himself 
 to the study of law. He attended a full course of lectures 
 at the Albany Law School and graduated from that institu- 
 tion in 1863. He has ever since been actively engaged in 
 the practice of his profession. At the present time he is a 
 member of the law firm of Lansing & Kellogg, at Chit- 
 tenango, Madison county. 
 
 Mr. Kellogg has always taken a deep interest in politics. 
 Believing in the principles of the Republican party he has 
 devoted himself as opportunity offered to the advancement 
 of its interests, and is now recognized as one of the leaders 
 of the organization in Madison county. Though still a 
 
72 Life Sketches. 
 
 young man, being but a little past thirty, he is well and 
 favorably known throughout the Twenty-first district. 
 
 Mr. Kellogg was elected to the high position which he 
 now holds by a majority of 1,443 over Mathevt J. Schoe- 
 CRAFT, his Democratic opponent. In arranging his Standing 
 Committees, the President of the Senate named the Senator 
 for several important places. He is chairman of Eoads and 
 Bridges and a member of two other of the most important 
 committees of the Legislature, Judiciary and Canals. He 
 is also a member of the Committee on Salt. 
 
 Mr. Kellogg is quiet and unassuming in his manner, and 
 extremely courteous and affable to all with whom he is 
 brought in contact. As a legislator he is capable and effici- 
 ent ; seldom absent from his seat in the Senate chamber, he 
 keeps a sharp watch on all that is going on. Although not 
 a frequent speech-maker, he is by no means lacking in ability, 
 to express himself with clearness and force. 
 
 JOHN A. KING. 
 
 The First Senatorial district consists of the counties of 
 Suffolk, Queens and Richmond. The Senator is John" A. 
 
 Kll^^G. 
 
 John a. Kin'G was born in Jamaica, Long Island, July 
 14, 1817. He is the son of Johj^ A. Kin"G, Governor of 
 New York in 1857 and 1858, and grandson of Rufus King, 
 who filled so large and honorable a place in the early annals 
 of this State and of the Union. 
 
 After attending Union Hall Academy at Jamaica for ten 
 years, from 1822 to 1832, he entered the Sophomore class at 
 Harvard College, from which institution he graduated in 
 1835. For a short time following his graduation he engaged 
 in mercantile pursuits, and then applied himself to the study 
 of law, and in due course of time was admitted to the bar. 
 
John A. King. 73 
 
 For the past twenty years he has been an agriculturist, 
 seeming to take great pleasure in the pursuit so dear to his 
 ancestors. 
 
 In politics, Mr. King was a Whig until the formation of 
 the Republican party. Since then he has been an unswerving 
 and ardent Republican. He has been a delegate to a number 
 of the State conventions of his party, and assisted at the 
 nomination of Grant and Wilson, at Philadelphia, in 1872. 
 He was elected Republican Presidential elector for the First 
 Congressional district of the State in the fall of the same 
 year. 
 
 Mr. King was termed by the parties opposed to him in 
 his canvass for Senator, as " the ancestral candidate," a title 
 of which he had no reason to be ashamed. A brief sketch 
 of his distinguished father and grandfather will not be con- 
 sidered out of place in this connection. 
 
 RuFUS King was born in Massachusetts, and filled con- 
 secutively the office of representative in the State Legislature 
 and delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was, 
 also, a member of the convention which framed the present 
 Federal Constitution in 1787, and enacted an influential and 
 conspicuous part in its important and difficult deliberations. 
 In the same year, he removed to New York and became the 
 first United States Senator elected from that State. In the 
 Senate he was a recognized leader of the Federalists, or anti- 
 Democratic party. He aided in the expulsion of Albert 
 Gallatin from that body, and subsequently, when he and 
 Alexander Hamilton attempted to address a public meet- 
 ing in the city of New York, called to uphold the celebrated 
 "Jay Treaty" with. Great Britain, the citizens refused to 
 hear them lest they might defeat the treaty. They, how- 
 ever, accomplished their purpose by publishing a series of 
 articles in the newspapers of the day. Mr. King was again 
 elected to the Senate in 1795, and in 1796 resigned to accept 
 the mission to England from President Washington. In 
 1813, and again in 1820, he was returned to the Senate. In 
 10 
 
74 LiF-E Sketches, 
 
 1816 he was nominated for Governor by his party. In 1816 
 he ran unsuccessfully against James Monroe for President. 
 In 1821 he sat in the New York State Constitutional Con- 
 vention. He died in 1828 at the ripe old age of seventy- 
 three. 
 
 His friends claim for Rufus King, that he was the origi- 
 nator of the celebrated Congressional ordinance of 1787, by 
 which negro slavery was abolished in the North-west Terri- 
 tories. When in Congress in 1820, he also opposed the 
 Missouri proviso or " Compromise," and was prominent in 
 opposition to the admission of that State into the Union. 
 Thomas H. Benton in his "Thirty Years' View" does full 
 justice to the career of Rufus King. 
 
 John A. King, father of the Senator, was mustered into 
 the service of the United States in 1812, and held the rank 
 of lieutenant in the militia during the war. He six times 
 represented the county of Queens in the Assembly during 
 the years 1812, 1820, 1821, 1832, 1838 and 1840, and was a 
 member of the State Senate in 1823. In 1825 he was Secre- 
 tary of Legation at London under his father. He was a 
 member of the Thirty-first Congress, where he highly dis- 
 tinguished himself in debate. He opposed the Compromise 
 measures of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law with much 
 ability and zeal. In 1856 he was a delegate to the Republi- 
 can Presidential Convention at Philadelphia, and his name 
 was suggested for the Vice-Presidential nomination on the 
 ticket with Col. Fremont. It is said he had only to signify 
 his willingness to accept to have secured the nomination 
 which was given to Mr. Dayton, of New Jersey. He was 
 elected Governor of the State of New York in 1856, defeat- 
 ing Hon. A. J. Parker, the Democratic nominee, by a 
 majority of 65,784 
 
 For the following brief sketch of the Senator, we are 
 indebted to the Long Island Farmer, Writing of his nomi- 
 nation, it said : 
 
John A. Ktno. 75 
 
 "Senator John A. King, eldest son of the Governor, was 
 bom in Jamaica, at the old place on Beaver Fond, lately 
 occupied by the Hon. William J. Cogswell. The house was 
 destroyed by fire and the present one erected by the late 
 Tunis Van Brunt. Mr. King graduated at Harvard Col- 
 lege, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the summer of 1835. He 
 was married some few years after, and for a long time has 
 resided at Great Neck, taking great pleasure in the pursuits 
 so dear to his ancestors. From the retirement of his life as 
 a gentleman farmer, he now comes forth for the first time, 
 to occupy an important political position. His classical 
 education, together with great familiarity with affairs of 
 State, gained by seasons of residence in Washington, and by 
 association with the most honorable of public men, makes 
 him eminently fitted to fill with great success the place of 
 State Senator. Inheriting not only the outward apj^earance 
 of his noble father, but similar traits of character, we know 
 that the First district will look with pride upon the career 
 of its representative during the next two years, and at the 
 end of that time, we doubt not that our party will unite in 
 nominating John A. King as candidate for the National 
 Congress, where his grandfather, father and uncle had been 
 before him." 
 
 The high esteem in which the Senator is held by those 
 who know him best, is shown in the extraordinary vote he 
 received in his senatorial canvass. He had a majority of 
 1,707 in a district which had been known as a Democratic 
 stronghold. It never had elected a Republican Senator 
 before, and then only through a division in the Democracy 
 with two Democratic candidates running. 
 
76 Life Sketches. 
 
 THOMAS A. LEDWITH. 
 
 The Seventh Senatorial district consists of the 18th, 20th, 
 and 21st wards of the city of New York, and its present 
 representative is Thomas A. Ledwith. Mr. Ledwith was 
 born in the city from whence he now hails on the 14th of 
 February, 1840. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier 
 College, New York, and graduated therefrom in 1856. He 
 at once applied himself to the study of the law, which he 
 had chosen for his profession, and in 1861 he was admitted 
 to practice. With him law and politics went hand in hand, 
 and in 1862 he was sent to the Assembly from the Eleventh 
 district of the metropolis, being elected by a majority of over 
 2,000. He enjoyed the distinction of being the youngest 
 member of the lower house of 1863, and signalized his entrance 
 into legislative life by his opposition to the Broadway railroad 
 bill, which passed and was vetoed by Governor Seymour. 
 He was assigned a place on the important committee of the 
 judiciary. The author of the " Biographical Sketches " pub- 
 lished in 1863, speaking of Mr. Ledwith, says : " He is said 
 to be a young gentleman of excellent attainments, and prom- 
 ises to rise early in his profession. He possesses a pleasant 
 exterior, never attempts any forensic display, has many friends 
 in the legislative circle, and serves his constituents truly and 
 faithfully, being in every way worthy of their confidence and 
 esteem." 
 
 In the fall of 1863, Mr. Ledwith, fresh from the Legisla- 
 ture, was again honored with a testimonial of the regard in 
 which he was held by his political friends. The Democracy 
 nominated and elected him to the important and honorable 
 position of police justice. His administration on the bench 
 gave such satisfaction that, at the expiration of his term of 
 office, he was in 1869 re-elected, notwithstanding the stubborn 
 
Jar VIS Lord. 77 
 
 opposition of Tammany Hall, which was then at the zenith 
 of its power. 
 
 In 1870 the Young Democracy of New York city made 
 him their candidate for mayor, in opposition to A. Oakey 
 Hall. He made a spirited canvass, but did not succeed in 
 securing the election. Mr. Ledwith was elected to the Senate 
 by a miijority of 680 over James Everaed, the Republican 
 candidate, who also drew to his support the Apollo Hall 
 branch of the Democracy. 
 
 Senator Ledwith is a thorough Democrat, following 
 strictly party lines on all leading questions coming before 
 the Senate. He is a member of the following committees : 
 Insurance, Public Expenditures, and Engrossed Bills. 
 
 JARVIS LORD. 
 
 Mr. Lord, the Senator from the twenty-eighth district, 
 was bom at Ballston, Saratoga county, February 10, 1816. 
 He is in the prime of life, and as vigorous as he was at 
 twenty-five ; of good physical proportions, an excellent con- 
 stitution, and a temperament adapted to severe endurance, 
 both of body and mind; he has been favored with good 
 health, and seldom tires by active labor. 
 
 Mr. Lord was the son of poor parents, and had no other 
 educational advantages than those afforded by the common 
 schools in the days of his boyhood. He availed himself of 
 these, however, so far as to acquire a tolerable knowledge of 
 those branches which were to be most essential to his future 
 success in business life. He early adopted the avocation of 
 farming, and though, during most of his subsequent life, he 
 has had large interests in other pursuits, he has made the 
 farm his home, and has taken a pride in the culture of the 
 
78 Life Sketches. 
 
 soil. He has resided, for thirty years or more, at Pittsford, 
 seven miles from Rochester, and has there one of the best 
 cultivated and most productive farms in Monroe county. 
 He takes delight in the cultivation of fruit and the raising 
 of stock, devoting himself particularly to horses, of which he 
 is a great admirer. 
 
 Mr. Lord has always been a Democrat of the Jackson" 
 and Weight school. Devoted to the Union, he warmly 
 espoused the Federal cause at the beginning of the rebellion, 
 and gave freely to promote the national interests, and, it is 
 said, did more than any other man in his town to keep the 
 calls for men filled, and to help the soldiers in the field and 
 at home. He has enjoyed a personal popularity in his own 
 town equaled by few men, and when nominated for office, 
 his neighbors have s-upported him with enthusiasm. He was 
 made the recipient of a testimonial in the spring of 1871, 
 which spoke volumes as to his success in office, and his 
 assured place in the confidence of those who had intrusted 
 vital interests to his keeping. Serving two terms in the 
 lower House, and one term in the upper one, he had devel- 
 oped signal legislative capacity, and an unfaltering devotion 
 to the best interests of his constituents. On his return 
 home in 1871, at the end of his first Senatorial term, his 
 constituents, without distinction of party, gave expression to 
 their appreciation of their gratitude for his services in their 
 regard by affording for his acceptance a testimonial in the 
 shape of an elaborate service of plate. The presentation cer- 
 .emonies took place at the Senator's residence at Pittsford, and 
 a special train was run from Rochester for the accommoda- 
 tion of the large number who desired to be present on the 
 interesting occasion. The presentation speech was made by 
 William N. Sage, and Senator Lord made an appropriate, 
 eloquent and feeling response. Letters were read from 
 prominent gentlemen regretting their inability to be present 
 on the interesting occasion, and expressing their congratula- 
 tions. 
 
Jar VIS Lord. 79 
 
 The formality of presentation over, the presents were 
 inspected and admired. The testimonial consisted of the 
 following articles : Silver server, coffee urn, two tea pots, sugar 
 bowl, cream pitcher, slop bowl, card dish, fruit stand and 
 soup tureen. The articles are all solid sterling silver, hand- 
 somely engraved and gold lined. The silver is marked : 
 
 " Hon. Jarvis Lord, from the citizens of the twenty-eighth 
 Senatorial district of New York, as an atjknowledgment of 
 faithful services." 
 
 All the article? named are marked with the monogram, 
 "J. L." in handsome old English letter. The cost of the 
 testimonial was 12,500. 
 
 And now a few details of that legislative career of which 
 we have spoken, and a word as to the Senator's business his- 
 tory. He was elected to the Assembly in 1858, on the Demo- 
 cratic ticket, when the district went Republican by several 
 hundreds. He was elected again in 1866, by a majority of 
 fifteen over a strong opponent, when the district gave Governor 
 Eenton 600 majority. At the opening of the Legislature, 
 in 1867, his party presented him as the Democratic candi- 
 date for Speaker, and sustained him by an unbroken vote; 
 but the Republican majority in the House accomplished the 
 election of Mr. Pitts. He has once or more served as Super- 
 visor. 
 
 Mr. Lord has been engaged for many years in building 
 canals in this State, and he enjoys a wide reputation as a 
 contractor. He is President of the Bank of Monroe, of 
 Rochester, a sound and reliable institution, and as a business 
 man is well and favorably known all over central and western 
 New York. 
 
 Mr. Lord has been a member of the Senate since 1870, 
 and in that year was made Chairman of the Finance Com- 
 mittee. Although a new man in that body, at that time, he 
 took a leading position from the start, and gave evidence of 
 an extensive knowledge of the wants and resources of the 
 State. His report on the payment of a portion of the State 
 
80 Life Sketches. 
 
 debt in coin, made during the first year of his term, was 
 regarded as a paper of great clearness and force. The Senator 
 was renominated in 1871, and again in 1873, under circum- 
 stances which must have been peculiarly gratifying to him, 
 indicating, as they did, that his course as a legislator met 
 with the hearty approval of his constituents. Before the 
 renomination was made in 1871, a letter was read to the 
 convention from him, declining another senatorial term, and 
 giving his reasons therefor. The convention not seeing eye 
 to eye with Mr. Lobd on that point, and having nomintited 
 him by acclamation, sent a committee to inform the nominee 
 of their action, whereof the Senator appeared in the conven- 
 tion and said if his letter of declination would not suffice, he 
 would yield to the wishes of his constituents and take the 
 field. He was elected by a majority of 1,838, an increase of 
 1,138 on his majority of 1869. He was elected to the present 
 Senate by a still larger majority, 3,384, an increase of 1,546 
 over the majority of 1871, and an increase of 2,684 over the 
 figures for 1869. 
 
 Mr. Lord does not claim to be an orator. His attention 
 has never been bestowed on the embellishments of rhetoric 
 and elocution. Whenever he has an opinion to utter he 
 delivers it point blank and with force, if not with grace. 
 His shrewdness, plain sense and knowledge of the world are 
 his leading characteristics, and they serve him well in the 
 accomplishment of his ends as a Senator. 
 
Samuel S. Lowery, 81 
 
 SAMUEL S. LOWERY. 
 
 Samuel S. Lowery, of Utica, who represents the Nine- 
 teenth Senatorial District, consisting of the county of Oneida 
 was born in county Down, Ireland, on the 5th day of Feb- 
 ruary, 1831. It would, therefore, be a Hibernicism to say 
 that he is a Scotchman, but his ancestry, not less than his 
 characteristics, stamp him as one who is more a Gael than 
 a Celt. 
 
 Senator Lower y's parents emigrated to this country when 
 Samuel was about fourteen years old, and settled in Oneida, 
 county. He received a good common school education in 
 Ireland, and, by reason of a strong taste for books, he has 
 acquired, during his later years in this country, an extensive 
 fund of knowledge. 
 
 The Senator is, by occupation, a manufacturer of woolen 
 goods. In this business he has been quite successful, and 
 conducts, at the present time, an extensive establishment, in 
 which he employs a large number of hands. He settled in 
 Whitestown, Oneida county, on his arrival in this country, 
 and there remained until the year 1848. From thence, he 
 went to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he was con- 
 nected with a woolen mill until 1855, when he left and came 
 to Utica, and engaged in the dry goods business. Success 
 crowned his efforts, and, in 1861, he abandoned dry goods to 
 become a wool dealer, and, two years later, started the mill 
 which he has since run. 
 
 In politics Senator Lowery, although a strict believer in 
 the principles of the Republican organization, is never bit- 
 terly partisan. Until his election to the Assembly in 1870, 
 he neither held nor sought office. He was chosen to that 
 body by a majority of 448, over a worthy and popular com- 
 11 
 
82 Life Sketches. 
 
 petitor, in a district where the Eepublican majority, in the 
 previous year, was less than 50. Serving upon the Commit- 
 tees on Public Education, State Charitable Institutions, and 
 Eoads and Bridges, he proved faithful to the interest of his 
 constituents, and exhibited a comprehensive knowledge of 
 the duties of a legislator. As a member of the Committee 
 on Education, he was especially distinguished for his sturdy 
 and unflinching opposition to the policy of sectarian appro- 
 priations. 
 
 Mr. LowERY was elected to the last Senate by a majority 
 of 1,591 over his opponent (who had been a member of the 
 preceding Senate, and was elected by a majority of 53), in a 
 canvass in which the Republican candidate for Secretary of 
 State received a majority of 1,023, in the Nineteenth Sena- 
 torial District. Senater Lowery was very properly placed 
 at the head of the Committee on Manufactures; he was also 
 Chairman of the State Prison Committee, and a member of 
 several other important committees. He had the honor of 
 renominating Roscoe Con'KLIN'G for United States Senator, 
 and his speech, in joint caucus of the Republican members 
 of the Senate and Assembly, in presenting that gentleman, 
 was an able and eloquent effort. 
 
 His name having been mentioned in connection with 
 the mayoralty of Utica last year, the Senator informed his 
 friends that, while representing the Nineteenth Senatorial 
 District, he felt in obligation bound to decline any other 
 office, the holding of which might interfere with his Sena- 
 torial duties. 
 
 The Senator was not ungrateful for the honor sought to 
 be conferred upon him by his fellow-townsmen, but he wisely 
 chose not to accept an office which might divide his atten- 
 tion, caring first to redeem, to the satisfaction of the mof^ 
 strict constructionist, the obligations assumed with the office 
 of Senator. 
 
 Mr. Lowery was renominated for the position which he 
 now holds without so much as even the mention of a com- 
 
Edward M. Madden, 83 
 
 petitor, or the suggestion of opposition in the convention that 
 named him. He was elected by a majority of 2,829 oyer 
 Enoch B. Armstrong, running 1,200 ahead of the State 
 ticket majority in 1871, which was 1,591. Commenting 
 upon his renomi nation, the Albany Evening Jourtial paid 
 him this handsome tribute : 
 
 " Senator Lowery is universally known, first of all, as a 
 scrupulously honest and upright representative, the inflexi- 
 ble foe of all jobbery, and the sworn enemy of the lobby. 
 With this most important of qualifications, he unites sound 
 judgment, ample ability and large acquaintance with the 
 wants and interests of the State. As an influential member 
 of the Finance Committee, Mr. Lowery has faithfully co- 
 operated in everj^ effort to protect the treasury and defeat all 
 improper demands upon it. He has met all questions with a 
 conscientious sense of public duty, and his whole influence 
 and action as a legislator have been wholesome." 
 
 EDWARD M. MADDEN. 
 
 There are some men who, remembering the implied injunc- 
 tion of Holy Writ contained in the exclamation, " I would 
 thou wert either cold or hot," do whatsoever their hands find 
 to do with unqualified fervency. They recognize no such 
 things in the world as half-truths; to them whatever is not 
 radically right is radically wrong, and vice versa. Their 
 trumpets never give forth an uncertain sounder one wanting 
 in volume, and if all the Jericho walls at which their efforts 
 are directed do not tumble, they — gazing upon some stub- 
 born piece of masonry on which their trumpeting makes no 
 impression — have the consolation that goes with the con- 
 sciousness of always making a red-hot and never a luke- 
 warm fight. 
 
 Senator Madden belongs to this school of men. He lias 
 decided convictions, and is very decided in expressing them. 
 
84 ' Life Sketches. 
 
 Once his mind is made up, he is extremely hard to move 
 from his position, and whoever questions the faith that is in 
 him is sure to hear the reasons on which that faith rests 
 couched in unequivocal language. His aye and nay are like 
 
 " When he wills, he wills, you may depend on't, 
 And if he wont, he wont, so there's an end on't." 
 
 George W. Bukg ay, the poet, in a volume of " Pen and Ink 
 Portraits," issued in 1857, has a readable sketch of the 
 subject of this biography, from which we take the following: 
 
 " Senator Maddei^ represents the county of Orange, where 
 he was born, has always lived, and where he will probably 
 die, unless political events so shape themselves that his 
 unquenchable love of liberty, and intense hatred of slavery, 
 should induce him to leave his Lares and Penates, and 
 migrate to Kansas.* Like many other men of mark, he is 
 wholly the artificer of his own fortune. He had no advan- 
 tages of early education. From the age of nine to fourteen 
 he commenced fitting himself for the great battle of life as an 
 operative in a cotton factory; thence he pursued his studies 
 as an apprentice in a tin shop ; graduated in a hardware 
 store, and took his final degree, as a retail merchant, at Mid- 
 dletown, where he now has a very extensive saw factory. 
 Nature has done much for him. Gifted with a fine consti- 
 tution, his iron will, unbending energy, indomitable perse- 
 verance and unflagging industry have combined to make 
 him a hard student and a well-read man. His mind is well 
 stored with practical knowledge, and few men are so thor- 
 oughly posted in the political history of our State or country. 
 There is no man in the Senate of greater pluck or nerve. 
 Governed in all his actions by fixed principles, nothing ever 
 turns him from his purpose, when his course is once marked 
 out. The State never had a more watchful guardian over 
 its interests. He is extremely sensitive and jealous about all 
 
 ♦ He probably has given up the idea of going to Kansas.— [Ed. 
 
Edward M. Madden. 85 
 
 inroads upon the treasury — more so than if it were his own 
 private purse. His active business habits make him invalu- 
 able on committees, and woe betide the unlucky wight who 
 comes before him with a doubtful claim. He participates 
 freely in all debates, dissecting the subtleties and sophistries 
 of lawyers with the sharp scalpel of common sense. He is a 
 nervous, rapid speaker, and no man in the Senate is more 
 earnest, energetic, forcible or convincing. He goes in a 
 straight geometrical line right to the point, without any 
 flowers of rhetoric, but with a directness that there is no 
 mistaking. He uses no pearls of poetry, or flights of fancy, 
 but deals altogether in the purest and strongest Anglo-Saxon. 
 He always votes in accordance with his convictions. No 
 motives of policy, expediency or interest; no regard for 
 individuals or localities ; no personal friendships, can make 
 him swerve one hair's breadth from his line of duty. He 
 engages in no * log rolling,' never aiding any project of doubt- 
 ful propriety to secure assistance in measures of real merit." 
 
 Senator Madden was formerly a Democrat, and was elected 
 to the Senate in 1856-7 as an an ti- Nebraska man. He was 
 Chairman of the Insurance Committee in that body, and a 
 member of the Finance, Claims, and Commerce and Naviga- 
 tion Committees. He made a good record, proving himself 
 to be a strong, popular, earnest man. He was elected to the 
 last Senate by a majority of 2,085 over his opponent, George 
 M. Beebe, a member of the present Assembly. 
 
 In the election for Senator in the Tenth district, in Novem- 
 ber last, the board of canvassers gave the certificate to Fbank 
 Abbott, thereby declaring him elected, and Mr. Madden, 
 his opponent, defeated. Mr. Madden claimed that the 
 inspectors wrongfully rejected two sets of returns from Sul- 
 livan county, whose admission would have made him the 
 sitting member for the Tenth district. His petition, claim- 
 ing the seat, was referred to the Committee on Privileges and 
 Elections of the Senate, who presented a majority report, 
 recommending that the seat be awarded to Mr. Madden. A 
 
86 Life Sketches. 
 
 minority report, recommending that, pending a thorough 
 investigation, Mr. Abbott retain his seat, was also presented. 
 The Senate, after an exciting debate, adopted the majority- 
 report, wherenpon Mr. Maddei^t appeared, was sworn in, 
 and took his seat. 
 
 Mr. Madden has great personal strength in the Tenth 
 district, otherwise he could not so often orercome the fre- 
 quently adverse majority in his own county. He is always 
 careful of the interests of his constituents, and, as we have 
 already indicated, frank and fearless in the expression of his 
 own views on all questions which bear upon the interests of 
 the whole State. • 
 
 ARCHIBALD C. McGO WAIST. 
 
 Archibald 0. McGowai^ was born in Pownal, Benning- 
 ton county, Vt., August 26, 1825. His grandfather, James 
 McGowAN, was born in Scotland in 1750, and emigrated 
 to the Colonies before the Ee volution. He served in 
 the Continental army and participated in the battle of Ben- 
 nington. Before the war he settled in Hoosick, Eenssalaer 
 Co., where Clark McGowais", the father of Archibald, was 
 born. The parents of the Senator died while he was an 
 infant, leaving him an orphan and the youngest of the 
 femily. He was taken in charge by his relatives and given 
 a common school education. At the age of jL7 years he 
 obtained employment as a clerk and procured the means to 
 attend the Jonesville Academy, in Saratoga county. After 
 leaving school he returned to his employment as a clerk and 
 followed it for a few years, and then engaged in business for 
 himself as a merchant, also attending to and carrying on 
 ths business of farmer, boat builder, and dealer in lumber 
 aiid coal. At the age of 25 he was married to Miss Mary 
 
Archibald C. McGowax. 87 
 
 Louisa Rogers, daughter of H. H. Rogers, of Saratoga 
 county, and his partner in business for many years. 
 
 The Senator, in politics, was a Democrat until 1856, when 
 he Yoted for Millard Fillmore, but in 1858 united with the 
 Republican party, to which party he has ever since adhered. 
 He represented the town of Frankfort in the Board of 
 Supervisors of Herkimer county, for several years, and in 
 18C2 was elected a member of the Assembly from the 
 county and served on the committee on canals. At the 
 Assembly District Convention, 1863, he was tendered a 
 renomination, which he declined, and the following resolu- 
 tions were unanimously adopted by the Convention : 
 
 Resolvedf That this Convention cordially endorses the 
 ofl&cial course of Hon. A. C. McGowan, as the Representa- 
 tive of the 2d District of Herkimer county in the State 
 Assembly at its last session ; that we are proud of the past; 
 that amid so general corruption in that Assembly, he stood 
 pure and firm against all the seductive inlluences around 
 him, and came back to us with an unimpeached integritv; 
 that we especially indorse the course he pursued on tlie 
 Broadway Rail Road and Erie Canal Lock questions, and 
 the vote he cast relative to those measures, and we view 
 with reprehension the attempts that were made to damage 
 his reputation as a member of that Assembly, in consequence 
 of the correct views he expressed and the sound policy he 
 adopted respecting tlie great Canal interests of our State. 
 
 In 1865 he was again sent to the Assembly from the same 
 District and served on the Committees on Census and Ap- 
 portionment, Engrossed Bills and was the Chairman of the 
 Joint Library Committee. His official course in that 
 session was such that when he returned home, his conduct 
 was cordially indorsed by his constituents. He has several 
 times represented his party in State Conventions. 
 
 At the County Convention held at Herkimer, in 1869, 
 delegates favorable to his nomination for Senator in the 20th 
 Senatorial District were unanimously chosen and the follow- 
 ing resolutions passed : 
 
88 Life Sketches. 
 
 Resolved, That appreciating political integrity and moral 
 worth, and pointing with pride to the course of A. 0. 
 McGrOWAK during his service of two years in the Assembly 
 of the State, we do hereby present him to the Delegates of 
 the Eepublican Union Senatorial Convention to be held at 
 Eichfield Springs, October 8th, as a gentleman of ability 
 and of integrity, unassailable either in his private or official 
 life, and as a most fitting representative of the Republicans 
 in this District in the next Senate. 
 
 Resolved, That, challenging the closest scrutiny of the 
 entire career of the Hon. A. C. McGowak, we do hereby 
 name him as our choice for next Senator for this district, 
 and for the purpose of furthering this end to the interest of 
 the whole people, and with the purpose to attest our appre- 
 ciation of his honest, tried, official life, we do hereby appoint 
 our delegates to the convention above named, relying upon 
 their fidelity to carry out the wishes hereby expressed. 
 
 At the Senatorial Convention held soon thereafter, the 
 delegates from Herkimer county, in accordance with those 
 resolutions, presented the name of the Hon. A. C. McGowak, 
 and the Otsego delegates presented the name of the Hon. A. 
 B. Ellwood, and, each county having the same number of 
 delegates, the balloting stood a tie between them for a great 
 number of times. Otsego county claimed the candidate to 
 be located in said county, according to the established usages 
 of the party, and, by his request, Mr. McGowan's delegates 
 withdrew his name from the canvass, and Mr. Ellwood was , 
 unanimously nominated. 
 
 At the next Senatorial nominating convention held in 1871, 
 Mr. McGowAK was again the unanimous choice of his own 
 county for senator, and, after a few complimentary votes for 
 Mr. Ellwood by Otsego delegates, his name was withdrawn, 
 and Mr. McGowak received a unanimous nomination. 
 
 The Journal and Courier, the leading Eepublican paper 
 published at Little Falls, indorsed his nomination in the 
 following editorial : 
 
 " Of Mr. McGowAif, it is hardly necessary to record our 
 indorsement. He has long been known to the people of this 
 county. He has been tried, and found not wanting, in those 
 
Archibald C. McGowan, 89 
 
 sterling qualities which endear a representative to his con- 
 stituents. Mr. McGowAN is emphatically a self-made man. 
 Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, he has won 
 his way to a proud position in the esteem of the people of tliis 
 locality. For several years he was a member of the Board 
 of Supervisors of the county, and for two terms he repre- 
 sented his district in the Assembly of the State, in each posi- 
 tion performing his duties faithfully, without even the breath 
 of suspicion upon his integrity, ana with that respect of his 
 associates which intelligence and uprightness always com- 
 mand.''! 
 
 The Richfield Springs Mercury^ a leading and influential 
 paper of Otsego county (neutral in politics), gave him the 
 following handsome compliment: 
 
 " Mr. McGowAN is a gentleman of fine abilities. He is what 
 may be called a worker in his party. He represented Herki- 
 mer county in the legislative halls, and returned to his con- 
 stituents with a clean record. He is a gentleman who frowns 
 upon stealing in high or low places, and we believe him to 
 be incorruptible in private or public life. He is a man of 
 sterling worth and will honor his district. We do not intend 
 to take up the political gauntlet, but we have said this much 
 for Mr. McGowAN, for we know whereof we speak, having 
 had a personal acquaintance with him for the past seventeen 
 years. We hope he will have a rousing majority." 
 
 John F. Scott, a wealthy and popular man, who, by a 
 wide circle of acquaintances, was well known in Otsego 
 county, was the opposing candidate. He threw his whole 
 strength into the contest, and made an active and stirring 
 canvass against Mr. McGowan, and carried his own county 
 by a majority of 680. But Mr. McGowan was so popular in 
 his own county, and his public record so clear, that he 
 received a majority of 1323, the highest given to any candi- 
 date on the ticket in that canvass in the county, and was 
 elected. He was placed on five committees. Canals, Salt, 
 Agriculture, Select Committee of Nine, General Orders and 
 Congressional Apportionment. He was Chairman of the 
 Committee on Agriculture, and it was through him as such 
 
90 Life Sketches. 
 
 Chairman that all the Agricultural Societies of the State 
 presented their affairs to the Senate. 
 
 . His official course during his entire Senatorial term was so 
 satisfactory to his constituents, that, at the Senatorial Con- 
 vention in 1873, to nominate a candidate, Otsego county- 
 yielded her claims, and Mr. McGowait received the high 
 compliment of a renomination for another Senatorial term. 
 The opposing candidate this time was David A. Aveky, of 
 Cooperstown, a popular banker of that place. There was a 
 full State ticket in the field which called out a full vote, and 
 Mr. Avery with his friends entered on the canvass with 
 much zeal. But Mr. McGowAiS" had so well established his 
 reputation as a wise and careful legislator, and kept his 
 record so clear, that the majority in Otsego county against 
 him was reduced to about 200, and he was triumphantly 
 re-elected to the Senate. He ran ahead of his own ticket i^i 
 both counties. His "feuccess demonstrates that honesty, even 
 in politics, is the best policy. 
 
 ANDEEW C. MIDDLETOK 
 
 Akdeew C. MiDDLETOi^" represents the eighteenth Sena- 
 torial district, composed of the counties of Jefferson and Lewis. 
 His father, Samuel Middleto]!^-, was born in the town of 
 Charleston, Montgomery county, in the year 1796. He moved 
 to Rutland, Jefferson county, in the spring of 1807, and in 
 the fall of the same year settled on the farm where he con- 
 tinued to reside until his death in November, 1873, a period 
 of sixty-six years. In those days of restlessness, when the 
 first of each recurring May means moving to so many 
 Americans, the fact of a man's living in the same place for 
 the space of sixty-six years is indeed noteworthy. Seraph 
 MiDDLETON", the mother of the Senator, was born in Rut- 
 
Andrew C. Middleton. 91 
 
 land in 1802, and was married to Samuel Middleton 
 April 26, 1821. A family of six children was the fruit of 
 the union, all of whom are living, with the exception of 
 one daughter. 
 
 Andrew, the second son, was horn April 5, 1824. He 
 was brought up on a farm, and has always made farming his 
 main business. He received a common school and academic 
 education, and after ceasing to be taught, continued in 
 school as a teacher for a number of winters. In 1849 he 
 became Town Superintendent of common schools, a position 
 which he filled satisfactorily for two years. In the year 1858 
 he was elected Supervisor for the town of Rutland, and was 
 continued as such during the two following years. Again, 
 in 1868, he occupied the same position. During the war he 
 was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. For 
 the years 1872 and 1873 he was President of the Jefferson 
 County Farmers* Club. This record of service indicates 
 that the Senator is held in high esteem by his neighbors and 
 friends. Mr. Middleton is prominently identified with the 
 Grange organization in this State, and at a meeting of the 
 Independent Grangers of New York, held in Albany on the 
 4th of March, he was honored by being elected President of 
 the State Council. 
 
 Senator Middleton cast his first vote in the fall of 1845 
 in favor of the Whig ticket, and a Whig he remained until 
 the organization of the Republican party. In our later 
 politics he has cast his vote for Fremont, Lincoln and 
 Grant. 
 
 The nomination which resulted in the election of Mr. 
 Middleton to the Senate was made October 20, 1873, by 
 a convention of farmers in the interest of reform, and bent 
 on furthering the cause of the industrial classes. The call 
 for the Convention was signed by over one hundred 
 practical farmers. The Democratic Senatorial Convention 
 which met soon after resolved not to make any nomination 
 but earnestly recommended the Democratic and Liberal 
 
92 Life Sketches. 
 
 Eepublicau electors of the District " to vote for the farmers' 
 and industrial men's candidate." Mr. Middleton" was 
 elected by a majority of 903 over Nokris Wikslow, who 
 had been chosen to the previous Senate by a majority of 1,771. 
 Mr. MiDDLETOi^ is very properly placed at the head of the 
 Committee on Agriculture. He is also a member of the 
 Committees on Public Expenditures and Grievances. 
 
 HUGH H. MOORE. 
 
 The eighth Senatorial district, composed of the twelfth, 
 nineteenth and twenty-second wards of the city of New York, 
 is represented by Hugh H. Moore. Mr. Moore has been 
 prevented by ill health from taking his seat this session, 
 except on the occasion of his being sworn in. His seat is 
 now (March 1st) being contested by Walter S. Pii^ckney, 
 his Eepublicau competitor in the late canvass. His other 
 competitor was Robert McCafferty, Apollo Hall Demo- 
 crat. He was elected by a plurality of 254. 
 
 Senator Moore has long been recognized as a hard-working 
 politician. At present he is a member of the Tammany 
 Hall General Committee. In business circles he is well 
 known as an extensive contractor. 
 
RO SWELL A, Parmenter, 93 
 
 ROSWELL A. PARMENTER. 
 
 The twelfth Senatorial district, consisting of the counties 
 of Rensselaer and "Washington, is represented by Roswell 
 A. Parmenter. j" 
 
 Mr. Parmenter is the eldest son of the late Dr. Azel F. 
 Parmenter, was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, is 
 now about forty-five years of age, and in the full strength 
 of useful manhood. He is emphatically a self-made man, 
 and never received a dollar that was not earned by hard 
 labor. In boyhood he worked upon a farm for wages, 
 and in the winter seasons taught school to defray the 
 expenses of his education ; and few men have been more 
 thoroughly educated in the natural sciences and in the 
 classics than he. Coming to Troy about the year 1848, with 
 scarcely an acquaintance in the city, he soon made his way, 
 formed a copartnership with the late Judge McConihe, and 
 rapidly built up a large and lucrative practice. He entered 
 at once on the trial of his own causes, without falling into 
 the common error of young lawyers, of employing assistant 
 counsel, and on appeal to the General Term and Court of 
 Appeals argued his causes in those courts with the first 
 lawyers in the State as adversaries. By such means he 
 acquired that experience and thorough use of every legal 
 weapon that have since made him so distinguished as a suc- 
 cessful lawyer and advocate. 
 
 In the celebrated case of the Corn Exchange Insurance 
 Company against Babcock, argued by Mr. Parmenter in 
 the Court of Appeals, a few years ago, that court paid him 
 the high compliment of adopting his points as the law gov- 
 erning the case, thus settling forever in this State the long 
 agitated and vexed question as to the legal liability of a 
 married woman as indorser for her husband. Mr. Parmen- 
 
94 Life Sketches. 
 
 TER also received a letter of thanks and congratulation from 
 many of the leading lawyers of the State, for his efforts in 
 procuring the satisfactory settlement of that highly impor- 
 tant and most vexatious question. Aside from his legal 
 ability and acquirements, Mr. Parmenter is a man of exten- 
 sive reading and information, of great diversity of talent, 
 with a mind cultivated by the refinements of literature, and 
 enlarged and matured by study and reflection. He has fre- 
 quently been invited to address literary associations, but has 
 never accepted the invitation except upon two or three 
 occasions, the habits of his mind being too severely logical 
 to make that kind of composition attractive to his tastes. 
 Mr. Parmenter has often been designated by the Democratic 
 State Central Committee as one of the public speakers, and 
 in that capacity has on many occasions addressed the people 
 upon the political issues of the day, at their mass meetings 
 in different parts of the State ; and last fall, at the request of 
 the Liberal llepublican State Central Committee, he devoted 
 two or three weeks to the same object. And when the 
 South raised its parricidal hand against the life of the nation, 
 Mr. Parmenter did not hesitate as to his course, nor stand 
 idly by. He subscribed largely to aid the raising of recruits 
 for the Federal army, and to the Soldiers' Eelief Fund. Nor 
 did his assistance stop here ; he traveled over the State, 
 making war speeches at many of the large meetings held for 
 the purpose of encouraging enlistments; and his lengthy 
 and telling speech at the immense war meeting in Seminary 
 Park, in Troy, during a dark period in our national affairs, 
 is still fresh in the minds of those who heard it. 
 
 As a political speaker Mr. Parmenter is earnest, forcible 
 and entertaining. Full of ideas and anecdote, clear and 
 logical in argument, quick to catch the humor of the crowd 
 and turn it to advantage, fluent and apt at illustration, he 
 never fails to hold his audience. Besides, as we have said, he 
 is an unflagging worker. The amount of professional toil that 
 he has performed within the last twenty years bears witness to 
 
Benjamin Ray. 95 
 
 this fact. As no member of the Troy bar has a larger or 
 more important practice, so none devotes more hours to the 
 stern demands of his profession. Mr. Parmexter is now 
 City Attorney of that city. "When appointed to that respon- 
 sible office, in the spring of 1871, he found a vast number 
 of important suits pending against the city, some of which 
 had been upon the calendar for years, involving in the aggre- 
 gate about 150,000. With his usual zeal and energy he set 
 about the herculean task of freeing the city from this enor- 
 mous load of litigation, and succeeded so well that in two 
 years he had disposed of forty cases, two of which had each 
 occupied over thirty days in preparation, in taking evidence 
 and in summing up. For these successful and arduous official 
 duties he received the public acknowledgments of Mayor 
 Kemp, a political opponent, and a unanimous vote of thanks 
 from the common council. 
 
 Mr. Parmenter was elected to the Senate after an exciting 
 and closely contested canvass, beating his opponent, Hon. 
 I. V. Baker, Jr., who was chosen to the last Senate by a 
 majority of 4,458, by 828. He is a member of the committees 
 on Canals, Literature, and Engrossed Bills. 
 
 BENJAMIN RAY. 
 
 The eleventh Senatorial district, consisting of the counties 
 of Columbia and Dutchess, is represented by Benjamin 
 Ray, of Hudson, who is well known in the eastern section 
 of the State as a sound and trustworthy member of the 
 Democracy. His father. Captain Samuel Ray, was a native 
 of Dutchess county, a member of the Society of Friends, and 
 a prominent man of his time. Benjamin was born in the 
 city of Hudson in 1819, and descended from Scotch-Irish 
 stock. In early life he commenced boating on the river, and 
 followed this until about sixteen years of age, when he 
 
96 Life Sketches. 
 
 apprenticed himself to a blacksmith in New York city. It was 
 here that he first realized the importance of gaining an educa- 
 tion, and accordingly he devoted himself to its acquisition with 
 all his youthful ardor, and laid the foundation for that general 
 information on important topics, which has so well qualified 
 him for the prominent positions he has since filled. During 
 the winter months he attended select schools, paying for his 
 tuition from his scanty earnings, and passed his evenings in 
 hard study in his room, the small hours of morning frequently 
 finding him poring over his books, or elucidating some difficult 
 problem. His general reading was confined to works treating 
 of the lives of public men, and the theories of government. 
 Thus the future legislator passed the weary years of his 
 apprenticeship, and soon after he reached his majority he 
 entered the establishment of E. L. Stevens, the celebrated 
 boiler and boat builder. While employed here, Mr. Ray 
 superintended the construction of the largest iron steamship 
 that had been built at that time, and won considerable fame 
 by his achievement. 
 
 In the fall of 1849, at the breaking out of the "gold 
 fever," Mr. Ray went to California, where he remained for 
 four years. San Francisco was then a place of lawlessness 
 and disorder, and the lives and property of the citizens were 
 at the mercy of the mob. Mr. Ray was appointed the first 
 Chief of Police, and organized the first police force and the 
 first fire department in the "City of the Pacific," and so 
 thoroughly did he perform his work, that both departments 
 are still conducted upon the admirable system he adopted. It 
 was an arduous task to subdue the army of roughs from all 
 quarters of the globe that then infested the new settlement, 
 but Mr. Ray proved equal to the emergency, and soon suc- 
 ceeded in bringing order out of confusion and compelling a 
 due obedience to the laws. While in the performance of 
 these duties, he was seriously injured by the infuriated mob, 
 and for some time his life was despaired of 
 
 He was subsequently appointed to the office of Inspector 
 
Benjamin Ray. 97 
 
 of Steam Vessels for the Territory of California, and so well 
 did he perform his duties, that after it was admitted as a 
 State, he was tendered the same position by the general 
 government, under President Taylor's administration, al- 
 though a prominent and active Democrat. Business calling 
 him to the Atlantic States, he declined the place. 
 
 In 1853, Mr. Ray returned to New York city, where he 
 hold various offices of public trust, among others, that of 
 official appraiser for the city and county of New York, hav- 
 ing in charge the adjustment and appraisement of estates of 
 deceased persons, many of them of vast amounts and in- 
 volving great responsibilities; but in the settlement of these 
 large and in some cases complicated interests, not a dollar 
 was ever misapplied or lost, and no difficulty ever arose 
 between the appraiser and the executors. 
 
 In 1855, Mr. Ray was elected to the State Assembly from 
 the Second district of New York city, and served his term 
 with conceded ability. His constituents would gladly have re- 
 turned him for many successive years, but important business 
 interests at that time prevented him from accepting the 
 honors. 
 
 A few years ago he resumed his residence in Hudson, and 
 in 1870 was elected to the Assembly from this district, and so 
 faithfully did he serve his constituents that he was re-elected 
 in 1871 and 1872. 
 
 Having proved capable and faithful in the performance of 
 the public trusts already imposed upon him, an appreciative 
 people selected him for still higher honors and more 
 important trusts, and hence his election to the Senate. He 
 ran against John" 0. Hogeboom and was chosen by a ma- 
 jority of 1,945. In 1871, the Republican majority of A. W- 
 Palmer, his predecessor in the Senate, was 8,572. Mh 
 Ray's voice is not often heard in debate, but he is capable 
 of making a speech when he elects so to do. He is thorough- 
 ly informed on all the details of legislation. 
 13 
 
98 Life Sketches, 
 
 WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON. 
 
 The ninth Senatorial district, consisting of the counties 
 of Putnam, Kockland and Westchester, is represented by 
 William H. RoBERTSOi^, of Katonah, Westchester county, 
 one of the most able and dignified members of the present 
 Senate, and its President j^ro tern. He was born at Bedford, 
 in the county in which he now resides, October 10, 1823. His 
 father, Henry Robertson^, who was born in 1791, at Bed- 
 ford, is still living. After pursuing his preliminary studies 
 at Union Academy, Bedford, he read law, and in 1847 was 
 admitted to the bar. 
 
 The Senator has had a long and honorable career as a 
 public man. The confidence so often reposed in him by the 
 people has never been violated ; the interests committed to 
 his hands never neglected. Beginning as Town Superin- 
 tendent of the Bedford Common Schools, he subsequently 
 served for four years as Supervisor^ and on two occasions was 
 Chairman of the Board — the only Republican who ever held 
 that position. Rising rapidly in his profession, he was early 
 elected County Judge of Westchester, and served in that 
 capacity for three terms, twelve years. 
 
 His experience as a legislator has been long and varied. 
 He represented Westchester county in the Assembly, in 
 1849 and 1850; and the ninth Senatorial district in the 
 Senate of 1854-55. Later he was a representative in the 
 fortieth Congress. In politics Mr. Robertsois" is a represen- 
 tative Republican, and has long been prominently identified 
 with the organization of his choice. Until the year 1855 he 
 was a Whig, and since that date has given his vote and 
 influence to the party to which he now belongs. For three 
 years he was a member of the Republican State Committee, 
 
WiLLiAJf H. Robertson. 99 
 
 and in 1864 attended the Republican N^ational Convention as 
 a delegate. He has also on many occasions attended the 
 Whig and Republican State Conventions as delegate. 
 
 The Senator did efficient service during the late war. He 
 was Chairman of the Military Committee appointed by 
 Governor Morgan, in 1862, to raise and organize State 
 troops in the eighth Senatorial district. Later on he filled 
 the important position of Commissioner to superintend the 
 draft in Westchester count}^ under an appointment of the 
 Governor. For six years he was Brigade Inspector of the 
 Seventh Brigade, New York State National Guard. 
 
 He was elected to the last Senate by a most flattering vote. 
 Running in a strong Democratic district, his defeat would 
 have been a matter of course, had he not been conspicuous 
 for his great ability, and as popular as he was worthy. As it 
 was, he received a handsome majority in every town of West- 
 chester, and succeeded in carrying Rockland and Putnam 
 counties as well — his total majority being 5,851 over William 
 Cauldwell, who had been chosen to the preceding Senate 
 by a majority of 2,274. 
 
 In the fall of 1872 the Senator's name was among the fore- 
 most of those presented at the Utica Republican Convention 
 for the office of Governor. As soon, however, as it was 
 found that General Dix would accept the nomination, it was 
 withdrawn in the interests of harmony. 
 
 The Senator was elected to the present Senate by a majority 
 of 2,364 — figures that indicate great personal popularity in 
 a district giving a large Democratic majority on the State 
 ticket. The New York Commercial, in commenting upon 
 his election, justly observed: "There must be some thing 
 most extraordinary in a man's character, who can break 
 down a Democratic majority of two or three thousand in his 
 district on every occasion he is made a candidate, and carry 
 it in his favor by the same majority." Senator Robertson 
 was chosen President pro tern, of the Senate by a unanimous 
 vote. Senator Woodin, who held the position in the last 
 
100 Life Sketches. 
 
 Senate, moved the nomination in caucus and the resolution 
 of election, and it had the cordial approval of every Eepub- 
 lican Senator. The concurrence of the Democratic Senators 
 was a handsome personal tribute and a graceful testimony to 
 the esteem in which Senator EoBERTSOi^ is held. He has 
 had long experience in parliamentary practice, and makes an 
 admirable presiding officer. 
 
 Senator Eobertsoi^ has rendered the State signal service 
 this year as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, lie has 
 proved himself an unrelenting foe of hasty and improvident 
 legislation, and has strangled many a measure which, but for 
 his challenge, might have succeeded in getting upon the 
 statute book. 
 
 JOHN H. SELKREG. 
 
 Mr. Selkreg has been a practical printer j and, conse- 
 quently, has had all the varieties of experience and change 
 appertaining to that occupation. He is editor and proprietor 
 of the Ithaca Journal, a paper which has effectively aided in 
 the achievement of many a hard-fought battle. He has 
 published the Journal since 1841. 
 
 He was born in Staatsburgh, Dutchess county, in 1817. 
 His parents died when he was a mere boy (the youngest of a 
 family of five children), and left him to the care of the older 
 members of the family. He never attended school after he 
 was eleven years old, and what little education he had gained 
 up to that time had been acquired in the district school at 
 Staatsburgh. His disposition, at the age of thirteen, rather 
 inclined to printing as an occupation ; therefore, having left 
 his brother-in-law, with whom he had been living, he began 
 an apprenticeship in the printing office of the Poughkeepsie 
 Telegraph, then published by Messrs. Killey & Low, and 
 which was at that time the Democratic organ of Dutchess 
 
John H. Selkreg.* ' ' > ' ioi 
 
 county. He continued there until the year 1838. Having 
 arrived at that point where he thought himself sufficiently 
 proficient to commence life on his own responsibility, he 
 became a resident of Brooklyn, and, there entered into a 
 partnership with the firm of Messrs. Arnold, Van Anden 
 & Co., publishers of the Brooklyn Eagle. Not being entirely 
 satisfied with his business relations, he returned to Pough- 
 keepsie in 1839, and published the Poughkeepksie Casket, a 
 literary paper. 
 
 Two years subsequently, he purchased an interest in the 
 Ithaca Journal, and, in connection with Hon. A. Wells, 
 continued its publication for several years. He afterward 
 became sole proprietor of the establishment. 
 
 The Ithaca Journal was once a Democratic organ of Tomp- 
 kins county. In 1848, Mr. Selkreq refused to support Mr. 
 Cass, and ran up Mr. Van Buren's name. The Hunkers 
 established the Flag of the Union to break down the 
 Jmirnal; but, not succeeding in the attempt, the " Flag" was 
 lowered, and the Journal still continued to be the exponent 
 of the Democracy. From the year 1850 to 1856, Mr. Selk- 
 reg saw that a great change was being wrought in the 
 Democratic party. The repeal of the Missouri compromise 
 seemed to him an outrage upon political honor. Such was 
 the drift of affairs, he refused to support Buchanan, and 
 advocated the claims of Fremont, thus undoubtedly carry- 
 ing over the county to the " Path Finder," inasmuch as the 
 Republican vote ran up, in a single year, from 1,460 to 4,030. 
 
 From 1857 to 1861, he discharged the duties of Commis- 
 sioner of Loans. President Lincoln made him Postmaster 
 of Ithaca in 1861. He was re-appointed, in 1865, by Andrew 
 Johnson, who, in the most nonchalant manner, subjected 
 him to the guillotine on the 25th of August, 1866, for refus- 
 ing to adopt Mr. Johnson's peculiar views. Mr. Selkreg 
 survived the shock, and, under the warm pressure of his 
 friends, accepted the nomination for Member of Assembly, 
 being elected by a majority of 1,472. Having once got him 
 
l62 Life Sketches. 
 
 in the Assembly, his constituents, finding him to be the right 
 man in the right place, kept him there for five successive 
 years. He was a Member of the lower House in 1867, 1868, 
 1869, 1870 and 1871. During the session of 1869, he was 
 Chairman of Ways and Means, and, during all the years 
 mentioned, was a member of that leading committee. 
 
 Mr. Selkreg has held several offices of business interest. 
 At one time, he was President of the Ithaca and Bingham- 
 ton Telegraph Company, and, later, has been President of 
 the Ithaca Calendar Clock Company. 
 
 Mr. Selkreg was elected to his present position by a 
 majority of 1,442 over George W. Schuyler. He heads 
 two of the most important committees of the Senate — Eail- 
 roads and Public Printing. Thoroughly familiar with the 
 varied interests and public policy of the State, Senator Selk- 
 reg is a most useful and influential legislator. 
 
 JAMES G. THOMPSON. 
 
 The twenty- third Senatorial district, which is composed 
 of the counties of Chenango, Delaware and Schoharie, is 
 represented by James G-. TnoMPSOisr, of Norwich, Chenango 
 county. Mr. Thompsojst was born at Sharon, Schoharie 
 county, on the 15th of January, 1829. His father. Dr. 
 Thompson", was born and resided at Duanesburgh, Schenec- 
 tady county. His mother was a daughter of Peter B. 
 GuERN"SEY, of Norwich. Both his parents are now dead. 
 In 1857 he married Julia Fraj^ces Foote, daughter of Dr. 
 Lymak Foote, of Syracuse. After finishing his rudi- 
 mental studies, the subject of this sketch entered the 
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, with the design of 
 fitting himself for the profession of Civil Engineering. This 
 design he abandoned, however, after his graduation, and 
 
James G. Thompson. 103 
 
 after spending some time in teaching he embarked in the 
 book and stationery business, which he has since made his 
 leading support. 
 
 Mr. Thompson's standing among those who have the best 
 opportunity for forming a correct judgment is shown in the 
 positions of trust and responsibility which he has been 
 called upon to fill. For five terms, extending over a period 
 of fifteen years, he was County Clerk of Chenango county. 
 He has also served the county one term as County Treasurer, 
 and two terms as Superintendent of Schools. At the present 
 time he is Supervisor of his town. 
 
 The convention that nominated Mr. Thompson for Senator 
 was one of the most "complex" organizations ever assem- 
 bled in the district. Schoharie, Delaware and Chenango 
 each had a candidate, and each felt inclined to fight the 
 thing out if it took innumerable ballotings. Mr. Thompson 
 was not originally a candidate for the position which was so 
 hotly contested, and the state of his health forbade him 
 taking a very active part in the canvass. The preliminary 
 contest was long and spirited, but at length on the one hun- 
 dred and forty-third ballot Mr. Thompson was nominated. 
 Hon. James H. Graham, Hon. J. H. Eamsey, Captain 
 Charles C. Kromer, and other prominent gentlemen, had 
 their warm friends and supporters, but it was finally thought 
 best to unite on a gentleman who has been called " the most 
 popular man in Chenango." At the desire of the Schoharie 
 delegation, that Delaware should agree with Chenango in the 
 choice of a candidate, Mr. Thompson was finally nominated 
 and nominated unanimously. Commenting on the nomina- 
 tion, the Oneonta Herald said: 
 
 " We suppose there is not a man in Chenango county who 
 can poll a larger vote than Mr. Thompson. Five times he 
 has been elected Clerk of the County, always running ahead 
 of the ticket. He has served as County Treasurer, Superin- 
 tendent of Schools, and is the present Supervisor of Norwich. 
 He is of Schoharie birth, and the Republicans of that 
 county ought to congratulate themselves that they have a 
 
104 Life Sketches. 
 
 candidate of such eminent fitness. As a Senator, Mr. 
 Thompson" will have few superiors ; for he is a gentleman of 
 education, extensive information, and practical common 
 sense. He will talk enough and not too much, and work 
 with satisfactory results every time. It is an honor to the 
 district to have so able and honest a Senator." 
 
 The figures of Mr. Thompson''s election are eloquent with 
 the lesson of the necessity of getting out all the voters on 
 election day, and speak forcibly of the importance sometimes 
 of a single vote. Mr. Thompsojt beat his competitor, Mr. 
 Yeomaks, by one vote ! Mr. Yeomaks is now engaged in 
 contesting the seat before the Committee on Privileges and 
 Elections of the Senate. 
 
 Mr. THOMPSOiq" is in the prime of life, possesses unusual 
 aptness for the intelligent discharge of public business, and 
 devotes himself with zeal and earnestness to his Senatorial 
 duties. He is Chairman of two Committees, Internal 
 Affairs of Towns and Counties and Poor Laws, and is a 
 member of the committees on Militia and Literature. 
 
 FRANKLIN W. TOBEY. 
 
 The sixteenth Senatorial district, consisting of the 
 counties of Warren, Essex and Clinton, is represented by 
 Frankli]^" "W. Tobey, of Port Henry, Essex county. Mr. 
 ToBEY enjoys the distinction of being the youngest member 
 of the Senate ; he is now in his thirtieth year. He received 
 no educational advantages in his boyhood, except those 
 offered by the common schools. His father, Isaac Tobey, 
 was, and is still, a plain Essex county farmer, and young 
 Tobey was trained to hard labor on the paternal acres. But 
 he made diligent use of opportunities within reach, and suc- 
 ceeded in acquiring knowledge to such a degree, that before 
 he reached his majority he was permitted to study law in the 
 
Franklin TF. Tobey. 105 
 
 office of Judge Augustus C. Hand. He made good pro- 
 gress, and in 1868 he was admitted to the bar, and has since 
 been engaged in the practice of the law in the firm of 
 Waldo, Tobey & Beck with, at Port Henry. Several years 
 ago he married the daughter of Rev. C. Ransom, a Presby- 
 terian clergyman, now Chaplain of Clinton State Prison. 
 Mr. Tobey's political life does not extend very far into the 
 past, but it has been remarkably successful. Always a Re- 
 publican, he has taken an active part in local politics since 
 his eighteenth year. In 1869 he was elected Supervisor, and 
 on his being re-elected in 1870, was made Chairman of the 
 Board. In the fall of 1871 he was elected to the Assembly 
 by a majority of 1,406, and re-elected in 1872 by 1,981 
 majority. 
 
 His services during the session of 1872 are so well-known, 
 that it seems almost needless to refer to them. On making 
 his first appearance at Albany he was regarded as a beardless 
 youth of no great account, but he soon showed his mettle. 
 Speaker Smith knew something about him, and assigned him 
 the second place on the Insurance Committee, and also made 
 him a member of the Judiciary Committee, which, as the 
 event proved, were the two most important Committees of 
 that Assembly. It fell to the lot of Mr. Tobey to act as 
 Chairman of the Sub-committee which conducted the long 
 and arduous investigation into the official conduct of the 
 then Superintendent of the Insurance Department. Weeks 
 were occupied in the examination of witnesses, and the tes- 
 timony taken constituted one of the most bulky documents 
 of the session. Much of the examination was conducted by 
 Mr. Tobey in person, and it is but just to say that he 
 efficiently discharged the difficult and delicate task devolving 
 upon him. The result of that investigation is now a matter 
 of history ; but the unanimity with which the Republican 
 majority of the Assembly promptly indorsed the conclusions 
 of the Committee, was a marked compliment, not only to 
 Mr. Tobey, but to every member of the Committee signing 
 14 
 
106 Life Sketches. 
 
 the report. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, it 
 was Mr. Tobey's privilege to play a prominent part in what 
 was pre-eminently the distinguishing achievement of the 
 Legislature of 1872, namely, the impeachment, trial and ex- 
 pulsion of the corrupt New York judges. The offenses of 
 these men had long been a stench in the people's nostrils, 
 and it was peculiarly the province of a "reform" Legislature 
 to bring about a needed change for the better in the judiciary. 
 If the Legislature of 1872 had accomplished no other act 
 worthy of commendation, the fact that it did effect this re- 
 form should entitle it to the gratitude of the long-suffering 
 people of the State. When the charges had been made 
 against Judges Baiin"ARD, Oaedozo and McOunn", it de- 
 volved upon the Judiciary Committee to investigate them, 
 and to prepare articles of impeachment in case they were well 
 founded. The committee entered upon its work with alacrity, 
 and prosecuted it with thoroughness. They proceeded to 
 New York, where they took a great mass of evidence, and, 
 except on one or two minor points, were unanimous in 
 recommending the impeachment of the judges for mal and 
 corrupt conduct. The impeachment articles were prepared 
 and adopted by the Assembly, and the result of the protracted 
 trial, which took place in the summer of 1872, is familiar to 
 every one. In all these proceedings Mr. Tobey bore a con- 
 spicuous and honorable part, and won a reputation which few 
 realize who spend long years in public service. Of course, 
 with such a record as the result of a single session, his con- 
 stituents had no choice but to return him by a largely in- 
 creased majority, and they did so. In the Assembly of last 
 year he was Chairman of the Committees on Insurance and 
 Kules, and was a member of the Judiciary Committee. 
 When it became evident that Mr. Ames, who represented the 
 Sixteenth district in the last Senate, would be compelled to 
 decline a re-election, on account of ill-health, Mr. Tobey's 
 name became at once prominent as his successor. His nomi- 
 nation was received with words of hearty approval by the 
 
Webster Wagner. 107 
 
 press in different parts of the State. The New York Times 
 said, " Mr. Tobey has experience in legislation, and in his 
 two terms of service in the Assembly has won an enviable 
 reputation for unwavering integrity, great watchfulness, and 
 shrewd activity. No man ever thought of offering Mr. Tobey 
 a Wbe, no matter how speciously the bait was gilded." Mr. 
 Tobey occupies the important and responsible position of 
 Chairman of the Insurance Committee, and is a member of 
 the Judiciary, Railroads, and Privileges and Elections. 
 
 WEBSTER WAGNER. 
 
 "Webster Wagner, to whom, in the present Senate, the 
 interests of the fifteenth Senatorial district are committed, 
 is descended from German parents, and was born at Pala- 
 tine Bridge, Montgomery county, this State, where he still 
 resides, in the year 1817. After receiving a common school 
 education, he was apprenticed to his brother James to learn 
 the trade of wagon and carriage building. His apprentice- 
 ship ended, and a good knowledge of the business acquired, 
 he continued to devote himself to wagon and carriage making 
 for a number of years. In 1845 he received tlic appoint- 
 ment of station agent at Palatine Bridge for the Utica and 
 Schenectady Railroad, a position which he occupied until the 
 year 1860. 
 
 While acting as station agent, and watching the trains 
 coming and going, he proposed to himself a problem, the 
 successful solution of which has done so much for the com- 
 fort of the traveling public, and made the name of Webster 
 Wagner well known all over the country. The Senator 
 would, doubtless, shrink from being designated by that much 
 abused term "philanthropist," and yet if love for one's fellow 
 men is to be inferred from benefits conferred on them, it is 
 
108 Life Sketches. 
 
 diflBcult to see why he should not in all justice be named a 
 philanthropist in virtue of his Wagner Palace Cars. 
 
 With the appearance of the sleeping and drawing-room 
 car as part of the regular railway train, the comfort and con- 
 venience of travel was increased a hundred fold. Looking 
 back a few years to the order of things that then prevailM, 
 we wonder how it was that we ever rested content with the 
 old time unsightly and uncomfortable cars. In virtue of the 
 improvements, of which Mr. Wagner was one of the 
 pioneers, the terror of railroad traveling has been removed, 
 and now, seated in a drawing-room car, or reposing in a - 
 sleeping-car, one approximates very nearly to the comfort 
 and ease of a well-appointed home. 
 
 Mr. Wagner was one of the original inventors, and the 
 first to put in operation the drawing-room and sleeping-cars, i 
 which have grown to be a necessity with those who travel by 
 rail. His long experience at wagon and carriage building 
 enabled him to proceed unerringly with his plans for an easy- 
 riding car, while his taste and judgment suggested the proper 
 interior arrangements. The result of his labors in this re- 
 gard was first made manifest on the 1st of September, 1858, 
 when he introduced thfe first sleeping-car on the Utica and 
 Schenectady Railroad. This effort proved eminently success- 
 ful, and encouraged him to still farther exertions in the same 
 direction. Having provided the means of accommodation 
 and comfort for those who journeyed by night, he set himself 
 to work in the interest of day passengers. Consummate 
 skill, joined to great energy and perseverance, compassed the 
 desired object, and on the 20th day of August, 1867, he pre- 
 sented to an admiring and delighted public the first drawing- 
 room car that was ever built in America. 
 
 These drawing-room or palace cars have introduced an 
 entirely new element of pleasure into traveling in the United 
 States, have indeed reduced it to a fine art. Taking one of 
 these magnificent conveyances in New York on Monday, a 
 pleasure-seeker can find himself in San Francisco in a week. 
 
Webster Wagner. 103 
 
 not the least fatigued by travel or otherwise, and scarcely 
 less fresh than when he popped his head out at Spuyten 
 Duyvil Creek. 
 
 The first sleeping-car that was ever built in America and 
 used by Mr. Wagner, cost but $3,000, whereas those used 
 now-a-days cost 116,000 to $20,000 each, the difference in the 
 figures representing the progress made in railway comfort 
 and accommodation since 1857. Mr. Wagner has now 
 forty-nine drawing-room cars in active use, each of which 
 cost near upon $14,000. 
 
 The Wagner Sleeping Car Company are now running 
 sixty sleeping cars, which cost three-quarters of a million 
 dollai's. 
 
 Senator Wagner's legislative career commenced in 1871, 
 when he was sent to the Assembly from Montgomery county. 
 Running with the odds against him, he was elected by a 
 handsome majority, his vote being much ahead of that given 
 to the general Republican ticket. He served on the com- 
 mittee on Banks, and made a record as a legislator so satis- 
 factory to his constituents, that in the Senatorial Convention 
 of 1871, he was unanimously nominated to represent the 
 Fifteenth district. Two years previous, the Fifteenth district 
 had been lost to the Republicans by an unfortunate division 
 among themselves, and the selection of Mr. Wagner, who 
 was not a politician, and represented neither faction, was 
 considered a guarantee that the Democratic majority in 1869, 
 of 2,003, was to be overcome. And overcome it was. Mr. 
 Wagner was elected over Isaiah Fuller, his Democratic 
 opponent, by the rousing majority of 3,222. 
 
 So well satisfied were the people of his district with the 
 manner in which he had looked after their interests and the 
 interests of the State, that he was renominated by the Re- 
 publicans, by acclamation. The sentiment was universal 
 that his election was due equally to him and the district. 
 Indeed, the Democracy, at their convention, called to nomi- 
 nate a Senator, resolved that it was inexpedient to nominate 
 
110 Life Sketches. 
 
 a candidate against him, and accordingly he was elected, 
 without opposition. 
 
 Mr. Wagn^er makes a faithful and good working Senator. 
 He is attentive to the wants and interests of his own con- 
 stituents, and intelligent and straightforward in his course 
 upon matters of general legislation. He is direct, out-spoken 
 and unequivocal upon all subjects, and no one will venture 
 to cast reproach upon the purity and integrity of his action. 
 You know where to find him every time. Without making 
 any ostentatious pretentions, he has been an efficient and 
 successful representative. His sound sense and practical 
 ability have given him large influence among his associates. 
 
 ABIJAH J. WELLMAN. 
 
 Colonel Abijah J. Wellman" represents the thirtieth 
 Senatorial district, consisting of the counties of Wyoming, 
 Livingston and Allegany. He was born at Friendship, Alle- 
 gany county, on the 6th of May, 183G. His father, Jon"AS 
 Wellma]^, was born in Vermont, and was of English parent- 
 age. He resided in Friendship for fifteen years, and for a 
 long period prior to his death, which occurred in 1844, was 
 an eminently successful and highly respected physician. 
 The subject of this sketch enjoyed, after receiving the usual 
 rudimental instruction, an academic course, and afterward 
 entered the Oberlin Ohio College. In 1855, he entered into 
 mercantile business, and a few years after took up the bank- 
 ing business. In 1864, he started in at lumbering. At the 
 present time, he has all these irons in the fire, and is suc- 
 cessfully managing them. Col. Wellman" has a war record 
 of which he may well be proud. In September, 1861, he was 
 appointed Captain of the Eighty-fifth New York. A few 
 months subsequently, he was promoted to be Major, and, on 
 
Abijah J. Wellman, 111 
 
 the 8th of February, 1862, was again promoted to be Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel. He took part in the memorable battle of 
 Fair Oaks, and was severely wounded on the 31st of May, 
 1862. He also participated in the battles of Goldsboro, 
 Kinston and Whitehall, and remained in command of his 
 regiment as long as it was in service. 
 
 Col. Wellman has always taken a deep interest in politics, 
 and has been an active Eepublican since the organization of 
 the party. For seven successive years, commencing in 1866, 
 he was Supervisor of Friendship. For three years in succes- 
 sion he was chosen Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of 
 Allegany county. In 1872, he attended as delegate to the 
 Philadelphia Convention that nominated Grant and Wilson. 
 
 Colonel Wellman was married, in September, 1863, at 
 Friendship, to Kate, daughter of Asher W. Miner, of that 
 place. Early in life he united with the Baptist church, and, 
 for the past eight years, he has been Superintendent of a 
 flourishing Sunday-school. 
 
 The nomination of Colonel Wellman for the Senate was 
 received with hearty expressions of satisfaction. The Roches- 
 ter Democrat and Chronicle pronounced it "one in every way 
 fit to be made." It added : 
 
 "Those who served with Colonel Wellman in the army 
 speak of him in the highest terms as an officer and as a man. 
 lie was idolized by the troops. Colonel Wellman will make 
 a Senator of the right stamp, and he is sure to be elected by 
 a large majority." 
 
 The Warsaw New- Yorker said : 
 
 "Col. AVellman, our next Senator, is a man of excellent 
 ability, of culture and refinement ; served in the war with 
 distinction, winning in an unusual degree the confidence of 
 his generals and the love of his soldiers; is thoroughly 
 trusted and believed in by all who know him, irrespective of 
 party relations, and, by his high character and proved ability, 
 is as well fitted to serve his district acceptably and well in the 
 Senate as any new man in his county." 
 
112 Life Sketches. 
 
 Colonel Wellmak was elected by a majority of 3,297 over 
 Edwaed Farkum. He serves in the Senate on four im- 
 portant committees. He is very properly Chairman on 
 Militia ; he is also Chairman of State Prisons, and a member 
 on Banks and Internal Affairs of Towns and Counties. 
 
 DANIEL P. WOOD. 
 
 Dajtiel Wood, the father of the subject of this sketch, 
 came, in 1800, to Pompey, Onondaga county, from the Berk- 
 shire Hills. Dakiel p. Wood is of New England, Massa- 
 chusetts stock. And this implies more than many men, 
 whose minds are biased by religious, sectional or political 
 antagonisms, are willing to admit. 
 
 Massachusetts is, in some important respects, the inferior 
 of this our native State. She has many faults of history 
 and character. She has given birth to not a few unworthy 
 sons and daughters. But, after all, in spite of what may be 
 truthfully said about the Puritan sternness and Calvinistic 
 bigotry, the persecution of Baptists and Quakers, the Cotton 
 Mathers and Salem witches of the past, or the lax notions 
 and heresies of the present, spite of all the business and 
 political sins fairly or unfairly laid at her door, Massa- 
 chusetts is a commonwealth eminent among her sisters for 
 the nobler qualities. Considering her population, and the 
 extent of her territory, her history cannot easily be sur- 
 passed for variety of excellence. Her children get from her a 
 moral and intellectual training, a personal independence and 
 love of liberty, and a political education which subordinates 
 the State to the nation, the interests of the individual to the 
 interest of the masses, which holds the home prosperity as 
 bound up in, and inseparable from, the prosperity of neigh- 
 
Daniel F. Wood. 113 
 
 bors and sisters. Such sons of hers who go wrong are unjust 
 to their mother and share nothing of her spirit. 
 
 Hon. Daniel P. Wood inherited, and has exhibited 
 through life, the New England traits — readiness to labor and 
 to learn, strength of will, forecast and sympathy with those 
 movements which have for their end the well-being of the 
 country — for their means to that end the advancing condi- 
 tion of all classes and races. His father was a lawyer and 
 farmer, farming being his main occupation. Mr. Wood 
 worked diligently on the farm till he was twenty years 
 old, acquiring a vigor of constitution which has since 
 enabled him to endure the severest mental labor. After a 
 preparatory course at Pompey Hill Academy, he entered 
 Hamilton College. There he not only disciplined his mind 
 by a mastering of the class studies, but expanded it by a 
 wide range of reading. He studied law at Pompey, with 
 Victory Birdseye, and in 1846 commenced the practice of 
 law at Syracuse. His industry and skill were not long in 
 securing him great success. He was Corporation Attorney 
 for three years, and his general business was so large, and 
 attended to with such fidelity, that in 1853 his health 
 broke down, and in the year 1854, he consented to 
 represent his district in the Assembly, in the hope of benefit 
 from lighter labors and a change of occupation. But the 
 legislation of those years was very important, and Mr. Wood 
 was too earnest and active to give the needed rest to his 
 worn-out frame. In 1853, he was Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Salt, and was on the Committee on Claims and 
 the Code. On this last Committee was Arphaxad Loomis, 
 while David Dudley Field, another codifier, was often 
 present at its sessions. The Committee sat many hours 
 each day, entertaining the most important discussions, de- 
 manding for their proper handling severe thought and wide 
 knowledge, Mr. Wood brought to them his legal acumen 
 and conscientious industry. 
 
 In addition, the canal policy came up for review and 
 16 
 
114 Life Sketches. 
 
 determination. The Legislature of this year submitted the 
 question of debt for the completion of the enlargement to 
 the people, and in the long, exciting and able debates, Mr. 
 Wood was prominent and influential. He was one of the 
 Managers, on the part of the assembly, of the impeachment 
 of Canal Commissioner John C. Mather. To have been 
 assigned such important posts by a House politically opposed 
 to him, and during his first year as a legislator, was no light 
 tribute to his reputation and capacity. 
 
 In 1854, as Chairman of the Committee on Colleges, 
 Academies, etc., he matured and carried through the act 
 creating the Department of Public Instruction. He was, 
 this year, a member of the Committee of Ways and Means. 
 He attended moderately to his profession during the three 
 years immediately following; but, in 1857, a hemorrhage 
 of the throat or lungs brought him to the borders of the 
 grave. Most men would have given way, but the will of Mr. 
 Wood triumphed over disease, and as soon as he became 
 convalescent, he started for South Carolina, returning thence 
 on horseback. 
 
 In 1864, '65, 'QQ, he was elected to the Assembly, as Eepre- 
 sentative from the Second district of Onondaga county. In 
 1865 and 1866 he was Chairman of the Committee on Canals, 
 a position requiring almost ceaseless labor. He understood 
 the canals, and defended their interests with honor to him- 
 self and usefulness to the State. In 1865 he was Chairman 
 of the Committee to receive the remains of President Liisr- 
 COLI^, at the city of New York, and conduct them through 
 the State. He was also on the Ways and Means, a com- 
 mittee of which, in the following year, he was Chairman. 
 
 Mr. Wood was a Whig; then a Eepublican. During the 
 war he labored without ceasing. The. first regiment which 
 went from Syracuse was raised in one week. In the same 
 period, mainly through the exertions of Mr. Wood, nearly 
 120,000 was contributed on behalf of the soldiers and their 
 families. His patriotism knew no fear or faltering ; he kept 
 
Daniel P. Wood. 115 
 
 np liis patience and his hope, speaking words of good cheer 
 all the more when hours were darkest. 
 
 Mr. Wood made such a magnificent record during his 
 preceding term in the Senate that his renomination was a 
 matter of course. He was renominated by acclamation and 
 elected by a majority of 12,761, as against 3,991 received in 
 1871. The Democracy made no nomination against him, 
 and the only organized opposition of any kind was repre- 
 sented by Charles D. B. Mills, supported by the distinc- 
 tively temperance vote. 
 
 Mr. Wood holds in this Senate, as he did in the last, the 
 leading and important position of Chairman of the Finance 
 Committee, which has required him to act upon the vast 
 fiscal interests, claims and necessities of the State, and has 
 given him a great weight in determining its public policy. 
 He has used all the power of this place in enforcing retrench- 
 ment, resisting unjust and unworthy claims, fighting ex- 
 travagance and prodigality of expenditure, and relieving the 
 burdens of the people. All who have any close knowledge 
 of public affairs, know that to his firmness and courage and 
 persistency the State is indebted for saving hundreds of 
 thousands during the last session alone. 
 
 In his more general duties as a member of the Senate, Mr. 
 Wood has shown himself equally watchful and straight- 
 forward. He has stoutly opposed all corrupt and question- 
 able measures, and has uniformly been on the side of honest 
 and economical legislation. 
 
116 Life Sketches, 
 
 WILLIAM B. WOODIN. 
 
 "William B. Wooditji", of Auburn, represents the twenty- 
 fifth Senatorial district, consisting of the counties of Oayuga 
 and Wayne. He was born at Genoa, in the county of Oayuga, 
 on the 25th of September, 1824. After receiving a thorough 
 academic education, and graduating at the Cortland Academy, 
 he applied himself to the study of the law with so much suc- 
 cess that, once admitted to practice, it was not long before he 
 rose to a prominent place among his brethren at the bar. 
 
 In 1859, his high character and conspicuous legal abilities 
 secured his election to the office of Surrogate of Cayuga 
 county. He brought to the discharge of the delicate and 
 responsible duties incident to settling up estates, so much 
 patience, industry and intelligence, that his re-election as 
 Surrogate followed almost as a matter of course. A second 
 re-election resulted at the proper time, and when Mr.WooDiisr 
 was elevated to the Senate, in 1869, there was a general and 
 urgent request made of him to continue to discharge the 
 duties of Surrogate. He may well be proud of the indorse- 
 ment which he has thus received from home. 
 
 The Senator's first experience as a law-maker for the 
 Empire State dates back to 1855. In that year he repre- 
 sented the second district of Cayuga county in the Assembly 
 to the satisfaction of those who sent him there. He is now 
 serving his third term in the Senate, having been a member of 
 that body in 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873. During his first term he 
 took high rank as a legislator, especially distinguishing himself 
 from the very start as a debate-r. On the second day of the 
 session of 1871, he made an able argument on the right or 
 power of one Legislature to rescind the action of a previous 
 Legislature in relation to amendments to the Constitution 
 of the United States, an argument which, although delivered 
 
William B. Woodin. 117 
 
 after a very slight preparation, commanded great attention, 
 and was pronounced by those who heard it as an exhaustive 
 treatment of the subject under discussion. 
 
 Having, in his two years' service in the former Senate, 
 taken rank among the foremost as an able, judicious and 
 honest legislator, possessing both business and forensic capac- 
 ity, he was, in the fall of 1871, renominated as Senator by 
 acclamation. In the last Senate, Mr. Woodin played a 
 very prominent part The session of 1872 was presided 
 over by Lieutenant-Governor Beach, and, that gentleman 
 being opposed politically to the majority, was, very naturally, 
 desirous of being relieved from the responsibility of naming 
 the standing committees. Accordingly, the task of commit- 
 tee-making fell to Senator Woodin, who had been chosen by 
 his associates President pro tern, of the Senate. Probably no 
 more thankless or delicate task can well be conceived of than 
 that of forming standing committees. Artemus Ward 
 thought he could achieve a military success by raising a regi- 
 ment to be composed entirely of major-generals. The plan 
 is more felicitous than feasible, but if something similar to it 
 could be contrived for legislative bodies, in virtue of which 
 every honorable gentleman should have a chairmanship, Mr. 
 President and Mr. Speaker would have considerable less worry 
 than under the present limitations. We believe Senator 
 Woodin gave general satisfaction with his make-up of the 
 Senate committees for 1872 — the chief if not the only point 
 of criticism that developed itself being that he gave himself 
 no appointments. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor Robinson, in arranging the Senate 
 committees for 1873, designated Senator Woodin as Chair- 
 man on the Committee of Cities, a position which was an 
 appropriate recognition of his standing among his associates 
 and his signal legislative capacity, but which is exceedingly 
 responsible and onerous. It was impossible to satisfy all the 
 conflicting interests and views that came up in connection 
 with the New York charter and other leading measures, but 
 
118 • Life Sketches. 
 
 the vigor and capacity displayed by Senator Woodijs" are 
 nowhere disputed. 
 
 He was elected to the present Senate by a plurality of 388 
 over George W. Cutler, Democrat, and Dewitt 0. Par- 
 shall, Independent Republican. He retains his position as 
 Chairman of the Committee on Cities, and has demonstrated 
 anew his signal ability, industry as a legislator, accomplish- 
 ments as a lawyer, and his ready comprehension of public 
 questions. 
 
 HENRY A. GLIDDEN, 
 
 clerk of the sekate. 
 
 The duties of the Clerk of such a body as the Senate are 
 not solely or chiefly clerical, in the ordinary acceptation of 
 the word. Very much more is required of him than keeping 
 the diary of each day's legislative doings in a large, legible 
 hand; very much more than filing petitions, bills, reports 
 and all that sort of thing in appropriate pigeon holes, and 
 producing them when required ; very much more than tak- 
 ing charge of that important but imaginary taUe attached 
 to his desk, upon which so many documents of one kind and 
 another are temporarily or permanently "laid;" very much 
 more than proclaiming, with stentorian voice, all the wisdom 
 which " The People of the State of New York, represented 
 in Senate and Assembly, do enact." 
 
 A man may give satisfaction as regards all the pomts 
 indicated, and, nevertheless, fall short of the stature of a 
 Clerk of the requisite capacity and accomplishments. A 
 thoroughly capable Clerk — such an one, for instance, as he 
 whose name stands at the head of this article — is, on occas- 
 ion, and must always stand ready to be, the prompter, if not 
 the power, behind the Chair. When new and inexperienced 
 legislators for the first time are called upon to preside over 
 
Henry A. Glidden. 119 
 
 Senate or Committee of the Whole, where would they be — 
 what would become of them but for the friendly and incessant 
 whispers of the clerk ? When a knotty point in parliament- 
 ary law is brought forward to the disagreement of the Sena- 
 tors, the Clerk who, on being consulted, fails to produce from 
 his tongue's end a solution of the difficulty, is apt to be 
 looked upon with a measure of disapprobation ; as one not 
 entirely fortified in his position. In addition to all this, the 
 Clerk is expected to name, on the instant that a bill is intro- 
 duced — no matter how queer and outlandish the bill — 
 the very committee set apart for its reception ; to keep in 
 mind the title of every act " entitled an act " introduced 
 from the commencement to the close of the session, includ- 
 ing, as germain to the subject, the name of the committee 
 to whom referred, and the date of subsequent report. 
 Having added that, he must be as ready with answers to all 
 sorts of questions as a metropolitan hotel clerk; that his 
 legislative ability would avail him but little unless combined 
 with great executive talents ; that it behooves him to have a 
 knowledge of men as well as of affairs ; to be the possessor 
 of the social virtue of unfailing good nature; and, as it 
 were, to be a walking edition of the blue and red book. We 
 refrain from further definition, and, merely repeating our 
 preliminary observation, that the duties of the Clerk of the 
 Senate are not solely or chiefly clerical, we pass on to give a 
 brief sketch of the present efficient Clerk of the Senate, 
 Henry A. Glidden. 
 
 Henry A. Glidden was born at Clarendon, in the county 
 of Orleans, on the 21st of August, 1830. He received a 
 good academical education, and graduated at the State 
 Normal School, at Albany, in 1848. After leaving school, 
 he applied himself to the study of the law, studying with 
 Hon. Sanford E. Church and Hon. Noah Davis, at 
 Albion. He also availed himself of the benefit to be derived 
 from attendance at the law school in Albany. He was 
 admitted to the bar in 1852, but the press of business in 
 
120 Life Sketches. 
 
 other directions has given him very little time for the prac 
 tice of his profession. 
 
 Mr. Glidden has always been an active politician. Start- 
 ing as a Whig, he cast his lot with the Republican party as 
 soon as it was organized, and has remained a Republican 
 ever since. His official experience outside of the Senate is 
 included in a three years term as Supervisor of the town of 
 Ridgeway, Orleans county. 
 
 Mr. GLiDDE]sr has long been a familiar presence to those 
 attending the sessions of the Legislature. For eight years 
 he occupied the position of assistant clerk of the Senate, 
 being retained under some administrations opposed to him 
 politically. His retention for so many years of a position for 
 which there is always such a crowd of applicants speaks 
 well for his reputation for capacity and integrity. His elec- 
 tion to the position which he now holds was a compliment 
 of which he might well be proud. He was chosen by a 
 unanimous vote, Democrats as well as Republicans recording 
 themselves heartily in favor of a man whom they knew to 
 be thoroughly equipped for the competent discharge of the 
 many responsible duties devolving upon a Clerk. 
 
 Mr. Glidden" is prompt, intelligent, patient and courteous, 
 and is as popular in his new position as he was always faith- 
 ful in every public duty hitherto assisrned him. 
 
MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY. 
 
 JAMES W. HUSTED, 
 
 SPEAKER. 
 
 At the caucus which named the subject of the present 
 article for the Speakership, the apt remark was made that 
 "Gen. HusTED is a born Speaker." The allusion was so 
 peculiarly applicable, and so well described Mr. Husted's 
 gifts in this regard, that it was caught up and embodied in 
 numerous commendatory notices which then appeared in the 
 press of the State concerning the new presiding officer. 
 Certainly no other phrase of equal brevity could so well 
 express the fact. Gen. Husted's qualifications for the 
 Speakership — a position which admittedly requires qualifi- 
 cations of a high order — are implanted in his very nature. 
 They are born within him rather than acquired. No amount 
 of training can give to any man the quickness of perception, 
 the prompt judgment or the coolness of demeanor, which 
 pre-eminently distinguish the gentleman from Westchester, 
 while the most thorough parliamentarian and statesman 
 would undoubtedly fail in the Speaker's chair did he not 
 possess precisely those qualities. 
 
 The canvass for the Speakership of the present Assembly 
 was memorable in several respects. It is not frequently the 
 case that a legislative body contains so many men of mark 
 and ability as the one now assembled at the capitol. It was 
 natural, therefore, that several of them should be spoken of 
 as the prospective parliamentary head of the House; and it is 
 a noticeable fact that all of those so spoken of would have 
 honored the office had they been called upon to occupy it. 
 From the first, however, Mr. Husted was universally recog- 
 16 
 
122 Life Sketches. 
 
 nized, from his long and honorable service as a legislator, 
 his perfect familiarity with parliamentary tactics and canons, 
 and the extremely valuable mental and personal character- 
 istics already spoken of, as the fittest man for the honor. 
 Even his opponents — and there were many of them — con- 
 ceded that, in a practical sense, at least, he stood almost 
 without an equal in this connection. His competitor, Mr. 
 Prince, a man of far different mold, of exalted character, and 
 possessing equal if not superior accomplishments of another 
 stamp, was a formidable rival, and had another than Gen. 
 HusTED been in the field he would undoubtedly have been 
 chosen by acclamation. The congest between the two gen- 
 tlemen, while carried on throughout in a friendly spirit, was 
 stubbornly fought on both sides. But Mr. Prince suffered 
 no disparagement or loss of self-respect in being beaten by 
 such a man as Gen. Husted ; and to the latter the result 
 was not only honorable and gratifying, but a fitting acknowl- 
 edgment of his five years' faithful service as a law-maker. 
 
 Gen. Husted's personal record, during the twenty years or 
 more he has mingled in the politics of the State, has been a 
 brilliant one. Born in Bedford, in this State, on the 31st of 
 October, 1833, and descended from an ancestry chiefly remark- 
 able for honesty and respectability, he enjoyed fair oppor- 
 tunities during his youth. He prepared for college at the 
 Bedford Academy, in his native town, and at quite an early 
 age entered Yale College, from which he graduated on reach- 
 ing his majority in 1854. While in college he stood well 
 with his class, and was complimented with university honors 
 when he graduated. Subsequently he studied law with 
 Edward Wells, of Peekskill, and was admitted to the bar 
 in 1857. As a lawyer he possesses fine abilities, and is regarded 
 with confidence and respect. His political life has been 
 somewhat varied, and not entirely devoid of vicissitudes. In 
 the early years of his career he was identified with the Ameri- 
 can party aad served two years as Secretary of the State 
 Council of that short-lived organization. He was selected 
 
James W. Husted, 123 
 
 Town Superintendent of Common Schools, in 1855, on the 
 Know-Xothing ticket, and in 1858 he was chosen by the same 
 party as one of the School Commissioners of Westchester 
 county. But in 1859 " Know-Nothingism " degenerated 
 into a mere tender to the Democratic party of the day, and 
 Mr. HusTED became disgusted and left it, feeling justly that 
 he could not consent to a betrayal of the principles upon 
 which the party was founded. 
 
 During the Utica Convention, held in that year, when the 
 " Hybrid " ticket was formed, he published a protest against 
 it and joined the Republican party. In 1860 he was appointed 
 Deputy Superintendent of the State Insurance Department 
 by Hon. William Barnes, the then Superintendent, and 
 during the presidential campaign of that year was Vice- 
 President of the large and flourishing club of Albany " Wide 
 Awakes," of which Hon. J. Meredith Read, Jr., now min- 
 ister to Greece, wa6 President. During this campaign Mr. 
 Husted performed effective service for the Republican cause. 
 Since 1862 he has been Harbor Master of the city of New 
 York, and, until recently, was Deputy Captain of the port. 
 
 In the fall of 1868 Mr. Husted was elected to the Assem- 
 bly from the Third district of Westchester county by 307 
 majority. He made an honorable record as a debater and as 
 a legislator during his first session, being Chairman of the 
 Committee on Federal Relations, and member of the Com- 
 mittee on Commerce and Navigation. The next year he was 
 re-elected by 1,144 majority, running 837 ahead of his ticket, 
 and 41 7 ahead in his own town. Since then he has been 
 regularly re-elected, his majority in 1871 reaching the unpre- 
 cedented figure of 1,509. In 1872, owing to local compli- 
 cations and the defection of Liberal Republicans, it was 
 reduced to 502, but last fall he again demonstrated his popu- 
 larity and astonished friends as well as opponents by achiev- 
 ing a majority of 1,864. He served during the last four 
 terms on the Committees on Commerce and Navigation, 
 Ways and Means, Grievances, and Federal Relations, being 
 
124 Life Sketches. 
 
 again Chairman of the latter Committee in 1872, and Chair- 
 man of Education in 1873. In 1872 he was also Chairman 
 of Rules, Local and Special Laws, and Congressional Appor- 
 tionment. In 1873 he was Chairman also of Congressional 
 Apportionment. 
 
 Gen. HusTED has been frequently honored with responsible 
 positions by the party to which he belongs, and he in turn 
 has honored the party with his best efforts, but his sphere of 
 useful activity has not been confined to politics. He is one 
 of the most prominent members of the Masonic Fraternity in 
 the State, and has reached to the highest honors in the order, 
 being a member of the Order of Knights Templar, and 
 entitled to wear the jewel of the 33d degree. For several 
 years he has held the rank of D. D. C M., and is now Junior 
 Grand Warden. He has also been Judge i^dvocate on the 
 staff of the Seventh Brigade, New York State Militia. 
 
 On March 26, 1873, he was nominated by Gov. Dix to be 
 Major-General of the Fifth Division of the National Guard, 
 in place of Gen. Gates who had resigned, and he was imme- 
 diately confirmed by the Senate. The appointment was 
 universally recognized as an eminently fit one, and none were 
 more hearty in their congratulations than his fellow mem- 
 bers of the last Assembly. On the evening after the announce- 
 ment of his appointment the following resolution was offered 
 by a Democratic member, and unanimously adopted: 
 
 Resolved, That always feeling a deep interest in the per- 
 sonal and official relations of our fellow members, and a warm 
 regard for them individually, we desire to express our heart- 
 felt thanks to Gov. Dix for his promotion of the Hon. James 
 W. HusTED to the command of the military forces of the 
 Fifth Division, and that as he has been first in peace, we 
 know he will, in the event of a great military necessity, be 
 first in war, and in the future first in the hearts of his coun- 
 trymen. 
 
 The General's popularity among the members of the 
 National Guard is well shown by the fact that he was unani- 
 
James W. Husted. 125 
 
 mously elected, in January last, as President of the State 
 Military Association. 
 
 General Husted has enjoyed a pre-eminence among poli- 
 ticians and legislators by reason of his splendid abilities. Few 
 men in the State excel him in those accomplishments which 
 mark the successful statesman. He possesses a clear and 
 brilliant intellect, sound judgment, a ready off-hand manner, 
 and is, withal, an acute reasoner and polished orator; and 
 when we add that his gifts of mind and heart are never 
 used to further corrupt or doubtful schemes, we complete a 
 catalogue which is infinitely to the credit of our subject. 
 
 His dashing style of debate, and the lightning-like rapidity 
 with which he grasps the situation of the moment, together 
 with his bold, concise and incisive mode of argument, and 
 sometimes startling readiness at repartee, render him not only 
 formidable to his opponents, but exceedingly popular among 
 all classes of men. He is a master of the art of sarcasm, and, 
 as he usually veils his keen and merciless retorts in elegant 
 language and apt classical allusion, the wounds made by his 
 sharp thrusts produce much more pleasure than pain, even to 
 those upon whom they are inflicted. In the most exciting 
 passages of partisan debate, Mr. Husted is ever courteous 
 and cool, while in argument he is clear, connected and logical, 
 his more ambitious speeches being frequently enriched with 
 •pointed anecdote and scholarly illustration. He speaks very 
 rapidly, and has surprising command of language, while his 
 thorough knowledge of parliamentary rules enables him to 
 be perfectly at home in the most bewildering cross-fire of 
 motions and counter-motions characteristic of legislative filli- 
 bustering and bushwhacking. 
 
 Socially, the Speaker possesses rare gifts. Genial and 
 talented, a brilliant conversationalist, acd an adept in all the 
 accomplishments and qualities which constitute the gentle- 
 man,^ he is peculiarly fitted to ornament society and win 
 friendship and esteem. His unaffected manners and sterling 
 qualities have rendered him extremely popular with the peo- 
 
126 Life Sketches. 
 
 pie at large, while the same traits, in connection with his 
 solid attainments, have secured him hosts of friends in the 
 field of letters and politics. He is, in every respect, an orna- 
 ment to the Speaker's chair. 
 
 HECTOE ABEEL. 
 
 Very little is known concerning the antecedents of Hector 
 Abeel, the Democratic Member from the Second district of 
 Ulster county. His exceeding modesty concerning the events 
 of his past life is perhaps commendable, but it fails to 
 satisfy the natural curiosity which will be felt concerning 
 him, now that he has broken the shell of his former obscurity 
 by becoming a Member of Assembly. We only know that 
 he was born under the shadow of the Oatskill Mountains, in 
 the pleasant riverside town of that name, that he now resides 
 in the village of Stone Eidge, Ulster county, and that he 
 was elected by some three hundred majority to succeed 
 Mr. Brown", a Eepublican, whose origin and personal history, 
 singularly enough, was last year involved in similar mystery. 
 At this writing, Mr. Abeel's character, as a legislator, has 
 not developed sufficiently to enable us to give a very intel- 
 ligible idea thereof. He is a short, somewhat wiry, and 
 nervous individual, with a shrill voice and rather unobtru- 
 sive manner. He is evidently a man of energy and determi- 
 nation, and few, we imagine, would set him down as other 
 than a man of honest purpose. He is a member of the 
 Committee on Agriculture. 
 
Franklin A. Alb erg er. 127 
 
 FRANKLIN A. ALBERGER. 
 
 Few men who figure in State politics occupy a more con- 
 spicuous position than the Member from tlie Third district of 
 Erie county ; and it may also be added that few have been 
 identified to a greater degree with the material and com- 
 mercial progress of the commonwealth. Representing a 
 constituency largely composed of those connected with the 
 mercantile and shipping interests, and being himself one of 
 that class for many years, he has a clear appreciation of the 
 importance of developing to the utmost every means likely 
 to augment the commercial greatness of the State. His long 
 experience as Canal Commissioner has given him a thorough 
 insight into the workings of the great arteries of inter-com- 
 munication, and enabled him to fully understand their 
 relation to the stupendous eastward movement of the agri- 
 cnltural products of the great west. He has, therefore, 
 always been the earnest advocate of every project which 
 commended itself to his judgment as likely to effect an 
 increase in the capacity of the canals, and enable them to 
 successfully compete with other transportation routes from 
 the west to the Atlantic sea-board. His views upon the sub- 
 ject of canal policy are not only clear and decided, but 
 liberal and progressive, and founded upon a regard for the 
 best interests of the State at large, rather than of special 
 localities. Indeed, his convictions upon every subject brought 
 before the Legislature are quickly and generally judiciously 
 formed and tenaciously adhered to. Enjoying a large busi- 
 ness experience, as well as an intimate knowledge of State 
 affairs, and also of men and events, Mr. Alberqer is pecul- 
 iarly qualified to perform the duties of legislation. 
 
 Born in Baltimore, Md., on the 14th of January, 1825, of 
 parents who were both natives of that city, Mr. Alberqeb 
 
128 Life Sketches, 
 
 * 
 
 received a liberal education in district and select schools. 
 He removed to Buffalo at the age of 17 years, and engaged in 
 the butchering and provision business, which he prosecuted 
 successfully until the year 1868. He early became very 
 active in the local politics of Erie county, and was promi- 
 nently identified, first with the Whig and then with the 
 Republican party. It is a notable fact, in this connection, 
 that he was a member of the last Whig convention, and also 
 of the first Republican convention held in Erie county. He 
 was also Secretary of the first Republican meeting held in 
 the city of Buffalo, and a member of the first County Com- 
 mittee of that party, acting as its Treasurer during a period 
 of ten years. During the native American campaigns, Mr. 
 Alberger was decided in his hostility to the movement — his 
 uncompromising opposition to every thing savoring of Know- 
 No thingism being doubtless still remembered by those famil- 
 iar with the political contests of those days. 
 
 Mr. Alberger's known ability and integrity have marked 
 him as peculiarly a fit man in almost any capacity. He has, 
 therefore, often been called upon to fill positions of trust and 
 responsibility. As early as 1854, he was elected an Alderman 
 of Buffalo, and was re-elected in 1858 and 1859. In 1860 
 the people of Buffalo chose him as their Mayor, and so 
 acceptably did he fill the position during the term of two 
 years that the eyes of the State at large were turned upon 
 him, and in 1862 he was elected to the office of Canal Com- 
 missioner, in which he served six years, two successive terms, 
 being nominated each time by acclamation. Mr. A. is now 
 serving his fourth consecutive term as Member of Assembly, 
 and it is a sufficient indication of his growing popularity to 
 state that his majorities were, respectively, in 1870, 189 ; in 
 1871, 881 ; in 1872, 1,861 ; and in 1873, 1,569. 
 
 Besides these public positions, strictly political in their 
 nature, Mr. Alberger has held numerous private and busi- 
 ness trusts. During the war, he was Chairman of the Mili- 
 tary Relief Fund of the city of Buffalo, and was also Chair- 
 
JoH2i J. Allen, 129 
 
 man of the committees charged with raising and equipping 
 the 2l8t and 49th Regiments of volunteers. The last-named 
 regiment was raised with such celerity that it was the first 
 completed regiment raised outside of New York city under 
 the second call for volunteers. 
 
 As a public speaker, Mr. Alberqer is forcible and fluent. 
 His speeches usually bristle with a formidable array of facts 
 and figures, and upon them he relies rather than upon fervid 
 eloquence or brilliant rhetoric. He takes part in the 
 debates upon all questions which come before the House, 
 and displays equal familiarity with his subject, whether it 
 relates to government, law, social reform or commerce. His 
 appointment as chairman of the Canal Committee of the 
 present House was one the fitness of which is universally 
 recognized. He is also a vfiluable member of the Com- 
 mittees on Privileges and Elections, and Rules, and no mem- 
 ber, perhaps, performs more of the hard work of legislation 
 than the tall and stately gentleman from Erie. In religious 
 belief and connection Mr. Alberger is a Presbyterian, but 
 his views on religion, as on other subjects, are broad and 
 liberal. He was married June 10, 1847, to Miss Kate Rice. 
 
 JOHN J. ALLEN. 
 
 The Second district of Kings, which generally sends capa- 
 ble representatives to the capital, is this year specially fortu- 
 nate. Mr. Allen, who fills the seat allotted to that con- 
 stituency, is a young lawyer of unusually brilliant promise. 
 Though he has but just passed his thirtieth year, he has 
 already achieved a fair legal reputation, and made a creditable 
 record in several important public positions. He is not 
 greatly given to speech making, but he possesses the ability 
 17 
 
130 Life Sketches. 
 
 to talk well on any subject; while his ready tact and sound 
 judgment render him a valuable and efficient Member of the 
 lower house. 
 
 He was born in TJtica, N. Y., on the 4th of August, 1842. 
 His parents removed to Vermont when he was quite young, 
 however, and his character, therefore, bears somewhat the 
 stamp of a New England bringing up. His early education 
 was received mainly in the City Academy at Burlington, and 
 it was there that he prepared for college. At the age of six- 
 teen he entered the University of Vermont, passed through 
 the full course, and graduated with honor in the year 1862. 
 Soon thereafter he commenced the study of law. While 
 pursuing his studies, a favorable opening presented itself in 
 New York city, and proceeding thither, he accepted a posi- 
 tion upon the staff of the Provost Marshal, and during the 
 last year of the bureau he had entire charge of the Fourth 
 Provost District. While he was still an incumbent the 
 bureau was abolished, and ybung Allen again turned his 
 attention to his legal studies. He entered the Columbia 
 College Law School, acquitted himself creditably, and grad- 
 uated in 1866 with all the honors. He at once took high 
 rank as a lawyer, as is evidenced by the fact that very soon 
 after his graduation he received the appointment of Assistant 
 District Attorney for the eastern district of New York, under 
 Hon. Benjamin D. Silliman, the Republican candidate for 
 Attorney-General last fall, and when Mr. Silliman retired^ 
 Mr. Allen was continued in the office under Benjamin F. 
 Tkacy, receiving his appointment from Attorney-General 
 EvARTS. He held this responsible position until March, 
 1873, when he resigned, and has since practiced his profes- 
 sion in Brooklyn. 
 
 During his residence in Brooklyn Mr. Allen has partici- 
 pated actively in politics, and he is widely known as an 
 unswerving Republican, a hard worker, and a man who com- 
 bines many elements of popularity. Very few Brooklyn men 
 in public life possess the confidence of the community to a 
 
Thomas G. Alvord. 131 
 
 greater extent, and in the third ward, where he resides, he is 
 liighly esteemed by all classes. He was nominated for his 
 present position by acclamation, no other name being even 
 mentioned in the convention. 
 
 In a speech which he made after receiving the nomination, 
 he laid down a rule for his own guidance which is perhaps 
 the best definition of the duties of a legislator yet enunciated. 
 After thanking his friends for the honor they had just con- 
 ferred upon him, he informed them that it would be his 
 endeavor, if elected, to execute the wishes of those whom he 
 represented, having regard not to the preference of any clique 
 or fjujtion, but to the best interests of all. That expression, 
 we take it, presents the case in a nutshell, and it would not 
 be a bad idea if some such sentiment were inscribed promi- 
 nently upon the walls of the Assembly chamber. In the 
 canvass which followed he ran 500 votes ahead of the regular 
 Republican ticket, receiving a majority of 652. 
 
 In the assignment of committees, Mr. Allen was placed 
 on Banks and State Charitable Institutions. 
 
 THOMAS G. ALVORD. 
 
 It seems well nigh a superfluous task to attempt a 
 biographical sketch of the venerable and well known Mem- 
 ber from Onondaga. The record of his long and honorable 
 legislative career is part of the history of the State, and 
 there ought to be very few people who need to be told who 
 or what he is. While a member of the Legislature he has 
 always ranked among its foremost men in point of ability, 
 while his experience, tact and foresight have rendered him 
 an exceedingly valuable and efficient member. His legisla- 
 tive career has not been distinguished so much for that 
 brilliancy which captivates people for a time as for a plain 
 
132 Life Sketches. 
 
 matter-of-fact course, which has not been greatly interrupted 
 by mistakes, and being almost invariably characterized by 
 those efforts which have a telling effect upon men. There 
 is nothing visionary about Mr. Alvord. If he theorizes, 
 his theories are based upon substantial facts and lead to 
 obvious conclusions, while his views upon every question are 
 well considered and practical. As a " floor " member of the 
 lower branch of the Legislature, Mr. Alvord has had very 
 few, if any, superiors. He is always at his post, watches 
 closely every step in legislative progress, always has a ready 
 argument at his tongue's end, no matter what the topic which 
 may call it forth, is fertile in expedients, in ready replies, or 
 in daring parliamentary manoeuvres, and is in every way a 
 shrewd political manager and formidable opponent. Though 
 he is reputed to be somewhat unscrupulous in his hostility 
 to men and measures, he never seeks to gain an advantage by 
 the questionable tactics sometimes resorted to by less skillful 
 politicians. His great strength lies in his splendid oratorical 
 ability, his practical and well nigh exhaustive legal and politi- 
 cal knowledge, and his thorough mastery of parliamentary 
 rules. In the latter respect he is almost without a peer, 
 and his opinion upon points of order is rarely questioned by 
 the most self-sufficient opponent. 
 
 Mr. Alvord was born in Onondaga, Onondaga county, on 
 the 20th of December, 1810. He is, therefore, about sixty- 
 four years of age. His father, Elisha Alvord, was a mer- 
 chant, and formerly resided in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer 
 county. The Alvord family are of English descent, their 
 ancestors emigrating to this country in the year 1638. His 
 mother's name was Helen" Lansij^g, of Holland ancestry, 
 and both of his grandfathers were revolutionary pensioners, his 
 maternal grandfather being a captain in the campaign which 
 resulted in Burgoyne's surrender. The combination of the 
 two national characteristics — English and Dutch — is quite 
 apparent in the subject of our sketch. 
 
 Mr. Alvord graduated from Yale College in 1828, his 
 
Thomas G. Alvord. 133 
 
 previous preparatory education having been gained at the 
 Lansingburgh academy. Having completed his collegiate 
 course, he studied law for two years with Thomas A. 
 ToMLiNSON and George A. Simmons, at Keeseville, Essex 
 county, and one year with Charles P. Kirkland and \Vm. 
 J. Bacon, at Utica, N. Y. He began the practice of his pro- 
 fession January 1, 1833, at Salina, now the first ward of the 
 city of Syracuse, and continued until 1846. Since that time 
 he has been a lumberman and salt manufacturer, and has 
 been quite successful, though he has devoted much of his 
 time to politics and legislation. 
 
 In politics he was originally a hard-shell Democrat ; but 
 he united with the Republicans in 1864. When the war 
 broke out he was conspicuous in his adherence to the Union 
 cause, and was twice elected to the Assembly as a Union and 
 War Democrat. Since that time he has been a Republican 
 of independent proclivities. In the Presidential campaign 
 of 1872 he acted with the Liberals and voted for Horace 
 Greeley. Though he was elected to his present position 
 mainly by Democratic and Liberal votes, he made no pledges 
 and is recognized as an independent Republican in the fullest 
 sense. He was first elected to the Assembly in 1844, and he 
 also served in that body in 1858, 1862, 1864, 1870, 1871 and 
 1872. He was Speaker of the House in 1858 and 1864, and 
 in that capacity gained great popularity. 
 
 In 1864 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor, running on 
 the ticket with Governor Fenton, and served through 1865 
 and 1866. As president of the Senate he presided with dig- 
 nity, judgment and discrimination, ruling with uniform 
 impartiality, and very generally winning the respect of Sena- 
 tors of both parties. He also represented his native county, 
 Onondaga, in the State Constitutional Convention of 1868, 
 '69. In the deliberations of that convention, which was com- 
 posed of some of the ablest gentlemen in the State, Mr. 
 Alvord played a prominent part and won a deserved repu- 
 tation as a skillful debater. 
 
134 Life Sketches. 
 
 During his service in the Assembly, Mr. Alvord has served 
 on many of its most important committees, having been 
 Chairman of Ways and Means, and member at different times 
 of Canals, Judiciary, Grievances and others. In the present 
 House, notwithstanding his somewhat equivocal political 
 position, he is on the "Ways and Means and Canal Commit- 
 tees. His vote in the recent canvass stood 2,851 against 2,571 
 for Wm. H. H. Gere, by whom he was defeated in 1872 by 
 over four hundred majority. 
 
 JOHN P. BADGER. 
 
 John" Peaslee Badger, who is now serving his second 
 term, was born in Ossipee, Carroll county, N. H., August 3, 
 1834. He is a son of Wm. P. C. Badger, a native of Comp- 
 ton, P. Q., but born of American parents. While yet in 
 early infancy he came with his parents to this State, and is 
 consequently a New Yorker to all intents and purposes. His 
 father and mother are still living in comfortable circum- 
 stances, the former being about sixty years of age. Young 
 Badger was educated in the common schools, and though 
 his early life was spent upon the farm and in a country 
 store, of which he was proprietor for several years, he 
 availed himself of every opportunity to prepare himself for 
 the legal profession, to which he looked forward as his chosen 
 pursuit. He finally entered the Albany Law School, gradu- 
 ated with credit in November, 1871, and shortly afterward 
 was admitted to the bar. Since that time he has practiced 
 law with success, already taking a respectable rank among 
 the lawyers of his county. 
 
 Mr. Badger learned his first political lessons in the Amer- 
 ican party, and was an ardent member of that party during 
 
John P. Badger. 135 
 
 its brief existence, voting for Millard Fillmore for Presi- 
 dent. When its elements were scattered he identified himself 
 with the Republicans, with whom he has continued to act up 
 to the present time. He is constitutionally quite an active 
 man, and has therefore been a participant in Franklin county 
 politics for a number of years past. Twice he has been 
 elected to represent his town in the Board of Supervisors — 
 in 1870 and 1872. Though his town was formerly Demo- 
 cratic, he carried it when first elected by a majority of ^"Z. 
 In his second canvass his majority was 46, in a total vote of 
 300 ; and in the fall of 1872 he carried it in the Assembly 
 canvass by the gratifying majority of 141, his entire majority 
 in the county over W. W. Paddock, being 1,214, or about 
 40 votes ahead of the Stat-e ticket. Last fall his majority 
 over Baker Stevens was 1,067, the majority for the State 
 ticket being about 900. These figures speak well for the 
 popularity of the Franklin county Member at home. 
 
 Mr. Badger's frank and modest deportment and evident 
 ability attracted popular regard very early in the last session. 
 He developed great aptitude for legislative duties, being not 
 only an excellent speaker, but an invaluable committeeman. 
 As member of the Committees on State Prisons, Federal 
 Relations, and Engrossed Bills, he made an excellent record. 
 This year he is Chairman of State Prisons, and member of 
 Grievances and Sub-committee of the Whole. 
 
 He is a consistent and earnest member of the Methodist 
 church, and possesses a character entirely above reproach. 
 He was married in January, 1855, to Miss Emily E. Phelps. 
 
136 Life Sketches. 
 
 GEORGE BARROW. 
 
 George Barrow was born in the brick house, still stand- 
 ing, on the north-east corner of Clinton and Henrj 
 streets, New York city, March 14, 1839. He is a direct lineal 
 descendant of Robert Barrow, who was baptised at Cart- 
 mel Priory church, Lancashire, England, in the year 1530. 
 The records of this church (endowed by the Earl of Pem- 
 broke, A. D. 1187), do not extend back of this period. 
 JoHi^r Barrow, the grandfather of Mr. Barrow, left Lan- 
 cashire early in life for the West Indies, but shortly after- 
 ward came to Long Island, and subsequently for many years 
 resided upon Pearl street, then a fashionable street in the 
 city of New York, engaged in manufacturing, and afterward 
 in insurance, as President of the City Eire insurance Com- 
 pany of New York. John^ Barrow, the father, was born 
 here in 1797, and, at the age of twenty-five years, was 
 married to Elizabeth M. Prior, who became the mother 
 of the subject of this sketch, and nine other children. Joh]^ 
 Barrow died in February last, at an advanced age and 
 greatly respected. Elizabeth M. Prior is a lineal descend- 
 ant of Edmund Prior. He was a sterling old Quaker of 
 anti-slavery fame, a puritan preacher, who came to America 
 shortly after the arrival of the Mayflower. Subsequently 
 his family espoused the faith of the Society of Friends, and 
 removed, for greater religious freedom, to the vicinity of 
 Huntington, Long Island. Edmukd Prior, grandfather of 
 Mr. Barrow, was a banker and merchant, residing in New 
 York city, doing an extensive business, and having among 
 his customers such men as Baron Steuben", La Fayette, etc. 
 
 Four of the brothers of Mr. Barrow died in early man- 
 hood. Edmund P. Barrow, who attained the greatest age 
 of the four, was at the age of twenty -four a Member of the 
 
Oeorge Barrow. ' 137 
 
 Assembly of 1854, from the Fifth New York district, elected 
 on a reform ticket. He died in the year 1857, at the age of 
 twenty-eight. Mr. Barrow's mother is still living in good 
 health, at the age of seventy-eight years. 
 
 The only educational advantages of Mr. Barrow have 
 been common school, with one or two terms at private 
 school, and the general advantages of a cultured home. He 
 studied law in the office of Benoni Lee, Esq., at Skane- 
 ateles, and subsequently in the office of Sedgwick, Andrews 
 & Kennedy, at Syracuse, and was admitted to practice 
 October 4, 1860. Since that time he has practiced law at 
 Skaneateles with good success. He became interested in 
 politics at the time of the formation of the Republican party, 
 and has since been an active and ardent Republican, inclined 
 to partisanship rather than liberalism. He has held several 
 town offices. In 1863, he was elected justice of the peace for 
 the town of Skaneateles, but the office interfering with the 
 practice of his profession, he resigned it the same year. In 
 1865, his name was presented to the Republican convention 
 for member of Assembly, but Mr. Ranny, a former member, 
 was renominated by a majority of one. He has repeatedly 
 been a member of the Republican County Committee, and, 
 during several active campaigns, a " Stump speaker." 
 
 During the late war Mr. Barrow was an active home- 
 worker, his office for about two years being practically a 
 recruiting office. 
 
 In the canvass of last fall two candidates were arrayed 
 against him, Mathias Brixton, Democrat, and Daniel 
 PiNCKNEY, Temperance. He received a plurality, however, 
 of 279, and a majority over both of 33. In the House he is 
 a member of the Committees on Villages, Banks, and En- 
 grossed Bills. 
 
 Mr. Barrow was married September 29, 1863, to Caroline 
 
 M. Tyler of Skaneateles. He is a member of the Protestant 
 
 Episcopal Church. He has been a frequent contributor of 
 
 editorials to the public journals, and as a writer of fiction 
 
 18 
 
138 Life Sketches. 
 
 has contributed to the Atlantic Mo7ithly and other leading 
 magazines. 
 
 Mr. Barrow is a fluent and agreeable speaker, and a 
 man of varied learning. During his student life his inclina- 
 tions were of a literary nature, and he frequently lectured 
 before the lyceums and literary societies of his own and 
 neighboring towns. He possesses in a large degree those 
 qualities of head and heart which win favor and popularity, 
 and he evidently has a brilliant career yet before him. In 
 business matters he is the soul of honor, and socially he is 
 genial and companionable — a cultivated and courteous 
 gentleman. His constituency may well felicitate itself upon 
 being well and effectively represented at the capitol this year. 
 
 BENJAMIK J. BASSETT. 
 
 The subject of this notice is a plain substantial farmer, 
 and has been such all his life. He has always been of the 
 opinion that a vigorous and persistent appeal to " mother 
 earth " is certain to open up the most reliable source of 
 income, and his experience has been such as to demonstrate 
 the correctness of that opinion, as he has succeeded in secur- 
 ing and acquiring a handsome competency for himself and 
 family. He was born at Walton, his present place of resi- 
 dence, in the year 1812, and was the son of the Eev. Archi- 
 bald and Keziah Bassett, who were natives of Litchfield, 
 Conn. Both his parents are now dead. Though he was 
 brought up on a farm from early youth, he received a liberal 
 common school and academic education. In 1837 he mar- 
 ried Mary L. Bentoit at Hudson, Columbia county. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Bassett was from the first an anti-slavery 
 Democrat. He was a member of the State convention which 
 
Benjamin J. Bassett. 139 
 
 met in Utica on the memorable 2l8t of October, 1835, for 
 the purpose of forming a State anti-slavery society. Many 
 residents of Utica still possess a vivid remembrance of that 
 gathering. It met in a church, and had hardly began its 
 deliberations before it was broken up by a mob composed of 
 "gentlemen of property and standing," and headed by cer- 
 tain high officials. This outrage upon the rights of free 
 speech produced its inevitable fruit, however, as the senti- 
 ment of hostility to the " institution " continued from that 
 time to gather strength. Since then Mr. Bassett never 
 swerved in his antagonism to slavery, and usually, previous 
 to 1855, acted with the Barnburner branch of the Democ- 
 racy. On the organization of the Republican party he 
 promptly gave it his hearty support, and has steadily acted 
 with it up to the present time, uniformly urging economy 
 in the administration of government, and strongly opposing 
 any thing in the nature of '* salary grabbing," or pilfering 
 from the public in any manner. 
 
 He has held various civil offices in his town and district, 
 and, in 1869, was a Member of Assembly, being upon the 
 Committee of Ways and Means. He has also filled with 
 credit various positions in the New York State National 
 Guard, from the minor offices to Brigadier General. 
 
 In religious sentiment and profession Mr. Bassett is a 
 Presbyterian, but he is quite tolerant in his views, and favors 
 the largest degree of freedom of opinion and action in regard 
 to religious matters, believing that it is always safe to trust 
 the truth in open conflict with error. 
 
140 Life Sketches. 
 
 GEOEGE S. BATCHELLEB. 
 
 Gen. Batcheller is well entitled to rank among the most 
 distinguished Members of the Assembly. His rare social 
 qualities, splendid abilities and personal magnetism have also 
 placed him among the most popular members, and it is safe 
 to assert that there are few men, whether in or out of the 
 capitol, who occupy a higher place in public estimation than 
 Gen. George S. Batcheller. He was born in Batchellerville, 
 Saratoga county, July 25, 1837, and is, therefore, nearly 
 thirty-seven years of age. He is descended from a some- 
 what illustrious ancestry. His father's family were originally 
 Irish, and went to Spain with the O'Donohue. From thence, 
 after several generations, their descendants found their way 
 to this country, and settled in Massachusetts. Gen. B.'s 
 father, Sherman Batcheller, was born in Vermont, and 
 was a nephew of Roger Sherman", one of the signers of the 
 Declaration of Independence, and was also related, though 
 distantly, to Daniel Webster's family. He died suddenly 
 in 1862. The General's mother was of English descent, and 
 a native of Massachusetts. Gen. Batcheller is a thoroughly 
 educated gentleman, having graduated at Harvard University, 
 and received the degree of LL. B. from the law school of that 
 institution. He entered Harvard in the junior year, but was 
 obliged to limit his course, though he was enabled to complete 
 the scientific course successfully, receiving a diploma which 
 entitles him to the degree of Ph. B. In 1858, about a year 
 after leaving college, he was admitted to the bar, and soon 
 rose to eminence in his profession. In the fall of the same 
 year, he was elected to the Assembly from the same district 
 now represented by him. This proved the stepping-stone to 
 what is as yet an uncompleted career of brilliant and honor- 
 able public service. 
 
George S. Batcheller. 141 
 
 Two or three years later, the war of the rebellion broke out. 
 He entered the volunteer service, acting as Major until he 
 was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel in the One Hun- 
 dred and Fifteenth New York Volunteers, and, though but 
 recently married, he went to the front with that command. 
 He participated in all the battles and skirmishes in which 
 the reginient was engaged, until he was taken prisoner at 
 Harper's Ferry, in September of the same year. Early in 
 1863 he was exchanged, and received the appointment of 
 Deputy Provost-Marshal-General in the department of the 
 South. He held this responsible position, having under his 
 charge all the civil and military matters pertaining to that 
 office, in those portions of South Carolina, Georgia and 
 Florida within our lines, until the winter of 1864, serving 
 under Generals Haunter, Gilmore, Seymour and others. 
 Subsequently he was transferred to Elmira to look after 
 drafted men for his department, and there honorably dis- 
 charged from the service, receiving the rank of brevet-Colonel. 
 
 In 1865 he was appointed Inspector-General on the staff of 
 Governor Fenton", and held the position during the four 
 years' administration of that official. While Inspector-Gen- 
 eral, he reorganized the National Guard throughout the State, 
 and, as President of the Auditing Board, examined and pre- 
 sented to the general government claims of the State for 
 organizing volunteer forces, amounting to several hundred 
 thousand dollars, which the United States has since allowed 
 and paid. 
 
 In 1868 he ran as Grant elector for the Eighteenth, now 
 Nineteenth, Congressional district Since 1868 Gen. Batch- 
 eller has applied himself diligently to his profession, and 
 to the enjoyment of those home pleasures to which he had 
 almost become a stranger. In the fall of 1872, however, the 
 Republicans of his district tendered him, with one accord, 
 the nomination for the Assembly, and, after a lively canvass, 
 he was elected a Member of that body by the largest majority 
 ever given in the district, although his opponent, Charles 
 
142 Life Sketches. 
 
 H. HoLDEisr, was an agent of the Delaware and Hudson Canal 
 Company, and backed by the influence of that organization, 
 the managers of which made special efforts to elect him. 
 Speaker Cornell paid a marked compliment to Gen. B.'s 
 sagacity and knowledge of State affairs, by selecting him as 
 Chairman of the Canal Committee, and also placing him on 
 the Committee on Militia. 
 
 In the fall of 1873 he received the unusual compliment of 
 a re-election without opposition, and, as Chairman of the 
 Ways and Means committee, and also as member of Militia, 
 and Privileges and Elections, occupies what is usually 
 regarded as the leading position in the House. 
 
 Gen. Batcheller is a man of fine figure, polished manners 
 and pleasant address. Courteous alike to friends and oppo- 
 nents, he is in every respect the affable and genial gentleman. 
 With fine oratorical powers and rare forensic ability, he 
 unites a ready appreciation of legislative requirements, and 
 is, therefore, a skillful and effective debater. He is at all 
 times keenly alive to the welfare of his immediate constitu- 
 ents, but he is as watchful of the interests of the entire State, 
 and every measure designed to effect genuine reform in State 
 or municipal government, or likely to advance the commer- 
 cial prosperity of the commonwealth, invariably enlists his 
 sympathy, and, should his judgment approve, his enthusiastic 
 advocacy. Few men in the State enjoy a larger measure of 
 personal popularity, or have yet before them a more promis- 
 ing future. Gen. Batcheller was married, in 1861, to the 
 daughter of the late Hon. James M. Cook. 
 
George M. Bee be. 143 
 
 GEORGE M. BEEBE. 
 
 Gkorge Monroe Beebe was born in New Vernon, Orange 
 county, on the 28th of October, 1836. He is the son of Gil- 
 bert Beebe, a native of Connecticut, who, still living in 
 Midclletown, Orange county, at the advanced age of 72, is 
 actively engaged in the varied occupation of preaching the 
 gospel and publishing the Signs of the Ti?neSy a religious 
 newspaper. Mr. Beebe secured a good education at the 
 common schools and at the Wallkill Academy, Middletown, 
 graduating from the latter in 1854. Next year he commenced 
 studying law in the oflBce of Geo. W. Lord, in Monticello, 
 attending, in the mean time, the requisite courses of lectures, 
 and graduated from the Albany Law University, in 1857, 
 with the degree of Bachelor of Law. A year later he went 
 to Peoria, 111., where, on the recommendation of Stephen A. 
 Douglas, he had been selected to edit a Democratic daily 
 newspaper. Though young in years, he was an earnest and 
 spirited writer, and rendered efficient service in the memora- 
 ble campaign of 1858, accompanying Douglas in his famous 
 tour of discussion with Abraham Lincoln. At the close 
 of the campaign he settled in Troy, Kansas, and commenced 
 practicing law in earnest. He succeeded in making himself 
 80 popular there that, in about a year, he was elected, notwith- 
 standing his pronounced Democracy, to represent the Repub- 
 lican county of Doniphan in the Territorial Council. While 
 still a member of the Council, he was appointed Secretary 
 of the Territory by President Buchanan. Subsequently, by 
 the resignation of Gov. Medary, he became acting Governor, 
 and although he had not yet completed his twenty-third 
 year, he was continued in the position by the President until 
 Kansas was admitted into the Union. 
 
 In 1861 he married Cornelia, the eldest daughter of 
 
144 Life Sketches, 
 
 James H. Foster, of Monticello. Subsequently, he practiced 
 law during a year or more at St. Joseph, Mo., but in August, 
 1862, he went overland to Virginia City, Nevada, where he 
 again "nailed up his shingle " as an Attorney and Counselor 
 at law. Wherever he located, he gained speedy popularity. 
 In 1864, when Nevada was admitted as a State, we find Mr. 
 Beebe the nominee of a Democratic Convention for District 
 Judge, for which olSice he was defeated by a small majority. 
 Subsequently he declined the appointment of United States 
 Internal Revenue Collector for Nevada, which was tendered 
 by President Johnson", but he consented to represent the new 
 State in the Philadelphia Convention of 1866. In October 
 of that year he purchased the Monticello Watchman, a Demo- 
 cratic journal, and removing at once to Monticello, he has 
 since conducted that paper with marked ability and success. 
 In the fall of 1871, Mr. Beebe was the Democratic nominee 
 in the Orange and Sullivan district for the State Senate, and 
 took strong ground against the use of money in elections, 
 tendering a public challenge to his opponent to unite with 
 him in a pledge not to use money in the canvass. He was 
 beaten, however, Hon. E. M. Madden", the present Senator 
 from that district, being successful. In the spring of 1872, 
 he was a delegate to the Rochester Convention, and strongly 
 opposed the policy of indorsing Greeley. He also fought 
 the idea with warmth and earnestness in his paper ; but after 
 the Baltimore Convention, being left with the only alternative 
 of " Grant or Greeley," he felt constrained to support the 
 latter. He was also sent as a Delegate to the Syracuse Con- 
 vention of 1872, and was unanimously chosen its permanent 
 President, in which position he displayed marked ability as a 
 presiding officer. He took active part in the subsequent cam- 
 paign, stumping the State for the Liberal-Democratic ticket. 
 His nomination for the Assembly the same year was made by 
 acclamation in both the Liberal and Democratic Conventions, 
 and he was elected by a majority of 664, though the county 
 gave Grant a majority of some 200. He was also temporary 
 
Harris H. Beecher, 145 
 
 President of the Democratic Convention at Utica in 1873, 
 and was re-elected to the Assembly almost without opposi- 
 tion. James Hardenbueqh was in the field against him, 
 but he received only 415 votes out of 3,358 cast. Mr. Beebe 
 served last session on the committees on Ways and Means, 
 Privileges and Elections, and Local and Special Laws. This 
 year, though a member of the minority, he serves on Ways 
 and Means, Canals, Militia, and Local and Special Laws. 
 
 As will be gathered from this sketch, Mr. Beebe is, and 
 always has been, an unflinching Democrat. On first enter- 
 ing the Assembly he assumed a prominent position among 
 the members of the " opposition," and his career as a legis- 
 lator has been thus far a most brilliant one. Possessing rare 
 oratorical powers, he is cool, incisive and compact in argu- 
 ment, thinks rapidly, and is prompt, either in availing him- 
 self of the weak points of his opponent, or in arranging his 
 own line of attack or defense. He is frequently strongly 
 denunciatory in his speeches, using, in his polished invective, 
 the plainest and at the same time the most cutting words in 
 the language. He is also master of the art of sarcasm, and 
 often covers an antagonist with confusion by a deftly hurled 
 shaft of ridicule. The Member from Sullivan is justly con- 
 sidered one of the most forcible and efiective debaters in the 
 present House. 
 
 HARRIS H. BEECHER. 
 
 The paternal parent of the subject of this sketch, Parson" 
 Beecher, was among the earlier pioneers of Chenango 
 county, removing from the parish of Salem, Connecticut, 
 now Naugatuck, in the year 1806, and locating in Coventry, 
 New York. Like many of the earlier settlers, fearing the 
 miasmatic diseases and reputed sickness of the low lands and 
 river courses, he sought out an elevated location, between the 
 19 
 
146 Life Sketches. 
 
 Chenango and Susquehanna rivers, embracing, originally, one 
 hundred acres of wilderness land. In January, 1808, he 
 married Margaket Porter, an intelligent and interesting 
 young woman of his native town — now living, at the ad- 
 vanced age of ninety, with mind unimpaired — and removed 
 her to a log cabin in his forest home. Eoads were designated, 
 principally, by marked trees, while churches, schools, mills 
 and neighbors even, if not wholly unknown, were like angels' 
 visits, " few and far between." The second year of his advent 
 at Coventry, the Catskill and Ithaca turnpike was located 
 through the scattered clearing of that wilderness region, and 
 it subsequently became an important highway, between the 
 then "far west" and the Hudson river. The first framed 
 house, upon what was known as the "Livingston Tract," 
 and the first between Bainbridge and Greene, a distance of 
 sixteen miles, was built by Parsojst Beecher. Town meet- 
 ings and elections were then regularly held, as well as stated 
 preaching every fourth Sabbath. 
 
 Upon that homestead, in the enjoyment of such educa- 
 tional advantages as a limited income would allow, a large 
 family was reared to usefulness, honesty and sobriety, and 
 among them the present Member of the House from Che- 
 nango. His boyhood days were not unlike those of other 
 lads similarly circumstanced, and were divided between the 
 district school and the farm. 
 
 Having been incapacitated for manual labor from an injury 
 producing painful and protracted lameness, at the age of 
 some sixteen years he was sent to Oxford Academy, one of the 
 oldest and best institutions of the kind in the State. Here 
 he remained some four years, teaching at intervals, to defray 
 in part the expenses necessarily incurred. 
 
 Becoming somewhat advanced in a college course, which 
 he could not pursue for lack of funds, he turned his atten- 
 tion to medicine as the business of his life. His medical 
 studies were pursued in Coventry, under the instruction ot 
 different practictioners, and subsequently, in Bingham ton, in 
 
Harris H. Beecher. 147 
 
 the office of doctor, now Professor Davis of Chicago, teach- 
 ing, in the meantime, not having been wholly relinquished. 
 About the year 1848, Dr. Beecher graduated in medicine, 
 at Castleton, Vermont, and finally located in North Norwich, 
 where he practiced his profession for many years. In 1861, 
 the doctor removed to Norwich, which is his present home. 
 
 In the summer of 1862, the call for 300,000 more men to 
 suppress the Rebellion found Dr. Beecher actively engaged 
 in practice at the county seat of Chenango. He at once 
 interested himself in the recruiting service, and further 
 showed his faith by his works in accompanying, as a medical 
 officer, the brave boys of the 114th New York to the front. 
 By his assiduous attention and sympathetic heart, he became 
 deservedly popular with the men and won the esteem of all. 
 For nearly nine months. Surgeon Beecher was on duty, by 
 order of Gen. Banks, at the U. S. Marine General Hospital, 
 New Orleans, and also for several months in charge of a Post 
 Hospital at Berwick City, La., containing a large number of 
 wounded from the battle field of Bisland. Before leaving the 
 Marine Hospital, for the famous Red River campaign, he was 
 presented, by the soldiers of that hospital, with an elegant 
 gold-headed cane, and other valuable tokens of their appreci- 
 ation and regard. In the Shenandoah, during the closing 
 year of the war, he was most of the time the only medical 
 officer, with his regiment, in the field. 
 
 While yet young, Mr. Beecher exhibited quite a literary 
 taste, and early commenced writing upon miscellaneous sub- 
 jects for the newspaper press, which, in the midst of other 
 duties, he has continued more or less constantly to the present 
 time. 
 
 His "Army Correspondence," published mainly in the 
 papers of his district, was eagerly sought for and read with 
 interest. 
 
 After the war, desiring that the noble deeds of his brave 
 comrades should live in history as well as in the hearts of a 
 grateful people and surviving friends. Dr. Beecher pub- 
 
148 Life Sketches. 
 
 lished a Record of his Regiment, embracing nearly 600 pages, 
 dedicated to the memory of his lamented Colonel Smith 
 and all his fallen comrades, graphically setting forth, as the 
 title page indicates, " Where it went, what it saw and what 
 it did." The author of that comprehensive Record has also 
 spent much time and made considerable progress in gathering 
 facts and data for a Memorial Record, portions of which 
 have been published, of all the deceased soldiers of the late 
 war, nearly 1000, in Chenango county. 
 
 Without laying any special claim to oratory. Dr. Beecher 
 has, on various occasions, given carefully prepared addresses, 
 embracing medicine, agriculture, scientific and political sub- 
 jects, and always with success. He takes a deep interest in 
 educational matters, having held the position of School 
 Superintendent, long serving also as a Trustee of Norwich 
 Academy and President of the Board. 
 
 As a medical man he stands deservedly high, having filled 
 various offices in the medical society of his county, being at 
 the present time a member of the State Society, and a 
 permanent member of the New York Central and American 
 Medical Associations. 
 
 In politics. Dr. Beecher was reared a Democrat and was 
 known during the rebellion as a War Democrat. The atti- 
 tude of the Democratic party in 1868, in his opinion, not 
 only justified, but to be consistent with himself and his 
 record as a soldier, demanded a severance from it. It was a 
 severe trial to cut loose from old political associations, many 
 of whom were his personal friends, but having deliberately 
 decided as to his duty, no sacrifice, in its discharge, was too 
 dear to make. He spoke and voted for General Gran^t, and 
 has since firmly upheld the principles of the Republican 
 party. 
 
 Dr. Beecher was elected over two opposing candidates, 
 after a spirited contest, by a plurality of 136 votes. He 
 serves on the Committees on Public Health, Public Educa- 
 tion and Joint Library. Watchful as a legislator, he is not 
 
George C, Bennett, 149 
 
 ambitious to distinguish himself as a debater, though on 
 several occasions he has given able expression to his views. 
 Dr. Beecheb is one of the bachelors of the House. 
 
 GEORGE C. BENNETT. 
 
 The Eighth District of Kings county is fortunate in being 
 again represented by Mr. George C. Bennett, who is an 
 energetic and wide-awake journalist, and ever alive to the 
 welfare of his constituency. The Assembly of 1872 con- 
 tained no more conscientious or industrious Member, and a 
 similar devotion to the public interests marks his course 
 thus far during the present session. He was born in London 
 on the 24th of September, 1824, and emigrated to this 
 country in the summer of 1836, being then not quite twelve 
 years of age. His only relative in this country was an uncle. 
 On his arrival in the New World, he engaged himself to a 
 cabinet maker, with whom he remained three years. The 
 labor Wiis not to his liking, however, and he tried a year at 
 farming with his uncle, who resided in Morris county. New 
 Jersey, and finally, in the spring of 1841, he was employed 
 by John "W. Oliver to learn the printing business. With 
 Mr. Oliver, who is still in business in New York city, and 
 still his warm friend, he remained eight or nine months, 
 when he was regularly apprenticed to a firm of printers 
 doing business at the corner of Nassau and Wall streets, 
 under the name of Sackett & Sargent. This firm failed 
 in business in the course of a couple of years, when Mr. 
 Bennett engaged himself with Joseph Snowden, whose 
 place of business was in Gold street, between Beekman and 
 Spruce, in New York city, the office being one which had 
 formerly been owned by Scratchard & Adams. This 
 Adams, by the way, was murdered by John C. Colt, as a 
 
150 Life Sketches. 
 
 result of his pertinacious efforts to collect a printer's bill. Mr. 
 Bennett was employed successively in several different print- 
 ing offices in New York city up to near the close of December, 
 1846. He then went to Williamsburgh, L. I., and, with two 
 other "jour.'' printers and a young writer named Isaac 
 Anderson Smith, commenced the publication of a small 
 daily paper called the Mornmg Post, the first number of which 
 was issued January 18, 1847. With this paper Mr. Bennett 
 remained one year, the proprietorship having, after the first 
 flush of starting had subsided, devolved upon Thomas A. 
 Devyr, Joseph Taylor, and the subject of this sketch. 
 On the 28th of February, 1848, Mr. Bennett, in company 
 with Aaron Smith, started the Williamshurgh Daily Times, 
 at 129 Grand street. Two years thereafter, by the help of a 
 good friend — Mr. Gerhams Polley, since deceased — the 
 partners were enabled to erect a fine brick building at 145 
 Grand street, which was occupied for a number of years as 
 the printing and publishing office of the paper. In 1854 
 Williamsburgh was consolidated with Brooklyn, and the 
 name of the paper was conformed to the change. The pub- 
 lication office was removed in 1856 to its present location in 
 Broadway, near the Roosevelt street ferry landing. In the 
 sparse community in which this newspaper had been started, 
 the Times and its proprietors played a notable part. Mr. 
 Bennett was early identified with every project for the 
 improvement of his section, and as these were advocated by 
 his vigorous and intelligent pen, the success of his journal, 
 the popularity of its chief, and the prosperity of the entire 
 section, were alike coincident in growth. Nor has this 
 upward and onward progress been since arrested. The 
 meagre village has grown out into companionship with a 
 giant city; the local newspaper is a journal of municipal 
 distinction, and its first and present proprietor stands high 
 in the counsels and esteem of his fellow citizens. The pro- 
 gress of the paper has been steady from the beginning, and it 
 is now one of the most stable and prosperous daily journals 
 
George 0, Bennett, 151 
 
 in the State, ministering, as it does, to a population approxi- 
 mating 150,000. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Bennett was originally a Whig, his first 
 vote being taken by the celebrated Matthew L. Davis in 
 the seventh ward of New York. When the Eepublican party 
 was formed, he cheerfully and naturally linked his political 
 fortunes with it, and was one of the most enthusiastic sup- 
 porters of John C. Fremont for President in 1856. He was, 
 as already stated, a Member of Assembly in 1872, represent- 
 ing the same district as now. In the same year, not being 
 satisfied with the local political management of his party, and 
 having always been a warm admirer of Horace Greeley, 
 he gave to the Liberal cause his warm indorsement. But 
 the failure of that movement, and its subsequent inevitable 
 tendency to coalesce with the Democracy, caused Mr. Ben- 
 ITETT to fall back upon his old principles and associations. 
 He was welcomed back to his party, renominated to the 
 Assembly, and elected by a plurality of 71, his opponents 
 being Frederick W. Kalbfleisch, Democrat, and John N. 
 Stearns a Republican, who ran as a temperance candidate, 
 because Mr. Bennett was opposed to local prohibition. 
 Stearns polled 967 votes, nearly all of which came from 
 the ranks of the Republicans. Mr. Bennett's popularity 
 where he is best known is suflBciently shown by the fact, 
 that his own ward, ordinarily Democratic, gave him a majority 
 of 275, and in his own election district, out of a poll of 320 
 votes, he attained a majority of 163. Mr. Bennett, in the 
 present House, is chairman of the Committee on Public 
 Printing, and member of Canals and Engrossed Bills. 
 
152 Life Sketches. 
 
 EUGENE D. BERRI. 
 
 Mr. Berri, who was also a member of the Brooklyn dele- 
 gation in 1872, is a successful carpet dealer in the city of 
 churches. He is a shrewd and energetic business man, and 
 carries the same qualities into politics, and, also, into the 
 Assembly Chamber, where he has proved himself exceedingly 
 efficient in the details of legislation. He was born in Buffalo, 
 N. Y., in the year 1836. His father, William Berri, who 
 is still living and a resident of Brooklyn, where he has an 
 extensive carpet and oil-cloth manufactory, is a native of 
 Manchester, England. All who know him will indorse the 
 statement that he is a man of uncommon energy and ability. 
 Eugene was educated mainly in Public Schools Three and 
 Eleven of Brooklyn, but to a very great extent he is self- 
 educated, and, possessing as he does a large share of common 
 sense, with sound judgment and plenty of natural ability, he 
 is well qualified for any position in life. Though still 
 young, he has been quite successful in his business ventures, 
 and is now a prominent member of one of the largest carpet 
 establishments in Brooklyn, located at 526 Fulton street. 
 
 During the rebellion, he served for a time as First Lieu- 
 tenant in the 132d Regiment, New York Volunteers, and 
 performed active duty at Suffolk, N. C. At the expiration 
 of four months, however, he was honorably discharged at his 
 own request. In party connection he has always been a 
 Eepublican. In the fall of 1871, he was elected to the 
 Assembly by a majority of 1,858, Thomas W. Adams being 
 his opponent. Last fall his majority was 2,277, Chalmers 
 M. Ben'SOI^ opposing him. 
 
 Mr. Berri occasionally takes part in the debates, especially 
 when his own constituency is involved, and is a pleasant off- 
 hand speaker, though not greatly given to oratory. As 
 
Bernard Biqlin. 153 
 
 chairman of the Committee on Expenditures of the Execu- 
 tive Department, and member of those on Insurance and 
 Banks, a large amount of work falls to his share, and he 
 does it well. He is a man of genial manners and striking 
 personal appearance, and is extremely popular in the city of 
 Brooklyn. He is a member of the Elm Place Congrega- 
 tional church, and was married to Miss Louise Ballow, in 
 Brooklyn, in 1855. 
 
 BERNARD BIGLIN. 
 
 There are, perhaps, few readers of newspapers wh<5 are 
 unfamiliar with the aquatic exploits of the Biglin brothers, 
 the celebrated New York oarsmen, but there are many, 
 doubtless, who will now learn for the first time that one of 
 these brothers, whose name heads this article, is serving his 
 second term as a representative in the State Assembly. 
 
 Bernard Biglin was born in the State of Pennsylvania, 
 on the 4th of September, 1841. His parents, John and 
 Ellen Hart Biglin, were natives of Ireland, and are both 
 deceased. Their family consisted of eighteen children, of 
 whom ten are now living, six brothers and four sisters. 
 Young Biglin was educated in the common schools, and, 
 locating in New York at an early age, he served an appren- 
 ticeship as brass moulder with Mr. S. B. H. Vance, now 
 President of the New York Board of Aldermen, and propri- 
 etor of the largest chandelier manufacturing establishment 
 in the country. Completing his apprenticeship in 1860, he 
 soon after obtained a position as Inspector in the New York 
 Custom House, which he held three years. From 1863 until 
 1867 he was an Inspector in the Internal Revenue Depart- 
 ment. Subsequently he was appointed Ganger in the Inter- 
 20 
 
154 Life Sketches. 
 
 nal Revenue Department, but resigned when elected to the 
 Assembly. 
 
 Always a Republican, Mr. Biglin has occupied a promi- 
 nent position in New York politics for a number of years, 
 taking an active part in the primaries and conventions of the 
 party. He has served as delegate at all the Republican State 
 Conventions for several years past, and is now in the Assem- 
 bly as the representative of the eighteenth Assembly District 
 Republican Association. His district, which is usually 
 strongly Democratic, gave, in 1871, a Reform Democratic 
 majority of 4,034. Mr. Biglik had three candidates opposed 
 to him in 1872 — Peter Seery, Tammany, and Wm. J. 
 Shields and Johj^ P. Crosby, both Apollo Hall, the last 
 being indorsed by the Committee of Seventy — but he was suc- 
 cessful by a plurality of 612 , certainly a very gratifying result. 
 Last fall he had two candidates opposed to him, Hej^^ry 
 McCabe, Tammany Democrat, and Wm. G-. Choate, Liberal, 
 and he was elected by a plurality of 556. The confidence 
 reposed in him by his friends is well placed, as he is a very 
 active and industrious member, and watches closely the 
 interests of his constituents. 
 
 Had we the requisite data at hand it would be interesting 
 to refer with some particularity to Mr. Bigli^t's career as an 
 oarsman, which has been very brilliant. The crew of which 
 he and his brother Johj^" were the organizers and leading 
 spirits, and which included five of the BiGLiif brothers, 
 obtained a wide reputation, and were virtually the champions 
 of the United States during a long period, being victorious 
 in numerous contests on the lakes and rivers in various parts 
 of the country. The Biglins are not " sporting men," as 
 the phrase is generally understood, never prostituting their 
 rowing abilities to the object of gambling, as is too often the 
 case. They are imbued with a thorough enthusiasm for the 
 pursuit, and are using their best efforts to spread a love for 
 the manly and vigorous art, with the laudable object of 
 improving and developing the physique of the rising genera- 
 
Andrew Blessing. 155 
 
 don. This is so well understood in New York that their 
 athletic school is patronized by the best and wealthiest citi- 
 zens of the metropolis, and a large number of amateur- oars- 
 men owe their proficiency to the tuition received from the 
 BiGLiNS. Their service is also frequently called in requisi- 
 tion to train and instruct racing crews in other parts of the 
 country. 
 
 As may be presumed, Mr. Biglin is a man of good phy- 
 sique. He is about the medium height, well and compactly 
 built, light hair and moustache, light blue eyes, and generally 
 a pleasing expression of countenance. He is, withal, a gentle- 
 man in every sense of the word. He was married some 
 years ago to Mary Ann Grundy. In religious faith he is a 
 Catholic. 
 
 ANDREW BLESSING. 
 
 ^Andrew Blessing is from the Seventeenth New York 
 district, and is now serving his second term as a member of 
 Assembly. Born in the county of Cavan, Ireland, in the 
 year 1844, he came to this country at the age of thirteen, and 
 obtained a very fair education in the evening common schools 
 of New York city. He learned the trade of boiler maker, 
 and worked at that and kindred mechanical employments for 
 several years, when he obtained a lucrative clerkship in a 
 mercantile house, and finally embarked into the real estate 
 business, in which he is now engaged. As a result of good 
 judgment and sound discretion, he has accumulated a fair com- 
 petency. In the course of business, Mr. Blessing has visited 
 nearly every part of the country, and is therefore very 
 thoroughly acquainted with American institutions. He has 
 always retained his residence in New York, however. Pos- 
 sessing decided natural ability, and being a shrewd observer 
 
156 Life Sketches. 
 
 of men and events, he is, withal, a man of much practical 
 common sense, and a fair representative of the active and 
 energetic Irish-American. His upright and honest course 
 has invariably secured him the respect of all who know him. 
 He is not highly educated, but his mind is well balanced, 
 and unswerving integrity and indomitable perseverance are 
 the leading features of his character. 
 
 Mr. Blessing is not, strictly speaking, a politician, but he 
 has always been known as a decided Democrat of the Tam- 
 many school, and has the confidence and esteem, not only of 
 his own party, but of many Republicans in his district. He 
 was elected to the last Assembly by a plurality of 596, three 
 candidates being opposed to him. He served acceptably in 
 that body on the Committees on Grievances and State 
 Prisons. Among the measures which he introduced was the 
 bill to reduce the fare on the Eighth Avenue Railroad.. 
 He had to contend against numerous adverse influences and 
 the persistent opposition of the company, but he eventually 
 succeeded, by his personal influence and exertion, in carry- 
 ing the bill through the Assembly. He made a very honor- 
 able record last year, and at all times indicated his readiness 
 to expose and defeat every thing in the nature of jobbery or 
 corruption. In the present Assembly he is a member of the 
 Committee on Claims. 
 
 JOSEPH BLUMENTHAL. 
 
 Mr. Blumenthal, one of the most prominent of the New 
 York city members, was born in Munich, the capital of 
 Bavaria, December 1, 1834, and came to this country with 
 his parents, Lawreistce and Rebecca Blumekthal, and 
 their family of six other children, when he was but five years 
 old. Both his parents a-e dead. He was educated in the com- 
 
Joseph Blumenthal. 157 
 
 iiiou schools, and in 1853 went to Califomia, residing while 
 there in Mariposa county, celebrated as the locality of the 
 famed Yosemite valley and falls. He remained in California 
 but five years, returning, in 3858, to New York, where he 
 engaged in business as an importer and merchant, with very 
 satisfactory results. 
 
 Always a straightforward Democrat, Mr. Blumenthal 
 has never until now held any office, but he has participated 
 actively in the political contests of New York city for many 
 years past, and has secured wide prominence by reason of his 
 efforts in behalf of municipal reform, and for the elevation 
 of honest and capable men to official position. He was one 
 of the earliest and most persistent opponents of the corrupt 
 ring that disgraced and well nigh ruined the Democratic 
 party in the metropolis. He was a member of the Com- 
 mittee of Seventy from its organization to its dissolution, 
 serving on such important sub-committees as Elections, 
 Investigation of Frauds, Nominations, etc. 
 
 In the winter of 1871-2 he was active in urging the pas- 
 sage of what was known as the Reform Charter, and, during 
 the last session, he was probably the most active opponent of 
 those features of the Charter measure which proposed to 
 abolish the Board of Assistant Aldermen, and curtail the 
 power of the Mayor in making appointments, representing 
 therein the views of the Committee of Seventy. He made 
 several able speeches during the discussion of the measure, 
 and the courtesy, moderation, and entire freedom from per- 
 sonality or acrimony which characterized his participation 
 in the exciting debates, were the subject of complimentary 
 remark among opponents and friends. 
 
 In the election in the fall of 1872 he received the indorse- 
 ment of Tammany Hall, the German Reformers, the Com- 
 mittee of Seventy, and the Council of Municipal Reform, 
 and received a plurality of 1,169, although there were four 
 strong candidates in the field against him. He served on 
 the Committees on Cities and Engrossed Bills. In the 
 
158 Life Sketches. 
 
 present session he is a member of Ways and Means, and 
 Privileges and Elections. 
 
 A man of decided ability and mnch practical good sense, 
 Mr. Blumenthal is quick to understand the bearings of 
 every question vrhich he is called upon to consider, and 
 therefore possesses qualities invaluable in the legislator. He 
 is also a thorough gentleman in every sense of the word, and 
 his excellent social traits render him popular in a very large 
 circle of acquaintances. He is a member of the Jewish 
 persuasion. 
 
 ORYILLE C. BORDWELL. 
 
 Mr. BoRDWELL is one of the most respected and best 
 known citizens of Niagara county, and capably represents 
 the Second district of that county in the present Assembly. 
 His father, Enoch W. Bordwell, still living, and a resident 
 of Hartland, Niagara county, is a native of Yates county. 
 His mother, whose maiden name was Malah Stebbin'S, is 
 of Massachusetts descent. Mr. Bordwell's grandfather was 
 one of the first settlers of Yates county. He was a carpen- 
 ter by trade, and it is related of him that on one occasion he 
 traveled on foot through the wilderness to Niagara Falls, 
 where he helped to erect the first building put up in the 
 place. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in the town of Potter, 
 Yates county, on the 13th of June, 1832. He received a 
 good education in the common schools during his youth, and 
 conceiving a liking for the medical profession, he attended 
 the Eclectic Medical Institute, in Cincinnati, in 1859 and 
 1800. He practiced with very good success from that time 
 until 1867, but since then he has been engaged in farming 
 and fruit-growing, occupations which are congenial to his 
 rural tastes, and from which he has reaped an ample pecun- 
 iary reward. 
 
William L, Bostwick. 159 
 
 Mr. Bo RD WELL has been twice married. His first wife, to 
 whom he was united in Royalton, on the 25th of March, 
 1857, was Sarah J. Day, an estimable lady. She died in 
 April, 1861, and in July, 1862, he married Emma A. 
 Elderktn", at Lockport. 
 
 In politics Mr. Bordwell has always been a Republican. 
 He has occasionally filled public position, and has generally 
 been quite active in the counsels of his party, but he has 
 never been a seeker after office. In the year 1869 he was 
 Overseer of the Poor of his town. The next year he was a 
 candidate for the office of Supervisor, but was defeated by 
 four votes, owing to the fact that the Democratic board of 
 canvassers threw out five of his votes, because his name was 
 misspelled. At the present time he holds the office of 
 Assessor, to which he was elected by a majority of 82, the 
 Democratic Supervisor receiving a majority of 84. He was 
 elected to the Assembly by a majority of 445 over Elton T. 
 Ransom, Democrat, and serves his constituents faithfully 
 and conscientiously as a member of the Committees on 
 Roads and Bridges and Agriculture. 
 
 Mr. Bordwell, though brought up in the Free Will 
 Baptist persuasion, has never made a profession of religion. 
 He is a man of enlarged views upon all questions. 
 
 WILLIAM L. BOSTWICK. 
 
 Though Mr. Bostwick is making his first essay as a State 
 legislator, he has already taken position as a man of com- 
 manding talent, having demonstrated his ability as a floor 
 member in several sharp contests. Ite is an easy and fluent 
 speaker, apparently well posted upon all subjects, gives close 
 attention to the business of the House, and possesses that 
 discriminating tact and judicial acumen popularly supposed 
 to be peculiarly characteristic of those trained to the legal 
 
160 Life Sketches, 
 
 profession. Indeed it seems little short of an anomaly that 
 he is not a regularly qualified member of the bar, as he seems 
 peculiarly fitted for that walk of life. During the session he 
 has distinguished himself by the interest he has taken in 
 educational matters, and especially by his championship of 
 the compulsory education bill. 
 
 He was born at Enfield, N. Y., March 15, 1837, and is the 
 son of Orson Bostwick, a native of New Milford, Conn., 
 who settled in Enfield in 1822, engaging in farming and 
 lumbering. The latter removed to Ithaca in 1867, and died 
 there a year later. 
 
 Young Bostwick pursued his preparatory studies at Ithaca 
 academy, and entered Hamilton college in 1854, graduating 
 four years later with full honors. He then spent four years 
 at farming, marrying, in 1861, Fannie A. Skidmore, of 
 Flint, Michigan. He removed from Enfield to Ithaca in 
 1863, and engaged in boat-building, and also in the grain and 
 lumber business. These pursuits he relinquished, however, at 
 the expiration of two years, and in 1865 purchased a one-half 
 interest in the Phoenix Iron Works, giving his personal 
 attention to the management of the concern. One of the 
 leading manufactures of the company was the "Ithaca 
 Wheel Horse Rake," of which he was the patentee. This 
 implement has obtained great popularity among farmers, 
 from three to four thousand being manufactured annually. 
 In 1872 he retired from that business, and is now engaged in 
 the lumber and plaster trade, being also largely interested in a 
 planing mill, and a sash, door and blind factory. He has 
 been uniformly successful in his business ventures, and has 
 established a reputation for shrewd and careful management 
 and sterling integrity. 
 
 Mr. Bostwick is kno"wn in Tompkins county as an earnest, 
 thorough going Republican. As a member of the Board of 
 Supervisors, first from Enfield in 1860 and 1861, and lastly 
 from Ithaca in 1867, when he was made Chairman of the 
 Board, he has always watched with a sharp eye the true 
 
WaTURS W, B RAMAN. 161 
 
 interests of his constituents, and shown himself to be a man of 
 sound judgment and marked ability. That he will display 
 the same characteristics in a wider field is already apparent. 
 He was a delegate from the 27th Congressional District to 
 the Philadelphia Republican Convention which nominated 
 U. S. Grant in 1872. 
 
 He was elected to the Assembly by a plurality of 274, two 
 candidates being opposed to him, Chas. W. Bates, Demo- 
 crat, and William Hanford, Temperance. That he was 
 successful with such odds against him is an indication of his 
 popularity at home. He is Chairman of the Education 
 Committee, and member of Public Printing, and Sub-Com- 
 mittee of the Whole. 
 
 In religious belief he is an Episcopalian. 
 
 WATERS W. BRAMAN. 
 
 The present House contains very few more careful or con- 
 scientious members than Waters W. Braman, of West 
 Troy, Albany county. Though he is entirely new to legisla- 
 tive duties, he has elicited the praise of veterans at the capitol, 
 by the aptitude he has shown in mastering the details of his 
 position. Always at his post in the House and in the com- 
 mittee room, he watches the progress of legislation with 
 keen attention, and often discovers defects in matters under 
 consideration which escape the scrutiny of older members. 
 Especially do the interests of his immediate constituency, 
 which is an unusually large one, receive his unremitting 
 attention, as is evidenced by the fact that an unusual number 
 of measures for the welfare of West Troy and Cohoes have 
 been initiated during the present session. Maj. Braman is 
 not what may be termed a trained orator, but he is not by 
 any means a silent member, being able to express his views 
 pointedly and briefly when occasion requires. He is a man 
 21 
 
162 Life Sketches. 
 
 of rather commanding appearance, with a pleasant face and 
 genial manner, and is in every respect an honor to the dis- 
 trict which he represents. 
 
 Waters Whipple Braman" was born in Troy, N. Y., on 
 the 20th of April, 1840. His parents, both of whom arc 
 dead, were Horace and Caroline E. Braman", the maiden 
 name of the latter being Whipple. His mother died when 
 he was but five years of age, giving him away on her death 
 bed to her brother. Waters W. AVhipple, of Troy, who had 
 been a father to her. Mr. Whipple faithfully performed 
 the trust reposed in him, and cared for young Braman" as 
 well as if he had been an own son, looking after his educa- 
 tion and welfare until his marriage, which took place in 
 1865, after his return from the army. Maj. Braman's pre- 
 liminary education was obtained in a common school, and 
 from thence he went to the Troy High School, being one of 
 the first scholars admitted into that institution. Having 
 obtained an excellent English education, he left school at 
 the age of seventeen to learn the lumber business, which he 
 mastered in all its branches, and has continued to follow up 
 to the present time. In the year 1860 he became a member 
 of the firm of Belki^ap & Bramak, lumber dealers. The 
 war, which broke out soon after, aroused his patriotism, 
 however, and in the following year he sold out his business 
 interest in order to enter the army. While closing up his 
 business in the fall of 1861, he was a member of the Albany 
 Board for the examination of volunteer officers. In the 
 mean time he was engaged in enlisting men, and, on the 7th 
 of December, 1861, was mustered into the United States ser- 
 vice, and commissioned First Lieutenant of company C, 93d 
 Eegiment N. Y. Vols., on the 15th of January, 1862. Soon 
 thereafter, he proceeded with his command to the front, and 
 it was his fortune to participate, in a greater tx less degree, 
 in all the battles fought by the Army of the Potomac. 
 During his long and arduous service he was never an inmate 
 of a hospital. He was repeatedly struck by rebel bullets, 
 
Waters IT. Br am an. 163 
 
 but was never wounded severely enough to incapacitate him 
 from duty. In the Wilderness battles of May 5, 6 and 7, 
 1864, he was hit no less than five times. On the 23d of 
 March, 1864, he was promoted Captain of H company in the 
 same regiment, and was mustered out, February 14, 1865, by 
 reason of expiration of term of service. On the 17th of 
 October, 1866, he was breveted Major for gallant and meri- 
 torious service, his muster out rank being that of Captain. 
 Thus is briefly outlined the main facts in a military career 
 which was in every respect honorable and jiraiseworthy. He 
 was a brave and faithful officer, his sole ambition being to 
 perform his duty to his imperiled country. 
 
 On laying aside the sword, at the close of the struggle in 
 which he had taken such an active part. Major Braman 
 immediately resumed his old business pursuit. In the Octo- 
 ber following his retirement from the army he was married 
 to Margaret J. Getty, at West Troy, and about the same 
 time became a member of the lumber firm of Waters W. 
 Whipple & Co., in which he is still an active partner. Aside 
 from this, however, he at present carries on a manufacturing 
 enterprise in Clinton county. 
 
 Mr. Braman^s political history is briefly told. He cast 
 his first vote, by proxy, in front of Petersburg, Va., and it 
 was cast for the re-election of Abraham Lincoln. Since 
 then he has been an active Republican. He is now a Trustee 
 of the village of West Troy, but other than that and his 
 present legislative position, he has never held any elective 
 office. He is, however, an earnest worker in the Republican 
 ranks on all occasions, and is a man of considerable influence 
 in the party councils. In the recent Assembly canvass he 
 had two Democratic opponents, Daniel McElwain and 
 Peter D. Niver, whose combined vote was 4,422. Maj. 
 Bbaman's plurality was 30, the district being usually strongly 
 Democratic. He is a member of the Committees on Cities, 
 Public Printing and Expenditures of the Executive 
 Department. 
 
164 Life Sketches. 
 
 FRANCIS B. BREWER. 
 
 Mr. Brewer is a descendant of revolutionary stock, his 
 grandfather having held the rank of colonel in the straggle 
 with the mother country. His father, Ebej^ezer Brewer, 
 who died some years since, was also familiar with the trying 
 scenes of that period, and held a captain's commission in 
 the war of 1812. They were both, we believe, natives of 
 New Hampshire. Mr. Brewer was himself born in Keene, 
 N. H., and is now a robust and well-preserved gentleman of 
 perhaps fifty years of age. He enjoyed, when young, the 
 advantages of a liberal education, and early determined to 
 enter the medical profession. He therefore pursued with 
 diligence the general and scientific courses at Dartmouth 
 College, from whence he graduated in 1843. Two years later 
 he graduated with honor from the medical department of 
 the same institution. He practiced his profession but five 
 years, however, when he entered the lumbering business at 
 Oil creek in Pennsylvania. This was about the year 1850, 
 when the oleaginous treasures of that region were practically 
 unknown to the world. Mr. Brewer perceived the value 
 of the deposits before they attracted general attention, and, 
 it is an interesting fact, that, in his clear and practical brain, 
 was formed the first feasible plan to secure and utilize the 
 petroleum oozing through the soil. As early as 1853, he, 
 with several other gentlemen of energy and means, formed 
 the first oil company, and inaugurated a branch of commerce 
 which has since reached gigantic proportions, and added 
 immensely to the wealth of the country. 
 
 Mr. Brewer was reasonably successful in his ventures in 
 the oil region, and finally removed to Westfield, in Chautau- 
 qua county, where he has since resided, having become a 
 wealthy and substantial citizen of that thriving village. He 
 devotes his attention mainly to supervising the affairs of the 
 
Francis B. Brewer. 165 
 
 "Westfield Lock Works, of which he is the sole proprietor. 
 He is also President of the First National Bank of West- 
 field, a flourishing institution. A short time since he was 
 appointed by the President one of the Government Directors 
 of the Union Pacific Railroad. 
 
 He has frequently been the recipient of political honors 
 from his fellow citizens, with whom he is held in very high 
 regard. Several times he has been elected to the Board of 
 Supervisors, and once or twice he was Chairman of the Board. 
 Mr. B. always discharged his duties satisfactorily in this local 
 legislative body, acting on all questions for the best interests of 
 the county and the town he represented. During the war he 
 rendered important service as special State Agent to the hos- 
 pitals, and also to the soldiers in camp. This office he held, 
 with rank of Major, by appointment of Governor Fenton, 
 and from the time of his appointment, in the winter of 1864, 
 until the close of the war, he was instrumental in relieving 
 an immense amount of suffering among the brave men who 
 composed the Army of the Potomac. 
 
 Mr. Brewer was a AVhig until the formation of the Re- 
 publican party, since which time he has always been actively 
 identified with Republican measures and men. In person, 
 he is somewhat portly, and rather above the medium height. 
 His flowing light brown beard, in which a few white hairs 
 are sprinkled, gives him a slightly venerable appearance, 
 which is contradicted, however, by the vigorous frame, elastic 
 step, and florid, healthy complexion which characterize him. 
 Dignified and courteous in bearing, a man of well-balanced 
 intellect and unusually ripe judgment, he is in the full 
 prime of intellectual and physical manhood, and is in all 
 respects an able and upright legislator. 
 
 He was a member last year, and as member of the Ways 
 and Means Committee he was exceedingly influential in 
 reducing expenditures to the lowest limit. His voice was 
 also frequently heard on the floor in behalf of economical 
 and prudent legislation, and he was regarded by all as a 
 
166 Life Sketches. 
 
 safe counsellor in matters pertaining to the public interests. 
 In the present session he is retained on the Ways and Means, 
 and is also Chairman of Petitions of Aliens, and member of 
 Charitable and Religious Societies. 
 
 ARTHUR F. BROWK 
 
 The Second district of Oneida is represented, this year, by 
 Arthur F. Brown, one of the energetic and substantial 
 business men of that locality. He is a quiet member, taking 
 little part in the discussions which consume so much of the 
 time of the House, but there are very few more constant in 
 their attendance on committee meetings, or more closely 
 observant of the business of legislation. 
 
 Arthur Fitch Browk was born in Westmoreland, Oneida 
 county, where he still resides, June 29, 1817. He received a 
 fair education in the common schools, and, on reaching man- 
 hood, chose a mercantile career. He engaged in business in 
 Westmoreland, which he continued, successfully, for upward 
 of twenty-four years, retiring in April, 1873. Mr. Browk's 
 career has been somewhat uneventful, and we have therefore 
 little to say of him, save that he is a plain, straightforward 
 man of action, a man who regards deeds rather than profes- 
 sions, and who endeavors, in the Legislature, to reflect honor 
 upon the constituency which has honored him. Previous to 
 the organization of the Republican party, Mr. BROWif was a 
 Democrat, but since that event he has never faltered in his 
 adherence to Republican ideas and principles. He was elected 
 to the Assembly, after a hotly contested canvass, by a ma- 
 jority of 17 over George W. Cleveland, the Democratic 
 candidate. The fact that his vote fell short some 400 from 
 the usual Republican poll, was due to the influence of the 
 hop interest, which was cast on the side of Cleveland. Mr. 
 Brown is on the Committees on Claims, Roads and Bridges, 
 and Indian Affairs. 
 
/. Lyman Bulkley, 167 
 
 J. LYMAN BULKLEY. 
 
 Justus Lyman Bulkley. for sixteen years a successful 
 physcian and surgeon of Sandy Creek, Oswego county, was 
 born in Fairfield, Herkimer county, August 20, 1832. His 
 father, Petee H. Bulkley, bom in the year 1800, and a 
 native of this State^ died when young Bulkley was but 
 ' eleven years old, leaving his son little besides an inheritance 
 of poverty. Compelled thus early to fight his way in the 
 world, he did not shrink from the contest, but proceeded, 
 under the counsel of his worthy mother, who is still living, 
 to secure an education. Although for a number of years he 
 was compelled to work in the capacity of a farm laborer, he 
 eventually succeeded in his object. He studied the English 
 oranches in an academy, and when he was able to do so, 
 entered college. He passed through Madison University, 
 graduating in 1857, with an honorary degree, and after- 
 ward graduated with all the honors from the New York 
 Ophthalmic Hospital College. He immediately entered upon 
 the practice of his chosen profession, and has pursued it 
 with such success that he now enjoys a reputation second 
 to none in the county. It will be seen, therefore, that Dr. 
 Bulkley is, in the fullest sense, a self-made man, and owes 
 all that he has and is to his own individual exertions. 
 
 Dr. Bulkley has always been an earnest Republican, and 
 has found time to devote considerable attention to party 
 politics, in which, in his county, he is a leading spirit. 
 Besides holding the office of Coroner during one term, and 
 being an incumbent of the post of Pension Surgeon for 
 three years past, he has held a number of minor offices, and 
 is always active at local conventions and primaries. He was 
 elected to the Assembly in 1872, by a majority of about 
 1,700, defeating Gilbert W. Harding, his Democratic 
 opponent. In the recent canvass he was opposed by Hugh 
 
168 Life Sketches. 
 
 D. Mellen", his majority being 861. He served last year on 
 the Committees on Education and Public Lands, and this 
 year he is chairman of Public Health and Member of Public 
 Education and Joint Library. 
 
 Dr. BuLKLEY is a gentleman of genial manners and 
 marked ability. Though not known to a very great extent 
 as a talkative member, he is capable and efficient, and has 
 made an excellent record. 
 
 LEOISTARD BUREITT. 
 
 Mr. BuKRiTT, who represents the Third district of Monroe 
 county, is one of the " always reliable " Eepublicans of the 
 lower House. He makes few speeches, but invariably votes 
 "right," is invaluable in the committee room, and has a 
 sharp eye for the wishes of his constituents. He was once 
 a Whig, but since Whigism became a thing of the past he 
 has been a steadfast Kepublican. He was born in Chili, 
 Monroe county, his father being Isaac Burritt, now 
 deceased. Brought up on a farm, and receiving in the mean 
 time a pretty thorough common school and academic educa- 
 tion, he has remained a farmer until the present time, but 
 manages also to attend to other pursuits. From 1862 until 
 1870 he filled the position of United States Assistant Asses- 
 sor for Monroe county. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Burritt 
 was elected to the Assembly by a majority of 890. 
 
 In 1872 his majority was 985, and last fall he was returned 
 by a majority of 482, his opponent being JoHiS" Borst^ 
 Democrat. Last year he was Chairman of the Committee on 
 Banks, 9,nd member of Charitable and Religious Societies 
 and Insurance. This year he is again Chairman of Banks 
 and member of Salt and Aliens. 
 
Michael Coffey. 169 
 
 MICHAEL COFFEY. 
 
 Mr. Coffey, from the Third district of Kings county, is a 
 young man of energy and ability, who wields considerable 
 influence in Brooklyn politics, especially in the ward in 
 which he resides. He was born in Ireland in 1843, and 
 received a good education in the common schools. From 
 1861 to 1864 he was in the naval service of the United 
 States, and during a portion of the time since his discharge 
 has been a liquor dealer in Brooklyn. He served continu- 
 ously in the Brooklyn Board of Aldermen, from 1868 to 
 1872, being elected each year against five opponents. He 
 was nominated by the Democrats in the recent canvass, and 
 chosen to the Assembly by a unanimous vote, which is cer- 
 tainly the strongest evidence of popularity that could be 
 afforded. He serves on the Committees on Claims and Public 
 Health. Mr. Coffey possesses many of those qualities 
 which win popular regard, and evidently has a successful 
 political future before him. In religious faith he is a Roman 
 Catholic. 
 
 HENRY W. CARPENTER. 
 
 Henry W. Carpenter, M. D., Member of Assembly 
 from the Second district of Madison county, was born in 
 Marcy, Oneida county, N. Y., June 26, 1834. His father 
 was a farmer in limited circumstances, and unable to give 
 his children more than common school opportunities, so that 
 the subject of this sketch labored under great embarrassments 
 in obtaining an education. After 10 years of age he worked 
 upon the farm summers and attended district school winters 
 until he arrived at the age of 17, when he commenced teach- 
 
170 Life Sketches. 
 
 ing. This lie did for three years, remaining with his parents 
 during the summer season. For two seasons, and prior to 
 commencing his school, he attended a half term at Eome 
 Academy, where he acted as monitor, thus defraying part of 
 his tuition. At the age of 19, while teaching one of the 
 public schools in the then village of Rome, he commenced 
 the study of medicine with the late Dr. J. M. Sturdevant, 
 with the intention of remaining in his office the following 
 summer, but in this he was disappointed, on account of the 
 sudden death of his father, who, from financial misfortunes, 
 left a small farm heavily mortgaged. He then remained 
 with his mother, who was an invalid, for upward of three 
 years, and assisted her in removing all indebtedness against 
 the small estate. During this time he devoted all his leisure 
 moments, and more especially the long winter evenings, to 
 the study of his chosen |)rofession. In this way he prepared 
 himself so that he entered the Medical Department of the 
 University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in the fall of 1856, 
 where he remained till the following spring. During the 
 summer he studied medicine in the office of Dr. D. A. Crane, 
 of Holland Patent, N. Y., doing chores for his board and 
 w^ashing. The following winter he attended lectures at the 
 University of New York, and a spring course at Albany. 
 Returning to New York, he graduated at the University in 
 July, 1858. After receiving his diploma, he formed a part- 
 nership with Dr. Crane, of Holland Patent, where he 
 remained in active practice for four years. While at this 
 place he received a commission as Assistant Surgeon of the 
 117th New York Volunteers, and entered the army in August, 
 1862. He quickly gained the entire confidence of the regi- 
 ment, and was soon promoted to Surgeon by Gov. Seymour, 
 through the earnest solicitation of every officer in the regi- 
 ment. We briefly give a portion of the petition to the Gov- 
 ernor by the officers : 
 
 "We are led thus to petition Your Excellency out of 
 regard to the best interostsof our regiment, that the position 
 
Henry W. Carpenter, 171 
 
 of surgeon may be filled by the appointment of a competent 
 officer. We know — many of us by experience, and all 
 by observation — that Dr. Carpenter well merits this 
 promotion. We know, and can recommend to Your Excel- 
 lency, the eminent skill he has thus far displayed — his 
 untiring energy in attending to the wants and comforts of the 
 sick and wounded, and we but express to you our conviction 
 in saying that he well deserves, and has our entire confidence 
 and esteem. And we believe in promoting Dr. Carpenter, 
 Your Excellency will reward an officer accomplished in his 
 profession and aevoted to the duties of his office." 
 
 He held the position of Surgeon till November, 1864, 
 when he was obliged to resign, on account of ill health, and 
 returned to his home at Holland Patent. While in the army 
 in the Department of the South, he was acting Brigade Sur- 
 geon; also President of a Medical Examining Board for 
 recruits and discharging disabled soldiers. He also had, 
 while in the field, a standing order as Operating Surgeon, 
 from the Medical Director of the Corps. 
 
 The following spring he removed to Oneida, in Madison 
 county, where he established himself in an active practice, 
 and still resides, ranking among the fbremost physicians and 
 Burgeons in that section of the State. He has been Vice- 
 President and President of the County Medical Society, and 
 an address delivered by him before that body, the subject of 
 which was **A few Facts and Hints for the People," was 
 highly commended, and was published in the county papers. 
 He holds the position of Examining Surgeon to the Com- 
 mission of Peftsions, at Washington — an appointment he 
 has held for several years. He is also serving his second 
 term as one of the Coroners of the county. 
 
 In his boyhood he learned to abhor slavery and oppression 
 of every kind, receiving the lessons from his father, who was 
 an abolitionist and a stockholder in the old '' underground 
 railroad," and, in quite a number of instances, a conductor 
 on the same. He has been a member of the ^Republican 
 party since its organization. In the fall of 1873 he received 
 
172 LiF2! Sketches, 
 
 the nomination for Member of Assembly, without solicitation 
 on his part, and was elected by a majority of 404 votes, 
 although there was a very light vote cast — scarcely two- 
 thirds of the usual vote. He ran largely ahead of his ticket 
 in twelve election districts, carrying his own town, which is 
 Democratic, by 124 majority. The preceding fall, when the 
 Presidential election was held and a full vote cast, the Repub- 
 licans elected their member, after a severe struggle, by only 
 seven majority. 
 
 One of the county papers, in noticing his nomination, said: 
 
 " Dr. Cakpekter is a physician of large practice and wide 
 reputation ; a gentleman of unexceptionable personal charac- 
 ter ; a Republican firm in the faith, but not allied to any ring 
 or section; in short, a man who, in the fullest sense, meets 
 the demands of the present hour for integrity, ability and 
 sound judgment, and will carry into the Assembly Chamber 
 such traits of character and ability as will give him a front 
 rank in that body, where its interests will be thoroughly 
 appreciated by him, and honorably attended to.'' 
 
 WILLIAM CAULDWELL. 
 
 Representing a district which may almost be regarded as 
 metropolitan, part of it, hi deed, having already been incor- 
 porated within the municipal limits of New York city, and a 
 district which, with its grooving interests, calls annually for a 
 vast amount of legislation, Mr. Oauldwell's position in the 
 House is any thing but a sinecure. It is certain, however, 
 that the important matters committed to his care could be 
 intrusted in no better hands. The confidence felt in his 
 judgment and ability is the result of a long career of useful- 
 ness, and it may safely be asserted that there are few men 
 who have done more for Westchester county than Assembly- 
 man and ex-Senator William Cauldwell. 
 
William Cauldwell. 173 
 
 He was born in New York city, October 12, 1824, and is 
 therefore nearly fifty years of age. His father was a native 
 of Scotland, and his mother, like himself, was born in New 
 York city. Like so many men who have carved out a repu- 
 tation and secured a competence by personal industry and 
 indomitable will, Mr. Cauldwell had only the benefits of a 
 common school education, and at the age of fifteen he com- 
 menced to earn his own living. At that age he began to 
 learn the trade of a printer ; and this, probably, as much as 
 any thing else, was the basis of his future success. He is 
 now one of the editors and publishers of the New York Mer- 
 cury and Sunday Mercury^ which, in its several editions, is 
 probably one of the most widely circulated newspapers in the 
 country. 
 
 One of the earliest residents of the village of Morrisania, 
 which, however, is now unromantically known as the Twenty- 
 fourth ward of New York, and in which his father erected 
 the first dwelling, Mr. Cauldwell has aided in making it 
 one of the most prosperous communities in the State, it form- 
 ing virtually a city of 25,000 or 30,000 inhabitants, with an 
 assessed valuation of several millions, and raising annually 
 about 1250,000 by taxes. 
 
 For fifteen consecutive terms Mr. Cauldwell was Super- 
 visor of Morrisania, chosen often without opposition, and 
 always by a large majority. He was elected first in 1857. 
 During four years of that period he was President of the 
 Town Board of Trustees — a position with responsibilities 
 equal to that of Mayor of a city — and during three years 
 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Westchester county, 
 in which he always held a leading position. He also served 
 nine or ten years as member of the Board of Education. In 
 short, his name is connected with almost every thing per- 
 taining to the growth, prosperity and improvement of his 
 section of Westchester county, and it is not at all strange 
 that he enjoys in an eminent degree the confidence of the 
 people. He was, up to the close of 1873, when the Act of 
 
174 Life Sketches. 
 
 Annexation took effect, the President of the Board of Trus- 
 tees, and also Supervisor of the town of Morrisania, and by 
 a special provision of the act in question, the settlement of 
 the finances and general winding up of the business of the 
 town incident to annexation to New York devolves upon him 
 until July of the present year. An important portion of Mr. 
 Oauld well's career was that spent in the State Senate, to 
 which he was elected in 1867, and which position he accepted 
 mainly with a view to promoting rapid transit in New York 
 city. He was chosen by the largest majority ever given in 
 the district (the Ninth), his then opponent being the present 
 Speaker of the House, Hon. James W. Husted, and served 
 during two terms, or four years, with marked distinction. 
 His services as Senator are notable by the fact that the first 
 bill for rapid transit, the New York Central Underground 
 Eailroad measure, became a law through his efforts. He also 
 secured the passage of the act providing for the abatement of 
 interest from the State in favor of Westchester county, 
 amounting to about $45,000. This bill was fought inch by 
 inch through two successive sessions by the late Senator 
 Jacob Hardekburgh. He was elected to the Senate the 
 second time by a majority of 2,274, and was one of the most 
 industrious members of the committees on St.ate Prisons, 
 Eoads and Bridges, Villages, and Public Printing, being 
 Chairman of the two former. Mr. Cauldwell was unani- 
 mously renominated for a third term for Senator in 1871, 
 but the overwhelming vote against the Democracy in that 
 year defeated him, his successful opponent being the present 
 President of the Senate, William H. Robertson. 
 
 Mr. Cauldwell is and always has been a Democrat, but 
 at the solicitation of leading men in both parties he con- 
 sented to serve in. the Assembly this year, a man of experi- 
 ence, and fully conversant with the people's wants, being 
 needed at Albany to protect the interests growing out of 
 their new relations to the metropoHs. That Mr. Cauldwell 
 will acquit himself well of the trust, no one will doubt, not- 
 
George W, Chad wick. 175 
 
 withstanding he was confined to his house for nearly six 
 weeks of the present session by serious illness. He received 
 1,412 majority over his opponent, Thomas Wilson, and ran 
 267 votes ahead of the Democratic candidate for Secretary of 
 State, in a district which has elected a Republican member 
 three times in succession. In the House he is on the com- 
 mittees on Claims, Banks, and State Prisons, and no member 
 is more highly esteemed and respected by his associates. 
 
 GEORGE W. CHAD WICK. 
 
 Mr. Chadwick, the Member from the First district of 
 Oneida county, is a pleasant-faced gentleman of nearly fifty 
 years of age. He is a man who has not much to say in the 
 way of debate, but he is constant in attendance at the ses- 
 sions of the House, and active, energetic and efficient in the 
 performance of the real work of legislation. His character 
 — that of an earnest, practical, thoroughgoing business 
 man — is plainly indicated in his countenance, which is a 
 mirror of truthfulness as well as of kindness and genial- 
 ity. He was born in Oneida county, June 16, 1825, and is 
 the son of English and American parents, his father, John" 
 Chadwick (now deceased), having been an extensive manu- 
 facturer in New Hartford, where the son still resides. 
 During his youth Mr. Chadwick was enabled to secure a 
 good common school and academic education. When he 
 had reached a proper age his father took him into his cotton 
 factory as an ordinary operative, and, when he had become 
 thoroughly familiar with the business, took him into partner- 
 ship, and at his death surrendered the entire property to his 
 care. In this business Mr. C. still continues, and is now the 
 sole proprietor of one of the largest manufacturing estab- 
 
176 Life Sketches. 
 
 lishments in that section. He was married, on the 6th of 
 November, 1855, to Mary A. Wrigley, of New Hartford. 
 
 As a manufacturer he has been yery successful, and since 
 he has been proprietor of the works established by his father 
 he has made extensive additions thereto. His standing in 
 the community, financially and otherwise, is first class. 
 Aside from his legitimate business, he has frequently been 
 identified with other enterprises, and he is now director of a 
 railroad, and also of a banking institution. His kindliness 
 of disposition has greatly endeared his workmen to him, and 
 he has always merited their regard by doing every thing in 
 his power to promote their comfort and welfare. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Chad wick has always been either a Whig 
 or Kepublican. Since the Republican party Avas formed he 
 has been unswerving in his allegiance thereto. He has 
 always taken a warm interest in the local politics of his dis- 
 trict, and has several times been honored with important 
 public trusts. During three of the war years he was a mem- 
 ber of the board of supervisors, in which position he ren- 
 dered great service in filling the several quotas in response 
 to the demand for men. He was also a Member of Assem- 
 bly in 1871, and his vote was always recorded in opposition 
 to the infamous purchased legislation of that session. In 
 that House, to which he was elected by a majority of about 
 600, he was a member of the Committees on Indian Affairs 
 and Trade and Manufactures. His majority over Heis^ry 
 D. Talcott, his Democratic opponent last fall, was 694, 
 while the Republican majority the previous year was only 
 135. He is now a member of the Committees on Railroads 
 and Agriculture, and Chairman of Civil Divisions. 
 
Henry M, Clark, 177 
 
 HENRY M. CLARK. 
 
 The Second district of Wayne county is represented by 
 Henry M. Clark, of East Palmyra, where he was born, 
 March 6, 1826, and has always resided in the vicinity of his 
 birth-place. On the 3d of April, 1850, he was married to 
 Frances A. Foster, a native of the same locality. His father, 
 Maltby Clark, was born in East Palmyra, March 31, 1798, 
 was a Whig candidate for Assembly in 1843, and was elected 
 Superintendent of the Poor by that party in 1847 and 1850, 
 and by the Republicans in 1855. He is still living. His 
 grandfather, Oliver Clark, was one of the first settlers of 
 the town of Palmyra, having emigrated from Southampton, 
 Long Island, in 1794. He died in January, 1843, at the age 
 of seventy-six. 
 
 Mr. Clark received his education at the district schools 
 and at Walworth Academy. By occupation he is a farmer, 
 and for several years he has been a Director of the Palmyra 
 Union Agricultural Society. 
 
 In political life he was a Whig until the organization of 
 the Republican party, with which he has ever since acted. 
 At different times he has been nominated for Supervisor, 
 Justice, Assessor, etc., but as his party was defeated on these 
 occasions, he failed of an election. In obedience to the 
 urgent request of a large number of Republicans of the dis- 
 trict, he accepted an independent nomination for Assembly, 
 at the late election, and was chosen over the regular Repub- 
 lican candidate. Col. Joseph W. Corning, by the following 
 vote: Clark, 1921 ; Corning, 1590. The vote in the East 
 Palmyra election district was, Clark, 142 ; Corning, 7. 
 
 Mr. Clark generally acts with the majority in the House, 
 is a sound and reliable legislator, and is making an excellent 
 record during the present session. 
 
178 Life Sketches, 
 
 In religious belief, he is a Presbyterian, and for the last 
 three years has been stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Lyons. 
 
 He serves on the Committees on Public Education, and 
 Expenditures of the House. 
 
 WILLIAM y. CLEARY. 
 
 Mr. Clbary, a young and active Democrat, represents, for 
 the second term, the city of Troy, where he has resided all 
 his life, and for several years past has been identified with its 
 business interests. Born in Troy on the 12th of September, 
 1847, he is still quite a young man, but he takes naturally 
 to political life, and occupies quite a prominent position in 
 the local councils of his party. His father, Kyraist Cleary, 
 who died in 1861, at the age of 45, was also active in politics 
 and was once a member of the Board of Aldermen. The 
 younger Cleary received a good education in the common 
 schools, and was brought up in the business followed by his 
 father, the manufacture of ale and porter, and, on his father's 
 death, he took sole charge of his large establishment, con- 
 ducting it with success up to the present time. 
 
 Mr. Cleary has already held a number of positions in the 
 gift of his party. During two terms he occupied a seat in 
 the Troy Board of Aldermen, and was chosen unanimously 
 at his last election. In 1870 he was President of the Board 
 of Common Council, and filled the position satisfactorily to 
 the people, and with credit to himself. Two years ago he 
 was Chairman of the Democratic Centra! Committee. He 
 was elected to the last Assembly by a majority of 1,485, over 
 Dennis O'Loughlin, an independent candidate, and served 
 in 'that body on the Committees on Trade and Manufactures 
 and Federal Eelations. In the present House, to which he 
 was elected by a majority of 881, over Egbert B. Eankin, a 
 
Stephen J. Colahan, 179 
 
 popular Republican, he serres on the Committees on Trade 
 and Manufactures and Indian Affairs. He is not particular- 
 ly distinguished as a public speaker, but he watches closely 
 the interests of his constituents. Young, vigorous, intelli- 
 gent and capable, Mr. Cleary evidently has a bright future 
 before him. He is still unmarried, and is a member of the 
 Roman Catholic Church. 
 
 STEPHEN J. COLAHAN. 
 
 Physically Mr. Colahan is a splendid specimen of man- 
 hood, with massive, well-proportioned frame, large head, well 
 set off by coal-bhick hair and moustache, and fine features. 
 His complexion has that pale cast which inevitably marks 
 the diligent student, but there is not enough of pallor to 
 indicate the broken constitution which is the lot of so many 
 who burn the midnight oil in the struggle to become famous. 
 A pleasant geniality also beams in his features, and it is 
 evident that he shines as brilliantly in the social circle as he 
 does in the political and legal arena. 
 
 Mr. Cola HAN was born in New York city December 25, 
 il841, his parents being J. H. and Mary Colahan, both 
 deceased. He received a thorough collegiate education, 
 partly at Fordham, and partly at the New York University, 
 graduating from the Law Department of the University in 
 the class of 1862. After his graduation he was married, and 
 indulged in a tour to Europe, the results of his observations 
 being published in a series of brilliant letters to leading 
 newspapers. In 1863 and 1864, he held an official position 
 in the War Department at Washington, and since then, with 
 the exception of the time occupied in public service, he has 
 practiced law, being associated for four years with General 
 Philip S. Crook, who afterward defeated him in a contest 
 
180 Life Sketches, 
 
 for a seat in Congress. In 1867 he was elected a member of 
 the Constitutional Convention of this State, being the 
 youngest member in that body. During the sessions of the 
 Convention, Mr. Colahan" took a prominent part in several 
 of the leading debates. The clause to prohibit the sale of 
 intoxicating liquors was ably resisted by Mr. Colahan", and 
 his speech was regarded as being so effective that it was re-pub- 
 lished in pamphlet shape. He made an effort to have a clause 
 inserted in the State Constitution relative to the practice of 
 medicine and the dispensing of drugs, to direct the Legisla- 
 ture to create a State Board, to be appointed by the Governor 
 and confirmed by the Senate, for the purpose of inquiry into 
 the qualifications of this class. The matter was afterward 
 left to the Legislature. This movement on the part of Mr. 
 CoLAHAN" excited great public interest. The State Medical 
 Board in Convention unanimously adopted a series of com- 
 plimentary resolutions on his action in the matter, and 
 tendered him a banquet. The late Mr. H. J. Kaymond, of 
 the New York Tmies, warmly supported his action, and 
 many other journals also indorsed its value. 
 
 Mr. CoLAHAN" has frequently been a delegate to the 
 conventions of his party. He was a member of the Conven- 
 tion at Rochester which nominated the present Judges of 
 the Court of Appeals, and was also a delegate to the Demo- 
 cratic National Convention at Baltimore in 1872, and to th« 
 State Convention at Syracuse in the same year. His efforts 
 at that convention to have the State Central Committee 
 increased to thirty-five members, in order to give the people 
 a more -direct representation, were crowned with success. 
 In 1872 he was a candidate for Congress in the Fourth 
 District, but was beaten by a small majority by Gen. Crook, 
 his Republican opponent At present he is Chief Clerk of 
 the City Court of Brooklyn, having been appointed in 1871. 
 
 He was elected to the Assembly last fall after a very active 
 canvass, a Democrat and the Republican representative last 
 year being in the field against him. The vote in the Demo- 
 
Artemas W. Comstock. 181 
 
 cratic Assembly Convention was a tie, and, the matter being 
 referred to the General Committee, Mr. Colahan was nom- 
 inated. His opponent, Patrick J. Gleason, remained in 
 the field as an independent candidate. Mr. Colahan 
 obtained 389 majority over Cocheu, the Republican candi- 
 date, and 40 majority over both Cocheu and Gleason". As 
 this result was attained in a district which the Republicans 
 have carried several times, against a single Democrat, it is 
 something to Mr. Colahan's credit. After the result was 
 known his friends tendered him the compliment of a sere- 
 nade, which was in every way a pleasant afEair. 
 
 Mr. Colahan has taken rank as one of the most polished 
 and forcible orators in the present House, and when he rises 
 to speak he never fails to command attention. As a minority 
 member he is well taken care of on the Committees, being 
 on Judiciary, and Privileges and Elections. 
 
 AKTEMAS W. COMSTOCK, 
 
 Niagara county is this year represented by new men in 
 both districts. Mr. Comstock, of the First District, is a 
 substantial farmer and extensive dairyman, residing near 
 Lockport. He is a gentleman of high character and pure 
 motives, and, in short, precisely such a man as an intelligent 
 New York constituency should send to the Legislature. He 
 was born in the town of Cambria on the 15fch of December, 
 1827. His father, Thomas Comstock, was a Rhode Island 
 farmer, in comfortable circumstances, who, soon after his mar- 
 riage to Tryphena Carpenter, of Pennsylvania, settled in 
 Niagara county and purchased of the Holland Land Com- 
 pany the farm in Cambria which the son now occupies. He 
 died in 1864. Young Comstock enjoyed ample educa- 
 tional opportunities during his youth, attending the com- 
 
183 Ltfe Sketches. 
 
 mon schools, and also the academy at Yates Center, Orleans 
 county. On completing his education he wisely chose his 
 father's pursuit, and, succeeding to the paternal estate, he 
 now owns a fine farm of 370 acres, lying adjacent to the New 
 York Central Railroad, about four miles from Lockport. 
 
 Mr. CoMSTOCK has ahvays felt a warm interest in the 
 political movements of the day, giving to his party earnest 
 counsel and active co-operation. He commenced his politi- 
 cal life as a Whig, and when the Republican party came into 
 existence he promptly identified himself with it, and was, in 
 fact, one of its active organizers. In 1863 he was elected a 
 member of the Niagara county Board of Supervisors, serving, 
 except during an interval of one year, until 1868. He was 
 thus a member of the Board during two of the war years. 
 He felt strongly in reference to the issues which divided the 
 country during those memorable years, but not being in a 
 position to go to the front himself, he sent a substitute who 
 served during the war. 
 
 Mr. CoMSTOCK was nominated by the District Convention 
 last fall with gratifying unanimity. His life-long residence 
 in the county, his spotless character, and his sterling quali- 
 ties of mind and heart, rendered him in all respects a fitting- 
 candidate for a constituency which habitually sends to the 
 Assembly men much above the average. He was elected by 
 a majority of 686 over Ira Farnswoeth, a prominent and 
 able Democrat, his vote being some 385 in excess of that 
 received by the Republican State ticket. He is a member of 
 the Committees on Banks and Manufacture of Salt. 
 
 Mr. CoMSTOCK was married on the 10th of March, 1857^ 
 to Miss Evelike Forsyth, of Lockport, and is a member 
 of the Congregational Church of Cambria. 
 
John D. Couqhlin. 183 
 
 JOHN D. COUGHLIN. 
 
 JoHK D. CouGHLiN was bom, February 4, 1844, in 
 New York city, in Fifth avenue and Fiftietli street, on the 
 identical spot where is now being erected the grand Roman 
 Catholic Cathedral, which is destined to be one of the most 
 magnificent church structures on this half of the globe. 
 Although not quite thirty years ago, Fifth avenue, now the 
 wonder of this country for palatial residences, was then but 
 a country wagon road at Fiftieth street ; and Mr. CouQH- 
 LIn's father ran his plow through ground that has since been 
 divided into building lots, and sold for $100,000 each. 
 
 Mr. CouGHLiN is a graduate of the public schools of New 
 York city. He is a journalist by profession, and when 
 twenty-five years of age established the New York School Jour- 
 nal, the first and only educational paper published weekly in 
 this country. During the war he was so earnest in his oppo- 
 sition to slavery, and so eager for the preservation of the 
 Union, that he was classed as a Republican in politics, but 
 he never dropped the name of Democrat, and, at the close of 
 the war, commenced to take an active part in Democratic 
 politics. During the reform revolution which swept over 
 the city of New York in 1869 and 1870, he wrote for the 
 New York Tribune^ under a nom de plumes a series of scath- 
 ing satirical poems which attracted considerable attention, 
 and brought him prominently before the public as a politi- 
 cal writer. He is a Roman Catholic, and married Miss 
 Helen C. Bushnell, daughter of William Bushnell, 
 well known throughout this State for his connection with 
 the iron interests, and for owning, at different times, several 
 of the most successful furnaces in New York and elsewhere. 
 
 Mr. CouGHLiN represents in the Assembly the district in 
 which he was born, the Twentieth, and has seen it grow from 
 a country village, embracing less than two hundred voters. 
 
184 Life Sketches. 
 
 into a magnificent city of palatial residences, grand public 
 edifices, beautiful drives and parks, with a voting population 
 of upward of 12,000. 
 
 He was a candidate for the Assembly in 1872, but was 
 defeated, the Eepublican candidate receiving a plurality of 
 1,059. In the late canvass he was opposed by two candidates, 
 David Babcock, Eepublican, and Moritz Hertzberg, 
 Apollo Hall. Mr. Coughlin's plurality was 423. 
 
 Mr. CouGHLiN" has succeeded in making a very favorable 
 impression in the Assembly. He is a fine speaker, attentive 
 to the duties of legislation, courteous and genial in his inter- 
 course with others, and consequently popular. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Committee on Cities. 
 
 JAMES DALY. 
 
 Mr. Daly represents the Fourteenth district of New York 
 city, and ranks as one of the ablest members of the metropoli- 
 tan delegation. He is a native of Ireland, where he was born 
 about the year 1843. His parents, still living, belong to the 
 agricultural class in the old country. He received an excel- 
 lent collegiate education, and was, at first, intended for holy 
 orders, but though he is a consistent Roman Catholic his 
 mind took another bent, and since the completion of his 
 studies he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. He did 
 not identify himself very prominently with politics until the 
 year 1870, when he joined the Reform movement inaugura- 
 ted in New York that year, the object of which was the over- 
 throw of the corrupt Tammany regime. He threw himself 
 into this movement with a good deal of enthusiasm, and 
 rendered efficient aid to those who were carrying on the good 
 work. He held no political office, however, until he was 
 chosen Member of Assembly, by a very gratifying majority, 
 
Emerson E. Davis, 185 
 
 though two strong candidates, Carl Schmedler, Republi- 
 can, and John Murphy, Democrat, were opposed to him. 
 His plurality was 636. 
 
 Mr. Daly's career upon the floor of the Assembly has 
 shown that he possesses unusual ability. Modest and unas- 
 suming in deportment, he is an extremely clear and forcible 
 speaker, and his efforts are not without oratorical grace. He 
 speaks with studied carefulness, and uses well chosen and 
 exceedingly appropriate language. He attracted attention 
 in the early portion of the session by his championship of 
 the bill to settle the vexed question relative to the powers 
 of the common council and certain departments over public 
 works. He is a Member of the Committees on Charitable 
 and Religious Societies, and Trade and Manufactures. 
 
 EMERSON E. DAVIS. 
 
 Mr. Davis is a conceded representative of the commercial 
 interests of the State. He is largely engaged in the lumber 
 and transportation business in Whitehall ; and the fact that, 
 though a Democrat, he was elected by a decided majority from 
 a strong Republican district, shows pretty clearly that parti- 
 san considerations had very little to do with his election. 
 No man in the State, perhaps, is better acquainted with the 
 needs of the canals, or the intricacies of their management, 
 than Mr. Davis. He has made the transportation problem 
 the study of the larger portion of his life-time, and just at 
 this time, when that question is attracting renewed atten- 
 tion, his election to the Assembly may be deemed fortunate 
 for the people of the State. He has already suggested several 
 measures calculated to reform the management of the canals, 
 and whatever may be thought of their merits, or whatever 
 may be their fate in the present session, they will, at least, 
 24 
 
186 Life Sketches. 
 
 have the effect to excite needed discussion upon a question 
 which will bear much controversy. As an illustration of 
 Mr. Davis' position in this connection, we may state that 
 during the debate in the Assembly upon the proposed Fifth 
 Article to the Constitution, he took decided ground against 
 most of the members of his own party in advocating that 
 amendment, mainly because it would place the appointment of 
 the Canal Commissioners in the hands of the Governor, and 
 thus do away with the irresponsibility and clashing of author- 
 ity which now exist on the canals. He made a long 
 and able speech in defense of his action, which bristled with 
 facts and figures, showing the corruption and mismanage- 
 ment due to the present system. His speech was highly 
 complimented by members of both parties, and no attempt 
 was made to reply to it. The amendment was voted down, 
 however, its features in other respects being distasteful to a 
 majority of the members. 
 
 Mr. Davis was born in Hampton, Washington county, 
 September 1, 1823, and is, therefore, now in the full prime 
 of life. His education was mainly obtained at Granville 
 Academy. Soon after leaving school he read law for a time 
 with Boyd & Billikgs in Whitehall, and qualified himself 
 to that extent that he was admitted to the bar in January, 
 1846. He practiced more or less for a number of years, but 
 he finally became engaged in commercial life at Whitehall, 
 and he is now one of the most successful lumber merchants 
 and forwarders in that thriving city. 
 
 He has long been a leading Democrat in Washington 
 county, but we believe he never before held any public office 
 of importance. He was elected to the Assembly by a major- 
 ity of 393 over John" Hall, the Kepublican candidate. As 
 was eminently fitting, in view of his special qualifications, the 
 Speaker gave him a place upon the Canal Committee. Mr. 
 Davis is noted as being one of the most thoughtful and 
 attentive members of the House ; and though he votes with 
 his party on party questions, his action on public measures 
 
George B. Deane, Jr. 187 
 
 in general is dictated rather by a regard for the welfare of 
 the whole people than by any considerations of party advan- 
 tage. He is a man above the average height, of agreeable 
 presence and courteous manners. His complexion is some- 
 what dark and his features spare, but his face habitually 
 wears a mild aud thoughtful expression, and his general 
 appearance is that of a studious and cultivated gentleman. 
 He is a good speaker, and a clear, incisive reasoner, but he 
 deals in facts, and the conclusions therefrom, rather than the 
 meretricious graces of oratory. His speeches embrace the 
 results of deep thought and mature conviction, and are, 
 therefore, generally logical and sound. He is a valuable mem- 
 Der, and his ability is acknowledged even by his opponents. 
 
 GEORGE B. DEANE, Jr. 
 
 George Bartch Deane, Jr., is a representative young 
 New Yorker, and is at the threshold of what promises to 
 be a brilliant career. He has never held office before, either 
 elective or appointive, but he takes quite naturally to the duties 
 of legislation, aud his record will undoubtedly be an honorable 
 one. He was born in New York city August 31, 1848, and 
 is, therefore, in his twenty-sixth year. At the age of eighteen 
 he was married to Miss Jennie Glassford, also of New 
 York. His father was a native cf Albany, and is still living, 
 at the age of fifty-five. 
 
 The subject of our sketch was educated in the New York 
 public schools, Seward Institute in Florida, Orange county, 
 and Monticello Academy in Sullivan county. After gradu- 
 ating from the latter institution he studied law and was 
 admitted to practice; but the labors of the profession were 
 not congenial to him and he abandoned it. He is now 
 engaged in the forwarding business with his father. 
 
 Since Mr. Deane attained his majority he has been an 
 
188 Life Sketches, 
 
 active working Kepublican, and there are, perhaps, few men. 
 of his age better known in New York political circles. For 
 the last two years he has been a member of the Republican 
 Central Committee, and last year he was chairman of the 
 Young Men's Republican Central Committee. He was, in 
 fact, elected to the Assembly as a representative young 
 Republican. The canvass last fall in his district (the ninth) 
 was more than ordinarily sharp, there being three candidates 
 in the field besides himself, viz. : A. J. Mathewsok, Tam- 
 many Hall, Patrick HsNiOiq^, Apollo Hall, and James E. 
 McVean"ey, Liberal. His popularity was such, however, 
 that he was elected by a plurality of 910, the Republican 
 majority in the district last year being but 816. The result 
 of the election was certainly very creditable to Mr. Dean^e. 
 He occupies a prominent place on the committees, being a 
 member of Commerce and Navigation, Public Health and 
 State Charitable Institutions. Though a member of no 
 religious denomination, he attends the Baptist Church, of 
 which his wife is a member. 
 
 AUGUSTUS DENNISTON. 
 
 Though quite a young man, Mr. Denniston" has passed 
 through quite an eventful career, and has already shown 
 that he possesses the characteristics of the Scotch-Irish 
 ancestry from which he sprang. He was born on the 25th 
 of May, 1842, at Blooming Grove, Orange county, where 
 he still resides. His father was the late Hon. Robert Dek- 
 NiSTO]sr,'who, in old Barnburner times, was distinguished for 
 his integrity, force of character and ability during several 
 years of service in both Houses of the Legislature, and one 
 term as Comptroller of the State, being a member of the 
 noted "State Military Board." Young Denniston was 
 educated by private tutors at home, and enjoys, therefore, a. 
 
Augustus Denniston. 189 
 
 very thorough acquaintance with all the practical branches of 
 knowledge. In 1860, when his father was elected Comptrol- 
 ler, he accompanied him to Albany as his confidential secre- 
 tary, and diligently availed himself of the opportunity thus 
 afforded of becoming familiar with the practical details of 
 legislation. At the expiration of the two years term of ser- 
 vice, Mr. Denniston was seized with the war fever, then 
 widely prevalent among young men, and receiving the 
 appointment of Quartermaster of the 124th Regiment, New 
 York Volunteers, he went to the front with the gallant Col. 
 Ellis. He made an excellent Quartermaster, winning the 
 good opinion of the entire regiment, but the severity of camp 
 life was too much for him, and he was compelled to resign 
 after about six months service, having contracted a disease 
 by which he was prostrated nearly a twelve-month after his 
 return. Mr. Denniston belongs to a patriotic family. Four 
 brothers and a brother-in-law were in the army and navy 
 during the great war. Since the death of his father, in 1867, 
 Mr. Denniston has been occupied in administering and 
 managing the large estate left to his care, as well as being 
 trustee of several other estates, and as it includes one of the 
 finest farms in Orange county, it furnishes him ample 
 employment. 
 
 Almost from boyhood Mr. Denniston has been active in 
 political life, it being his habit always to attend the primary 
 conventions, rightly believing that to be a duty especially 
 incumbent upon those who would secure good nominations. 
 He has also frequently been sent as a delegate to various delib- 
 erative bodies. He was elected to his present seat in the fall 
 of 1872, and is the first Assemblyman elected in many years 
 from the country portion of his district, the member being 
 generally taken from the city of Newburgh. His personal 
 popularity is indicated by the fact that he then received a 
 majority of nearly nine hundred over a very popular Liberal 
 Republican opponent, Alexander Leslie, of Newburgh. 
 He served in the last House — being a member of the Com- 
 
190 Life Sketches. 
 
 mittees on Charitable and Religious Societies., Public Print- 
 ing and Privileges and Elections — with undoubted ability, 
 being particularly valuable in the committee room and in 
 the practical details of legislation. He was invariably 
 against all corru2:)t schemes and " jobs," and his record will 
 well bear inspection. His Democratic opponent in last fall's 
 canvass was James W". Miller, of Newburgh. A tremen- 
 dous effort was made to elect him, but Mr. Dennistoi^ 
 received a majority of 291 in a very light poll. His own town 
 gave him a majority of about 70, while the Democratic can- 
 didate for senator and sheriff carried it by about 50 majority. 
 By this it will appear that his career thus far has been 
 eminently satisfactory to those who know him best. 
 
 Mr. Denniston" is a gentleman of pleasant manners and 
 incorruptible character, possessing in a large degree those 
 qualities which are essential to the able legislator. He is a 
 consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and, in all 
 the public and private relations of life, is without reproach. 
 He has never married, and, with the exceptions already 
 noted, has always lived on the farm occupied by his father 
 and grandfather. In the present House he is Chairman of 
 the Committee on Two-thirds and Three-fifths Bills and 
 member of Railroads and Charitable and Religious Societies. 
 
 ROBERT DICKSON". 
 
 We are not exaggerating when we say that Mr. Dicksok, 
 who represents the Second district of Rensselaer county, is, 
 in whatever way we regard him, a man of the highest 
 character. His well developed head and strongly marked fea- 
 tures are infallible indications, not only of great natural 
 ability, but of noble impulses and a correct understanding of 
 the relations of life. The son of a father whose life has 
 
Robert Dickson, 191 
 
 rounded out nearly a century, he worthily perpetuates the vir- 
 tues which distinguish his progenitor, and enjoys, as he well 
 deserves, the unbounded respect and esteem of a community 
 in which he has resided nearly a lifetime. In that commu- 
 nity he has always taken a deep interest in all that would add 
 to the welfare of the whole. Blessed with wealth, he has 
 used it for the benefit of others without stint, and it is perhaps 
 just to say that to him, more than to any other one man, the 
 pleasant village of Lansingburgh owes its present beauty and 
 prosperity. Vail avenue, an elegant and fashionable thorough- 
 fare, was opened as the result of his patient and persistent 
 efforts, seconded and assisted by the late Jonathan E. 
 Whipple, and numerous other improvements, which enhance 
 the beauty of the place, attest his generosity and public spirit. 
 The opening of the avenue referred to was persistently fought 
 by those who failed to see as far into the future as Mr. Dick- 
 son, but the existence of the fine boulevard is proof that he 
 triumphed over all obstacles. He has devoted much of his 
 time to these improvements, working frequently with his own 
 hands when occasion seemed to him to require it. 
 
 Robert Dickson was born at Rathsfriland, Ireland, on 
 the 12th of January, 1824. His father, Alexander Dick- 
 son, resided nearly fifty years in Ireland, and very nearly half 
 a century ago emigrated to this country. A man of patri- 
 archal simplicity of character and unbounded hospitality, the 
 elder Dickson is greatly venerated and respected by the com- 
 munity, every member of which feels a personal pride in his 
 gray hairs and homely virtues. The son had no other oppor- 
 tunities than were furnished by the common schools, but his 
 studious habits enabled him, by his own efforts, to secure a 
 very excellent education. While yet a boy, he learned the 
 trade of brush-maker with John G. McMurray & Co., of 
 Lansingburgh, and adhered to the business through life, re- 
 maining thirty years with the Messrs. McMurray & Co., as 
 apprentice, journeyman and partner. He is now running an 
 extensive establishment of his own, and has a large capital 
 
192 Life Sketches. 
 
 invested in the business, which really forms the leading 
 industry of Lansingburgh. 
 
 During the earlier portion of his political life, Mr. Dickson 
 was a Democrat, and, previous to 1856, he was faithful to the 
 principles and candidates of that party. Since the Repub- 
 lican party came into being, he has been one of its most 
 ardent supporters, never swerving a hair-breadth in his alle- 
 giance to its creed or to its standard-bearers. As a conse- 
 quence, he possesses great influence in the local politics of his 
 district. He is especially popular among the workingmen, 
 with whom he mingles as one of themselves, and is always in 
 full sympathy with any movement which promises to advance 
 the cause of labor, and better the condition of the laborer. 
 The high regard felt for him by his neighbors is perhaps 
 rendered sufficiently obvious by the fact that he has fre- 
 quently been a member of the village Board of Trustees, and 
 during four years was President of the Board. In this posi- 
 tion, to which very little glory or thanks attaches, he always 
 distinguished himself by an energetic and conscientious 
 performance of the duties devolving upon him. In 1872, he 
 was appointed Loan Commissioner, by Gov. Dix, though no 
 intimation had previously been given him that such an honor 
 was in store for him. He did not seek the Assembly nomi- 
 nation which was tendered him last fall, but, in deference to 
 the urgent solicitations of his friends, he consented to run. 
 He did not escape the usual fate of candidates for office. 
 During an unusually sharp canvass, the tongue of slander was 
 busy in a persistent attempt to injure him in the regard of 
 his neighbors. The calumnies had no other effect, however, 
 than to sink their authors still lower in public estimation. 
 His majority over his Democratic opponent, Joseph F. 
 Knickerbocker, was 376. On his advent into the Assem- 
 bly, he was placed upon the Committees on Canals, Villages 
 and Public Health, and thus far, though he has developed no 
 disposition to consume valuable time in oratory, he has made 
 an honorable record. 
 
James F, Donahue. 193 
 
 Mr. Dickson was married, in 1844, to Mary Ann 
 Stratton, of Lansingburgh. He is a consistent member 
 of the Baptist persuasion, and it may truly be said of him, 
 that, in all the relations of life, he is distinguished for " what- 
 soever things are lovely and of good report." 
 
 JAMES F. DONAHUE. 
 
 James Francis Donahue was born in Brooklyn, where 
 he still resides, December 25, 1843. He is a son of Timothy 
 and Mary Donahue, who are both natives of Corry, Ire- 
 land, and who are still living in Brooklyn at an advanced 
 age. In fact, Mr. Donahue comes of a long-lived stock, 
 his grandparents having all of them lived to a great age. 
 When very young, Mr. Donahue enjoyed some common 
 school advantages, but he was able to acquire very little aside 
 from the merest rudiments, and he may be said to be really 
 self-educated. Since boyhood he has followed various occu- 
 pations. He has been at different times a hatter, a candle- 
 maker and a ship-caulker, and, at present, he is very success- 
 fully engaged in mercantile pursuits. Soon after the break- 
 ing out of the rebellion he enlisted as a private in the Four- 
 teenth (Brooklyn) regiment, which was attached to the first 
 brigade, first corps, army of the Potomac, and was in all the 
 battles in which that noted regiment participated, until 
 nearly the close of the war. He never asked nor sought pro- 
 motion, but was content to do his duty as a soldier, regardless 
 of honors or emoluments. In 1868 he was married to an 
 estimable lady of Brooklyn. During several years past Mr. 
 Donahue has been an active and influential Democratic 
 politician in his district, being frequently called upon to do 
 duty as delegate to the Assembly, Senatorial and County 
 conventions of his party. The good sense and thoroughness 
 25 
 
194 Life Sketches. 
 
 with which he performed his duties, together with his known 
 personal popularity, moved his friends to nominate him for 
 the Assembly in the fall of 1872. He accepted the nomina- 
 tion and was elected, after a spirited contest, by a majority 
 of 283 over Patrick J. Oolltn-s, a Democratic opponent, 
 there being no Kepublican in the field. In the ensuing 
 session he served on three committees. Public Education, 
 Civil Divisions and Public Lands. He was re-elected last 
 fall, the same opponent being in the field, by the increased 
 majority of 447. This year he serves on Charitable and 
 Eeligious Societies and Public Education, and is known as a 
 quiet, attentive and industrious legislator. Mr. Doistahue is 
 a little below the medium height, but he is solidly built and 
 well-knit together. His face, which is round and full, is 
 closely shaven, and, without going into details, we may 
 observe that his appearance is prepossessing and indicative 
 of much ability, as well as capacity to appreciate the social 
 amenities of life. 
 
 HARVEY G. EASTMAN. 
 
 Mr. Eastmaic constitutes, perhaps, the most strongly 
 marked individuality in the present Assembly. He is a 
 genuine representative Yankee ; not, indeed, such an out- 
 growth of American civilization as would be pictured by an 
 envious Briton or a negro-hating Southerner; but one of 
 those model Brother Jonathans who are the personification 
 of energetic perseverance and large-hearted honesty. He is 
 a man who would conquer adverse fate in whatever position 
 he might be placed, and a man, also, well fitted, by his solid 
 natural attainments, and the inherent nobility of his charac- 
 ter, to occupy any station in life. His entire career, thus 
 far, is a record of restless, nervous activity, but it has always 
 been an activity directed to some well defined object, certain 
 
Harvey G. Eastman. 195 
 
 of accomplishment. In his business enterprises, Mr. East- 
 man has sometimes displayed daring even to rashness, but 
 he is never chimerical or impracticable. His schemes invaria- 
 bly rest upon sound business principles, and are often 
 designed as much for the welfare of the public at large as 
 for his own emolument. The splendid business school in 
 Poughkeepsie which bears his name, and of which he is the 
 President, is a monument to his indomitable energy and 
 sagacity. It is known everywhere as one of tlie most suc- 
 cessful and useful schools of its kind in the country, and in 
 some respects it is without a rival, while hundreds of pros- 
 perous men in all parts of the United States attribute tlieir 
 success, in large degree, to the practical lessons received 
 within its walls. If Mr. Eastman had accomplished noth- 
 ing else during his active life, the foundation of the East- 
 man Business College will be regarded as an achievement 
 worthy to fill the measure of any man's life. 
 
 Harvey G. Eastman was born in Marshall, Oneida 
 county, November 16, 18.S2. He enjoyed in youth very few 
 opportunities for acquiring an education. Occasionally he 
 attended n public school, but public schools had not then 
 reached the excellence they now possess, and it was not 
 always an easy task for the most determined pupil to extort 
 an education from one of them. Young Eastman obtained 
 his education, however, and lost no time in putting it to 
 practical use. He early conceived the idea of inaugurating 
 a school which should aim to give young men the practical 
 business knowledge so necessary to them, but which is imper- 
 fectly obtained amid the multiplicity of studies in our 
 common schools and academies. His idea was thoroughly 
 thought out and elaborately matured before he put it in 
 practice, and when he actually commenced the experiment in 
 Poughkeepsie, some sixteen years ago, it was on a very limited 
 scale. He located in a small room, and began the develop- 
 ment of his theories with a single pupil. He was a stranger 
 in the place, and the new comer, with his new ideas, was 
 
196 Life Sketches. 
 
 obliged to face a good deal of discouragement from a people 
 somewhat embued with old fogyism. He straggled, however, 
 fought adversity and public opinion, advertised stupendously 
 and gradually worked his way up. His theory of education 
 soon became popular, and students flocked to him from all 
 quarters. From one pupil his school came to embrace six- 
 teen hundred, representing all the States of the Union, filling 
 the staid old town with a new population, and giving the city 
 a noticeable impetus in growth and prosperity. Instead of 
 a single apartment the needs of the institution now require 
 four spacious structures, and an educational corps of more 
 than sixty instructors. It is an institution in which the 
 inhabitants of Poughkeepsie may well feel pride. 
 
 But while building up his own institution, Mr. Eastman" 
 was not blind to the interest of the city which he had chosen 
 as the field of his operations, and numerous public improve- 
 ments which he has initiated or actively aided, attest his 
 public spirit and sagacity. The project of building a bridge 
 across the Hudson river at Poughkeepsie, which is now so 
 far advanced that its successful completion at an early day 
 is assured, is the result of his active and unremitting exer- 
 tions. That it will ere long be the connecting link in another 
 grand trunk line between the west and the east cannot be 
 doubted. Mr. Eastman was one of the first promoters of 
 the enterprise, and advocated and secured the passage of the 
 charter of the company in the Legislature of 1872. The 
 corner stone of the structure, which is to be of magnificent 
 proportions, was laid on the 17th of December, 1873, with 
 imposing ceremonies, Mr. Eastmak, as Mayor of the city, 
 presiding. 
 
 The man who exhibits such qualities in a business point 
 of view, cannot fail to prove valuable in public position. 
 Hence Mr. Eastman" has frequently been honored with 
 important trusts by his fellow citizens. Twice he has been 
 elected Mayor of Poughkeepsie, holding the office at the 
 present time, and twice he has been elected a member of 
 
Harvey G. Eastman. 197 
 
 Assembly. For eight years past he has held the office of 
 State Commissioner of Public Charities, his last re-appoint- 
 ment being by Governor Dix last fall. A year ago he was 
 recommended by the Governor, United States Senators, State 
 Officers, and nearly the entire Senate and Assembly as Min- 
 ister to Japan. He has always taken a leading part in public 
 measures in his city and the state. In every position, whether 
 in official, business or private life, he is distinguished for his 
 unimpeachable integrity, and those engaging personal quali- 
 ties that mark the cultivated gentleman. To these distin- 
 guishing qualities is allied that ever present and most 
 prominent one, his indomitable perseverance, through which 
 he wrings success from even reluctant fortune, backed by 
 the vital force of a manhood in its early prime. 
 
 Identified with the Republican party from its earliest 
 organization, he has ever remained faithful throughout all 
 its fortunes, and has always been considered its ablest and 
 and most reliable local leader, ready at all times to devote 
 his purse, time and labor, unrequited, to its interests. For 
 four years past he has held the Chairmanship of the Dutchess 
 County Committee. 
 
 In the Assembly canvass of 1871, his popularity was such 
 that his Democratic competitor withdrew from the field, and 
 he received all the votes cast. The next year Mr. Eastman 
 declined a renomination, and the Democracy carried the 
 district by something over 1,200 majority, 900 of which was 
 obtained in the city of Poughkeepsie. Last fall he received 
 a majority in the city of 556. the Democratic State ticket 
 and Senator receiving 526 majority. His plurality in the 
 district was 127, Benjaman S. Broas, Democrat, and 
 Stephen S. English, Temperance, being the opposing can- 
 didates. No further statement is needed to show his popu- 
 larity at home. During his first session he served on the 
 Committees on Cities, Education and Sub-Committee of the 
 Whole. This year he is Chairman of Cities and member of 
 Grievances and State Charitable Institutions. During the 
 
198 Life Sketches. 
 
 present session he has been distinguished for his efforts in 
 behalf of Eapid Transit in New York. The plan which 
 he submitted to accomplish that desideratum possesses novel 
 and meritorious features, and has attracted wide attention. 
 At an immense meeting held in New York to consider the 
 subject, Mr. Eastman" advocated his scheme in an able and 
 eloquent speech, and his efforts in this regard have been 
 warmly complimented by the press of New York. 
 
 Few members of the House are more generally popular 
 than Mr. Eastman". He is genial and companionable in all 
 his personal intercourse, and a genuine respect grows out of 
 the fact that he is energetic, persistent and capable in every 
 situation in which he is placed. He was married, in June, 
 1856, to Miss Minnie M. Clark, of Canastota, N. Y. 
 
 WILLIAM H. ELY. 
 
 Mr. Ely is a quiet but extremely attentive member, repre- 
 senting the first district of Otsego county. Though new to the 
 Legislature, he is well known throughout Otsego countv, 
 where he has resided all his life, and enjoys deserved popu- 
 larity. He was born in Middlefield, Otsego county, on the 
 2d of October, 1829, being the son of Hon. Samuel Ely, 
 now deceased, who was a prominent physician, and at one 
 time President of the State Medical Society. He was also a 
 member of the State Senate from 1840 to 1843, both years 
 inclusive, a member of the Assembly in 1836, and has filled 
 numerous other positions. 
 
 Mr. Ely, the present member, was educated in common 
 and select schools, and brought up to mercantile pursuits. 
 He was married, in 1865, to Miss Ella Caryl, of New York 
 city. Establishing himself in business, he followed it suc- 
 cessfully until a few years ago, when he turned his attention 
 to farming, and is now the owner of a desirable estate at East 
 Worcester, where he resides. 
 
Alonzo H. Farrar. 199 
 
 He has always been a Democrat, and has from an early age 
 been more or less in politics. Possessing, as he does, a rare 
 degree of tact and judgment, his co-operation and counsel 
 have been highly esteemed by his party. During a period of 
 six years, commencing in 1863 and omitting 1867, he served 
 in the Otsego Board of Supervisors, making an excellent 
 record for integrity and legislative capacity. So well satisfied 
 were his constituents, indeed, that he was twice returned to 
 the board without opposition. 
 
 He was elected to the Assembly by a majority of 486, over 
 an extremely popular Republican, Hon. Wm. W. Campbell, 
 the Democratic majority last year being only 67. He is a 
 member of the Committee on Roads and Bridges. 
 
 ALONZO H. FARRAR. 
 
 Mr. Farrar is a young man who has as fair a future 
 before him as any other in the Assembly. He has just 
 made his entry into public life, and being in the flush of 
 early manhood, and possessed of much more than ordinary 
 abilities, it is reasonable to anticipate for him a brilliant and 
 useful career. Personally, he is one of those whole-souled 
 fellows who are popular with everybody. He is quick of 
 perception, pleasing of address, keenly perceptive of the 
 ludicrous side of human nature, and an excellent talker. 
 It is not surprising, therefore, that he should be a general 
 favorite. In point of solid attainments, also, he is fitted to 
 rank with the most accomplished members of the House, 
 and he is in all respects a gentleman whose character it is 
 a pleasure to contemplate. 
 
 Alonzo Hawley Farrar was born in Middletown, Vt., 
 on the 29th of March, 1843, and is, therefore, thirty-one 
 years of age. His father, Franklin A. Farrar, still 
 resides at West Rupert, Vt., and is a retired farmer. His 
 
200 Life Sketches. 
 
 mother's maiden name was Mary A. Hawley. Young 
 Farrar received his education at Fort Edward Institute, 
 Burr & Burton Seminary, Manchester, Vt., and the Albany 
 Law School. Graduating from the latter institution with 
 honor, he was admitted to the bar in 1864. Soon after, he 
 commenced practicing law at Kinderhook, Columbia county, 
 and has met with gratifying success. In December, 1868, 
 he was married to Anista 0. Mesick, of Kinderhook. As 
 the result of his eight or nine years of practice, Mr. Farrar 
 enjoys wide repute as an advocate, and is, to-day, one of the 
 most brilliant members of the Columbia county bar. 
 
 Since attaining his majority, Mr. Farrar has taken a 
 warm interest in politics, being always identified with the 
 Eepublican party. He never ran for office, however, until 
 last fall, when he was opposed by a popular Democrat, Peter 
 F. Mesick, and elected to the Assembly by a majority of 307, 
 in a district which was Democratic the previous year by 324 
 majority. 
 
 Mr. Farrar holds orthodox views in religion, and pos- 
 sesses a character, in all respects, above reproach. Since he 
 has taken his seat in the Assembly, he has made an excellent 
 record. His maiden speech, made in opposition to the pro- 
 posed amendment to the Fifth Article of the Constitution, 
 attracted general attention, and not only placed him in the 
 front rank of debaters, but gave indication of his independ- 
 ent spirit, his action not being in accordance with what was 
 regarded as the policy of his party. He, however, deemed 
 it his duty to enter his protest against any attempt to take 
 the powers of government out of the hands of the people, 
 and the fact that the proposition was defeated is undoubt- 
 edly due to the strenuous opposition of Mr. Farrar and 
 Col. Charles S. Spencer, of New York, both Republicans. 
 In the organization of the House, Mr. Farrar was awarded 
 a place on the important committees on the Judiciary, 
 Grievances and Local and Special Laws. 
 
Hamilton Fish, Jr. 201 
 
 HAMILTON FISH, Jr. 
 
 Colonel Fish is the youngest member of the present 
 Assembly, being only twenty-five years of age. He was born 
 in Albany April 17, 1849, while his father, now Secretary of 
 State of the United States, was Governor of the State of 
 Kew York. The career of ex-Governor Fish is so well 
 known to the country tliat we need make no more than the 
 briefest reference to it here. He has served the country in 
 numerous capacities, and has always, whether his duties 
 were legislative, executive or diplomatic, displayed a high 
 order of statesmanship, and reflected honor upon the 
 nation and the State of his birth. At the present moment 
 he occupies that which, next to the Presidential office, is the 
 most important position in the National Governmeni, and 
 the signal ability which he has displayed in the settlement 
 of intricate international questions has given him a world- 
 wide fame. 
 
 Col. Fish, therefore, comes of good stock, and it is just to 
 observe that he has already shown that he possesses in large 
 measure the qualities which distinguish his illustrious parent. 
 He is well and finely educated, endowed with rare natural 
 talents, and is besides a man of keen perception, correct 
 judgment and strict integrity. It is perfectly safe to predict 
 for him a successful career. He was, as we have said, edu- 
 cated in Columbia college. New York city. Graduating in 
 1869, he was chosen valedictorian of the class of that year, 
 and acquitted himself with credit. After an interval of two 
 years, during which he acted as private secretary for his 
 father in the State Department, he entered Columbia College 
 Law School, and graduated from that department in the 
 spring of 1873, with all the honors. He was then admitted 
 to the bar, and has since practiced his chosen profession, 
 having an office at No. 16 Wall street. New York city. On 
 the accession of Governor Dix to the gubernatorial chair, 
 
202 Life Sketches. 
 
 he was appointed aide-de-camp upon his staff, with the rank 
 of Colonel. 
 
 In politics Col. Fish has, of course, always been a Repub- 
 lican, and though his record is as yet a short one, he has 
 performed important services for the party. During the 
 exciting Presidential campaign of 1872, he was Chairman of 
 the Putnam County Republican Committee, and in that 
 capacity took an active part in the contest. He was also 
 a delegate from that county to the Republican State Con- 
 vention at XJtica, on the 24th of September. His nomina- 
 tion to the Assembly by the Republicans of Putnam county 
 followed, and though his Democratic opponent was Saxtok 
 Smith, a gentleman who has already distinguished himself 
 in both branches of the Legislature, he was elected by a 
 majority of 431. For the first time in its history, Putnam 
 county gave a decided majority for the entire Republican 
 State and County ticket at the late election. The Speaker 
 of the House made deserved recognition of Col. Fish's 
 ability by giving him a place on the Committees on Cities 
 and Militia, and the Chairmanship of State Charitable 
 Institutions. 
 
 Col. Fish's genial manner and innumerable graces of 
 character have won him hosts of friends, and he is extremely 
 popular in Albany social circles. He is an Episcopalian in 
 religious belief, and is unmarried. 
 
 ROBERT B. FOOTE. 
 
 Mr. FooTE represents, for the second time, the Fifth dis- 
 trict of Erie county, which has heretofore been Demo- 
 cratic. He is a man of considerable ability and force of 
 character, having, by dint of well-directed energy, worked 
 himself up from poverty to a position of comparative afflu- 
 ence. 
 
Robert B. Foots. 203 
 
 Bom in England, on the 13 th of February, 1844, he was 
 brought to this country by his parents when only three years 
 old. His youth was spent upon the farm, with intervals of 
 hard study in the common school and academy. During the 
 winters of 1861 and 1862, and also that of 1865, he taught 
 school. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the 116th Regi- 
 ment of New York Volunteers, and accompanied the regi- 
 ment in the eventful campaign which culminated in the cap- 
 ture of Port Hudson. In the sanguinary struggle for the 
 possession of that stronghold, he lost the forefinger of his 
 right hand and the index and middle fingers of his left hand. 
 The disability thus occasioned resulted in his honorable dis- 
 charge a couple of months later, he having in the mean time 
 been promoted to a non-commissioned grade. 
 
 In 1864 he located in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and 
 became interested in certain oil property which proved very 
 valuable. He operated several oil wells and kept a hardware 
 store until 1867, when he left the oil regions, having secured 
 a moderate fortune. He then purchased a farm in the town 
 of Hamburgh, Erie county, and has since been quietly 
 engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been fairly 
 successful. He was married in 1865 to Mary G. Kingscott, 
 of Buffalo. 
 
 Always a strong Republican, Mr. Foote has generally been 
 quite active in the local councils of his party, but until 
 elected to the Assembly, in 1872, he never held office. He 
 ran for supervisor of his town three years ago, but was 
 defeated by a small majority, as the town has generally been 
 Democratic. His majority over Mr. Wiley, in the Assembly 
 canvass of 1872, was 240. Last fall he was re-elected by a 
 majority of 140 over Frank M. Thorn. 
 
 Mr. Foote is a man of quiet manner and modest bearing ; 
 though he has little to say in debate, he watches the legisla- 
 tive proceedings with close interest, and is seldom absent 
 from his seat. In the last House he was a member of the 
 Committee on Claims, Two-thirds and Three-fifths Bills and 
 
204 Life Sketches. 
 
 Indian Affairs. He is now upon Claims, State Charitable 
 Institutions and Indian Affairs. 
 
 GEORGE A. GOSS. 
 
 Mr. Goss was born at Pittsford, N. Y., March 3, 1834. He 
 is the son of Hon. Ephraim Goss, who represented the 
 Twenty-eighth (Rochester) district in the State- Senate during 
 the years 1860 and 1861. . Senator Goss was born in West Ful- 
 ton, Schoharie county, N. Y., on the 12th of June, 1806. Mr. 
 Goss's mother was the daughter of Chaukcey Porter, and 
 born in Nassau, Rensselaer county, N. Y., March 9, 1814 ; 
 his great grandfather, Ephraim Goss, served through the 
 war of Independence, and was a gallant and successful sol- 
 dier. The subject of this sketch received his education in 
 the common and union district school. For a short time he 
 followed the occupation of farmer, but for several years he 
 has been engaged in the commission business. His first vote 
 was given for the Republican ticket in the year 1855, and he 
 has ever since been a reliable and active Republican, devot- 
 ing much time as a member of the County Central Commit- 
 tee and otherwise to the success of the party. Besides hold- 
 ing a number of town offices, he was in the year 1871 unan- 
 imously nominated by the Republican Convention of the 
 First Assembly District of Monroe county, and triumphantly 
 elected, and in 1872 was re-elected by 322 majority, defeating 
 Richard D. Cole, the Democratic candidate. In 1873 he 
 was again chosen, receiving a majority of 385 over S. Hatch 
 Gould, Democrat. Last year Mr. Goss was Chairman of the 
 Committee on Expenditures of the Executive Department, 
 and member of the Committees on Villages and Education. 
 This year he is Chairman of Villages and member of Com- 
 merce and Navigation and Sub-committee of the Whole. 
 
Harmon L. Gregory. 205 
 
 He is a regular attendant upon the sessions of the House, 
 looking after the interest of the State, and especially watch- 
 ing and taking care of the business of his constituents. 
 
 Frank, genial and courteous in his intercourse with every 
 one, Mr. Goss is certainly a very popular member of the 
 present House. He is large and well built, with a prepos- 
 sessing countenance and generally agreeable presence. He 
 possesses what is a prime requisite to those compelled to labor 
 in the unhealthy atmosphere of the Assembly chamber, a 
 sound constitution and robust physique, but above all, he is 
 a man of unquestioned integrity of character and earnestness 
 of purpose. He is still unmarried. 
 
 HARMON L. GREGORY. 
 
 Mr. Gregory is simply an unostentatious citizen of 
 Schuyler county, where he has lived and worked hard all "his 
 life. He is, however, a good citizen, able and efficient in the 
 discharge of every public duty, and no shadow of suspicion 
 attaches to his name. He was born in Reading, Schuyler 
 county, on the 7th of November, 1822, being the son of 
 JosiAH Gregory, now deceased, who was a native of Con- 
 necticut, a mechanic, and a pioneer settler of what is now 
 known as Altay, in Schuyler county. Like others at that 
 early day, he struggled long with privations unknown to 
 later years. He died at the age of 86, and his wife, Lois, 
 died at the age of 70. The subject of our sketch, however, 
 was favored with a good common school education, and com- 
 menced teaching at the age of eighteen years. He taught 
 during several winter terms, working on the farm summers. 
 In 1853 he represented his town in the Board of Supervisors 
 of Steuben county — before the formation of Schuyler — and 
 was elected to the same office for the latter county in 1867, 
 
206 Life Sketches. 
 
 and re-elected in 1868, 1869 and 1870. He was well qualified, 
 both by nature and experience, for the duties of the office, 
 and therefore enjoyed, in a marked degree, the confidence, 
 respect and esteem of his constituents and of his fellow 
 members in the Board. In 1869 he was chairman of the 
 Board. 
 
 Mr. Geegory was born amid Democratic influences, and 
 until 1856 he acted with that party. Since the formation of 
 the Republican organization he has steadily acted with it 
 He voted on the day he reached his majority and has never 
 missed an election since. 
 
 All who know Mr. Gregory, of whatever party, creed or 
 sect, give him credit for intelligence, fairness and unflinching 
 integrity. No blot or stain has ever tarnished his character 
 as a Republican or citizen, and no man enjoys more fully the 
 confidence and respect of his own immediate neighbors — 
 those who have the best opportunity to understand and appre- 
 ciate a man's true worth. He was the member from Schuy- 
 ler in 1872, and performed his duties satisfactorily in all 
 respects. In the fall of that year he was a candidate for 
 re-election, but was defeated by Mr. McGuire, owing to local 
 complications, by 104 votes. Last fall Mr. McGuire was 
 again his opponent, and after a hotly contested canvass Mr. 
 Gregory was successful by 16 majority, being probably the 
 only Republican in the county who could have defeated Mr. M. 
 
 Mr. Gregory was married in March, 1845, to Catharine 
 SuTPHiN, of Tyrone. A plain, honest farmer, he depends as 
 little upon mereti'icious display as any man in the Assembly, 
 nnd there are few, perhaps, who will on the whole make a 
 better record. 
 
Matthew Griffin, 207 
 
 MATTHEW GRIFFIN. 
 
 Mr. Griffin is a self-made man. His early youth was 
 passed amid humble surroundings, and though he was com- 
 pelled to earn his own support from a very early age, he 
 managed, by close application during his winter schooling, 
 to obtain a good education. He was born in Fishkill, 
 Dutchess county, in this State, October 22, 1811, of parents 
 who were of English descent, his father's name being 
 EzEKiEL Griffin". His education was mainly self-acquired 
 after he became able to work. At the age of nine he was 
 "put out," as the phrase is, as a servant boy, his parents 
 being in very poor circumstances. Two years later young 
 Griffin went to Delaware county and commenced doing 
 farm work on his own account ; so industrious was he that 
 by the time he had reached the age of eighteen, he had 
 accumulated sufficient means to buy a small place, and make 
 a comfortable home for his parents, who lived with him until 
 they died, his father in 1838, and his mother in 1842. After 
 his eighteenth year, he was able to secure schooling during 
 three winters, working out during the remainder of the year. 
 He worked by the day or week until he had reached his 
 twenty-fifth year, by which time, as the result of prudence 
 and close economy, he found himself the possessor of a 
 respectable savings. With this, in 1836, he established him- 
 self in a mercantile business. This he continued until 1871. 
 In 1846 he returned to Rondout, Ulster county, and engaged 
 in the steam forwarding business between Rondout and New 
 York; but after remaining three years he returned to Dela- 
 ware county. For several years, also, he dealt largely in butter 
 for the New York markets. In the intervals of business, 
 Mr. Griffin was a hard student, spending most of his leisure 
 in a determined effort to master a knowledge of the law. 
 As a result he was admitted to the bar in Albany, in 1851, 
 
208 Life Sketches, 
 
 and has since, besides attending to his mercantile business, 
 practiced as an attorney and counselor more or less con- 
 tinuously, and with a good degree of success. He is now 
 practicing law, devoting a portion of his time to the manage- 
 ment of his fine farm near Griffin's corners, Delaware county. 
 
 Mr. Griffin's probity of character and purity of life, 
 together with the warm interest he ever felt in the welfare 
 of those around him, made him very popular among " his 
 townsmen, and he has been frequently called upon to fill 
 positions of trust. Middletown, in which he has lived for 
 fifty years, contains a Democratic preponderance of from one 
 to two hundred. He has been elected, however, to various 
 local offices, and was justice of the peace several years. 
 
 In his political connection, Mr. Griffin" has always been 
 either Whig or Kepublican. He voted for Henry Clay for 
 President three times, and for Harrison twice. He voted 
 for Taylor in 1852, and for Scott iii 1856. Since that time 
 his votes and influence have been given to the nominees of 
 the Eepublican party. His Assembly district is quite closely 
 contested, but he was elected in the fall of 1871, by a 
 majority of 250, and in 1872, he exceeded those figures by 
 one hundred votes. In 1873, his majority over Lemup:l 
 Sines, the " Bull-dog " of Democracy in Delaware, was 89, 
 the canvass being an unusually spirited one. 
 
 Of his course in the Assembly, it is sufficient to say that 
 he has fully justified the confidence of those who elected 
 him. In 1873, he took a decided interest in defeating the 
 bill to abolish the usury laws, and the bill to exempt bonds 
 and mortgages from taxation. He is a good speaker, a man 
 of strong convictions and earnest views, and has regard at 
 all times to what is for the best interest of the common- 
 wealth. He participates frequently and ably in debate, and 
 being active and energetic in the performance of his duty, 
 he may fairly be regarded as among the most efficient 
 members of the lower House. 
 
 Though he is in the prime of life, his personal aspect is 
 
Emory W. Gurnee. 209 
 
 quite venerable, his tall and commanding form and patri- 
 archal beard giving him a dignity which comports well with 
 a demeanor in which courtesy, frankness and modesty are 
 the chief characteristics. He was married in July, 18t33, to 
 Miss Clara Dodge, by whom he has had five children, two 
 sons and three daughters. His eldest son died in 1872 ; but 
 the rest of his children are all comfortably settled in life. 
 His second son is a graduate of the Albany Law school, and 
 is now practicing with very fair prospects. 
 
 EMORY W. GURNEE. 
 
 The First district of Wayne county, which usually gives 
 a Kepublican majority of about 300, is represented by a 
 Democrat for the first time in twenty years. Of course 
 local influences rather than Democratic votes contributed to 
 this result, but the high character of the man who has 
 achieved the honor had not a little to do with it. Mr. 
 Gurnee is a man of tlie highest standing in the community, 
 where he has resided for the past ten years, and, whether he 
 is in political accord with the district or not, he would be 
 incapable of misrepresenting it in any sense. 
 
 Emory W. Gurxee was born in Sodus, Wayne county, 
 February 2, 1843. He has, therefore, passed his thirty-first 
 year. His paternal ancestors came from France. Previous 
 to his thirteenth year, he attended a district school, after 
 which he spent four years in Sodus Academy, and two years 
 at Eastman's Business College, in Poughkeepsie, as student 
 and instructor. During these years, however, much of his 
 time was spent upon his father's farm. At the age of seven- 
 teen, he commenced teaching a district school, and during 
 the next three years he taught in several schools in New 
 York and Michigan. His education, however, well fitted 
 27 
 
210 Life Sketches. 
 
 him for commercial pursuits, and tie lost no time in availing 
 himself of opportunities in that direction. As a result, we 
 find him to-day a prosperous banker in the village of Clyde, 
 where he located in 1864. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Guekee has always been a Democrat. 
 He is one of the most active and influential members of his 
 party in Wayne county, and, notwithstanding the fact that 
 his town is usually opposed to him, politically, he has 
 frequently held elective offices of trust. In 1866, he was 
 chosen corporation treasurer of the village of Clyde, and 
 regularly re-elected each year for six years. In 1869, he was 
 elected town clerk by a gratifying majority, and, in March, 
 1873, he was elected supervisor of Galen by 138 majority. 
 I^st fall he was placed in nomination for the Assembly 
 against John E. Hough, the regular Kepublican candidate, 
 and elected by a majority of 285, the Kepublican majority 
 in 1872 being 493. 
 
 Mr. GuRi^EE is a consistent member of the Presbyterian 
 church, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and a 
 man of sound judgment and excellent business habits. 
 While he is not to be classed among the talking members^ 
 he is valuable alike in counsel and in active work, and 
 will undoubtedly make a creditable record. He is a mem.- 
 ber of the Committee on Banks. 
 
 STEPHEN H. HAMMOND. 
 
 Stephei^" H. Hammond was born in Groton, Tompkins 
 county, N. Y., on the 24th day of November, 1828. His 
 father, Clark Hammond, came, early in life, from Vermont, 
 and settled in Tompkins county, where he married a sister 
 of the Hon. E. G. Spaulding, now of Buffalo, N. Y., and 
 the mother of the subject of this sketch. The first part of 
 
Stephen H. Hammond. 211 
 
 Mr. Hammond's life was spent at Ithaca in attendance, in 
 due time, at the common schools and at the Ithaca Academy, 
 with the usual struggles and accompaniments which follow 
 youth in humble life. He acquired, however, quite early, 
 much general information, from books and otherwise, outside 
 of the routine of mere school life, and his intelligence and 
 varied and extensive reading, soon made him the welcome 
 companion of his seniors — drawn together by the common tie 
 of a love for literature. His law studies were commenced at 
 this time, and progressed with a good degree of success. His 
 literary attainments were abundantly recognized, and when, 
 at the age of twenty, he was announced to lecture in the 
 regular winter course at Ithaca, the large hall, on the even- 
 ing appointed for the lecture, was crowded to overflowing, 
 and hundreds were unable to gain admittance. This success 
 stimulated him to make the effort to secure a more complete 
 education, and he accordingly prepared for college, and in 
 September, 1850, entered as a student at Geneva (now Hobart) 
 College, from which he graduated, in 1854, with distinguished 
 honor. Mr. Hammond spent a portion of his last college 
 year in the State Treasurer's office, his uncle, Hon. E. G. 
 Spaulding, being then Treasurer. 
 
 In the mean time, Mr. Hammond had been admitted to 
 practice in all the courts, and in January, 1856, he received 
 the appointment of Deputy Attorney-General of the State, 
 which office he held continuously for sixteen years, under all 
 shades of party administration, thus being brought into inti- 
 mate relations with prominent public men and affairs during 
 a -very memorable period of the history of the State. 
 
 Mr. H. married, in 1856, the second daughter of the late 
 Hon. A. W. Langdon, of Geneva, in this State, where he 
 now resides. 
 
 Mr. Hammond was selected to deliver the address before 
 the Alumni of Hobart College, in July, 1871, and acquitted 
 himself with great credit. The correspondent of the New 
 York Tribune thus referred to the oration on that occasion : 
 
212 Life Sketches, 
 
 " His theme may be designated as ' The Philosophy of the 
 Times/ It was an exposition, at once learned and popular, 
 of the genius and characteristics of the age. He signalized 
 the more potent forces of cotemporary history, indicated the 
 fundamental distinctions between the present times and other 
 times, and showed, by the great transforming movements in 
 politics, science, industry, society and war, that our age, from 
 a philosophical point of view, must be recognized as among 
 the wonderful ages of the world's history. About one half 
 of his discourse was devoted to a consideration of the subject 
 of war as a historical phenomenon. Here his knowledge of 
 history, his powers of description, his ability in generalization, 
 had full scope. He concluded by showing that, though the 
 enthusiastic hopes of philanthropists had not been realized; 
 that though in fact the last twenty years had been one of the 
 most sanguinary periods of history, there were yet the pro- 
 foundest reasons for faith in the approach of an era of uni- 
 versal peace. His delivery was admirable, and the audience 
 rewarded him by its attention and applause." 
 
 Mr. H. is serving his term in the first elective political 
 office of importance. His great familiarity with public 
 affairs, in consequence of his connection with the Attorney- 
 GeneraFs office for so long a time, gives promise of great use- 
 fulness in the Assembly. 
 
 He is serving on the Judiciary Committee, and also on the 
 Committee on Public Printing. His election as a Democrat, 
 by around majority, from a district usually largely Republi- 
 can (Mr. H. being the third only in a quarter of a century), 
 is an indorsement which any man might covet. During the 
 session, Mr. Hammond has distinguished himself by his 
 advocacy of a bill, which he originated, to reform abuses in 
 the County Treasurers' offices, and to simplify the mode of 
 paying the State taxes. He has also initiated several bills 
 designed to improve the practice in the courts of the State. 
 He is one of the most active and valuable members of the 
 minority, and few legislators will leave Albany at the close 
 of the session with a better reputation in every way. In 
 religion, Mr. H. is an Episcopalian. 
 
Leonard F. Hardy. 213 
 
 PATRICK HANRAHAN. 
 
 Patrick Hanrahan, who represents the First District of 
 Erie county, was bom in county Clare, Ireland, in the year 
 1843. He was educated in the common schools, came to this 
 country at an early age, and is at present engaged in the 
 grocery business in Buffklo. He is a Roman Catholic in re- 
 ligious belief, and has been a life-long Democrat and quite 
 active in the local politics of Buffalo, though he never before 
 held office. He was chosen to the Assembly over John 
 O'Brian, who represented the district last year, by a majority 
 of 469, and is a member of the Joint Library Committee and 
 Sub-committee of the Whole. 
 
 LEONARD F. HARDY. 
 
 Very few districts in the State are more efficiently repre- 
 sented than the First District of Cayuga, which sends us Mr. 
 Hardy for the second time. Mr. Hardy makes no great 
 pretension to superior gifts as a legislator, but he is never- 
 theless able to take faithful care of the interests of his con- 
 stituents, without losing sight of what is for the welfare of 
 the State at large. He does not make many set speeches, 
 but he never fails to express his views clearly and cogently, 
 whenever the occasion seems to him to demand such an ex- 
 pression. Always in attendance at the sessions of the House, 
 as well as at the sessions of his committees, he keeps himself 
 fully posted in reference to the progress of legislation, and 
 aims to do his whole duty to his constituency and to the 
 State. 
 
214 Life Sketches. 
 
 Leonard F. Hardy was born in Westminster, Vermont, 
 in August, 1827, his parents removing to this State and set- 
 tling in Cortland county when he was quite young. He 
 secured a thorough education in Cortland Academy and in 
 the State Normal School at Albany, graduating from the 
 latter institution in 1855. He adopted teaching as a pro- 
 fession, and was for eight years principal of the Weedsport 
 Union School. Subsequently he engaged in a mercantile 
 business at Weedsport, which he still continues very success- 
 fully. He held the position of School Commissioner from 
 1867 to 1872, but, with that exception, he never held public 
 office until his election to the Assembly in 1872. He has 
 been a Republican since the organization of the party, and 
 previous to that was a Whig. For many years he has been 
 active in the local politics of Cayuga county, and his popu- 
 larity is very great, as is fully shown by the vote he received 
 in 1872 and 1873. In the former year he received a majority 
 of 1,020, a gain of nearly 400 on the Assembly vote of the 
 previous year. Last fall, however, in spite of local complica- 
 tions and an unusually light vote, his majority was 1,406, 
 his opponent being James Kerr. Not many members of 
 the last House have received such gratifying endorsement of 
 their course. Mr. Hardy, however, is one of those men 
 against whom there has never been even a whisper of sus- 
 picion, and his constituents justly repose the fullest confi- 
 dence in his integrity. He served in the last House on the 
 Committees on Expenditures of the House, Public Lands and 
 Engrossed Bills. In the present Assembly, he is Chairman 
 of Claims and member of Internal Affairs. 
 
James Hayes. 215 
 
 JAMES HAYES. 
 
 Mr. Hayes' parents were born in Ireland and emigrated 
 tx) this country many years ago, locating in New York city, 
 where the subject of this sketch was born on the 11th ol 
 May, 1830. Though his father's family were in humble cir- 
 cumstances, young Hayes managed to obtain a good ordi- 
 nary education at the public schools. At an early age he 
 entered a printing office and learned the " art preservative." 
 He worked at the press several years after attaining his 
 majority, but finally abandoned printing. During the palmy 
 days of the Volunteer Fire Department, Mr. Hayes was an 
 active and prominent member and officer, and for a number 
 of years he was honorably identified with that organization 
 of the past. From a very early age Mr. Hayes has mingled 
 more or less in local politics. A disciple of the Tammany 
 society in its best days, he is still a trusted member of that 
 association of politicians, and one of the most influential 
 Democrats of that stripe in the third Assembly district. 
 The extent to which he has been trusted by the rank and 
 file, as well as by the leaders of the party, is shown by the fact 
 that he was a member of the New York Common Council 
 for five years in succession, being first elected in the spring 
 of 1862. In 1806 he was chosen Supervisor and held a seat 
 in that board for five consecutive years. In these capacities 
 he has shown signal ability, not so much in speech-making, 
 however, as in managing the practical details of local legis- 
 lation and in closely watching the interests of his constituents. 
 In 1870 he warmly espoused the cause of the Young 
 Democracy. His temporary defection from Tammany Hall 
 did not result in any loss of popularity, inasmuch as he was 
 elected to the Assembly in the fall of 1871 by a very decided 
 majority. His services as a State legislator were so satis- 
 
iil6 Life Sketches. 
 
 factory to his constituents, that he was re-elected in 1872 
 and again in 1873 by very decided majorities. In 1872 he 
 served on the Committees on Trade and Manufactures, and 
 Indian affairs. In 1873 he was on the Committees on Expen- 
 ditures of the House, and Public Lands. This year he is a 
 member of the Committee on Cities. Mr. Hayes is a slimly- 
 built, dark-complexioned man ; his countenance indicates a 
 high degree of intelligent capacity and the ability to appre- 
 ciate the requirements of any situation. He is a married 
 man, and a member of the Catholic church. 
 
 WILLIAM C. HAZLETON. 
 
 The Democratic county of Seneca is represented by Wil- 
 liam 0. Hazleton", of Ovid, one of the finest looking men 
 in the House. He was born at Ulysses, Tompkins county, 
 September 1, 1835, his father being a respectable and pros- 
 perous farmer. He received a good common school and 
 academic education, attending school pretty regularly until 
 he reached his majority. Not entertaining a very strong lik- 
 ing for an agricultural life, he determined to qualify himself 
 for the legal profession, and to that end studied law for some 
 time with Dana & Beers, at Ithaca. His success was such 
 that he was admitted to the bar in 1857, and since then he 
 has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession 
 at Ovid. 
 
 His political record is perfectly straight, never having 
 swerved from his Democratic allegiance. Several times he 
 has been honored with the confidence of his fellow citizens, 
 by being elected to offices for which his professional duties 
 naturally fitted him. He was Justice of the Peace at Ovid 
 during one term, and during two four-year terms, from 1863 
 to 1866, and from 1869 to 1872, he was District Attorney of 
 
James Healet. 217 
 
 Seneca county. He was elected to the Assembly by about 
 the average Democratic majority, over Isaac N. Johnson, 
 Republican. He is a member of the Committees on Canals 
 and Local and Special Laws. 
 
 Mr. Hazleton is a man who would attract attention in 
 any assemblage. Possessing a well-proportiotied figure, fine 
 features and an easy, pleasing address, he is physically well 
 endowed, and his white hair, which he keeps closely cut, 
 gives him a venerable appearance somewhat beyond his years. 
 He is evidently unambitious to shine as an orator, though he 
 is a fair speaker, and his ability in this regard is greatly 
 enhanced by his gifts of person. He prefers to perform his 
 duty quietly and unostentatiously, and his constituents will 
 probably not find fault with him. 
 
 JAMES HEALEY. 
 
 Mr. Healey is a representative from the First district of 
 New York city for the third successive term. He is a quiet, 
 unassuming gentleman, devoted to the interests of his con- 
 stituents, unyielding in his adherence to his party, but at the 
 same time genial, courteous and companionable toward both 
 friends and opponents. Though he lays no claim to oratorical 
 ability, he understands thoroughly the routine as well as the 
 undercurrent of legislation. 
 
 He was born in the county Clare, Ireland, in the year 1838, 
 and is therefore just entering upon the prime of manhood 
 and vigor, and undoubtedly has yet a brilliant career before 
 him. His parents, who were, respectable people of moderate 
 means, emigrated to this country in the year 1850, locating 
 in New York city. Young Healey went to school a year or 
 two, and in 1852 entered, as an errand boy, the establishment 
 of Williamson, Griffith & Co., extensive sugar refiners. 
 28 
 
218 Life Sketches, 
 
 With that firm he has remained ever since, passing through 
 various grades of responsibility, and the thoroughness and 
 fidelity with which he has always performed his duties have 
 won for him the entire confidence and regard of his 
 employers. 
 
 Mr. Healey early took an active interest in local politics, 
 identifying himself with the Tammany wing of the Democratic 
 party in the metropolis. In the year 1868 he was elected to 
 the Board of Assistant Aldermen, and re-elected in 1869 ; but 
 in the following year he was legislated out of office. He was 
 first elected to the Assembly in the fall of 1871, when he ran 
 against the regular Tammany candidate, and was successful 
 by a plurality of 404. During the ensuing session he was a 
 member of the Committees on Public Health and Expendi- 
 tures of the Executive Department, and duriiig-that session 
 also he was instrumental in securing an important change 
 in the street-cleaning contract. In the fall of 1872 he 
 received the regular Tammany nomination, and was elected 
 by a plurality of 717. In the session of 1873 he was placed 
 on the Committees on Federal Eelations and Expenditures 
 of the Executive Department. Though a minority member, 
 he succeeded in making a good record last year, and in the 
 fall he again received a straight Tammany nomination, run- 
 ning against Michael W. Burns, Eepublican, and Dakiel 
 Kekkedy, Apollo Hall. He seems, in this canvass, to have 
 taken a sudden leap into popularity, for he was chosen by a 
 plurality of 1,510, and a majority over both opponents of 
 upward of 500. In the present session he serves on the Com- 
 mittees on Commerce and Navigation and State Charitable 
 Institutions, and it is to be said of him that he performs his 
 duties ably and industriously. 
 
John Herrick. 819 
 
 JOHN HERRICK. 
 
 Mr. Herrick, the Member from Lewis cdunty, is one of 
 those members who performs the duties of legislation quietly 
 and unobtrusively. His voice is rarely, if ever, heard in 
 debate, but it needs no second glance at him, as he sits in 
 his seat, to be assured of the fact that he evinces keen interest 
 in all that is passing. He represents a district which, though 
 quite evenly balanced politically, usually sends a Kepublican 
 representative to the Assembly. Mr. Herrick, however, is 
 a well known businessman of that section, and is exceedingly 
 popular, which probably accounts for his election. 
 
 He was born in the city of Schenectady on the 27th of 
 February, 1836. His early youth was spent in the ancient 
 Dutch city, and there and farther up the MohawTc valley 
 most of his relatives reside. He received a good common 
 school education, and while still a youth, located in* the- 
 thriving village of Amsterdam, where he became engaged in 
 mercantile business, and where, in July, 1860, he was mar- 
 ried. Soon after his marriage he removed to New Bremen, 
 Lewis county, and there he has since remained, one of the 
 most prosperous and thriving merchants in that section. 
 
 Mr. Herrick has always been a Democrat, thoroughly 
 attached to his party, and invariably active in the work of 
 organizing the local campaigns. The fact that for eleven 
 years in succession he has been elected to a seat in the 
 Board of Supervisors, is perhaps as good an illustration 
 of the status he occupies in the local politics of his county 
 as could be obtained. In that local legislative body he has 
 occupied a prominent and influential position, and had 
 opportunity to develop precisely those qualities which are 
 valuable in the State Legislature. 
 
 Mr. Herrick is a stoutly built, medium sized man, with 
 
220 Life Sketches. 
 
 dark complexion and jet-black hair and eyes. As we have 
 intimated he intelligently appreciates the duties of his posi- 
 tion, and will undoubtely leave the capitol with an honorable 
 record. 
 
 JOHN D. HILLER. 
 
 Mr. HiLLER, of Chautauqua, is serving his second term as 
 a member of the House. He is a fine looking man, about 
 forty years of age, with dark hair, full beard, well-propor- 
 tioned form, and frank, expressive features. His presence 
 conveys the impression to those who know him for the first 
 time that he has sui!icient brains and capacity for almost any 
 position in life, and it is but just to say that a closer acquaint- 
 ance confirms the impression. 
 
 He was born at Smith's Mills, Chautauqua county, where 
 he still resides. His father, Joh:n" I. Hiller, was a native 
 of Schoharie county, but removed to Chautauqua county in 
 1828, and died there a couple of years ago, at the ripe age of 
 seventy. Mr. Hiller laid the foundation of his education 
 in the common schools, spending, however, one year at the 
 Fredonia Academy. Subsequently he entered the State 
 Normal School at Albany, and after accomplishing the entire 
 course at that institution, graduated with credit in 1855. 
 Being well qualified for teaching he spent one year in charge 
 of a department in Canandaigua Academy, and also taught 
 two years in the district schools ; but teaching was not pre- 
 cisely to his taste and he entered mercantile life. Since 1858 he 
 has managed a country store at Smith's Mills with fair success. 
 In 1857 he married Libbie M. Smith, a daughter of Roditey 
 M. Smith, one of the earliest settlers of Chautauqua count3% 
 
 Mr. Hiller held the office of Clerk of the town of Han- 
 over during the years 1864 and 1865, and in 1868 and 1869 
 he served in the Chautauqua Board of Supervisors. While 
 
John B, Hoao. 221 
 
 the rebellion raged in the South, he warmly sympathized with 
 the cause of the Union, and though not himself liable to 
 military duty, he furnished a representative recruit at a time 
 when men were greatly needed. He has been a Republican 
 since the formation of the party, and has always taken an 
 active interest in the political movements of the day. Though 
 not a strict churchman, Mr. Hiller is a man of correct life, 
 large heart and generous impulses, and thoroughly in earnest. 
 His convictions are deeply-rooted and decided, and his influ- 
 ence and votes are invariably on the side of right and justice. 
 He has developed no especial penchant for oratory on the 
 floor of the Assembly, but he is able to talk and to talk well 
 when the occasion arises. 
 
 He served his constituents very faithfully last year as a 
 member of the Committees on Roads and Bridges, and En- 
 grossed Bills, This year he is Chairman of Roads and 
 Bridges and member of Indian Affairs. 
 
 JOHNB. HO AG. 
 
 John B. Hoao, the subject of this sketch, was born June 
 4, 1830, in the' town of Root, Montgomery county. His 
 paternal ancestors were of Quaker descent. His father, Enoch 
 J. HoAG, now deceased, was modeled after the old Quaker 
 stamp, a man of the strictest integrity, and, though moving 
 in the quiet routine of a practical farm life, he has won, by 
 his genial nature and honesty of purpose, many warm and 
 influential friends. He received no more than an ordinary 
 common school education, but he possesses much native 
 common sense and shrewdness, and is, withal, a keen observer. 
 He is therefore well informed upon all subjects, and is a sub- 
 stantial farmer, and upright, reliable citizen. Widely known 
 in Schoharie county, he enjoys the fullest confidence and 
 
222 Life Sketches, 
 
 respect of his fellow citizens. He has always been a firm 
 Democrat and active in political affairs since early youth. 
 Kesiding in a district in which his party is generally in the 
 majority, he has frequently been selected to fill public posi- 
 tions of trust and responsibility. In 1869 he was elected 
 Supervisor, and re-elected in 1870. Next year he was chosen 
 Town Clerk and served two years. He has also filled the 
 offices of Justice of the Peace and Eailroad Commissioner 
 with ability and discretion, and on every occasion when he 
 has placed himself before the people, he has been elected by 
 decided majorities. Last fall the people determined to send 
 him to the Assembly, and they gave him a majority of 154, 
 which we believe, is above the usual Democratic preponder- 
 ance in Schoharie county. Mr. Hoag's course in the Assem- 
 bly, thus far, is an indication that the confidence of his con- 
 stituents is not misplaced. He guards their interests closely, 
 and though he is not known as one of the talkers of the 
 House, he is unmistakably a worker. 
 
 AUSTIN W. HOLDEK 
 
 We find so excellent a sketch of Dr. Holden" in '^Cleave's 
 Biographical Cyclopedia of Homoeopathic Physicians and 
 Surgeons," published in Philadelphia last year, that we ven- 
 ture to reproduce it entire, as follows: 
 
 "Austin" Wells Holder?", of Glens Falls, was born at White 
 Creek, Washington county, in the same State, on May 16, 
 1819. He is the son of Joj^as and Elizabeth Holden^, 
 both of Barre, Worcester county, Mass., and lineal descendants 
 of KiCHARD HoLDEif, who with his brother, JuSTiNiAi^", 
 embarked at Ipswich, England, for America, in April, 1634, 
 in the ship * Francis.' His paternal grandfather was engaged 
 as a private in the battle of Bunker Hill. 
 
Austin TT. Hold en. 
 
 "He was educated at St. Lawrence Academy, Potsdam, 
 N. Y. ; commenced the study of law at Glens Falls in 1836, 
 but, being poor, was obliged to abandon the pursuit. From 
 the age of sixteen to twenty-two he learned and worked at 
 the trade of cabinet- making. Failing health, however, ren- 
 dered it imperative that he should seek some other avocation. 
 Accordingly he commenced teaching school and studying 
 medicine at the same time, in the winter of 1843. He con- 
 tinued that course for two years almost uninterruptedly, and 
 in the winter of 1844 he attended his first course of lectures. 
 The following season he was appointed County Superintend- 
 ent of Common Schools, and served with credit a term of two 
 years, applying every leisure moment to the prosecution of 
 his medical studies. He graduated with distinction from the 
 Albany Medical College in January 1848. 
 
 " Dr. HoLDEN commenced practice in the * old school,' at 
 the village of Warrensburgh, Warren county, N. Y., in the 
 spring following his graduation. He continued there for 
 four years, and then removed to Glens Falls, where, in 1857, 
 he was induced to make a trial of homoeopathy, and with 
 such eminently satisfactory results that he soon became a 
 convert to its principles, and gradually introduced the prac- 
 tice among his patrons. 
 
 " With the outbreak of the rebellion, Dr. Holden, stirred 
 by the patriotic impulse that aroused the North, raised a 
 company of volunteers, of which he was commissioned a 
 captain, and the company, with another raised in the same 
 village, was incorporated into the 22d Regiment New York 
 Volunteers. Afterward it formed a part of the justly famed 
 * Iron Brigade,' whose fearful losses at the Second Bull Run, 
 South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburgh, warranted 
 its well-earned name. In August, 1862, at the special desire 
 of many officers of his regiment. Dr. Holden was transferred 
 to the Medical Staff, which relation was maintained Avith 
 general satisfaction until the regiment was mustered out of 
 the service in 1863, its term of service having expired. 
 Within less than six weeks he re-entered the army as Acting 
 Assistant Surgeon United States Army, in which capacity he 
 performed active duty until Lee's surrender, being stationed 
 consecutively in the United States General Hospitals at Fred- 
 erick City, Cumberland, Md., and Troy, N. Y. 
 
 " On finally quitting the army. Dr. Holdei?' returned to 
 Glens Falls, entered again upon the practice of homoeopathy, 
 and has continued in the same up to the present time. Great 
 
224 Life Sketches. 
 
 and well-deserved success has followed his efforts on behalf of 
 the sick and suffering. 
 
 " In 1869, he was made a permanent member of the New 
 York State Homoeopathic Society, and in 1871, was elected 
 one of the Vice-Presidents of the same. For a number of 
 years he has been Secretary to the Northern New York 
 Homceopathic Medical Society. He was Examining Surgeon 
 for the Pension Bureau for three years, but, with others, was 
 dismissed because of his being a homoeopathist. 
 
 "Among the recreations of Dr. Holden^'s life, literary and 
 historical studies have occupied a prominent place, much of 
 his leisure being devoted thereto. At this writing he has 
 nearly ready for the press an elaborate history of the town in 
 which he resides. He has for many years been a correspond- 
 ent for the press, and his abilities and acquirements have 
 been recognized by his appointment as honorary and corre- 
 sponding member of several learned societies. " 
 
 In addition to the above facts, it should be stated that Dr. 
 HoLDEN" was married on the 24th of April, 1851, to Eliza- 
 beth BuELL, daughter of the late Hon. Hokatio Buell, 
 and sister of James Buell, President of the Importers and 
 Traders' Bank of New York. In politics he has always been 
 a Democrat, but never an extremist of that faith. He is 
 strongly committed to radical temperance measures and tem- 
 perance reform ; and to that fact, and the further fact that 
 he is an old and respected citizen of Warren county, and one 
 whose integrity and ability are beyond question, is doubtless 
 due his election in a county largely Eepublican. Certainly, 
 no other man is better acquainted with the history, the 
 resources, the wants and the interests of Warren county 
 than he. He was elected by a majority of 62 over Joseph 
 Woodward, the Republican candidate. In 1872, the Repub- 
 lican ticket received a majority of 1,000. After the election, 
 the Glens Falls Messenger (Republican) said of him : 
 
 " Dr. HoLDEiir is an active temperance man, of extensive 
 knowledge, well versed in the history of this section, and we 
 think he will take pride in working for the best interests of 
 this county in the Legislature. He is a much better man, 
 personally, than is usually found in the Assembly, and we 
 
Charles F. Houghton. 225 
 
 hope he is not so tainted with Democracy as to be caught in 
 any " ring " measure." 
 
 Dr. HoLDEif has been a communicant of the Episcopal 
 Church since 1841. He was a delegate to the Diocesan Con- 
 vention which elected Bishop Horatio Potter, and was 
 for many years a Warden in the parish where he resides. 
 Being a gentleman of culture and enlarged views, Dr. 
 HoLDEN" is, in all respects, an amiable and accomplished gen- 
 tleman, and his constituency has honored itself by sending 
 him to the Assembly. 
 
 CHARLES F. HOUGHTOK 
 
 Mr. Houghton represents the Second district of Steuben 
 county. He is a young man of culture and high character, 
 and being a successful manufacturer, he is in full sympathy 
 with the industrial interests of the State. Though a quiet 
 and unobtrusive member, he ably represents one of the best 
 sections of the State in the present Legislature. 
 
 Charles Frederick Houghton was born in Cambridge, 
 Mass., May 31, 1846. He is therefore to be classed among 
 the younger members. He was educated in the public 
 P'^hools at Cpmbridge, ^fass., and at the academy at Filing- 
 ton, Conn., where he underwent a preparatory course with 
 a view of entering college. He did not go to college, how- 
 ever, but instead he turned his attention to manufacturing, 
 and is now engaged in the manufacture of glass at Corning. 
 
 Mr. Houghton's life has thus far been uneventful. He 
 has always, since -he reached a voting age, been an active 
 Republican, but he never before held office. The nomina- 
 tion for the Assembly was unsought on his part, but he 
 accepted the trust with a determination to do his whole duty 
 by his constituents. He was elected by a majority of 278, 
 
226 Life Sketches, 
 
 his opponent being Abeam Dudley, a well known and 
 exceedingly popular Democrat. He is a member of the 
 Committees on Villages, Petitions of Aliens and Public 
 Lands. 
 
 EEASTUS H. HUSSEY. 
 
 Mr. HusSEY is a native and life-long resident of the town 
 of Ledyard, Cayuga county, and owns a fine farm near the 
 village of Aurora. He was born January 19, 1827, and 
 though he has thus reached his forty-seventh year, he has 
 never married. He has been a farmer since boyhood, and 
 during his early years was fortunate enough to secure a good 
 common school and academic education. Being also a 
 good reader and keen observer, he is, in addition to being a 
 persistent and hard-working agriculturist, a gentleman of 
 considerable culture, and well posted upon public affairs. 
 He is also a man of sound judgment and unusually sensible 
 views upon all questions, and few men in his locality are 
 more highly esteemed. The confidence felt in him by the 
 community is perhaps sufficiently indicated by the fact that 
 he has been regularly elected a member of the board of 
 supervisors since the year 1867. He was elected to the 
 Assembly last fall by a majority of 1,292, though two candi- 
 dates ran against him, Effingham T. Buowis', Democrat, 
 and Wm. H. Man'Chester, Temperance. The vote was an 
 extraordinarily light one, and, under the circumstances, the 
 large majority he received was exceedingly gratifying. He 
 is to be ranked rather among the workers than among the 
 talkers of the Assembly, and serves acceptably upon the Com- 
 mittees on Villages, and Trade and Manufactures. 
 
 Mr. HussEY has been uniformly successful in his farming 
 operations, and is therefore in comfortable circumstances. 
 The fact that he is a member of the Society of Friends, and 
 
WiLLARD Johnson. 227 
 
 endeavors conscientiously to square his life in accordance 
 with the precepts of that sect, is, perhaps, a sufficient indica- 
 tion of his personal character. 
 
 WILLARD JOHNSON. 
 
 Mr. Johnson is of New England parentage, his father, 
 Lowell Johnson, having been a native of Vermont, while 
 his mother was born in Massachusetts. He was born in the 
 town of Volney, Oswego county, on the 16th of May, 1820. 
 He attended common school at an early age, and subse- 
 quently attended the Mexico and Cazenovia academies, thus 
 securing an excellent education. In the year 1852, he 
 engaged in the lake and canal transportation business at 
 Fulton, and continued it successfully for about twelve years. 
 Afterward he became a contractor and has completed several 
 important works for the State and national governments, 
 among which may be mentioned the improvement of the 
 Mississippi river at Rock Island, and the construction of a 
 lock in the Illinois river, which is probably the largest in the 
 world, being 350 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 30 feet high, 
 and capable of accommodating twelve ordinary canal boats 
 at once. He has successfully completed contracts which 
 amount, in the aggregate, to several millions of dollars. 
 
 Mr. Johnson has always been a Democrat of the old 
 school, and for many years he has been prominent in the 
 councils of that party. During the rebellion he was classed 
 as a War Democrat, and gave his influence and means freely 
 to the cause of the Union. In 1862 he was elected to the 
 Assembly without opposition, and co-operated heartily in all 
 the measures designed to sustain the national government in 
 the contest which was then raging against armed treason. 
 Subsequently he served two years on the War Committee of 
 Oswego county. He was also a member of the Board of 
 
228 Life Sketches, 
 
 Supervisors in the years 1861 and 1862. In 1860 he was a 
 delegate to the memorable Charleston Convention, and was 
 afterward also a delegate to the National Democratic Con- 
 ventions at Chicago in 1864, in New York in 1868, and in 
 Baltimore in 1872. During the five war years, he was a 
 member of the State Committee. It will thus be seen that 
 Mr. Johnson's political experience is extensive and varied, 
 and there are really few men in Central New York whose 
 counsel is held in greater estimation. He still holds to the 
 political creed of his earlier years, and is very popular among 
 the Democrats of Oswego, and, indeed, among men of all 
 parties. This is shown by the fact that he was elected in 
 1872 by a majority of 189, over Thomas W. Green, Repub- 
 lican, who represented the district the previous year, and 
 re-elected last fall by the handsome majority of 747, Charles 
 D. Walkup being his opponent. Last year he served on the 
 Committees on Roads and Bridges, Internal Affairs and 
 Militia, and this year he is on Commerce and Navigation 
 and Internal Affairs. He is a man of modest, unassuming 
 deportment, and seldom addresses the House, being a man 
 who believes in actions rather than words. His large expe- 
 rience, ripe judgment and active mind are of great value, 
 however, in the practical work of legislation. He was mar- 
 ried at the age of 27 to Mary Gaspe, and as a result of 
 his prudently managed business operations he is quite wealthy. 
 
 GRIFFITH O. JONES 
 
 Mr. Jones is of Welsh descent on both sides. His father 
 emigrated from Wales in 1815, and his mother- coming to 
 this country a year later, they were married in 1817, settling 
 upon a farm in Oneida county. His mother died in 1823, 
 but his father lived until 1869. The subject of this sketch 
 was born in the town of Steuben, Oneida county, May 25, 
 
William P. Eire. 229 
 
 1818, and received a fair education in the common schools. 
 In May, 1846, he was married to an estimable lady in Rem- 
 sen, and the same year he engaged in the tanning business 
 in the town of Russia, Herkimer county. This he followed 
 with good success until 1860, since which time he has been 
 engaged in farming in Oneida county. 
 
 Mr. Jones acted with the Democratic party previous to 
 1866, but has since been a Republican, and is not only well 
 known throughout Oneida and Herkimer, but possesses con- 
 siderable influence. He has filled the office of Justice of the 
 Peace in both counties, having been elected in the town of 
 Russia m 1851, 1855 and 1859, and also in the town of 
 Floyd m 1872. His opponent in the Assembly canvass last 
 fall was John" M. Whipple, and he was elected, after a 
 pretty sharp canvass, by a majority of 635. 
 
 Plain and unpretending in personal appearance, and 
 totally devoid of any desire for notoriety, Mr. Jones is a 
 man of strict integrity and great practical ability. He is 
 faithful in his attendance upon legislative duties, and his 
 moral character is above reproach. For many years he has 
 been a consistent member of the Congregational denomina- 
 tion, and he aims to be just in every relation of life. 
 
 WILLIAM P. KIRK. 
 
 Mr. Kirk, the representative of the Second New York 
 district, is a man about whom there is no nonsense in any 
 respect. He is a plain matter-of-fact gentleman, well posted 
 in most matters demanding the attention of the Legislature, 
 and performs the duties which devolve upon him quietly and 
 unassumingly. He was born in the city of New York on 
 the 11th of August, 1833. His father and mother were both 
 born in Ireland, though they were married in New York city, 
 having emigrated at an early age. The father is a carpenter, 
 and is still living in New York city at the age of seventy- 
 four years. The subject of our sketch was educated in the 
 
230 Life Sketches. 
 
 common schools of New York city, and, at the proper age, 
 was apprenticed to a sawsmith. He followed this occupa- 
 tion a number of years, but he finally became a wine mer- 
 chant, and is successfully engaged in that business at 
 present. He was married, about eighteen years ago, to Miss 
 Ann'A L. Quinn, of New York city. He has always acted 
 with the Tammany wing of the Democracy, and, being a 
 life-long resident of New York city, he is well known in 
 political circles. He was a Member of the Assembly of 
 1864, to which he was elected by a majority of 800. Last 
 fall his majority was 673, his opponent being Thomas Wild, 
 a popular Republican. Aside from his legislative positions, 
 he has never held any very prominent public office, prefer- 
 ring rather to do effective work in the ranks of his party. 
 He is a Roman Catholic, and, being a man of fine traits of 
 character, he is greatly esteemed by his associates of the New 
 York delegation. 
 
 WILLIAM R. KNAPP. 
 
 Mr. Knapp will doubtless be remembered by old habitues 
 of^the Capitol as the member from Rockland county in 1860. 
 In that year he made an excellent legislative record, and 
 Rockland honors herself by again electing him as her repre- 
 sentative at Albany. He is the son of Col. Robert Knapp, 
 a native of Haverstraw, a veteran of the war of 1812, and a 
 well known Rockland county farmer and officer of militia. 
 His grandfather, Lebeus Kn"APP, served in the revolutionary 
 army under Gen. Washingtoi^, and drew a pension up to 
 the time of his death. 
 
 William R. Kkapp was born in Haverstraw on the 27th 
 of April, 1819, and is therefore now pretty well advanced in 
 years. He received his education in common schools, secur- 
 ing about the average amount of learning imparted to the 
 youth of that day. At the age of fourteen he left the farm 
 
William R Knapp, 231 
 
 and entered the wholesale and retail store of Brewster & 
 GuRNEEas clerk, and faithfully discharged the duties of that 
 position for four years. He then went into business for him- 
 self, and by prudence and good management he has built up 
 a large trade, being interested in several vessels on the North 
 River. In 1843 he was married to Charlotte Rose, at 
 Ilaverstraw. They have one child. Since 1845 he has manu- 
 factured brick extensively, and the firm of W. R. Kn^app, 
 Son & Co. has probably sold more brick in New York city 
 than any other house in the State. As the result of his oper- 
 ations Mr. Knapp is quite wealthy, owning good real estate 
 in New York city and a beautiful residence at Stony Point 
 on the bank of the Hudson. 
 
 Mr. Knapp is a Democratic Liberal in a stricter sense than 
 is usually implied by that appelation. He has always acted 
 with the Democratic party, however, and enjoys in large 
 measure the confidence of the Democrats of Rockland county. 
 While he is more of a business man than a politician, he never- 
 theless finds time to keep close watch of passing political 
 movements, and to occasionally take an active part. For three 
 years previous to 1860 he represented his town in the board 
 of Supervisors. In that year he was elected to the Assembly 
 by 800 majority over Edwin Marks. Since then until his 
 election last fall he has kept aloof from official position, 
 though he has at different times been a delegate to Demo- 
 cratic State Conventions. In the late canvass he was 
 opposed by Isaac M. Dederer, an influential Republican, 
 and was successful by a majority of GIO, a handsome gain 
 over the majority given the Democratic member elected in 
 1872. He is a member of the Committee on Insurance. 
 
 Mr. Knapp is in all respects a thorough business man, and 
 entertaining as he does, liberal and enlarged views upon 
 every question, he is the best sort of material of which to 
 make legislatures. His record in the present House cannot 
 be otherwise than unexceptionable. He is a member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church at Haverstraw. 
 
832 Life Sketches. 
 
 LEOPOLD C. G. KSHINKA. 
 
 Mr. KsHiis'KA is in every sense a self-made man. He 
 occupies a high position in the bar of Albany county, solely 
 as the result of his own exertions and persistent unwearied 
 industry. He is still a young man, and has, perhaps, the 
 most brilliant portion of his career yet before him ; but his 
 decided ability and fine, natural powers, lead us to believe 
 that he will fully realize the anticipations of those who 
 know him best. He was born in Zerkwitz, province of 
 Brandenburg, Prussia, June 9, 1835. His parents, 
 Mathaus K. and Wilhelmina Kshikka, emigrated to 
 this country in 1850, and are still living on a farm in Brad- 
 ford county. Pa. His father is finely educated, and for 
 thirty years was an instructor in the provincial schools of 
 Prussia, under a system which, in some respects, is probably 
 the best in the world. He also took a leading part in the 
 Revolution of 1848, and was chosen a Federal and State 
 elector by the Liberal party. 
 
 The subject of our sketch received his early education in 
 the Prussian common schools. During the years 1861 and 
 1862, he attended Fort Edward Institute, and in 1867, he 
 graduated from the Albany Law School, being soon after 
 admitted to the bar. Since then, he has been engaged in the 
 practice of his chosen profession in the city of Albany, with 
 a good and steadily increasing practice. 
 
 Upon reaching his majority, Mr. Kshi^stka identified 
 himself with the Democratic party, and has since been stead- 
 fast in his allegiance; but while he maintains his party 
 fealty, his views in reference to all public questions are 
 liberal and progressive, and he never permits partizan consid- 
 erations to blind his sense of right and duty. He has had 
 what may be deemed a preliminary legislative experience in 
 the Board of Supervisors of Albany county, having been a 
 
Jerome B. LAyDFiELD. 333 
 
 member of that body since the spring of 1872, representing 
 the 10th ward of Albany city. Since he commenced his 
 public career, the expressions of popular regard for him hare 
 been exceedingly gratifying. In 1872, when he was first 
 chosen Supervisor, he ran largely ahead of his ticket, and in 
 the spring of 1873, when he was re-elected, he carried his 
 ward by a respectable majority, though it went Republican 
 at the previous fall election. Last fall he was elected Mem- 
 ber of Assembly from a district (the Second), which had 
 elected Republican members for three successive years, by 
 majorities ranging from 193 to 464. His majority over 
 Richard B. Rock, Republican, was stated in the official 
 canvass at 444, but it was really 553, the vote of the western 
 district of the Tenth ward having been omitted through a 
 clerical error. The district, on a square party vote, is 
 Democratic, and Mr. Kshinka enjoys the honor of having 
 reclaimed it from the enemy. He has proved himself a very 
 active member of the Legislature, especially in looking after 
 the interests of the city of Albany. 
 
 He was married August 18th, 1869, at Corinth, Saratoga 
 coQuty, to Maggie N. Early, daughter of Elijah Early, 
 Esq. He was brought up in the Evangelical faith, and is a 
 man of deep convictions and high moral purpose. 
 
 JEROME B. LANDFIELD. 
 
 Mr. Landfield*s father, Clark Laitdfield, was born in 
 the town of Harvard, Delaware county, and there, also, the 
 son first saw the light, in November, 1827. He was educated 
 at Delhi Academy, and also in the Delaware Institute, at 
 Eranklin, and on reaching years of maturity, he entered a 
 mercantile business at Harvard. Several years since he re- 
 moved to Newark Valley, where he is now successfully 
 30 
 
234 Life Sketches, 
 
 engaged in mercantile pursuits, managing, besides, an exten- 
 sive tannery. He is also postmaster of that town, and for a 
 year or two was a member of the Tioga Board of Supervisors. 
 
 In 1864, he represented Delaware county in the Assembly, 
 serving on the Committee on Affairs of Villages, and making 
 a creditable record. He was elected to the Assembly from 
 Tioga county in 1872, by a majority of 711, and served 
 acceptably on the Committees on Eailroads, and Trade and 
 Manufactures. Last fall he was re-elected by a majority of 
 608 over Isaac S. Stan^clift, Democrat. He is now a member 
 of the important Committees on Eailroads, Trade and Manu- 
 factures and State prisons. His voice is not frequently heard 
 in debate, but he is a hard worker, and hence he renders in- 
 valuable aid in the important details of legislation. 
 
 Mr. Landfield was a Whig until the party dissolved, and 
 since then he has been an unyielding Republican. He is a 
 man of great probity of character, and much respected in 
 Newark Valley, where he resides. 
 
 ALEXANDER B. LAW. 
 
 The gentleman whose name heads this article is a plain, 
 honest and substantial farmer, and ranks, in age, among the 
 oldest men of the House. He was born in Salem, Washington 
 county in October, 1809. His grandfather and father emi- 
 grated from the north of Ireland in the year 1769, and set- 
 tled in what was then the town of New Perth, Albany county, 
 now Salem, Washington county. They were well-to-do 
 farmers, and the son naturally grew up to the same occupa- 
 tion. During his younger days he attended the common 
 schools and the academy at Cambridge, Washington county. 
 He therefore received a fair English education, which, how- 
 ever, has been well supplemented by the knowledge derivable 
 from observation and experience. 
 
Henry Lawrence. 235 
 
 Mr. Law was formerly a Whig, but since the Republican 
 party was formed, he has been an earnest and active member 
 thereof, and wields great influence in the town where he has all 
 his life resided. Sufficient evidence of this is, we apprehend, 
 to be found in the fact that he has held the office of Justice of 
 the Peace steadily, for. the past twenty-nine years, having been 
 first elected in 1845. He was also a member of the Board of 
 Supeiwisors from 1861 to 1866, both years inclusive, and for 
 four years was Chairman of the Board. In the recent Assem- 
 bly canvass he received all the votes cast in the First District 
 of Washington county, no opponent being in the field. 
 
 A Protestant in religious belief, Mr. Law is a man of large 
 and liberal views upon all subjects. He is also gifted with 
 common sense and sound judgment, and, being a man of 
 unimpeachable private character and immovable principles, 
 he is in every respect a fit representative of such a constitu- 
 ency as that in the First District of Washington county. 
 
 He serves on the Committees on Roads and Bridges, Civil 
 Divisions and Expenditures of the House. 
 
 HENRY LAWRENCE. 
 
 The First district of Columbia county is represented by a 
 man of very decided ability and experience, in the person of 
 Hon. Henrt Lawrence, of Claverack. He was born in 
 New York city, October 15, 1825. His father, Philip 
 Lawrence, who resided in Columbia county many years, is 
 now dead, but his mother is still living. Young Lawrence 
 obtained a fair education at the common schools, and became 
 a marine engineer, in which occupation he has visited nearly 
 every country on the globe. He has, therefore, seen a good 
 deal of the world, inasmuch as he followed that pursuit 
 about thirty years. During the last three or four years he 
 
236 Life Sketches. 
 
 has been a hotel proprietor at Claverack, and may be 
 regarded as quite comfortably off. For the past several 
 years, since he closed his roving life, he has taken an active 
 interest in politics, being a Democrat. He has never before 
 held office, however. He was elected to the Assembly by 
 334 majority over JoHiq" D. LAN^GDON",.his Eepublican oppo- 
 nent, and serves on the Committees on Expenditures of the 
 Executive Department and Public Lands. He is not him- 
 self a member of any religious denomination, but his family 
 are Dutch Reformed. He is quiet and unassuming in the 
 House, but his physiognomy indicates a good deal of force of 
 character, and he is unquestionably a man of ability. 
 
 AUSTIN LEAKE. 
 
 The Fifth district of New York, represented last year by 
 Michael Norton", who is, at this writing, a fugitive from 
 justice, sends this year a Republican to the Assembly. Mr. 
 Leake is a sailmaker by trade, but he is now engaged in the 
 undertaking and livery business. He was born in New 
 York city, October 2, 1833, and having lived in the metropolis 
 during most of his life, he is fully acquainted with its inter- 
 ests. Though he has enjoyed no educational opportunities 
 other than those afforded by the common schools, he is well 
 informed upon all subjects, and is well calculated to render 
 efficient service in the Legislature. His district has hereto- 
 fore been strongly Democratic, but he will, in no sense, 
 misrepresent it. In the recent canvass he ran against 
 CrEORGE L. LouTREL, the Tammany candidate, and Arthur 
 J. Delaney, the nominee of Apollo Hall, and was elected 
 by a plurality of 806. He performs his duties quietly, yet 
 none the less effectively, as a member of the important 
 committees on Banks, Privileges and Elections and sub- 
 committee of the Whole. 
 
Cyrillo S. Lincoln, 237 
 
 CYRILLO S. LINCOLN. 
 
 Being a man of acknowledged ability, sound principles 
 and inflexible integrity, and possessing a large share of per- 
 sonal magnetism, Mr. Lincoln wields an influence not 
 inferior to that of any other member of the present Assem- 
 bly. His habit of thinking and acting for himself on all 
 important questions, at the same time maintaining an 
 attitude of entire party fealty, and doing so with such tact 
 and judgment as to commit no mistakes, has secured him the 
 respect as well as the hearty esteem.of friends and opponents. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln was born in South Bristol, Ontario county, 
 on the 18th of July, 1833. His father, Lucius Lincoln, 
 was born in Otsego county, and is still living and engaged 
 in farming. Young Lincoln enjoyed ample educational 
 advantages. At the age of twelve he entered the Genesee 
 Wesleyan Seminary, subsequently spent some time in the 
 New York Conference Seminary, and, in 1855, entered Union 
 College, graduating from that institution with honor in 1858. 
 He then read law for a year or more at the oflBce of F. L. 
 DuRAND, in Rochester, and was soon after admitted to the 
 bar. Since then he has practiced successfully, devoting 
 muca of his time, howev:r, to grape growing, .wnir;; one of 
 the finest vineyards in that section of the State. In 1864, 
 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and held the oflBce until 
 1871, when he was first elected to the Assembly. 
 
 His career in the Assembly has been most creditable to his 
 constituents and to himself. He was elected in 1871 by a 
 majority of 510, but in 1872, his majority reached 810, and, 
 in 1873, in a very light vote, it was 355. He has, therefore, 
 well maintained his popularity. His recognition at Albany 
 has also been marked. Though he had been placed on no 
 yery important committees the first year, a deserved tribute 
 
238 Life Sketches, 
 
 was paid him by the House later in the session in choosing 
 him as one of the managers in the Bari^-akd impeachment 
 trial. The result of that trial is well known, and no one, 
 with perhaps one or two exceptions, labored harder to bring 
 it about than Mr. Lincoln. In the last House he was 
 Chairman of the Committee on Claims, and also a member 
 of the Committee on Petitions of Aliens, of the Sub-Com- 
 mittee of the Whole, and of the special committee to inves- 
 tigate the affairs of the Erie Railway Company. In the 
 present House he is Chairman of Railroads and Rules, and 
 member of Ways and Means. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's Republicanism is a part of his personality. 
 It is " dyed in the wool." Since the party was organized he 
 has steadily acted with it, voting for Feemont in 1856, for 
 Lincoln twice and for Grant twice. He is, in fact, one of 
 the most active and influential Republicans of Ontario 
 county. As a public speaker he has few superiors. With a 
 voice full and sonorous, an easy and natural manner of 
 delivery and clear enunciation, he has no difficulty in secur- 
 ing the attention of the House, whatever the topic of dis- 
 cussion. He talks well on all subjects, and is also a clear 
 and acute reasoner, holding, in the main, sound views on all 
 the political, social and financial questions of the day. 
 
 Physically, Mr. Lincoln is well built, and the embodi- 
 ment of perfect health. His prepossessing countenance is a 
 true index to the man, and harmonizes well with the broad 
 intellectual forehead, luxuriant brown hair and clear blue 
 eyes. The people of the Second district of Ontario are 
 fortunate in being so well represented in the Assemby. 
 
Horatio S. Lockwood, 239 
 
 HORATIO S. LOCKWOOD. 
 
 Mr. Lockwood comes from a district which is usually 
 expected to send a Democrat to the Assembly, but he is one 
 of those men whose virtues and exalted character have the 
 effect to disarm party opposition, and who are popular with 
 all classes, with very little regard to political affiliation. He 
 is, however, an earnest and conscientious Republican, and 
 fully alive, not only to the welfare of his own town and 
 county, but to all that relates to good government in State 
 and nation. Holding strong convictions upon the topics and 
 issues of the time, he adheres to his party as in his view the 
 best exponent of those convictions. 
 
 Mr. Lockwood was born in Lexington, Greene county, on 
 the 3d of September, 1815. He was the son oc John Lock- 
 wood, a native of Connecticut, who removed to Greene 
 county and engaged in farming, developing good business 
 ability, and being highly esteemed as an upright man and a 
 member and officer of the church. The son was educated in 
 the common schools, and in the year 1866 was married, in 
 Hunter, to Miss Sarah A. Platt. For many years Mr. L. 
 has been a successful merchant, being located most of the 
 time in Hunter. For several years, also, he has been engaged 
 in the manufacture of chairs, in partnership with J. W. 
 Mason & Co., of New York city. He still has charge of the 
 factory employed in that business, which is located at Hun- 
 ter. For several years, he has filled the office of Assistant 
 Collector and Assessor of Internal Revenue, being an incum- 
 bent when the latter office was abolished last year. In those 
 important positions he performed his duties with promptness 
 and impartiality. He has held numerous responsible sta- 
 tions of a local nature, though the possession of none of 
 them was of his own seeking. During his whole business 
 and official career he has been recognized by all who have in 
 
240 Life Sketches, 
 
 any way had dealings with him as a man of unimpeachable 
 integrity, a peacemaker when conflicting interests clashed, 
 a friend to the laboring classes and to the poor, and in all 
 respects a useful, honorable citizen. He has been a member 
 and officer of the Presbyterian church for a number of years, 
 and both as a man of business and as a Christian he has 
 enjoyed the entire confidence of his own community, as well 
 as of the residents of the entire county. No better proof of 
 his hold upon the popular regard can, perhaps, be given, than 
 the fact that he was elected to the Assembly over a popular 
 Democrat, who was once a member of the House, by a 
 majority of 208, though the district the previous year gave a 
 majority of nearly 800 to the Democratic candidate, and has 
 always been deemed strongly Democratic. This year it gave 
 the Democratic State ticket a majority of more than 700. 
 He serves on the Committees on Claims and Trade and Man- 
 ufactures, and performs his legislative duties quietly, yet 
 efficiently. He is a man whose vote cannot be bought, and 
 who follows the convictions of his judgment and conscience, 
 at whatever cost. 
 
 DOLPHUS S. LYNDE. 
 
 Thf^ son of pn rents in quite comfortable circumstances, 
 Mr. Lynde has been literally the architect of his own fortune. 
 He was born in Antwerp, Jefferson county, July 1, 1833, and 
 is therefore nearly forty-one years of age. His parents were 
 of Irish and English descent. He remained with his father, 
 doing farm work, and attending the common schools and 
 Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary until the age of twenty, 
 when he married Esther S. Caul, who proved herself indeed 
 "a help-meet " to him. His father was worth a fine property 
 at that time, yet he declined to extend to the young couple 
 any pecuniary aid whatever. He argued that he had earned 
 
DoLPHUs S. Ltnde. 241 
 
 the money himself, and, as he might need it, he proposed to 
 take care of it while he lived. The newly-married pair 
 moved into a board shanty, and supported themselves by 
 keeping boarders at a dollar and a half each per week, the 
 plucky husband earning in the mean time about $20 a month 
 by driving an ox team and carting and piling lumber. He 
 carried the first fifty pounds of flour for the new household a 
 distance of two miles past his father's house, although at the 
 same time there were two hundred bushels of wheat in the 
 old gentleman's barn. 
 
 The somewhat singular conduct of his parent aroused all 
 the spirit in the young man's breast. When the next spring 
 arrived he bought a farm and a stock of cows on credit, and 
 sold them again in the fall, realizing $1,000 above the debt 
 he had incurred. This fortunate speculation was the begin- 
 ning of a successful career. Placing his money at interest;, 
 he kept a set of books during the next two years for James 
 Sterling, an Antwerp iron manufacturer, at an annual sal- 
 ary of $500, and the use of a house and garden. At the end 
 of three years he had doubled his thousand dollars. He then 
 moved toHermon, St. Lawrence county, where he has since 
 been engaged in selling goods, milling, buying and selling 
 cattle and real estate, and similar occupations. He also aided 
 to organize the Cooper's Falls Iron Works, and was one of 
 the stockholders of the corporation, but sold his interest 
 before the works were finally completed. 
 
 He has been uniformly successful in all his ventures, so 
 that he is now the possessor of a handsome fortune, and he 
 filially attributes his success in life entirely to what he deemed, 
 at the time, very harsh conduct on the part of his respected 
 parent, which, however, had the intended effect to stimulate 
 him to make extraordinary exertions to place himself in an 
 independent position. However we may regard the course 
 of the elder Lynde in the abstract, we must admit that he 
 correctly estimated his son's character, and did what in the 
 end proved to be the best for him. 
 31 
 
242 Life Sketches. 
 
 Since Mr. Lii^de has resided in St. Lawrence county he has 
 been prominently identified with its political history. Previ- 
 ous to 1864 he was a Democrat, but in that year, in common 
 ■with many Democrats, he took a new departure, and cast his 
 vote for the Likcoli^ electoral ticket. Since that time, he 
 has invariably acted with the Republican party. As a mem- 
 ber of that party he represented the town of Hermon in the 
 St. Lawrence Board of Supervisors, for three years, com- 
 mencing in 1868. In 1870 he was appointed a Notary 
 Public. Four times in succession he has been elected to the 
 Assembly from the Second district of St. Lawrence, the last 
 time by a majority of 1,186, and his straightforward, honest 
 course in that body has been a source of gratification, alike 
 to his constituents and the State at large, in which he is now 
 extensively known. During his legislative service he has 
 been a member of the Committees on Internal Affairs, Rail- 
 roads, Engrossed Bills, and State Prisons, and Chairman of 
 Internal Affairs during three terms, including the present 
 one. 
 
 JAMES MACKIN. 
 
 Mr. Mackii!?", a man of prepossessing appearance and 
 pleasant address, represents the First district of Dutchess 
 county for the third term. He is a lineal descendant of 
 genuine Irish stock, though his parents were natives of this 
 county, his father having been born in New York, and his 
 mother in Newburgh. They both died, however, within 
 three years of each other, before young Ma^ckin" had reached 
 his eighth year, and he was left entirely without means. 
 Compelled thus to struggle for his own support, from early 
 youth, Mr. Mackik is necessarily one of those practical 
 self-made men, who contribute so largely to the prosperity 
 of the country. 
 
James Mackin. 243 
 
 Born in Newbnrgh, Orange county, on the 25th of Decem- 
 ber, 1823, he was educated in the common schools of New- 
 burgh and Fishkill, and has spent the greater portion of his 
 life in the latter town, where he has had the care of a large 
 estate. During the years 1860, 1861 and 1862, he conducted 
 a mercantile establishment at Fishkill quite successfully. 
 The responsibilities of the estate mentioned were, however, 
 sufficient to give him ample occupation, and he retired from 
 business. Subsequently, he became President of the First 
 National Bank of Fishkill Landing, and still holds that 
 position. 
 
 Mr. Mackin has mingled largely in public and political 
 Jife. He was an active and influential Whig of the Free Soil 
 stamp, until the party was dissolved. He was not only a 
 delegate to the convention which gave form and cohesion to 
 the Republican organization, but, previous to 1866, he was 
 several times a delegate to the conventions of that party, and 
 has held a number of public positions. For four years he 
 was postmaster at Fishkill, holding the position under the 
 appointment of President Fillmore. In 1862 President 
 Lincoln appointed him United States Assessor for the 12th 
 (now the 13th) district, and he held the office two years and 
 a half. Four times he was elected Supervisor of his town, 
 and once he was chosen President of the Board. In 1859 he 
 represented his Assembly district in the Legislature, serving 
 on the Committees on Claims, and Internal affairs of Towns 
 and Counties. 
 
 During the past six or seven years, Mr. Mackin has acted 
 with the Democratic party, and was elected to the Assembly 
 in 1872 as a member of that political organization, receiving 
 a majority of 828 over Edward M. Goring. Last fall he 
 was re-elected by a majority of 830 over Sidney E. Bar- 
 tram. He served, last year, on the Committees on Railroads 
 and Public Printing, and this year is on Railroads, Vil- 
 lages and Militia. 
 
 Though not greatly given to debate, Mr. Mackin possesses 
 
244 Life Sketches, 
 
 excellent qualifications for legislative position. He enjoys a 
 large degree of popularity, both in private and public life, 
 and there are few men in his section of the State more deserv- 
 ing of public confidence. He was married, in July, 1858, 
 to Miss Sarah E. Wiltsie, a very intelligent and accom- 
 plished lady, and a daughter of James Wiltsie, an old and 
 respected citizen of Fishkill. She was a devout member of 
 the Keformed Church, where Mr. Mackin" also worshiped. 
 Her death took place in 1862, and her place in the family 
 circle has never been filled. Mr. M. has been reasonably suc- 
 cessful in all his business undertakings, and may be regarded 
 as in quite comfortable circumstances. 
 
 JOHN MANLEY. 
 
 The member from the Second district of Cattaraugus 
 county is serving his second term. He is well known 
 throughout the State as a sound and reliable business man, 
 as well as an earnest and conscientious Republican. Born m 
 Norridgewock, Me., in the year 1824, his early years were 
 mainly spent upon the farm of his father, Amasa Manley. 
 He attended school regularly, however, and obtained a good 
 English education. In 1847 he married Miss Elizabeth 
 BiTTUES, at Augusta, Me., and soon afterward removed to 
 this State. He settled at Little Valley, Cattaraugus county., 
 where he in time became the owner of a large landed prop- 
 erty. For a number of years he has been engaged in farm- 
 ing, and gradually became one of the most prosperous, active 
 and influential citizens of that section. His real estate opera- 
 tions in Little Valley have been quite extensive, and to hit' 
 enterprise and public spirit is due many of the attractions 
 of that thriving village. 
 
 Mr. Manley has been very prominently identified witii 
 politics during most of his life. In his early days he was a 
 
John Manlet. 245 
 
 Whig, and as such he voted for Generals Taylor and Scott 
 for the Presidential office. Since the Whig party dissolved 
 he has been an unswerving Republican, taking a leading part 
 in the councils of that party, both in his own county and in 
 the State at large. He has also held several important 
 public positions, in which he invariably exhibited marked 
 ability and devotion to duty, as well as the sternest integrity. 
 His first entrance into public life was in 1860, when he repre- 
 sented Little Valley in the Cattaraugus Board of Supervi- 
 sors. In 1870 he was again chosen a member of the Board, 
 and still serves in that capacity, being re-elected every year 
 by a nearly unanimous vote. In 1861 he was appointed 
 Clerk in the Department of the Interior, under Secretary 
 Smith, and served four years. In 1864 he was detailed as a 
 special Indian Agent within the New York agency, and it 
 was made his duty to pay over the moneys and annuities due 
 from the United States under treaty stipulations. In the 
 performance of that duty he visited the several reservations, 
 and conferred freely with the Indians in reference to their 
 educational, agricultural and industrial condition, and also 
 in regard to a difficulty which had previously arisen between 
 the special Commissioners of the Government and some of 
 the representatives of the Six Nations. In March, 1865, he 
 was appointed Military Secretary on the Staff of Governor 
 Fenton, and held the position until May, 1866. Since that 
 time, however, he has been an uncompromising opponent of 
 Mr. Fenton. 
 
 During the war, Mr. Manley was active in his efforts to 
 mitigate the sufferings of the Union soldiers in the hospital 
 and in the camp. During his residence in Washington he 
 was active in their behalf, directing his efforts, of course, 
 specially to those from his own county. At the close of the 
 war, he received several handsome testimonials, in recogni- 
 tion of the service he rendered in this respect, among which 
 was an elegant gold watch and chain, presented by the mem- 
 bers of the Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers. 
 
246 Life Sketches', 
 
 That Mr. Makley has gained considerable eminence as an 
 agriculturist, is shown by the fact that he served seven years 
 as President of the Cattaraugus County Agricultural Society, 
 aiding very materially in bringing it to its present prosperous 
 condition. He is now a member of the Executive Committee 
 of the New York State Agricultural Society. 
 
 In the canvass of 1872, Mr. Manley was met by a storm 
 of detraction and slander, and herculean efforts were made 
 to defeat him; but, after an exciting contest, he was success- 
 ful, notwithstanding the large "Liberal" defection in his 
 district, by a majority of 535. His majority in 1873 was 
 484. 
 
 He is a plain, substantial-looking gentleman, in the full 
 flush of rosy health, and possesses a nature well calculated 
 to- win the regard of his fellows. His religion, as he himself 
 expresses it, consists in faith in the Supreme Being, and an 
 endeavor to do right in all things. A knowledge of the man 
 Impresses one with the belief that he is quite successful in 
 carrying that sort of religion into his daily life. 
 
 KNOX McAFEE. 
 
 Mr. McAfee represents the Eleventh Kew York district, 
 and is a young New Yorker of unblemished character. He 
 is of Scotch descent, both his parents, William and Eliza- 
 beth McAfee, being also residents of the metropolis. Mr. 
 McAfee was born in New York city, January 3, 1843, and 
 has resided there all his life. Aside, therefore, from his 
 unquestioned ability and his qualifications in other respects, 
 he is peculiarly well fitted to represent the great city in the 
 Legislature. Mr. McAfee is finely educated, having gradu- 
 ated from the college of the city of New York in the class 
 of 1862, receiving the degree of A. B. Though a man of 
 
Knox McAfee. 247 
 
 much literary culture and fine taste, bis inclination has not 
 led him to adopt either of the professions. During the past 
 few years he has been in the real estate business, in which 
 he has been reasonably successful. 
 
 During the war, Mr. McAfee organized a company for the 
 12th New York Infantry, and was commissioned as Captain 
 April 29, 1862, being at the time but nineteen years of age. 
 He proceeded to the front with the regiment. He was, how- 
 ever, taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, and paroled. On 
 being exchanged early in 1863, he immediately returned to 
 service with his regiment, and was promoted to the rank of 
 Major and afterward to that of Lieutenant-Colonel, remain- 
 ing with the Twelfth regiment during its term of service. 
 His war record is, therefore, in the hjgliest degree honorable. 
 When he returned home he brought with him a youthful 
 "contraband," a bright, young fellow, who became devotedly 
 attached to him. Col. McAfee reciprocated the attachment 
 by giving him a thorough education in New York city, and 
 he is now filling a position of responsibility, being respected 
 and trusted by all who know him. 
 
 In politics, Mr. McAfee has always been a Republican 
 He was never before a candidate for any elective office, but 
 during four years he held the position of Deputy Collector 
 of Internal Revenue of the eighth district of New York, 
 and for three years he was a United States Ganger in the 
 Custom House. He resigned both positions, however, pre- 
 ferring the emoluments of a business rather than an official 
 career. He was greatly disinclined to accept the Assembly 
 nomination, which had been repeatedly tendered by his 
 fi-iends, but, at the earnest solicitation of those friends, he 
 finally consented to accept what was to him a personal sacri- 
 fice. His majority over tlie combined Tammany and Apollo 
 Hall vote was 896, his opponent being Oliver P. Buel. Such 
 majorities are not frequently vouchsafed to Republican 
 Assembly candidates in the metropolis, and it indicates the 
 regard in which he is held by the voters of the eleventh 
 
248 Life Sketches. 
 
 district. Mr. M. serves on the Committees on Cities and 
 Militia. 
 
 Adhering to the Presbyterian faith — the faith of his 
 fathers — Mr. McAfee is, in all respects, a man of integ- 
 rity and rectitude. His legislative action is, therefore, 
 governed by principle, and his vote on every question may 
 be regarded as the expression of what he conscientiously 
 believes to be right. His course in the House is marked by 
 a quiet and resei-ved demeanor, in strong contrast with the 
 volubility of some other members of that body, but his keen 
 black eye intently watches the progress of legislation, and he 
 is able to vote understandingly when his name is called. 
 
 Mr. McAfee was married on the 8th of June, 1870, to 
 Miss Ollie V. KiRBT, of New York. 
 
 JOHN McGHOAHTY. 
 
 Mr. McGroaety represents the district which has, for sev- 
 eral years, sent us the veteran Jacobs, who is promoted to the 
 Senate. He is a well-known politician of the Ninth Ward, 
 Brooklyn ; and though he is comparatively a young man, 
 he has mingled considerably in the local politics of the City 
 of Churches, where he has resided all his life. He was born 
 in Brooklyn on the 14th of February, 1838, and educated in 
 the public schools of that city. He learned the trade of a 
 hatter, and followed that occupation some years, but of late 
 he has been engaged in the real estate business, and, pecun- 
 iarily, is quite well off. For the last six years he has been 
 an Alderman for the Ninth Ward of Brooklyn. 
 
 He does not take a very active part in the Assembly, so 
 far, at least, as the debates are concerned, but his name is 
 attached to a good many measures designed to advance the 
 interests of his constituents, and he will make a creditable 
 record. His majority over John" Oakey, the Eepublican 
 candidate in the late canvass, was 714, a gain of nearly 150 
 over Mr. Jacobs' last majority. 
 
« 
 Daniel P. McQueen, 249 
 
 DANIEL P. McQueen. 
 
 We have been accustomed to couple the name of the his- 
 toric county up the Mohawk with venerable associations, but 
 the fact that she is represented on the floor of the Assembly 
 by one of her younger sons, is not so incongruous as it might 
 appear at first thought, inasmuch as she has of late suc- 
 ceeded, in a figurative sense, in transfusing a good deal of 
 youthful blood into her veins. 
 
 Mr. McQueen, the member from Schenectady, is of Scotch 
 descent and was born in Stockbridge, Mass., July 6, 1843. 
 His father, Walter McQueen, a practical machinist, re- 
 moved to Schenectady about twenty-five years ago, and 
 became Superintendent of the well-known Schenectady loco- 
 motive works, a position which he has held until the present 
 time. Young McQueen received a good common-school 
 education, and was brought up in the locomotive works, 
 becoming, like his father, a practical machinist and locomo- 
 tive engineer. Five years since, he was married to Miss S. 
 M. Myers, of Toledo, Ohio. 
 
 He had never been particularly prominent as a politician 
 until his first election to the Assembly in 1872, when he 
 was induced, somewhat against his wishes, at first, to become 
 a candidate, and was nominated in the convention by accla- 
 mation. The Democrats nominated Thomas B. Mitchell, 
 a man of considerable ability, but Mr. McQueen was elected 
 by a majority of 489. Last fall he was re-nominated against 
 Arthur W. Hunter, a well-known and highly esteemed 
 Democrat, and re-elected by a majority of 154. He is Chair- 
 man of Federal Relations, and member of Public Printing. 
 
 Mr. McQueen is a man of action rather than words, and 
 is wide awake in every sense of the term. Favored as he is 
 with robust health, a superb physique and sound common 
 sense, his future is full of promise. 
 32 
 
260 Life Sketches, 
 
 THEODORE N. MELYIN. 
 
 Mr. Melvin", though new to the Assembly, is rapidly tak- 
 ing rank as one of its ablest members. He is the son of 
 the late Solomon Melvik, a prominent lawyer of New 
 York city, and Captain of the Old Light Guard. His father 
 and grandfathers were all natives of New York city. 
 
 Theodore Noble Melvij^" was born in New York city on 
 the 1st of December, 1846, and has therefore just passed his 
 twenty-eighth year. His education was obtained mostly in 
 the common schools, but he spent some time at Columbia 
 College, not, however, remaining long enough to graduate. 
 Subsequently he studied law with Hon. J. S. Lawrence in 
 New York city, and was admitted to the bar in 1868. At the 
 present time he is successfully practicing law in Brooklyn, 
 being in partnership with ex-Judge W. Henry Gale. 
 
 Mr. Melvin has been known as an active Democrat for 
 several years past. In 1872 he stumped the lower counties 
 of this State for Greeley and Kernan, and performed 
 effective work in that campaign. In the late canvass he had 
 the regular Kepublican candidate and two Democratic stump 
 candidates against him, in a district (the Fourth of Kings) 
 which elected a Eepublican the previous year, but he received 
 a plurality of 322, and polled nearly as many votes as the 
 three together. 
 
 Though Mr. Melvin's voice is somewhat gruff and coarse 
 in tone, he is an excellent public speaker, and he has shown 
 his ability in debate on several occasions during the present 
 session, while he is at all times an active and attentive member 
 of the House. 
 
 He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in 
 which he was brought up from youth, and is still enjoying 
 the " freedom of single blessedness." 
 
Edmund Mills k. 251 
 
 EDMUND MILLER. 
 
 The county of Chemung is represented for the second 
 time by Mr. Edmund Miller, of Elmira. He was born in 
 Southport, November 1, 1808. His father was of German 
 descent, and his mother was a native of Connecticut. In 1783, 
 during the French and Indian war, his grandfather was 
 taken prisoner by the Indians in Northampton county, Pa., 
 and brought to the head of Seneca lake, where he escaped 
 and returned home. He subsequently settled in Southport, 
 and his son, the father of Edmund, who was a farmer, lived 
 and died upon the farm now occupied by the latter. 
 
 Mr. Miller's education was confined to the common 
 schools, but those advantages were very thoroughly improved. 
 He was married October 30th, 1835, to Pamelia. Du Bois, a 
 daughter of John Du Bois, of Tioga county. Mr. Miller's 
 occupation is mainly that of a farmer, though he has also been 
 connected with other pursuits, and has at times dealt largely 
 in cattle and lumber. 
 
 He was a Member of the Assembly of 1868, being elected 
 by about 250 majority over George W. Buck, and served as 
 chairman of the Committee on Claims and member of Agri- 
 culture. At that time he was known as a careful and sagaci- 
 ous legislator. He has also held all the various offices in his 
 town, and has been a member of the Board of Supervisors for 
 many years up to the last town meeting, when he declined a 
 renomination. He has always been true to the Democratic 
 party and of great service to it. His opponent last fall was 
 William Armstrong, Republican, whom he defeated by 214 
 majority, the Republican majority the previous year being 350. 
 
 He is liberal in his religious views and is a man of decided 
 convictions and upright character. 
 
252 Life Sketches. 
 
 WARNER MILLER. 
 
 Though Mr. Miller made his first appearance in public 
 official life as a member of the present Legislature, he leaped 
 at once into a prominent position in that body, and wields a 
 large influence. He possesses marked ability, and is extremely 
 clear-headed and practical in his ideas. Accustomed to 
 think and act for himself upon every question, his views are 
 characterized by originality and boldness, and he does not 
 hesitate to back up his opinions by 'arguments which are 
 couched in the plainest and most effective language. Being 
 an extensive manufacturer, whatever tends to advance the 
 industrial interests of the State naturally enlists his warm 
 sympathy, but at the same time his eff'orts in that direction 
 are inspired by no selfish considerations. The welfare of the 
 community at large is uppermost in his mind. He is also a 
 warm friend of the common schools of the State, and is the 
 steadfast opponent of any efforts to encourage other educa- 
 tional systems at the expense of that which, in its scope and 
 mission, is peculiarly adapted to the whole people. In the 
 present session Mr. Miller has attained prominence because 
 of the proposition initiated by himself to strike from the 
 general appropriation bill a clause giving $125,000 to the 
 Academies of the State. He made a powerful speech in 
 advocacy of his motion to strike out, and carried the House 
 with him by a decided majority, but when the bill reached 
 the Senate, the clause was inserted after protracted discus- 
 sion. He gives to the consideration of every question great 
 earnestness and deep thought, and his speeches are always 
 direct and to the point. 
 
 Mr. Miller was born in Oswego county, August 12, 1838. 
 He is of German descent, his ancestors having emigrated to 
 this country previous to the Revolutionary war. His great 
 grandfather was a colonel in that memorable conflict, and his 
 dwelling, which is still standing at White Plains, was occupied 
 
Warner Miller. 253 
 
 by Gen. Washington as his headquarters. Abraham Mil- 
 ler, an uncle of the present Assemblyman, represented West- 
 chester county for fourteen successive years in the Assembly. 
 
 Young Miller was fortunate in the educational oppor- 
 tunities he enjoyed. He passed through the usual common- 
 school experience in early youth, and when he reached a 
 proper age, entered Union College at Schenectady. From 
 that institution he graduated in 1860, standing well with his 
 class. After graduating, he taught for a short period at Forfc 
 Edward Institute. After the war broke out he enlisted as a 
 private in the third New York Cavalry, and was afterward 
 promoted to the grade of Sergeant- Major. He saw much 
 arduous service in Virginia under Sheridan and others, and 
 at the battle of Winchester he was taken prisoner by " Stone- 
 wall" Jackson's brigade, and was paroled on the field. At 
 this time he was acting Lieutenant. After receiving an 
 honorable discharge from the army, Mr. Miller spent some 
 time in Europe, gaining important knowledge concerning 
 the manufacture of paper. On his return he established 
 himself in the paper business at Herkimer, and is still carry- 
 ing on that branch of manufacture successfully, employing 
 a large number of hands. In July, 1864, he was married at 
 Gloversville, N. Y., to Caroline Churchill. 
 
 Mr. Miller is known throughout Herkimer county as an 
 active Republican, but he has never before accepted office. 
 Of refined tastes, rare culture, and possessing excellent social 
 qualities, he is deservedly popular. He is also widely 
 respected and honored for his high character and strict 
 principles. No man in the present Assembly is more 
 entirely unsuspected, or free from contaminating influences 
 than the member from Herkimer. He is a consisten t member 
 of the Methodist church, and in his private life is entirely 
 without reproach. In the House, he is a member of the 
 Committees on Insurance, Engrossed Bills, and Sub-Com- 
 mittee of the Whole, and takes rank among the most effective 
 of the working members. 
 
254 Life Sketches. 
 
 JONATHAN B. MOEEY. 
 
 Mr. MoKEY, the very capable member from Livingston 
 county, has twice before been a member of Assembly from 
 that county, in the years 1864 and 1865. He is, therefore, 
 experienced in the ways of legislation, as well as thoroughly 
 acquainted with the needs of his constituency. He was born 
 at Dansville, where he still resides, on the 26th of November, 
 1836. His father, Milton" Morey, is a native of this Sfcate, 
 and was formerly a tanner. At present he is engaged in 
 farming at Yanckton, Dacotah Territory. His mother, whose 
 maiden name was Eve Bamhart, died some years ago. She 
 also was a native of this State. 
 
 Young Morey, though brought up on a farm, managed 
 to obtain a very thorough common-school education. So far 
 advanced was he after teaching a couple winters, that in 
 September, 1857, he was sufficiently qualified to enter the 
 sub-senior class in the State Normal School at Albany, and, 
 in July following, he graduated with distinction. The three 
 years subsequent to his graduation he spent in teaching, 
 meeting with a success far beyond his anticipations. His 
 fitness for tliis honorable occupation was fully demonstrated 
 by his brief career as an educator, but he chose to follow a 
 different path. In May, 1861, he was married to Miss 
 Laura Sweet, and from that time until about three years 
 ago, he followed the not less honorable pursuit of farming. 
 Since 1871, he been engaged in the nursery business, which 
 is his present occupation. In all his efforts Mr. Morey has 
 developed a high order of ability, and shown that he posses- 
 ses sufficient judgment and native shrewdness to enable 
 him to fill successfully almost any position in life. 
 
 Always a Republican of the straightest sort, Mr. Morey 
 has been active in politics since a very early age, and, being 
 a life-long resident of Dansville, he enjoys the unlimited 
 
Francis Murray. 255 
 
 confidence and esteem of the citizens of that locality. 
 Being a leading Republican, and a man whose integrity and 
 ability are beyond question, he has frequently been called 
 upon to fill important offices. In 1863, he was nominated 
 with great unanimity by his party convention to represent 
 his county in the Assembly, and was elected by a majority 
 of ]6 over Alonzo Bradner, a popular Democrat. The 
 next year he was re-elected by a majority of 98 over George 
 D. Lord. Last fall his majority over Hezekiah Allen 
 was 1197. These figures need no comment. They show, 
 conclusively, that Mr. Mobey has grown rapidly in popular 
 regard. Besides his Assembly service, Mr. Morey has served 
 as President of the village of Dansville, an office to which 
 he was elected in 1871, and was also a delegate to the Repub- 
 lican national convention, held in Philadelphia in 1872. 
 While his career in the Assembly is characterized by no 
 extraordinary features, his record at the close of the session 
 will compare well with that of any other member. He fully 
 appreciates the duties which devolve upon him, and performs 
 those duties with fidelity and efficiency. He is a member of 
 no church, but makes it a rule to help all of them 
 financially. 
 
 FRANCIS MURRAY. 
 
 Mr. Murray is a sharp and active young politician of the 
 metropolis, representing the Twelfth District of New York. 
 This is his first appearance in legislative life, but he shows 
 ability and aptitude in the performance of his duties, and is 
 popular with all. He was elected by the Tammany Demo- 
 crats and Liberals, receiving a plurality of 551, the opposing 
 candidates being 0. H. Southworth, Republican, and Joseph 
 A. Lyons, Apollo Hall. Though quite a young man, he is 
 quite well known in New York city, and is a Clerk of the 
 
266 Life Sketches. 
 
 Second District Court. He was born in New York city, 
 April 22, 1846; his parents, who are still living, being 
 natives of Ireland. Educated in the common schools of the 
 metropolis, he is well posted in all that goes to qualify a man. 
 for active life. In religio'is faith he is Episcopalian, and in 
 private as well as public life he is known as an estimable 
 and upright citizen. 
 
 JOHN NICE. 
 
 Mr. Nice is a resident of Grand Island, and was elected 
 from the Fourth district of Erie county. He was born 
 October 15, 1813, in Kindenheim, Khenish Bavaria. He 
 therefore ranks among the older members of the House. 
 His parents, who were also born in Kindenheim, emigrated 
 to this country in 1836, settling upon a farm in Erie county. 
 
 Young Nice was educated in the common schools and 
 brought up on the paternal farm, which he continued to 
 manage for some years after his father died. Finally, he 
 became a heavy dealer in wood and timber, and gave up 
 agriculture. 
 
 He has generally felt a warm interest in politics, and exer- 
 cises considerable influence among his countrymen, who con- 
 stitute a large proportion of the population of that section 
 of the State. He has been a Republican since the party was 
 organized, and before that was a Whig. His almost life-long 
 residence in Erie county, and his active participation in its 
 politics, have rendered him more than ordinarily deserving 
 of the numerous public positions he has been called to fill. 
 He has served four times on the Board of Supervisors, in 
 1853, 1854, 1860 and 1864, and each time he bore himself 
 with credit. During three years — from 1861 to 1863 — he was 
 County Superintendent of the Poor. In 1872 he was selected 
 
James M. Oakley, 257 
 
 to represent his district in the Assembly, and was chosen by 
 a majority of 754, although another German, George Zent, 
 ran against him. Last fall he was re-elected by a majority 
 of 418 over Henry B. Eldred. 
 
 Mr. Nice is a man of robust, well-developed physique. 
 His countenance indicates much decision of character, 
 blended with kindness of heart. He is one of the quiet 
 members, but he watches closely the progress of legislation. 
 He professes the Protestant religion, was married in 1843 to 
 Miss Mary Ann Pfizenmeier, and is greatly respected in 
 the community where he resides. 
 
 JAMES M. OAKLEY. 
 
 Mr. Oakley is now serving his fourth term as the repre- 
 sentative from the Second district of Queens county, and 
 ranks, in point of continuous service, as the oldest Demo- 
 cratic member of the present Legislature. He was born in 
 New York city, on the 19th of June, 1839, received a thor- 
 ough academic education, and for several years was engaged 
 in the buying and selling of real estate. Latterly he has, in 
 a measure, retired from active business. He now resides at 
 Jamaica, Queens county, where he is very popular among all 
 classes. 
 
 Mr. Oakley has mingled considerably in politics, and 
 enjoys the confidence of his party in very large measure. 
 He was a Republican previous to 18G4, but in that year he 
 voted for Gen. McClellan, and he has since been steadily 
 identified with the Democratic party. No other man in his 
 district ever had the fortune to be elected to the Assembly 
 four times in succession. In the canvass of 1872 extraordinary 
 efforts were made to defeat him, but he received a majority of 
 141 over Theodore J. Cogswell, Republican, and was the 
 33 
 
258 Life Sketches. 
 
 only Democrat elected in Queens county. His majority last 
 fall was 895, Henry C. Johksok running against him. Mr. 
 Oakley is a man of unusually prepossessing appearance 
 and genial manners. Well posted in the routine of legisla- 
 tion, though not a great talker, he is an efficient and valuable 
 member, and much esteemed by all so fortunate as to possess 
 his friendship. 
 
 He has served on the Committees on Eoads and Bridges, 
 Banks, Militia, and Sub-Committee of the Whole, and this 
 year he is a member of Commerce and Navigation, Public 
 Printing and Sub-Committee of the Whole. 
 
 Last year his seat was contested by Mr. Cogswell, but the 
 committee unanimously decided in favor of Mr. Oakley, 
 after a thorough investigation. 
 
 THOMAS O'CALLAGHAN. 
 
 The gentleman representing the Nineteenth district of New 
 York possesses many excellent traits of character, and enjoys 
 a wide popularity among the working classes of the metrop- 
 olis. He was born in county Cork, Ireland, in the month of 
 March, 1828. His father, now deceased, was a respectable, 
 but hard-working mechanic, and was considered the best 
 scholar in the south of Ireland, his mind leaning toward 
 mathematics. It is said of him that he solved the problem 
 of perpetual motion, but his health failing, he was compelled 
 to abandon the effort to put his discovery to practical use. 
 Thomas was educated at home by private teachers, and also 
 spent some time in public schools. He learned his father's 
 trade, that of a builder. Coming to this country at the age 
 of 21, he at once established himself in New York, and con- 
 ducted business as a contractor and builder up to the year 
 1862, a period of twenty-six years. As a result, he is now 
 
Thomas O'Callaqhan. 259 
 
 the possessor of a handsome competence, earned by his own 
 industry. 
 
 Mr. O'Callaghan has been a Democrat all his life, and 
 up to the re-organization of the Tammany society he was 
 inflexibly opposed to that powerful influence in New York 
 politics. Under the new regime, however, he is known as a 
 Tammany Democrat. In the years 1 857 and 1858, he held the 
 oflBce of Collector of the Revenue, and it is worthy of note 
 that in the settlement of his accounts with the government 
 at the close of his terra, there was a difference against him 
 of precisely II, though very large sums passed through his 
 hands, indicating, we should say, pretty honest book-keeping 
 on his part In 1865 he was elected Assistant Alderman of 
 his ward, receiving 2,500 majority over all his opponents. 
 He has lived in the district he represents nineteen years, and 
 is a heavy real estate owner therein. He has been especially 
 active during several years in providing homes for working- 
 men, on easy terms of payment. In this way he has disposed 
 of extensive tracts of land in the upper part of the city. He 
 has thus conferred great benefit upon the industrial classes, 
 and by public-spirited liberality, rendered himself exceed- 
 ingly popular. His instincts and sympathies are all with the 
 people, and opposed to aristocratic monopolies. In the 
 recent canvass he was elected by a majority of 390, over 
 Alexander Martin, who was supported by the Republicans 
 and Apollo Hall Democrats. In 1872 he was also a candidate 
 for the Assembly, but was defeated by the Republican candi- 
 date, who received a plurality of 348. 
 
360 Life Sketches, 
 
 JOHN J. PARRY. 
 
 John J. Parry, representing the Third district of Oneida 
 county, may be regarded as one of the "solid men'' of that 
 county, in a physical as well as financial and social sense. He 
 is, we should judge, one of the heaviest men in the House, 
 and is a splendid picture of vitality and health. He was 
 born in Trenton, Oneida county, on the 4th of September, 
 1827, and is the son of Joh:n" J. Parry, a native of Merio- 
 nethshire, North Wales, who was a farmer both in Wales and 
 in this country, and died in Oneida county in 1864, at an 
 advanced age. Our subject was twice married, being united 
 to Sarah M. Wilber at Hamilton, N. Y., June 27, 1855. 
 Her death occurred December 9, 1863, and he was married 
 to Caroline L. Cadwell, at Rome, on the 17th of February, 
 1870. 
 
 Mr. Parry received a good academic education, and dur- 
 ing his busy life he has been engaged in several active occu- 
 pations. He is a master mason, builder and contractor, but 
 is also largely engaged in the manufacture of brick, lime and 
 plaster, and also of straw wrapping paper. In all his busi- 
 ness undertakings he displays the qualities of energy and 
 persistence in an unusual degree, and in all of them, we 
 believe, he has been successful. At all events he is in com- 
 fortable circumstances as the result of his exertions, and that 
 is usually regarded as the test of success. 
 
 In politics Mr. Parry is a Eepublican, and he has been an 
 active worker in that party since its organization. He has 
 not always remained in the ranks, however, though never a 
 seeker after political preferment. In the case of men of his 
 abilities and standing it is usually the office that seeks the 
 man. During nine years commencing January 1, 1858, he 
 filled the office of County Treasurer of Oneida, and it may 
 be remarked, in view of the era of defalcation now passing 
 
Matthew Fatten. 261 
 
 over the land, that not a dollar of the hundreds of thousands 
 which passed through his hands was unaccounted for. He 
 was also Assessor of Internal Revenue during the three years 
 preceding the abolition of the office in 1873. In all the 
 public positions in which he has been placed, he has ever 
 shown a conscientious regard for the interests of the public, 
 and an ability fully equal to every duty he has been called 
 upon to perform. 
 
 He was elected to the Assembly by a majority of 284 over 
 Harvey S. Bedell, and serves on the Committees on State 
 Prisons, Civil Divisions and Engrossed Bills. 
 
 In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and in his social 
 relations he is genial, kind-hearted and conscientious, possess- 
 ing the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. 
 
 MATTHEW PATTEN. 
 
 Mr. Patten represents the Sixth New York District, and 
 IS an extremely popular young Democrat of the Thirteenth 
 Ward. He was born in New York city on the 15th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1833. His father, Martin Patten, now deceased, 
 was a sawyer by occupation, and a native of Ireland. The 
 subject of our sketch was educated in the public schools 
 during his early years ; when old enough, however, he was 
 apprenticed to a boat-builder, and learned the trade in all its 
 branches. As soon as he was out of his time he went to 
 Savannah, Ga. He arrived there at three o'clock in the 
 morning, and before seven o'clock he had engaged a small 
 shop along shore, and started business. He remained in 
 Savannah with the exception of an interval of time spent in 
 New York, between two and three years. He finally returned 
 to New York, and permanently established himself in the 
 
262 Life Sketches. 
 
 metropolis. After a few years he abandoned boat-building, 
 and has since been a ship-caulker. About twenty-two years 
 ago he was married to Mary 0. Hin"CKLEY, also of New 
 York. On the 7th of September, 1863, Mr. Pattei^" was 
 commissioned Second-Lieutenant in the 93d Regiment of 
 the New York Volunteers by Governor Seymour, but he was 
 not sworn in until February 2d, 1864, and after a brief period 
 of active service he resigned in consequence of ill-health. 
 
 Mr. Patten has always been known as a consistent and 
 active Democrat, of the Tammany persuasion. He has not 
 been in the habit of seeking office, but he has several times 
 held responsible positions in the gift of his party. In 1863 
 he was a health warden, and about that time, also, he was 
 nominated for school trustee, but declined the honor. In 
 1869 he was Clerk in the Surrogate's Court. Every year, for 
 several years past, he has been regularly offered the Assembly 
 nomination by the Sixth District convention, but until last 
 fall he persisted in declining the honor. The pressure became 
 so strong that he felt compelled to accept, and the fact that 
 he was elected by a majority three times greater than that 
 usually given in his district, indicates better than any words 
 of ours, what the people think of his merits. Two candi- 
 dates were in the field against him, Daniel F. Crowley, 
 Republican, and Edward A. Blake, Apollo Hall, but he 
 was successful by a plurality of 1,541. 
 
 Mr. Patten is quite a favorite among those who know 
 him. He is a gentleman of social instincts and agreeable 
 manners, in the full vigor of manhood, possessing fine personal 
 qualities, agreeable, courteous, and refined, thoroughly post'^d 
 in all that pertains to his duties, and may be regarded as one 
 of the most efficient members of the New York delegation. 
 
Elam Persons. 363 
 
 ELAM PERSONS. 
 
 Mr. Persons, who represents the First district of Jeffersou 
 county, was born in Somers, Tolland county, Connecticut, 
 August 2, 1809. His father, Samuel Persons, was also a 
 native of Connecticut, but he removed to New York State a 
 few years after his marriage, and died in 1859 at the age of 
 92. Mr. Persons was educated in the common schools of 
 this State, and learned the trade of a wheelwright, which he 
 followed until about the year 1852, when he purcliased a farm 
 in the town of Ellisburgh, and has managed it up to the 
 present time with a remarkable degree of success. At an 
 early age he became identified with the old Whig party, and 
 steadily adhered to its fortunes until it was dissolved; since 
 that event he has as steadily acted with the Republican party, 
 taking a very active part in the details of local organization, 
 being, in fact, the pillar of the Republican party in his sec- 
 tion. His first advent in public affairs was in 1847, when he 
 was made Collector of the town of Ellisburgh, and served one 
 year. In 1862 he was elected Highway Commissioner, and 
 remained in office continuously for nine years. In the fall 
 of 1872 his friends and neighbors determined upon his pro- 
 motion, and after receiving the unanimous nomination of 
 his Assembly district convention, he was elected by the flat- 
 tering majority of 1,587, over Alexander Dickinson, a 
 Liberal Republican supported by Democrats. Last fall he 
 was elected over George W. Green by a majority of 720. 
 Mr. Persons has been married twice, his first wife being 
 Eliza McNitt, whom he married in 1833, and his second, 
 Chloe E. Ketchum, married in 1855, and still living. Mr. 
 Persons is a plain, blunt man of action, with kindly dispo- 
 sition and pleasant manners. In religious faith he is evan- 
 gelical. He is kind and charitable to the deserving poor, 
 temperate and yirtuous in his habits, and frugal and indus- 
 
Ji(34 Life Sketches, 
 
 trions in his mode of life. During; his career in the Legisla- 
 ture he has expended very little energy in words, but is 
 always in his seat, and performs his legislative duty with 
 diligence and judgment. 
 
 ISTATHAN D. PETTY. 
 
 Mr. Petty is a prosperous and influential lawyer of River- 
 head, Suffolk county. This is his first experience in the 
 Assembly, but he is well known to the bar of the State, and 
 to the entire community in his section, as a man of splendid 
 ability and a wide-awake politician. He was born at Good- 
 ground, Suffolk county, on the 6th of January, 1842, and is 
 therefore still quite a young man. His parents, Charles 
 and Harriet Petty, are both living. His ancestors were 
 American for two or three generations back, but they were 
 originally English in both branches. His father is a farmer, 
 and owns a valuable estate at Goodground. In 1857 young 
 Petty entered Sanborn ton Bridge Seminary, N". H., and 
 remained one year. Afterward he spent a term at Port 
 Edward Institute, and also a year at Eastman's Business 
 College in Poughkeepsie, and deeming himself fully qualified, 
 he entered Princeton College in 1860, graduating therefrom 
 in June, 1865. In 1864, while a student at Princeton, he 
 obtained leave of absence from the Faculty, and stumped 
 the States of New York and New Jersey in the Presidential 
 canvass, making numerous exceedingly effective speeches for 
 the Republican cause. He has also spoken in most of the 
 campaigns since that time, and in this respect his service to 
 the party has been invaluable. After graduating from 
 Princeton with high honors, Mr. Petty entered the Albany 
 Law School, from which he graduated in the following year, 
 and was admitted to the bar of the State, in May, 1866. 
 
Nathan D. Petty. 265 
 
 He commenced practicing at Goodground the same year, but 
 that locality not affording sufficient field for his talents, he 
 removed to Riverhead, his present place of residence, in 1868. 
 He has been eminently successful in his profession, and is 
 now enjoying a large and constantly increasing practice. 
 
 Mr. Petty has been a Republican all his life, and from a 
 very early age was actively engaged in politics. Never but 
 once, however, has he held public office previous to his elec- 
 tion to the Assembly. In 1869 he was appointed Assistant 
 Assessor of Internal Revenue for Suffolk, and held the posi- 
 tion until May, 1873, when the office was abolished. In the 
 late canvass he ran against Wilsox J. Terry, the Demo- 
 cratic nominee, and Edward Y. Reeve, Prohibition, and 
 was elected by what was, in proportion to the votes polled, the 
 largest majority ever given to a candidate in Suffolk county. 
 His majority over Terry was 1,285, and over both Terry 
 and Reeve, 1,199. The total vote was 6,385. The Republi- 
 can majority in the district the previous year was 1,302, but 
 the total vote was 8,390. The fact indicates clearly the esti- 
 mation in which Mr. Petty is held by his constituents. 
 
 Mr. Petty's personal appearance is very striking, and, 
 indeed, he may be regarded as one of the good-looking 
 Members of the House. His finely proportioned form, pale, 
 but expressive countenance, well moulded features, and coal- 
 black eyes and hair, make up an outward individuality 
 which would attract attention anywhere. He is also an 
 excellent speaker, and, whether it be on the political stump, 
 in a court of law or on the floor of the Assembly Chamber, 
 he is equally at home in the delivery of those short and 
 pointed speeches which seem to exactly cover the point at 
 issue, and carry conviction with them. His language is 
 invariably chaste and well chosen, and his views are generally 
 sound. His oratorical efforts are therefore quite effective. 
 He is not, however, noted for " much speaking," and when 
 he does rise to address the House, it is usually upon the spur 
 or inspiration of the moment. 
 34 
 
266 Life Sketches. 
 
 In religious faith and conviction, Mr. Petty is a Congre- 
 gationalist. His private character is, in all respects, irre- 
 proachable, and he is .greatly respected in the community 
 where he resides. He was married June 29, 1865, to 
 Cornelia Eaimak, daughter of William Raiman, of 
 Newtown, L. I. 
 
 GEORGE W. PHILLIPS. 
 
 The records of the last Assembly show that Cortland 
 county was represented in that body by Mr. George W. 
 Phillips. The same records also evince that Mr. Phillips 
 was faithful in his attendance, and in the performance of his 
 duties as a legislator, that while he did not officiously obtrude 
 himself upon the attention of the House, he was always 
 watchful of its proceedings and ready upon suitable occasions 
 to vindicate what he considered right, and oppose what he 
 deemed to be wrong. Courteous in debate, logical in his 
 arguments, concise and clear in his language, and sensible in 
 his views, he rarely, if ever, failed whenever he spoke to attract 
 the attention of the House. His labors as a member of the 
 Committee on Literature were appreciated by his compeers 
 and by those in whose behalf they were performed. Before 
 the close of the session leading Republicans in different 
 parts of the county began to express to each other appro- 
 bation of his course, and to propose the inquiry whether it 
 would not be for the reputation of the county, and for the 
 interest of the Republican party in it, to drop the single-term 
 system which had thus far almost uniformly prevailed, and 
 for once, at least, honor the custom in its breach rather than 
 its observance. No member had been elected for two con- 
 secutive years since 1823. The idea of sending him back to 
 Albany in 1874 continued to prevail in the county and cul- 
 minated at the county convention, in his re-nomination on 
 
George W, Phillips. 267 
 
 the first ballot. His triumphant re-election followed as a 
 matter of course. 
 
 He was born in Onondaga, December 18, 1823. At the 
 age of seventeen he came to Homer, where he supplemented 
 a good common-school education by a thorough course of 
 study in Cortland Academy. As a teacher and a Town 
 Superintendent, he made available and useful the literary 
 culture thus acquired. In 1850 he became a resident of 
 Homer, where he still resides. As a merchant of enterprise 
 and integrity, a trustee of Cortland Academy for several 
 years, a member of the Village Board, and a Supervisor for 
 the nine years subsequent to 1860, he acquired and main- 
 tained the confidence and respect of his fellow-townsmen. 
 
 He was chosen by the Board of Supervisors a member of 
 the Volunteer Bounty Committee, and held that position, 
 most of the time as Chairman, during its entire existence. 
 His services on this committee arc regarded as having been 
 of great value to the county and to the Federal cause. His 
 knowledge of the details of the duties devolving upon him 
 was thorough, and his judgment was much respected. His 
 clear perception of the principles involved, his retentive 
 memory of the facts in each case, and his uniform readiness 
 to meet all the demands made by it upon his time and atten- 
 tion, fully justified the successive Boards of Supervisors in 
 retaining his services upon th6 committee. In politics he 
 was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, in 
 which he took an early and active part. He has remained 
 an earnest worker in that party. 
 
 In the present Assembly he seiwes as Chairman of En- 
 grossed Bills, and member of Education and Two-thirds and 
 Three-fifths Bills. He has the reputation of being one of 
 the most industrious members of the House, and during the 
 present session he has been distinguished for his efibrte in 
 behalf of economy and reform. 
 
268 Life Sketches, 
 
 EDWAKD C. PHILPOT. 
 
 The gentleman who ably represents the First district of 
 Madison county in the Assembly is Edwakd 0. Philpot, a 
 native and resident of the town of Eaton, in that county. 
 He is of Protestant- Irish descent. His grand-parents settled 
 in Eaton in 1807, on the farm still occupied by his mother, 
 whose maiden name was Maky Tooke, his father having 
 died July 27, 1859. Mr. Philpot was born on November 9, 
 1834, and he is, therefore, a little over thirty-nine years of 
 age. He was liberally educated in the common schools and 
 at the Central New York Conference Seminary at Cazenovia, 
 completing his study of the ordinary branches in 1852. 
 During a couple of years subsequently he taught school, but 
 entertaining a penchant for the legal profession, he read law 
 for several years in the office of Hon. Henry Goodwin" and 
 D. J. Mitchell, of Hamilton, and was admitted to the bar 
 in 1856. He then formed a partnership with Hon. J. B. 
 Eldridge, at Hamilton, and practiced with fair success until 
 the partnership was dissolved in 1859. During the next two 
 years he practiced law with Col. John T. Philpot, his 
 brother, at Cleveland, Ohio. Owing to poor health he 
 finally returned to" Pratt's Hollow, however, and settled down 
 to the occupation of farming. He also practices law, and is 
 a Justice of the Peace of his town. 
 
 Mr. Philpot has been active and prominent in Madison 
 county politics for a long period, having been a delegate to 
 every county and district convention for the last ten or 
 twelve years. He has also been a delegate to State Conven- 
 tions, and as Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, Justice of 
 Sessions, and now, as member of Assembly, bids fair to per- 
 form his full share of public service. Soon after his return 
 from Ohio he was elected Supervisor for the town of Eaton, 
 and served two years in the board. This was during the 
 
Gardner Pope. 269 
 
 rebellion, and he rendered important aid in filling the quota 
 of his town. In 1864, he was chosen Justice of the Peace, 
 and has filled the office ever since. In 1867, he was also 
 elected Justice of Sessions, holding the office until 1869. In 
 the fall of 1872, he received a majority of 1,525 for the 
 Assembly, P. Adelbekt Burdick being the opposing candi- 
 date. Last fall he was re-elected member of Assembly, by 
 about 1,000 majority, an honor never conferred on any 
 previous member, he having been renominated by acclama- 
 tion, the member always rotating from town to town until 
 this year. Mr. Philpot's first vote was cast for John C. 
 Fkemont for President Since then he has steadily labored 
 and voted for the success of Republican principles and candi- 
 dates. Last year Mr. Philpot was Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Petitions of Aliens, and a member of the 
 Committee on Privileges and Elections. This year he is 
 Chairman of Agriculture and member of Civil Divisions, 
 fle is a bachelor, and weighs 200 pounds. 
 
 GARDNER POPE. 
 
 The Essex district, which is usually Republican, having 
 been represented during two years past by Franklin W. 
 ToBEY, now Senator, sends a Democrat this year in the per- 
 son of Gardner Pope, a well* known business man and 
 manufacturer of that section. Mr. Pope is a native of Essex 
 county, and was born in Keeseville, September 11, 1838. 
 His father, Martin Pope, was a native of Saratoga county, 
 but he removed to Keeseville at the age of 25, and until the 
 panic of 1837 was extensively engaged in the lumber busi- 
 ness, being one of the first settlers in Essex county. Mr. 
 Pope, the subject of this sketch, is well educated, having 
 accomplished the full English course in Keeseville Academy. 
 
270 Life Sketches, 
 
 At an early age he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, and engaged 
 in a mercantile business, but the financial crisis of 1857 
 rendered it unremunerative, and he returned to his native 
 place. Since then he has been in the iron business, at Ausa- 
 ble Forks. 
 
 Mr. Pope has always been a Democrat. During five con- 
 secutive years — from 1862 to 1867 — he represented the town 
 of Jay in the Board of Supervisors. Last year he was again 
 re-elected, and he is now a member of the board, the earnest 
 and conscientious manner in which he performs his duties 
 securing him the approval of men of both parties. In the 
 Assembly canvass Mr. Pope received 51 majority over James 
 W. Steele, his Republican opponent, overcoming a Repub- 
 lican majority the preceding year of nearly 2,000, and being 
 the first Democrat elected in 40 years. This demonstrates 
 his home popularity beyond cavil. 
 
 Mr. Pope is an able and attentive legislator, and will make 
 a good record. He has never made a public profession of 
 religion, but his family are Presbyterians. He was married 
 on the 10th of July, 1872, to Miss BEiSBiiq", of Old Saratoga. 
 
 SETH G. POPE. 
 
 The most casual visitor to the Assembly chamber would 
 scarcely fail to notice the tall and striking form of the member 
 from Ogdensburgh. He i^ head and shoulders above the 
 average of men in height, and his face, in which are strongly 
 marked lines of character, is set in a flowing iron-gray 
 beard. He gives the impression at once that he is a man of 
 much ability, force of character, and tenacious purpose, and 
 it is but just to observe that acquaintance strengthens such 
 an impression. 
 
 Seth Griswold Pope was born in Great Barrington, 
 Berkshire county, Mass., on the 14th of December, 1819. 
 
Seth Q. Pope. 271 
 
 His father, Ebenezer Pope, a native of Connecticut, 
 moved in early life to Berkshire county, Mass., where he 
 lived until his death in 1842, at the age of 68, and was a man 
 of sterling worth and integrity. He was a Democrat of the 
 Jeffersonian school, and as such represented his town several 
 terms in the State Legislature. His mother's maiden name 
 was Zady Prindle. She was widely known as a woman of 
 exalted Christian faith and character, remarkable alike for 
 her kindly and loving disposition and large charity. She 
 died in 1863, at the age of 84, leaving a large family, the 
 youngest of whom is the subject of our sketch. Mr. Pope 
 enjoyed rather limited educational advantages during his 
 youth, though he obtained some instruction in a common 
 school. Previous to his majority, he served four years at the 
 carpenter and joiners' trade, having charge of part of his 
 employers' business before his term expired. At the age of 
 twenty-two he commenced business for himself. During the 
 eight years following, he built some of the best buildings in 
 southern Berkshire, as well as several railroad bridges. He 
 removed to Ogdensburgh in 1850, and engaged in the manu- 
 facture of doors, sashes, blinds, and similar articles. This 
 business he still successfully continues at Ogdensburgh. 
 Since he has resided in Ogdensburgh. however, he has also 
 been extensively engaged as a contractor, among his 
 numerous works of magnitude being a portion of the new 
 reservoir in Central Park, New York, and several grain 
 warehouses and elevators in Canada. For some years he has 
 been general agent for the King Iron Bridge Company in 
 the eastern states, where he is well known. He is also 
 engaged in the hardware business in Ogdensburgh. In all 
 his multifarious enterprises he has been uniformly successful, 
 and enjoys wide repute for strict integrity, rare business 
 sagacity, and indomitable energy. 
 
 In early life Mr. Pope was a Free Soil Democrat, but he 
 was one of the first to enlist in the Kepublican ranks, and 
 he has since been a strong supporter of the principles of that 
 
272 Life Sketches. 
 
 organization. He was the first Eepublican President of the 
 Tillage of Ogdensburgh, and during the years 1863, 1864 
 and 1865, he represented the town of Oswegatchie in the 
 Board of Supervisors. He invariably carries into every 
 public position the same qualities which govern his con- 
 duct as a business man, and in him, therefore, the people 
 have a clear-headed and capable representative. He was 
 elected to the Assembly by a majority of 1,582 over Edwii^ 
 G. Dodge, and serves on the Committees on Commerce and 
 Navigation, and Manufacture of Salt. 
 
 Mr. Pope has been twice married. His first wife was 
 Isabella M. Carter of Whitesboro, Oneida county. She 
 died in 1857, leaving one child. In 1870 he married Mrs. 
 H. C. Chapin", daughter of B. F. Haskell, of West Corn- 
 wall, Vt. The result of this marriage is one son and one 
 daughter. 
 
 L. BRADFORD PRINCE. 
 
 In view of his four years' record as a legislator, his emi- 
 nence in the legal profession, his prominence in literature 
 and politics, and his honorable connection with societies and 
 institutions of learning, Mr. Prince may be regarded as one 
 of the prominent men of our State. A finely cultivated 
 gentleman, a thorough scholar, a brilliant and forcible 
 speaker, and a man of decided and advanced opinions in 
 most departments of thought, he is well qualified to maintain 
 a leading position in a legislative body — such as the present 
 one — which practically recognizes no leader. Mr. Pri:n^ce 
 was born in Flushing, his present place of residence, on the 
 3d of July, 1840. He is a lineal descendant of Gov. Wm. 
 Bradford, of Plymouth, one of the " Men of the May- 
 flower," and inherits many of the sturdy virtues of his 
 Puritan ancestry. Both his grandfather and his great-grand- 
 
L, Bradford Prince. 273 
 
 father, on the maternal side, were Governors of Rhode 
 Island, and, on the paternal side, he comes of the well known 
 Prince family, of horticultural fame. After spending much 
 of liis youth in South Carolina and Florida in search of 
 health, he was engaged, for a short time, in horticultural 
 pursuits at Fhishing, but his tastes leading him to the law, 
 he entered Columbia Law School, from which he graduated 
 with the highest honors, receiving the $200 prize in Political 
 Science. In 1868 he was complimented by being chosen 
 as the Alumni orator, and is now President of the Alumni 
 Association of the Law School. As a lawyer he stands 
 high, being a clear and incisive reasoner, and possessing rare 
 ability as an advocate. He indulges in very little fanciful 
 rhetoric, relying mainly upon carefully presented facts and 
 well digested deductions therefrom. 
 
 Mr. Prince's political career reaches over a period of 
 more than sixteen years, embracing the whole history of the 
 Republican party. His interest in political matters early 
 developed itself, and as long ago as 1856 — in the Fremont 
 campaign — he was an active writer and worker, receiving a 
 special vote of thanks from the town club, of wliich he was 
 too young to be a member. In 1860, though still not a voter, 
 he acted as officer of the local organization, delegate, speaker, 
 etc., enthusiastically supporting the Lincoln ticket. Since 
 that time he has always been actively engaged in political 
 work, though living in a county where the heavy Democratic 
 majority precluded all expectation of personal advancement; 
 and, as a political speaker, is well known in many sections 
 of the State. Thirteen years ago he was chosen a member 
 of the Republican Committee of Queens county, and has 
 been its presiding officer for several years. He was also a 
 delegate to the Chicago National Convention in 1868, and 
 in the following year a member of the State Committee. 
 He was first elected to the Assembly in 1870, when he 
 received a majority of 1,415, although the district is about 
 60.0 Democratic 
 35 
 
274 Life Sketches. 
 
 Mr. Pkince's popularity, in fact, has never been bounded 
 by party lines, men of all shades of political belief recogniz- 
 ing the fact that his splendid abilities are available for the 
 welfare of the whole people. Though not entirely unknown 
 in the State at large when he entered the Assembly, his 
 talents commanded speedy recognition in that body, and his 
 skill as a debater and his legislative efficiency were soon 
 apparent. In the fall of 1871 he was again placed in nomi- 
 nation, and though his opponent was the strongest Democrat 
 in the district, and a man who had served two ferms in the 
 Assembly and one in the State Senate, Mr. Prince received 
 a majority of 1,169. In the fall of 1872 he received the ex- 
 traordinary compliment of a request for his continuance in 
 office, signed by over 2,000 voters, irrespective of party. He 
 was thereupon nominated by acclamation, and elected with- 
 out opposition. Such tribute to high personal character and 
 exceptional official fidelity, is rarely extended to a public 
 man, and all who know Mr. Prikce will readily admit that it 
 was in every way deserved. Last fall he was tendered the 
 Senatorial nomination, but he declined it for reasons in the 
 highest degree honorable to him. He received a unanimous 
 renomination for the Assembly, and was elected by a vote of 
 2,424 against 401, for his nominal opponent, J. H. Wright. 
 In the ensuing canvass for the Speakership, he was the oppo- 
 nent of Mr. HuSTED in the caucus. The contest was close 
 and exciting, but it was conducted with entire good feeling 
 on both sides ; and though Mr. Prin'CE was defeated, it 
 furnished another proof of the high estimation in which he 
 is held by the people. The fact that he was, in an especial 
 sense, the candidate of those desiring purity and reform in 
 legislation, was exceedingly creditable to him. 
 
 His service in the Assembly has been an honorable one. 
 As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee during this and 
 the last two sessions, his labors have not onh^ been multifari- 
 ous and arduous, but exceedingly valuable to the State. It 
 was his province during the winter of 1872, to conduct the 
 
L. Bradford Prince. 275 
 
 investigation into the official conduct of Judges Bari^ard, 
 Cardozo and McCunn. This investigation extended from 
 February 19 to April 10, during which time 239 witnesses 
 were examined, and over 2,400 pages of evidence t^iken. The 
 thoroughness and fairness with which the investigation was 
 prosecuted secured tlie approbation of all parties, and its 
 results form the brightest page in the history of that Leg- 
 islature. The verdict of the committee was so evidently 
 based upon justice and evidence, that it met with very 
 general acquiescence. The report in favor of impeaching 
 two of the judges and removing the other, was adopted 
 by the House, and, in the choice of managers to conduct 
 the impeachment trial, which, as is known, resulted in the 
 disgrace of Judge Barnard, Mr. Prince received 110 of the 
 113 votes cast by the House, the others chosen varying from 
 104 to 50 each. He was also appointed to proceed to the 
 Senate and formally impeach Judge Barnard at its bar, for 
 high crimes and misdemeanors. He was active in the 
 matter until the trial closed, and it is probably due to him 
 more than any other one man, that the Judiciary of the 
 State was relieved of the disgrace that would have attended 
 Barnard's retention on the Bench. 
 
 Mr. Prince has, during his whole legislative career, been 
 the uncompromising foe of special legislation. He favors 
 the passage of no act the object of which can be attained 
 under a general law, or which can be taken care of by the 
 boards of supervisors. As a result of his influence and 
 efforts, the volume of annual legislation has been materially 
 reduced, to the decided advantage of the State. In the pres- 
 ent session, besides the Chairmanship of the Judiciary Com- 
 mittee (which committee annually considers nearly 400 bills, 
 having < ver one-quarter of the legislation of the State 
 referred to it), he is member of the Committees on Ways and 
 Means and Rules. 
 
 It is not alone, however, in the field of politics or law that 
 Mr. Prince has won honor and fame. He is well known, also, 
 
276 Life' Sketches. 
 
 as a thoughtful writer and lecturer on various topics, among 
 which, perhaps, those relating to Legislative and Govern- 
 mental Reform have attracted the widest notice. Several 
 years ago he wrote a work entitled "E Pluribus Unum, or, 
 American Nationality," which passed through several editions, 
 and was warmly commended by statesmen and political scien- 
 tists. Not long since he delivered a lecture in New York and 
 several other cities, in which some of the evils of the present 
 system of law-making were severely handled. He inveighed 
 very strongly, in particular, against special and local legisla- 
 tion, the bulk of which has compelled much of the import- 
 ant work of every session to be crudely and hastily performed. 
 His suggestions attracted much attention, and some of them 
 have been embodied in the constitutional amendments now 
 pending. Mr. Peince is also a prominent member of the 
 Masonic fraternity, having been D. D. Grand Master of 
 Queens and Suftblk counties for three terms. For ten years 
 he was Superintendent or Director of the Queens County 
 Agricultural Society, and during eight years has been an 
 officer of the Long Island Historical Society. With all his 
 attainments, Mr. Prince is a quiet, courteous, unassuming 
 gentleman, strictly conscientious in all his dealings with 
 others, and it is evident that still greater honors are in store 
 for him in the future. 
 
 TEREENCE J. QUINN. 
 
 The Third Albany district is this year represented by one 
 of the best known Democrats of the Capital city. Mr. 
 QuiNN has long been prominent in Albany politics, and is 
 exceedingly popular among the young Democrats of that 
 city. Being a business man and owner of a large property 
 in Albany, where he is a life-long resident, he is well quali- 
 fied to represent its industrial and commercial interests. 
 
Terrence J. QuiNN, 277 
 
 Terrence J. QuiNN was born in Albany, October 16, 
 1836. His parents, James and Ann Quinn, both deceased, 
 were natives of county Langford, Ireland. He was educated 
 in the common schools, and in Albany Academy. He early 
 became identified with the brewing interests of Albany, in 
 which his father was engaged, and has followed the business 
 up to the present time, being now a member of the brewing 
 and malting firm of Quinn & Nolan, whose brewery is one 
 of the largest in the city. In business circles, Mr. Quinn is 
 known as a man of probity and integrity, and his word is as 
 good as his bond anywhere in the city. 
 
 When the late war broke out Mr. Quinn was among the 
 first who volunteered. He was a lieutenant in company B, 
 Twenty-fifth regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., and that regiment 
 was the first that left Albany for the front, in April, 1861. 
 It was placed in an important position on Arlington Heights, 
 and it was Lieutenant Quinn's fortune to capture the first 
 prisoner taken in the war, on the morning when the gallant 
 Col. Ellsworth was shot Lieutenant Quinn served 
 through the term of three months in front of Washington, 
 and was also with the regiment during a second three 
 months term at a later period, when it performed exceed- 
 ingly arduous service at Suffolk, Va. 
 
 As we have intimated, Mr. Quinn has long been promi- 
 nent in the local politics of Albany. He has held several 
 positions of trust in the gift of his party, and frequently 
 served on General and Ward Committees. He has also been 
 four times elected a member of the Board of Aldermen, serv- 
 ing in all, some seven years in the board. In the recent 
 canvass a Republican of high character, Mr. Henry W. 
 DwiGHT, was placed in nomination against him, but he de- 
 feated him by a majority of 818, which, considering the dis- 
 couragement incident to a threatened division in the Demo- 
 cratic ranks, was doing remarkably well. His legislative 
 career has thus far been a quiet one. He is not particularly 
 troubled with the oratorical gift, but he nevertheless ex- 
 
278 Life Sketches. 
 
 presses himself freely and plainly, whenever matters which 
 interest his constituents are under discussion. He is a mem- 
 ber of the Committees on Militia and Federal Relations. 
 
 Mr. Quii;ri^ was married on the 30th of October, 1866, to 
 Antstie T. Lawlor. In religion he is a Roman Catholic. 
 Connected with several military organizations, and having 
 been a member of the Jackson Corps since its foundation and 
 aiding it materially in its success, a member of different char- 
 itable, literary and other societies, he has scattered with a 
 .liberal hand the w^ealth he has earned. He is a man of genial 
 manners, generous instincts and numerous graces of character, 
 and possesses most of the qualities of mind and heart which 
 win popularity. 
 
 JAMES RYAN. 
 
 James Rya2:T represents, for the second time, ward seven 
 of New York city, which constitutes the Fourth Assembly 
 district of the metropolis. He was elected in 1872 by a 
 majority of 635 over his Apollo Hall opponent, JoHJsi" Gal- 
 viK. Last fall his majority was 131 over Charles Reilly, 
 Republican and Apollo Hall. He is of Irish descent, is an 
 inflexible adherent of the Tammany wing of the Democracy, 
 and is a man of social instincts, agreeable manners, and 
 much ability as a legislator. Last year he was a member 
 of the Committees on Internal Affairs, and Expenditures of 
 the Executive Department, and this year he is on Internal 
 Affairs, and Sub-Committee of the Whole. 
 
Jonah Sanford. 279 
 
 JONAH SANFORD. 
 
 Jonah Sanford was born in Hopkinton, St. Lawrence 
 county, New York, on the 24th of October, 1821. In 1847 
 he married Clarinda Risdon, daughter of Elisha Risdon, 
 one of the earhest settlers of the town — a man of sterling in- 
 tegrity and unimpeachable character, and for many years a 
 general land agent. Mr. Sanford is a son of the late Judge 
 Jonah Sanford, a man who deserres more than a passing 
 notice in this sketch. Judge Sanford was one of the most 
 remarkable men Northern New York has ever known. He 
 was the intimate friend and associate of such men as Silas 
 Wright and Preston King, and it is but paying a just 
 tribute to his memory, when we say, that no man labored 
 more arduously and successfully for the advancement of the 
 interests of his locality than he. He was the son of Hon. 
 Benjamin Sanford of Cornwall, Vermont, and was born 
 November 30, 1790. His parents being poor, his early advan- 
 tages were meagre indeed, and at the age of twenty he started 
 westward with all his possessions upon his back, and after 
 some difficulty selected a spot in Hopkinton, where he set to 
 work to construct out of the primitive and almost unbroken 
 wilderness a home. Here he incessantly toiled, and being a man 
 of indefatigable industry he succeeded in wresting from 
 stubborn nature a fine homestead upon which h^ resided 
 till his death, on the 25th of December, 1867. Soon after 
 settling in Hopkinton, he purchased a few text-books of law 
 and set to work with a heroic will for their mastery, and he soon 
 became by his persistent energy quite proficient in the funda- 
 mental principles of the law. For many years thereafter he 
 was one of the most successful, if not one of the ablest prac- 
 titioners of the law in Northern New York. He held many 
 important civic and military positions ; was Justice of the 
 Peace and Supervisor of the town for several years, Member 
 
280 Life Sketches. 
 
 of the Legislature, Judge of the County Court, Member of 
 Congi'ess for the unexpired term of the late Silas Weight, 
 (when the latter was elected Comptroller) and a member of 
 the Constitutional Convention of 1846. In the military 
 service he began as a volunteer in the war of 1812, and was 
 present at the battle of Plattsburgh September 11, 1814. By 
 successive promotions he rose to the rank of Brigadier-Gen- 
 eral, being the successor in the latter capacity of Governor 
 Wright. In 1827 he was appointed a Commissioner to lay 
 out, and build the Port Kent Road through a wild wilderness 
 of fifty miles, a work of great difficulty. But the noblest effort 
 of his life perhaps, and by which he will be longest remem- 
 bered, was his organization, armament and discipline of the 
 92d New York Regiment of Volunteers when seventy-one 
 years of age, and which he led as Colonel to the seat of war 
 on the James. In politics he was a Democrat till the organ- 
 ization of the Republican party, to which he early united; 
 and its principles found in him an earnest advocate and 
 steadfast adherent. He was a man of noble figure and com- 
 manding presence, a fluent and forcible speaker, courteous 
 in debate and always yielding a point when convinced of his 
 error. He was especially fond of the society of young men, 
 and exerted a great influence over them. Being a man of 
 large size and giant physical power, his endurance was won- 
 derful. Once entered upon a task, nothing could prevent 
 its accomplishment. His example and worth as a man will 
 be long remembered. 
 
 Mr. Sanford, the son, attended school in the winters only 
 of his boyhood, and completed his education in the St. Law- 
 rence Academy, at Potsdam, N. Y. On arriving at majority, 
 he spent the first four years following as superintendent of 
 his father's farm. He then moved upon a small farm of his 
 own, and toiled with such perseverance that he was soon 
 able to purchase a larger property, upon which he has since 
 resided, and to which he has added extensively. He also 
 turned his attention to manufacturing and speculation, and 
 
Jonah Sanford. 281 
 
 by the aid of good judgment and management has succeeded 
 in accumulating a competence. In politics he was a Demo- 
 crat up to the organization of the Republican party, to 
 which he early united, and to which he has steadfastly 
 adhered. His first vote as a Republican was for Fremont, 
 in 1856. His townsmen have often called him to positions of 
 trust, and have always re-elected him by an overwhelming 
 vote. In 1862 he was appointed Assistant Assessor of Inter- 
 nal Revenue, by the Secretary of the Treasury, which position 
 he held till the consolidation of the system, in 1872. As an 
 Assessor he bore a high reputation for his promptness in the 
 performance of his duties, his faithfulness to the government, 
 and his exactness in the affairs of the office. At the termina- 
 tion of his duties, the Assessor thanked him in warm terms 
 for the prompt and efficient manner in which he had per- 
 formed his duties. 
 
 In August, 1862, he was appointed Enrolling Officer for his 
 town. In 1867, some eighty enterprising and well-to-do 
 farmers of the towns of Lawrence, Hopkinton, Parish ville 
 and Dickinson established a union store. Mr. S. was and still 
 is its President. Under his judicious management it has 
 prospered financially beyond expectation. 
 
 He was first elected Supervisor of his town in 1868, and 
 has been annually elected by a two-third majority ever since, 
 being the first wlio has held the position for more than two 
 years in succession. The fact that he has been each time 
 opposed by a Republican (except last year, when he had no 
 opposition), speaks well for his performance of the duties of 
 the trust. Mr. S. is, at the present time, a Vice-President 
 of the St. Lawrence County Agricultural Society, and also a 
 Director of the Raquette Valley Agricultural Society. 
 
 He was the first man nominated in the State last fall, and 
 the Courier and Freeman thus spoke of him at the time : 
 
 " Mr. S. is the present Supervisor of the town of Hopkinton, 
 is a son of the late Judge Sanford, is an extensive and wealthy 
 farmer, an ardent Republican, and a judicious, upright and safe 
 36 
 
282 Life Sketches. 
 
 man. He is the first man nominated for the Assembly, and is 
 worthy of the vanguardship in initiating the political cam- 
 paign of 1873. His nomination is a significant omen of leg- 
 islative purity and reform." 
 
 Mr. SAi^^FORD is an active, upright business man — a man 
 of large and varied experience — affable in his manners, and 
 pleasing in appearance. Though not of the " talking- 
 machine" class, he expresses his opinion when he thinks it 
 his duty, and always to the point. He is not one of those 
 " who wear their heart out on their sleeve," but looks on the 
 bright side of things generally. Few men enjoy with 
 keener relish tne pleasure of social intercourse. He gives 
 freely to all benevolent and charitable purposes, and is a 
 thoroughly public-spirited man. All movements for the 
 benefit of the public, or undertakings to alleviate the dis- 
 tresses of personal misfortune have his hearty support and 
 pecuniary aid. Judging from his past record, we bespeak for 
 him a successful career in the new field to which he has been 
 chosen with such substantial unanimity. 
 
 GEORGE SCHERMAN. 
 
 Mr. ScHERMAN represents the Eighth New York district, 
 which, until within a year or two, has been Democratic. He 
 was born in Germany, on the 29th of July, 1838, came to 
 this country at an early age, and was married to Magdalen" A 
 Stoll, in New York, on the 4th of January, 1869. He 
 received a good common-school education, and learning the 
 trade of blacksmith, followed that occupation a number of 
 years. For the past five years, however, he has filled the 
 office of inspector of customs of the port of New York. 
 He has been a Eepublican since 1856, and has steadily acted 
 with the pai'ty, possessing a good deal of influence among 
 his German fellow-citizens. His seat in the Assembly, to 
 
Frederick Schifferdecker, 283 
 
 which he was chosen by a plurality of 387, is contested by 
 Martin Nachtmaitn, a former member, and Jacob Mes- 
 SER. Mr. ScHERMAN" serves on the Committees on Internal 
 Affairs, and Federal Relations. He is a Protestant in reli- 
 gious belief, and though a quiet, undemonstrative member, 
 is exceedingly valuable as a working legislator. 
 
 FREDERICK SCHIFFERDECKER. 
 
 Mr. ScHiFPERDECKER, of the first Albany district, is per- 
 haps as good a specimen of the Teutonic element in American 
 civilization, as we would be apt to meet with anywhere. He 
 is a thorough German, but he is Americanized to that extent 
 that he is devotedly attached to the institutions of the new 
 world, and he would resent as an insult any intimation that 
 he is other than a truly loyal citizen of the republic. No 
 one who knows him, however, would venture to make such 
 an intimation, inasmuch as he has proved his loyalty and 
 right to citizenship upon more than a score of hard-fought 
 battle-fields, and still bears the scars of honorable service in 
 the army of the Republic. He was born in Baden, Germany, 
 on the 2d of February, 1836, and came to this country when 
 only eleven years of age. His grandfather, Henry Schif- 
 FERDECKER, was, during a term of seven years, a member of 
 the First Napoleon's body guard, and was a splendid speci- 
 men of physical manhood, being over six feet in height. 
 Henry Schifferdecker, father of the present Assembly- 
 man, ran away from Baden, when the revolution broke out 
 in 1848. He came to this country with his family, leaving 
 behind him extensive property, he being a man of consider- 
 able means. 
 
 Young Schifferdecker was educated mainly in the 
 German common schools. After coming to this country, 
 he went to work in a furnace at seventy-five cents a week. 
 
284 Life Sketches. 
 
 That sum would then go much farther than it does now, but 
 it did not satisfy our hero, who, after helping George 
 Schwartz awhile at butchering, got a very good job in 
 John McB. Davidson's safe factory. There he worked 
 seven years. Then he went to Schenectady and resumed 
 butchering, and after an experience of a few months he lost 
 every dollar he had. Then he tried boiler making in the 
 Hudson River Railroad shops for a few months — all this 
 previous to his twenty-first year. In 1857, he was married 
 to Anna Rapp, and shortly after resumed butchering and 
 also resumed the wholesale meat business. In this he had 
 rather varying success, but when the war broke out he 
 was doing well. 
 
 Shortly after the commencement of hostilities, he recruited 
 a company for the 46th New York Volunteers, and was 
 elected its First Lieutenant, but failed to get his com- 
 mission. He went to the front, however, as a private, was 
 soon advanced to the grade of sergeant, and on the 1st 
 of March, 1862, was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and 
 detailed to the quartermaster's department. The regiment 
 was then under Gen. Terry in South Carolina. In the 
 June following, after the battle of James Island, he was 
 promoted to First Lieutenant, and detailed to duty on the 
 staff of Gen. Terry. He served with the regiment to the 
 end of the war, performing duty on the Atlantic coast, in 
 Virginia and Maryland, in Tennessee, and in Mississippi at 
 the siege of Vicksburg. On the 18th of October, at the 
 close of the battle of Antietam, in which he distinguished 
 himself, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. At 
 Petersburgh, Va., he was in command of the regiment, and 
 was wounded in the arm. He was also wounded in the 
 right shoulder at Somerset, Ky. During his long and 
 arduous service, he participated in numerous battles, among 
 the most important of which were those fought at Port Royal, 
 Fort Pulaski, James Island, second Bull Run, Chantilly, South 
 Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburgh, Vicksburgh, Jack- 
 
Frederick Schifferdecker, 285 
 
 Bonville, Strawberry Plain, Loudon and Knoxville. He was 
 with the Ninth corps in the famous Wilderness battles in 
 Virginia, and during the terrible campaign which ended 
 with the surrender of the rebel army at Appomattox. His 
 army record is in every way one to be proud of. He was 
 brave almost to rashness, and ever ready and enthusiastic in 
 the performance of duty. His many generous qualities also 
 made him a favorite among officers and men, all of whom 
 were greatly attached to him. 
 
 The war over, Mr. Schiffehdecker gladly returned to 
 the domestic hearth and peaceful pursuits. He resumed his 
 old business of butchering and meat-selling, which he still 
 continues, and he is now comfortably well off. From an 
 early age he has been active in politics. First, strange as 
 it may seem, he was a " Know Nothing." He soon, however, 
 became identified with the Republican party, and has ever 
 since been an active worker in the ranks of that organiza- 
 tion. He has not held many political offices. At different 
 times he has been an inspector of meat and cattle, and clerk 
 of the Albany market, and was a rinderpest commissioner in 
 the town of Bethlehem. He was also a member of the 
 Albany Board of Supervisors in the years 1870 and 1871. 
 These, we believe, sum up the public positions he has held; 
 but in all of them he showed ability, and he has always been a 
 hard worker in the ranks of the party, and very popular 
 among the Republicans of Albany. His Assembly district 
 is a close one, and sometimes sends a Democrat to the Legisla- 
 ture. He carried it, however, against a very popular Demo- 
 crat, Barent S. Winne. As a member of the Committees 
 on Two-thirds and Three-fifth Bills, Expenditures of the 
 Executive Department, and Expenditures of the House, he 
 has proved to be an active and efficient member. To out- 
 side view Mr. Schifferdecker appears somewhat rough 
 and unpolished, but the roughness is more apparent than 
 real, as he is generous to a fault, courteous and kindly to all, 
 and overflowing with genial good nature. 
 
Life Sketches, 
 
 STEPHEN D. SHATTUCK. 
 
 The first district of Steuben ranks among the " closely con- 
 tested " localities of the State, and neither party can claim a 
 monopoly of its representation. This year Mr. Shattuck, 
 an able and well known Democrat, has the honor of repre- 
 senting it in the Assembly. He is a man about the middle 
 age, rather undersized, active and full of vitality, and amply 
 qualified to fill his responsible position. He was born in 
 Oohocton, where he still resides, on the 5th of April, 1828. 
 Educated mainly in the common schools, and being a man 
 of keen powers of observation, he is well informed upon all 
 subjects which would naturally engage the attention of the 
 average legislator. He commenced his business life, at the 
 age of 18, as clerk in a store, and going into business for 
 himself in the course of time, he has followed mercantile 
 pursuits ever since, being reasonably successful. 
 
 Always a straightforward and consistent Democrat, Mr. 
 Shattuck has been active in politics since his youth. 
 During the Rebellion he was prominent as a War Democrat, 
 giving his active co-operation to the work of filling the mil- 
 itary quotas of his town and county. He has held several 
 town offices, and during a period of five years was a member 
 of the Steuben county Board of Supervisors. He was elected 
 to the Assembly last fall by a majority of 455 over Charles 
 K. Minor, his Republican opponent, and serves on the Com- 
 mittees on Banks and Sub-Committee of the Whole. He is 
 a Universalist in religious belief, and possesses many of those 
 traits of character which win popularity and respect. 
 
George Sherwood. 287 
 
 GEORGE SHERWOOD. 
 
 Mr. Sherwood was born at McDonoiigh Springs, Chenango 
 county, January 18, 1820. His grandfather, on his father's 
 side, was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and served during 
 the seven years. His mothers father was Rev. David Bud- 
 long, a pioneer Baptist minister in Oneida county. His 
 advantages for acquiring an education were limited, and 
 consibted of very irregular attendance at a country common 
 school, as such schools were thirty years ago. But notwith- 
 standing his early disadvantages, he has absorbed, from much 
 reading, a practical education, and acquired a good under- 
 standing of the world, if not of the Latin and Greek 
 classics. 
 
 He has always followed the occupation of a farmer, and 
 now owns and resides upon a faim a short distance from 
 Binghamton, and overlooking the city. His wife, whom he 
 married twenty-five years ago, is a daughter of Allen C. 
 Jeffords, a surveyor, and a citizen somewhat prominent in 
 the northern part of Broome county. In personal appear- 
 ance, Mr. Sherwood indicates that he is a laboring man in 
 his occupation, and not in any sense a "fancy farmer." He 
 is of medium height, somewhat stout, black, bushy hair and 
 beard sprinkled with gray, piercing black eyes and well- 
 marked features, which are unmistakable evidences of 
 firmness. 
 
 Following, perhaps, the predilections of his mother, he 
 early united with the Baptist church, and has since been 
 a communicant, although from settled convictions he has for 
 several years refused to taste fermented wine at communion. 
 For a time his refusal to touch the wine used in his church 
 was regarded as a tentative, and was the subject of severe 
 criticism. He was denounced as a " one-idea man ; " but his 
 ** one idea" was finally acknowledged to be singleness of pur- 
 
288 Life Sketches, 
 
 pose, and now his pastor, the Rev. In^kis Wright, D. D., 
 and a large portion of his congregation are fully in accord 
 with Mr. Sherwood on the subject of communion wine. 
 
 As might be supposed from his views upon the sacrament, 
 Mr. Sherwood is a zealous temperance man. He has given 
 much time to the cause, in lecturing, speaking and working 
 for it He holds no association more precious than the 
 church, but the church usages, when they conflict with his 
 views on temperance, must submit to a modification, or he 
 dissents. It is so in politics and all things else. He was 
 prominent in the Maine law movement in this State, and 
 was a delegate to the convention that nominated Hon. 
 Myron" H. Clark for Governor in 1854. His political 
 antecedents had been with the original abolitionists, when 
 to advocate the universal manumission of slaves required 
 more nerve than it did subsequently to take up a musket 
 and march with the **' three hundred thousand more " to put 
 down the slavery rebelHon. So few were the abolition voters 
 in his section that tickets were not distributed to them, and 
 Mr. Sherwood frequently voted a ticket cut from a news- 
 paper, or copied the names from posters. Still he voted, 
 although nearly alone, for the abolitionists' principles, rather 
 than for men, until the Republican party organized, in 1856, 
 to vote witli him. Since the Republican party has existed 
 he has been one of its most ardent supporters. 
 
 Notwithstanding Mr. Sherwood has been elected to office, 
 he was never an aspirant for political positions. In 1870 he 
 was chosen to represent his town — that of Binghamton — 
 in the Board, of Supervisors. The campaign that resulted 
 in his election to the Assembly had features of peculiar 
 interest. His nomination was unsought and unexpected, 
 and almost without his knowledge that his name was to be 
 presented to the convention. In a speech, accepting the 
 nomination, he said that his motto was " Purity and 
 Righteousness." The motto was acceptable to the Republi- 
 cans of Broome, and Mr. Sherwood received 3,909 votes. 
 
Charles Simon. 289 
 
 His opponent was J. Stewart Wells, a wealthy manu- 
 facturer. The Democrats made a special effort to elect Mr. 
 Wells, by concejitratiug their votes, means and tactics upon 
 him. He received 3,364 votes. 
 
 Mr. Sherwood's course in the Assembly thus far has shown 
 that he is faithfully endeavoring to act strictly in accordance 
 with the principles embodied in his striking motto. His 
 voice and his vote are invariably given upon the side of 
 purity and righteousness, and several brief speeches, made in 
 the interest of economy in the expenditure of the people's 
 money, have attracted wide attention. His oratorical efforts 
 are quaintly original in their style, and the language is the 
 strongest Anglo-Saxon, put with almost startling directness. 
 He uses expressions, sometimes, which sound strangely, but 
 no one can gainsay the truth of what he says, or withstand 
 the force of his honest logic. He holds what now-a-days 
 would be deemed old-fashioned views, but it would be vastly 
 better for the country were such views more widely current 
 among our public men. 
 
 CHARLES SIMON. 
 
 Mr. SiMOX is a wide-awake and energetic German citizen 
 of Syracuse, which he in part represents in the present 
 Assembly. He was born in Prussia, February 24th, 1837, 
 came to this country at an early age, and was married on 
 the 22d of March, 1856, to Catharina Poeklman-, of Syra- 
 cuse. His parents are both deceased. 
 
 He received a common school education, and has been 
 engaged, during most of his life, in mercantile business, 
 being a dealer in boots and shoes. For six years, ending in 
 March of the present year, he has been City Assessor of 
 Syracuse, and has filled the office to universal satisfaction. 
 37 
 
290 Life Sketches. 
 
 His opponent in the late canvass was John I. Furbeck, who 
 was elected last year by a majority of 639. Mr. Simok's 
 official majority last fall was 174. Mr. Fukbeck interposed 
 a claim for the seat at the beginning of the session, but 
 becoming satisfied that he could not sustain it, he afterward 
 withdrew from the contest. 
 
 Mr. Simo;n' is a man about the medium height, but solidly 
 built, with broad features, florid complexion and liglit hair. 
 His face indicates capacity and intelligence, and he evi- 
 dently fully apprehends the duties of legislation. He has 
 little to say, but he is seldom absent from his seat, and 
 watches with close interest the progress of law-making. 
 
 GEORGE B, SLOAN. 
 
 Mr. Sloan represents a district — the First of Oswego — 
 which has a habit of sending its best men to the Assembly. 
 The custom is one good enough to be followed by any 
 locality, and were it more generally the rule we should un- 
 questionably secure better laws and greater wisdom in legis- 
 lation. As the successor of Mr. Fort, whose reputation 
 throughout the State is well, known, we have another solid 
 business man, and a man whose wealth and social posi- 
 tion place him far above any suspicion of selfish motives 
 in accepting the important trust which he is faithfully dis- 
 charging. Mr. Sloan's life has thus far been spent in 
 Oswego. There he has made his reputation, and it is not too 
 much to say that no man in Oswego is more highly re- 
 garded. He is devoted to the interests of that city, and his 
 ability is such that he is well able to take care of those inter- 
 ests in whatever representative position he may be placed. 
 
 Mr. Sloan was born in Oswego, June 20, 1832. His 
 father, James Sloan, was a native of Massachusetts, and 
 
George B. Sloan. 291 
 
 emigrated to this State in 1825. His mother was of New 
 Hampshire birth. After receiving a good common-school 
 education, he entered a dry goods store at the age of four- 
 teen as clerk. Two years later he became a clerk in an 
 Oswego milling and produce house, in which he remained 
 eight years. He applied himself diligently and faithfully to 
 his duties, and missed no opportunity of acquiring the tech- 
 nical and practical knowledge so essential to a successful 
 commercial career. In 1854, being twenty-two years of age, 
 he formed a partnership with Mr. H. C. Wright in the grain 
 and commission business. This, however, was dissolved in 
 1856, and he entered into a similar relationship with Cheney 
 Ames, formerly a State Senator from the Oswego District 
 He continued with Mr. Ames until 1864, when, in connec- 
 tion with Theodore Irwin, a business man widely and 
 favorably known, he established the house of Erwin & 
 Sloan, which has had a prosperous existence ever since, 
 occupying a high position for financial strength and charac- 
 ter throughout the grain markets of the West and Canada. 
 
 It will thus be observed that Mr. Sloan has literally 
 grown up with the city of Oswego, and is closely identified 
 with its material prosperity. In business circles, he bears the 
 highest reputation for integrity and probity of character, 
 while he possesses the tact, judgment and energy essential to 
 successful business life, and without which substantial suc- 
 cess cannot be attained. As a result he now occupies a high 
 standing in Oswego, and he may fairly be credited with being 
 one of the instrumentalities by which that city has been 
 placed in her present important commercial position. 
 
 It is to be expected that such a man would take an active 
 interest in politics, so far at least as to contribute his eff'orts 
 and influence to secure good government for his native city. 
 This he has always done freely and willingly, and while he 
 has been averse to seeking or holding ofiice, he has never 
 withheld such aid as was in his power to those who have 
 labored to place good men in the public service. His first 
 
292 Life Sketches. 
 
 Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Feemoistt in 1856, and 
 since then he has invariably supported Republican principles 
 and nominees. Receiving the unanimous nomination of his 
 Republican District Convention last fall, he was constrained 
 to accept the x\ssembly candidacy, and the fact that he was 
 elected by nearly 1,200 majority, though Mr. Fort received 
 but 129 majority the previous year, is a good indication of 
 his popularity at home. It only remains to add that his 
 course in the Assembly has fully justified the confidence of 
 his constituents, as he is making an honorable record. He is 
 not only watchful of the interests of his immediate con- 
 stituency in the House, but matters pertaining to State 
 policy, and especially the management of the canals and 
 educational institutions of the State, receive from him such 
 attention as their importance merits. Though a fluent and 
 graceful speaker, it is only occasionally that he takes part in 
 the debates, and when he does so, his speeches are short, 
 practical and to the point — eminently characteristic of the 
 man. His views are mainly found to be sound and sensible, 
 and his arguments well considered and convincing. 
 
 In personal appearance, Mr. Sloak is a plain, every-day 
 sort of man. He is rather below the medium height, but 
 his frame is well filled out without the slightest tendency to 
 thp aldermanie stylr^ of physical development. He is rather 
 dark in feature, and a heavy moustache droops over a well 
 set mouth which readily expands into a smile, being aided 
 and abetted thereto by a chronic twinkle which sparkles in 
 his black eyes. Pleasant and courteous to all with whom 
 he comes in contact, strictly just and conscientious in all 
 his relations, and possessing a happy and genial disposition, 
 Mr. Sloan" certain 'y embodies all the elements of the 
 thorough gentleman. We are fairly justified, now that he 
 has entered upon public life, in predicting for him a bril- 
 liant and useful career. He was married in 1856 to the 
 youngest daughter of the late Albert Oran"E of Oswego, 
 and has three children. 
 
Hugh Sinrm 293 
 
 HUGH SMITH. 
 
 Mr. Smith, the representative of the Second district of 
 Jefferson, was born in Buckingham, Bucks county, Pennsyl- 
 vania, January 27, 1811, being the son of Joseph and Han- 
 nah Smith. His father's family moved into Brownville, 
 Jefferson county, the home of General Brown, in April, 
 1820. In September of the ensuing year his father died, 
 leaving a family of seven children, ranging in age from four 
 to sixteen years, in the hands of a mother, to be reared and 
 cared for amid strangers, with the discouragements of 
 sickness and debt, and upon a farm but a small portion of 
 which was cleared and improved. The faithful mother'^ 
 task was performed, however, with a tact and success rarely 
 excelled, and she became widely known and respected. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the fourth of the family. 
 He spent his time continuously on the farm, attending the 
 common district school a fev/ months in the year, up to the 
 age of twenty-five, excepting the winters spent in teaching, 
 and also a portion of 1835 spent in the employ of a brother 
 in doing work about a store. 
 
 He moved to Perch River in the spring of 1836, and in 
 company with others, purchased landed and store property 
 and engaged in the business of merchandising and farming, 
 in which, with various partners, he has continued up to the 
 present time, engaged also during the last eighteen years in the 
 produce and cattle trade with Mr. Henry Spicer, one of 
 the Grant Presidential Electors in the last Presidential 
 election, under the firm name of Smith & Spicer. He 
 has been reasonably successful in all his enterprises, and is 
 widely known as a prudent, safe and reliable business man. 
 
 He married Miss Charlotte Spicer, the daughter of 
 Silas F. and Charlotte Spicer of Perch River, in Septem- 
 
394 Life Sketches. 
 
 ber, 1836. He is a brother of Levi Smith, who for some 
 ten years was Town Clerk of the town of Brownville, and 
 afterward for nine years was Postmaster of the city of Water- 
 town under Lincoln and Grant. He is also the brother- 
 in-law of Hon. James A. Bell, for several terms Senator 
 from Lewis and Jefferson counties, and more recently Auditor 
 of the Canal Department. 
 
 With the exception of a postmastership, to which he was 
 first appointed in 1836, by Postmaster-General Kendall, 
 under the Jackson administration, and which he held con- 
 tinuously for a period of twenty-one years, Mr. Smith has 
 held no office of a political nature until his election to the 
 Assembly last fall. He has always been engaged more or less 
 in politics. During the famous Morgan excitement he was 
 known as an Anti-Mason, and took decided ground in the 
 controversy which then raged throughout the State. Subse- 
 quently, and until 1840, he acted with the Whig party ; but 
 in that year he became identified, morally and politically, 
 with the Abolition movement which was then beginning to 
 crystalize, and under that banner he steadily fought until 
 the year 1864, when Lincoln's emancipation proclamation 
 obviated the necessity of further warfare. At the start he 
 prompted the first Abolition organization in the town of 
 Brownville, Jefferson counfy, and a ticket was nominated in 
 part. The new organization was few in numbers, but it was 
 bound to grow. At the first town election in which it took 
 part, its ticket received but six votes. In the ensuing fall, 
 however, ten votes were cast, and in a few years there were 
 ninety Abolitionists in the town, holding the balance. He 
 was also active in the cause throughout the county, and to 
 some extent, in the State, being at different times nominated 
 for town and county offices. At one time he was the nominee 
 of the Abolition party for Congress. Since 1864 he has 
 been an earnest and consistent Kepublican, and wields large 
 influence in Jefferson county. Not only was Mr. Smith 
 actively connected with the Anti-Slavery movement of those 
 
Hugh Smith. 295 
 
 early days, but he was as deeply interested in the Temperance 
 agitation of that time, and even before the days of the Pro- 
 hibitory law, he was actively engaged in the effort to expel 
 licensed traffic in intoxicating liquors from his town, and as 
 a member of the first Temperance society in the town, and 
 also one of the town Excise Board, chosen with reference to 
 that object, his labors were exceedingly effective. In his 
 locality, the traffic, whether licensed or unlicensed, was ulti- 
 mately placed under the ban of public opinion. 
 
 He is still an active worker for the success of the Temper- 
 ance cause, believing fully in the right and the duty of the 
 people to protect themselves by " appropriate legislation " 
 from the pauperism, crime and taxation which grows natur- 
 ally and inevitably out of the traffic. 
 
 Mr. Smith was not a candidate for the office which he 
 now holds, but he accepted the position at the earnest solici- 
 tation of personal and political friends, receiving in his own 
 town election district all but eleven of the votes cast for 
 Assemblyman. His majority in the district was 196. After 
 his present term expires, he purposes to return to his home 
 and friends, and to " private " life. The people, however, 
 may direct otherwise, inasmuch as men of his stamp are not 
 80 plenty that he can conveniently be spared from the service 
 of the public. 
 
 Mr. Smith is of Quaker parentage, and certainly he seems 
 to possess all the stern virtues popularly ascribed to that sect. 
 He is not a member of any denomination, but he is never- 
 theless a firm believer in the Christian religion, and his con- 
 duct through life is based upon correct principles. Tall and 
 almost venerable in appearance, exceedingly modest and 
 unobtrusive in manner, and gifted with that native courtesy 
 and amiability which wins regard every where, Mr. Smith 
 has succeeded in securing universal respect during his stay 
 in Albany. 
 
Life Sketches, 
 
 JOSEPH W. SMITH. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born at Elysville, Erie 
 county, N. Y., on the 15th of November, 1831. His parents 
 emigrated to America from Lorraine, France, in the year 
 1829. The poverty of the newly arrived emigrants rendered 
 it necessary for all the members of the family to devote 
 their time and energy to provide a home and obtain a 
 livelihood ; hence but little attention could be devoted 
 to education, and such as was obtainable for a few weeks in 
 the winter from indifferent teachers was the only schooling 
 received by the elder children of the family. The younger 
 ones had a better opportunity, as the country became more 
 settled, and the affairs of the family more prosperous. 
 
 Mr. Smith has taken an active part in the politics of Erie 
 county since a very early age, being a leading Democrat, and 
 has frequently held public positions. In 1852, he was 
 elected Constable ; in 1854, he was appointed on the detective 
 force by the Mayor and Common Council of the city of 
 Buffalo, which position he held satisfactorily until 1857, 
 when he resigned and entered into the wholesale wine 
 and liquor trade. In 1860, he sold out his interest in the 
 wine and liquor business, and commenced the manufacture 
 and sale of tobacco and cigars. The same year he was 
 married to the eldest daughter of JoHiq" Dingers, who, in 
 1848, the year of his death, was one of the most prominent 
 merchants and citizens of Buffalo. 
 
 In 1862, Mr. Smith was elected Supervisor of the Fourth 
 ward of Buffalo. In 1864, he was urged to and did accept 
 the appointment of head keeper of the Erie county alms 
 house, which position he held four years, filling it to the 
 entire satisfaction of the public, but a law was passed taking 
 the appointment of the office away from the superintendent 
 
Robert A. Snyder. 297 
 
 of the poor and giving it to the Supervisors. The board 
 was Republican, and Mr. Smith was consequently removed. 
 
 In 1871 and 1872, he became engaged with a number of 
 capitalists in developing several silver mines at Thunder Bay, 
 Lake Superior. He is at present identified with four compan- 
 ies, being director in two, besides holding a large amount of 
 undeveloped territory. He holds a staff position in the 65th 
 Kegiment, New York National Guard. In the political 
 campaign that resulted in his election as Member of Assem- 
 bly from the second district of Erie county, he entered 
 the field but a few days before the 4th of November, with 
 but little prospect of election, his opponent having been 
 elected by a majority of some 800 the year previous, and the 
 district having previously given upward of 1,400 Republican 
 majority. Mr. Smith was determined to reduce the majority 
 even if he failed being elected, and his election by a majority 
 of nearly 300 shows the estimation in which he is held by 
 his constituents. 
 
 Mr. Smith is tall and fine looking. He has little to say 
 on the floor of the House, but he is always in his seat, and 
 evidently aims to do his duty faithfully and intelligently. 
 
 ROBERT A. SNYDER. 
 
 Mr. Snyder, who is from the First District of Ulster 
 county, is a young man of ability and shrewdness, and a plain 
 straightforward man of business. He prefers, as a rule, to let 
 others do the talking on the floor of the Assembly, but this 
 does not prove that he is entirely devoid of oratorical gifts. 
 On the contrary, he is well able to express his views in good 
 language, should the occasion arise. He is a pleasant-faced 
 dark complexioned man in the early prime of life, in full 
 health and vigor, active and energetic, and enthusiastic in 
 38 
 
298 Life Sketches. 
 
 the performance of any duty which is devolved upon him. 
 He comes to the Assembly with the prestige of having 
 defeated an active and popular Democratic competitor, and 
 undoubtedly ranks among the most efficient Republicans of 
 Ulster county. 
 
 Egbert A. 3kyder was born in the city of Poughkeepsie 
 on the 18th of May, 1836. He received his education mainly 
 in the common schools, and early became accustomed to 
 business habits of life. He was married at Oatskill on the 
 5th of March, 1863. After reaching man's estate, he became 
 engaged in the transportation business at Saugerties. In 
 that business, which he still follows, he has been quite suc- 
 cessful, and he controls an extensive trade on the Hudson 
 and other waters. Aside from these few facts, Mr. Si^"YDEr's 
 life presents little that would interest the public. It is the 
 life of an honest, useful citizen, and its record, though brief, 
 is honorable. In politics he has always been a Eepublican, 
 and has always been prominent in the local councils of that 
 party. Twice before he has been elected to office. In 1870 
 he was chosen Collector of the town of Saugerties, by a 
 majority of 250. Last year he was elected Supervisor from 
 the same town, by a majority of 275, and last fall he was sent 
 to the Assembly by a majority of 1,170, Peter Gill being 
 his opponent. The district, last year, gave a Democratic 
 majority of over 300. In each of those positions, Mr. Skyder 
 has demonstrated capability and fitness, and so performed 
 his duties as to win public approval. He has been placed on 
 the Committees on Commerce and Navigation and Federal 
 Relations. 
 
Charles JS. Spencer. 
 
 CHARLES S. SPENCER. 
 
 No man now in the Assembly is better known than Col. 
 Charles S. Spencer, of New York. One of the foremost 
 criminal lawyers of the New York bar, possessing rare 
 social qualities, a graceful, fluent and eloquent impromptu 
 speaker, and being a man who has for many years filled 
 a large place in popular attention and regard. Col. Spencer 
 is in every respect a satisfactory subject for the biographer. 
 Not only does he possess numerous personal traits which are 
 pleasant to contemplate, but his accomplishments are brilliant 
 and varied. He seems perfectly at home in any department 
 of learning, and his mind is equally well stored with 
 the wealth of the sages and poets of the past, and with 
 the more practical acquirements of the present. In all 
 that constitutes the gentleman of culture and refinement, 
 Col. Spencer is fully equipped, and when we add that 
 he possesses a grace of manner, a hearty good nature, and a 
 genial courtesy which never leave him, even in the most 
 exciting of the controversial tournaments in which he 
 frequently engages, we merely refer to characteristics which 
 are familiar to all who know the distinguished advocate. 
 There are few men in the Empire State who are the equals 
 of Col. Spencer as an off-hand orator, and those who 
 essay to cross swords with him on the floor of the Assembly, 
 do so warily and circumspectly. He is ready and merciless 
 at repartee, or in direct attack, while his keen shafts are 
 aimed directly and surely, hidden as they are, frequently, 
 even when the topic is common-place, by the most chaste 
 and ornate flights of eloquence. He seldom permits an 
 important question to pass without speaking upon it, and 
 while his views are usually original and sound, he invariably 
 makes every speech which he delivers, however short, the 
 vehicle of an apt allusion or palpable "hit" which sets 
 
300 Life Sketches. 
 
 the House in a roar and covers his opponent with con- 
 fusion. He elaborates his remarks with singular readiness. 
 The beauty of his gracefully turned periods would lead to 
 the impression that they had been carefully evolved in 
 the quiet of the library or study. No impression could 
 be farther from the truth. His speeches ordinarily are 
 dashed off on the spur of the moment, and with no 
 preparation whatever, and therein, perhaps, lies their prin- 
 cipal charm. In short he is in every respect a well-armed 
 and efficient legislator, who is an ornament to the House 
 and an honor to the great metropolis which he represents. 
 
 Ohaeles S. Spencer was born in Ithaca, Tompkins 
 county, February 13, 1824. His father was Hon. David D. 
 Spencer, a native of Ontario county, who died in 1855, and 
 who occupied a distinguished and influential position in the 
 State as Inspector of State Prisons, and editor and proprietor, 
 during a period of thirty-four years, of the Ithaca Ghro7iicle, 
 Ool. Seencer was educated at the academies in Syracuse, 
 Canandaigua and Ithaca, and at Williams College, graduat- 
 ing from the latter in 1844 with the highest honors of his 
 class, being selected to deliver the salutatory address. He 
 immediately applied himself to the study of law, and in 1847 
 he was admitted to the bar. In 1850 he removed to the city 
 of New York to fill a position in the Custom House. Soon 
 afterward he commenced the regular practice of his profes- 
 sion in the metropolis, and thus he has been engaged ever 
 since, winning the highest laurels as an eloquent pleader. 
 Though his practice embraces a wide range, his greatest 
 reputation has been achieved in criminal cases, in which he 
 has shown remarkable aptitude and ability. The record of 
 important cases, in which he has been retained, would make 
 an extended catalogue. It is sufficient to observe that he 
 has won an enviable and enduring reputation, and accumu- 
 lated a handsome fortune as the result of his long and honor- 
 able legal career. 
 
 Until the formation of the Republican party Colonel 
 
Charles S. Spencer. 301 
 
 Spencer was a Whig. Since 1856, however, he has steadily 
 acted with the Republicans,, being one of the most active 
 and zealous members of the party in New York city. He 
 takes especial pride in the fact that he has never changed, 
 neither when a portion of the party went over to Johnson 
 in 1866, nor, later, when another portion joined its fortunes 
 with Horace Greeley. He has not held many public posi- 
 tions, being averse to abandoning his profession for the 
 uncertain honors of political life. In 1859 he was a Mem- 
 ber of Assembly, and, during that session, he specially dis- 
 tinguished himself by his efforts in behalf of what was 
 known as the " Personal Liberty Bill,'^ and by his services 
 on the Judiciary Committee. In 1866 he ran for Congress, 
 in place of the late Henry J. Raymond, but he was defeated 
 by a coalition which was formed against him. During six- 
 teen years past he has represented his locality in the Repub- 
 lican State Conventions, and he was also a delegate to the two 
 last National Conventions of the party. In the late canvass, 
 he was opposed by Joseph H. Horton, and was elected to 
 the Assembly by a majority of 795. In that body he is 
 Chairman of the Committee on Militia and Member of Ways 
 and Means and Judiciary. 
 
 Colonel Spencer is Presbyterian in religious faith and 
 connection. He was married August 16, 1849, to Miss 
 Adelaide Loomis of Auburn, a niece of Dr. Edward 
 LooMis, formerly Member of Assembly from Oneida county. 
 He derives his military title from the fact that he is 
 Colonel Commanding Fifth Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., a pop- 
 ular metropolitan Regiment. He possesses a wide circle of 
 personal and political friends, and to all his friendships he 
 is as true as the needle to the pole. He is a man rather 
 below the medium height, but closely knit and well built. 
 His whole personality is instinct with restless, nervous 
 energy, and no member of the House is constantly more 
 active than the representative of the Thirteenth metropoli- 
 tan district. 
 
303 Life Sketches, 
 
 GEORGE W. SPENCER. 
 
 The two Spencers in the Assembly are alike only in name, 
 and it would be exceedingly difficult to find two men in 
 that body more dissimilar in personal characteristics. 
 He of the metropolis is brilliant, dashing and fond of contact 
 with his fellows. The gentleman from Penn Yan is modest, 
 retiring, and content to perform his allotted life-work with- 
 out the incentive of popular applause. The one is a lawyer 
 whose praises fame has sounded far and wide ; the other is a 
 plain farmer, possessing honesty and ability, comparatively 
 indifferent to the praise or censure of the great world, and 
 scarcely known beyond a limited circle. The subject of our 
 sketch, however, enjoys considerable local prominence, and 
 possesses in large degree the confidence and esteem of his 
 immediate fellow-citizens. This, doubtless, fills the measure 
 of his ambition, as far as popular approval is concerned. 
 
 George W. Spejtcer was born in Benton, Yates county, 
 February 2, 1821. He is the son of Elijah Spej^cer, a 
 native of Columbia county, in this State, and now deceased, 
 who, during a long and useful life, held numerous offices of 
 public trust, serving in the State Assembly, and also in Con- 
 gress. He was a prominent member of the Constitutional 
 Convention of 1846. The younger Spe]S"CER was brought 
 up a farmer, and received a good education at Penn Yan 
 Academy, but though thus qualified for a more strictly intel- 
 lectual occupation, he chose, on reaching manhood, to adhere 
 to the farm, and we still find him recorded as an agriculturist. 
 On February 11, 1852, he married Elizabeth M. Wheeler, 
 and as a result of a life of industry, he possesses a comfort- 
 able homestead, and is the head of a happy family circle. 
 
 Mr. Spencer's earliest political connection was with the 
 old Whig party. When that party ceased to exist he became 
 identified with the Democracy, and has since acted there- 
 
Orrin T. Stacy. 303 
 
 with. Thongh always active as a Democrat, he has never 
 been inclined to forsake his honorable calling for the allure- 
 ments of office. Only once before has he filled an official 
 station of prominence. In 1871 he was elected County Clerk 
 of Yates county. In the performance of the duties of that 
 office, he exhibited a regard for the public interests, and a 
 zeal in the performance of his duty, not always characteristic 
 of public servants. So well, indeed, was the people satisfied 
 with him, that his promotion was decided upon, and he was 
 elected to succeed a Republican in the Assembly by a very 
 flattering majority, considering the heavy Republican pre- 
 ponderance in the district at the previous election. That he 
 will prove himself worthy of the confidence thus reposed in 
 him, no one can doubt who has witnessed his straight- 
 forward course since he has been a Member of Assembly. 
 
 ORRIN T. STACY. 
 
 Among the more prominent of the new members of the 
 Assembly, we may fairly rank Dr. Orrin T. Stacy, of Alle- 
 gany county. He does not frequently favor the House with 
 speeches, but when he does, he invariably commands atten- 
 tion, for he possesses a very engaging style of delivery. His 
 eloquence is not of the soaring kind, but his speeches are 
 plain and practical, couched in well chosen language, ex- 
 pressed with ease and grace. He is blessed with a fine 
 physical development and exuberant health, and being a 
 gentleman of thorough culture and correct principles, he 
 constitutes a legislative character pleasant to contemplate. 
 There are few members of the present House, more thor- 
 oughly qualified for the duties devolving upon the law-maker, 
 than Dr. Stacy. 
 
 He was born in Centerville, in this State, November 5th, 
 1835. His father, William A. Stacy, was a native of Ver- 
 
304 Life Sketches. 
 
 mont but removed to Allegany county in 1824, and followed 
 the practice of medicine and surgery during a period of forty 
 years. He died in 1867. The son, the present member, re- 
 ceived a thorough academic and collegiate education, gradu- 
 ating from the Buffalo Medical College in March, I860. 
 Since that year he has been engaged in the practice of medi- 
 cine. On June 25, 1862, he was married to Miss Antoinette 
 Kendall. In 1863, in addition to his medical practice, he 
 became interested in a dry goods store and also in a drug 
 establishment, and in both a business and professional 
 sense he has been successful, so successful, in fact, that he is 
 now enabled to give the public the benefit of his talents in 
 the field of statesmanship. 
 
 In politics he has always been a Republican, and an active 
 and energetic one. He cast his first vote for Feemont in 
 1856, and since then has never swerved in his allegiance 
 to the party of his choice. His present position, however, 
 is the first political office he has held, and we may safely ven- 
 ture the prediction that it will not be the last, as he shows 
 unquestionable aptitude for public life. He was elected to 
 the Assembly, by a majority of 1,347, his Democratic 
 opponent being 0. T. Higgins, and he serves on the Com- 
 mittees on Public Education, Public Health and Sub-com- 
 mittee of the "Whole. 
 
 STEPHEN D. STEPHENS, Je. 
 
 Mr. Stephens is an active and energetic young man, 
 under thirty years of age, and represents the Democratic 
 county of Richmond. He is valuable in the details of legis- 
 lation and committee work, but is not regarded as a speech- 
 maker, and, apparently, has little ambition that way. He 
 was born in Richmond, Staten Island, where he still resides, 
 
Martin L. Stover, 305 
 
 April 19, 1845. His father and paternal ancestors, three 
 generations back, were born in New York city, his ancestors 
 on his mother's side being natives of Staten Island. Both 
 his grandfathers, paternal and maternal, served in the war 
 of 1812, while their fathers distinguished themselves in 
 active service during the war of the revolution. Mr. 
 Stephens is well educated, having passed with honor 
 through the several departments of Columbia College. 
 In 1866 he graduated from that institution with the degree 
 of Bachelor of Arts. Subsequently he entered the Columbia 
 College Law School, and in 1868 graduated with the degree 
 of Bachelor of Laws. In the following year he received the 
 degree of Master of Arts. He is now engaged in the 
 practice of the law, being a member of the well-known law 
 firm of ToMLiNSON, Marsh & Stephens, of New York city, 
 and is meeting with such success as to indicate that the 
 future has many honors in store for him. 
 
 In politics, Mr. Stephens is a Democrat, and during 
 a number of years he has been an active worker in the 
 ranks of his party. He has never before held a public 
 position, however. He is a member of the important 
 Committee on Railroads, and is also on that of Villages. 
 He was brought up in the Episcopal denomination, of which 
 he is still a member, and is unmarried. 
 
 MARTIN L. STOVER. 
 
 Mr. Stover is also one of the younger members of the 
 Assembly, as well as one of those among the new members, 
 who are making an excellent record and reflecting honor 
 upon their constituencies. He was born on the 19th of 
 October, 1845, at Waterloo, Seneca county. His father, M. 
 J. Stover, a Lutheran clergvman, attained wide repute as a 
 39 
 
306 Life Sketches. 
 
 man of pure character and solid attainments. The subject 
 of our sketch was educated at Wittenburg College, Spring- 
 field, Ohio, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1870; 
 since then he has practiced law in Amsterdam, where he is 
 gaining large popularity. 
 
 In May, 1862, when only sixteen years of age, he enlisted 
 in the 86th Ohio Infantry as a private, and served in West 
 Virginia. Being discharged by expiration of term of service, 
 he re-enlisted in the 17th Ohio Battery of Artillery, also as a 
 private soldier, and served with that command in the Depart- 
 ment of the Gulf until the close of the war. He never sought 
 nor asked a shoulder-strap, but was content to honorably per- 
 form his duty in the ranks. 
 
 Mr. Stover's political record is necessarily brief, his posi- 
 tion in the Assembly being the first he has held of a public 
 or political nature. He has always been an active and con- 
 sistent Eepublican, however, and in the late canvass was 
 elected in a district usually close, over Hon. Isaac S. Frost, 
 a very worthy and popular Democrat, who has twice been 
 a member of Assembly. Though not noted as a speaker, he 
 occasionally addresses the House, when local measures are at 
 issue, and has demonstrated that he possesses considerable 
 oratorical ability. He is a member of the Committees on 
 Eailroads, Federal Relations and Public Lands, and is rarely 
 absent from a session of the House. He is, we' believe, 
 unmarried. 
 
 JAMES E. SULLIYAlSr. 
 
 Mr. Sullivan" represents the Twenty-first district of New 
 York, and was elected in place of Henry W. Genet, who 
 was convicted of crime and is now a fugitive from justice. 
 He was chosen by a plurality of 415, Charles Crary, who 
 represented the district last year, and Horatio Allen 
 
George Taylor, 307 
 
 being his opponents. Mr. Sullivan takes no very active 
 part in legislation, but he is always in his seat, and is 
 evidently a close observer of all that is going on. He is 
 a large, rather fine-looking man, with full whiskers and 
 moustache slightly tinged with gray. Ho is agreeable 
 and courteous in conversation, and is well known in 
 New York as a politician and business man. 
 
 JOHN SUNDERLIN. 
 
 The closely contested district which embraces the counties 
 of Fulton and Hamilton has for its representative John 
 SuNDEBLiN, of whom we know very little, save that he is a 
 quiet and modest gentleman, with some of the old school 
 appearance about him. He bears upon his countenance the 
 unmistakable stamp of honesty, and, both in a political and 
 general sense, he is, probably, a fair representative of the 
 intelligent constituency embraced within the rural counties 
 mentioned. He is a Republican, and was elected over 
 William Jeffers, the Democratic candidate in the last 
 election, by a majority of 245, which is a slight increase over 
 the Republican majority of last year. Mr. Sunderlin 
 resides in the flourishing village of Gloversville. 
 
 GEORGE TAYLOR. 
 
 Mr. Taylor is a successful Rochester business man, well 
 fitted for the practical duties of legislation. . He capably 
 represents the commercial interests of that important inland 
 city, with which he has been identified many years. He 
 was born in Stoddard, Cheshire county, N. H., November 
 26, 1832. He is, therefore, in the prime of a vigorous and 
 
308 Life Skewhes, 
 
 finely-developed manhood. He is of English descent, his 
 ancestors having emigrated to this country about the year 
 1700. He was educated in the common schools, Marlow 
 Academy, and Tubbs' Union Academy at Washington, 
 N. H. His schooling was therefore very thorough, and 
 enables him to be well armed, at all points, for the battle of 
 life. 
 
 Mr. Tayloe engaged in business pursuits very soon after 
 reaching his majority, and by dint of industry and persever- 
 ance he has become one of the " solid men " of Eochester. 
 For several years he was engaged in the manufacture and 
 sale of boots and shoes, and he built up a large trade in that 
 line of business. A few years ago, however, he commenced 
 the manufacture of thermometers, barometers, and other 
 meteorological instruments ; and to this he mainly devotes 
 his attention at present. 
 
 Mr. Taylor was born and educated a Democrat, and 
 nothing has ever been able to swerve him from what he 
 regards as the principles of that party. He has always, since 
 an early age, taken an active part in the local politics of 
 Rochester, and enjoys the confidence of his party in an unlim- 
 ited degree. The proof of this is found in the fact that, for 
 several years, he was a Member of the Rochester Board of 
 Aldermen, and during one year was President of the Com- 
 mon Council, and also in the fact that he was elected to the 
 Assembly by the very large majority of 1,054, the People's 
 ticket the previous year receiving a majority of 173. He 
 was opposed in the canvass by JoHi^ Bower, a well-known 
 Republican. 
 
 Mr. Taylor obtrudes himself upon public notice very 
 little, but he is known as a very efficient member of the 
 Assembly. 
 
Samuel W. Tewksburt. 309 
 
 SAMUEL W. TEWKSBURY. 
 
 Wyoming county is represented this year by Samuel Wil- 
 LARD Tewksburt, of Perry Centre. He is a plain,, substan- 
 tial farmer, past the meridian of life, and though he has fre- 
 quently held political office, he maintains the character of a 
 man who is thoroughly incorruptible and upright in all his 
 dealings. He was born in York, Livingston county, on the 
 23d of July, 1820, and is of New England parentage. He 
 received his education partly in the common schools and 
 party in Middleburgh Academy, which he attended during 
 the years 1838 and 1839. After leaving school he turned 
 his attention to teaching, and for several years he followed 
 that honorable pursuit. He finally purchased the farm on 
 which he now resides, and, during a long series of years, he 
 has been known as a prosperous, hard-working agricultu- 
 ralist. 
 
 Mr. Tewksburt's first political lessons were learned in 
 the Whig party, with which he was identified until 1856. 
 In that year he supported Fremont for President, and since 
 then he has been a straightforward, conscientious and active 
 Republican, fully in sympathy with the efforts to extirpate 
 the slave power, as well as with the distinctive principles of the 
 Republican party. His sterling traits of character have evi- 
 dently been known and marked by his neighbors and politi- 
 cal friends, as he has frequently been called upon to fill local 
 positions of responsibility. During a period of eleven years 
 he was Town Superintendent of Common Schools, five times 
 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and during six years he 
 represented his town in the Board of Supervisors. In the 
 important Republican State Conventions, held in 1868 and 
 1872, he was a delegate from Wyoming county. In all these 
 positions he has invariably sought to perform his duties with 
 a single eye to the public good, and he comes to the Legis- 
 
310 Life Sketches, 
 
 lature, and will leave it, with a record which is not tarnished 
 in any way. 
 
 In the recent Assembly canvass he was chosen over Rus- 
 sell C. MoRDOFF, the Democratic candidate, by a majority of 
 640, a decided gain over the Republican majority the previous 
 year. In 1870, the Liberals and Democrats carried the 
 county, on Member, by 718 majority. He is a Member of 
 the Committees on Charitable and Religious Societies, and 
 Agriculture. He does not often indulge himself in speech- 
 making, but in other and more effective ways he is an 
 exceedingly valuable member. 
 
 HENEY THORP. 
 
 Another of the older members, in point of age, and also 
 another of the farmer legislators, is found in the person of 
 Henry Thorp, of Butternuts, Otsego county. His life 
 presents nothing specially remarkable for the pen of the 
 biographer, but it is a record of honest, manly endeavor, 
 rewarded by a fair measure of success, and, what is worth 
 more than lucre, the respect and esteem of those who best 
 know him. Henry Thorp was born in Butternuts, his 
 present place of residence, on the 24th of February, 1816. 
 He is thus about fifty-eight years of age. His father, Edward 
 Thorp, was born in Greenwich, Conn., in February, 1776, 
 and was, therefore, a little more venerable than the Ameri- 
 can Union. Young Thorp received considerable educa- 
 tion at home, but this was supplemented by the common 
 school and the academy, and when he reached manhood he 
 was very fairly educated. On the 19th of February, 1840, 
 he was married at IJnadilla, Otsego county, to Mary H. 
 Buckley. 
 
 Mr. Thorp is known as a Liberal Republican. He was 
 
Elbert Townsend, 311 
 
 nominated for the Assembly by a joint Convention of Liberals 
 and Democrats, and received a majority of 142, over Henry 
 Cope, Republican, whom he succeeds in the Assembly. Mr. 
 Thorp was never a Democrat, though in view of his present 
 affiliations, he is sometimes classed as such. He is a man of 
 independent views, and in his party action is guided by what 
 he believes to be right. 
 
 ELBERT TOWNSEND. 
 
 If physiognomy be any indication of character, the subject 
 of this notice may be safely set down as one of nature's noble- 
 men. A plain, honest face is Mr. Townsend's, and one 
 which gives little encouragement to the designing horde of 
 lobbyists which swarm aboflt the Capitol. Coming from a 
 portion of the State rich in agricultural resources and in all 
 the elements of material prosperity, he has little sympathy 
 with the schemes of political adventurers, and his efforts as 
 a legislator are therefore directed to the accomplishment of 
 that which is for the best interests of the commonwealth, 
 and the immediate locality which he represents. He was 
 born in Pavilion, Genesee county, January 28, 1842, and lias, 
 therefore, just passed his 32d year. His father, Ashley 
 Townsend, who died about fourteen years ago, was a native 
 of Vermont, though he settled in western New York soon 
 after his marriage, and was the inventor of the first threshing 
 machine used in that section of the country. Young Towns- 
 end was brought up on his father's farm, and educated in 
 the common schools. He married Miss Emilie Olmsted in 
 1862, and since then has successfully managed a large 
 farm, devoting his attention especially to the breeding of 
 Spanish merino sheep and Durham cattle. His efforts in 
 this direction have gained for him quite a reputation among 
 
312 Life SxETcnEfi. 
 
 the farmers of western New York, and he has already accom- 
 plished much toward the improvement of farm stock in that 
 section. In 1872 he was President of the Genesee County 
 Agricultural Society, and has always taken an active interest 
 in the welfare of that organization. Though he has always 
 been identified with the Republican party, and generally 
 exerted a strong influence in behalf of its nominees, he has 
 very rarely accepted public position. Before he was twenty- 
 one years of age he had served two years as Town Clerk, and 
 he was subsequently Justice of the Peace for four years. His 
 election to the Assembly in 1872 was entirely unsought, and 
 the fact that he received in that year a majority several hun- 
 dred in excess of the Republican majority of 1871, was a 
 sufficient indication of the regard in which he is held at 
 home. Last fall he was re-elected by a gratifying majority, 
 notwithstanding the influence of local issues. Mr. Towii^s- 
 EKD served acceptably in 1873 as a member of the Commit- 
 tees on Agriculture, Grievancis and Indian Affairs. This 
 year he is Chairman of Manufacture of Salt and member of 
 Charitable and Religious Societies. He is a man of robust 
 physique, and possesses an intelligent appreciation of the 
 duties of a legislator. 
 
 COMMODORE P. YEDDER. 
 
 Few members of the present Assembly exert a more com- 
 manding influence or possess greater legislative talent than 
 Mr. Vedder. He is known throughout the State as an 
 active, earnest and independent Republican, who, while 
 unswerving in his party fealty, is nevertheless incapable of 
 being made the tool of cliques or rings. He is a man of 
 exceptionally clear views of public interest as well as of 
 party policy, while his convictions regarding all questions 
 
Commodore P. Vedder. 313 
 
 are the result of careful reflection and the exercise of sound 
 judgment. When once formed they are tenaciously 
 adhered to. 
 
 Mr. Vedder is the son of American parents, his father, 
 Jacob Vedder, being an industrious Cattaraugus county 
 farmer. He was born in EUicottville, his present place of 
 residence, on the 23d of February, 1838. Before reaching 
 man's estate he spent five years as a sailor on the lakes. He 
 secured a good education, partially in the common schools, 
 but mainly in the Springville Academy, which he entered in 
 his twentieth year. Afterward he studied law, and was 
 admitted to the bar in 1866. In 1862, after teaching school 
 a few months, he enlisted as a private in the 154th regiment. 
 New York Volunteers, and remained with the regiment until 
 the close of the war, participating with uniform credit to 
 himself in the battles of Chancellorsville, Wauhatchie, 
 Lookout Valley, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Rocky- 
 faced Ridge, Siege of Savannah, and Bentonville. He bore 
 an honorable part in Sherman's celebrated march to 
 Atlanta and the sea, and for his gallant conduct in that cam- 
 paign and at Lookout Mountain he was promoted succes- 
 sively to Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers, 1st Lieutenant, 
 Captain and Brevet-Major, U. S. A. His war record is 
 therefore something to be proud of. 
 
 When the war ended Mr. Vedder commenced the practice 
 of the legal profession, in which he has continued to the 
 present time with marked success. In 1867 he was appointed 
 Register in Bankruptcy, and still holds the office. He was 
 also Assessor of Internal Revenue from May 10, 1869, until 
 May 4, 1871, filling the office, as he fills every position, to 
 the satisfaction of every one interested. In the fall of 1871, 
 he was elected member of Assembly by a majority of 401, 
 defeating Charles S. Cary, his Democratic competitor. In 
 1872 he defeated the same opponent by a majority of 688, 
 after a very sharp canvass, in which the combined strength 
 of the Liberal Republican and Democratic elements was 
 40 
 
314 Life Sketches. 
 
 brought against him, and herculean efforts made to defeat 
 him. Last fall he was elected over Wm. F. Weed, by a 
 majority of 386. 
 
 Mr. Vedder's course in the Assembly has been in every 
 way creditable to himself and to his constituents. In 1872 
 he served on the Judiciary Committee, of which he is still a 
 prominent member, and took an active part in the investiga- 
 tion into the conduct of the New York judges. He was^lso 
 Chairman of the committee which drew up the articles of 
 impeachment against Judge Barn'Ard, and was one of the 
 managers selected by the House to conduct the trial of that 
 unworthy wearer of the ermine. His connection with these 
 momentous proceedings added largely in developing his fine 
 legal talents, and added greatly to his reputation. He has 
 been prominently identified with much of the important 
 legislation of this and the last session, serving on several 
 committees faithfully and well. Besides occupying the 
 second place on the Judiciary Committee, he is now Chairman 
 of Privileges and Elections, and Local and Special Laws. 
 
 As an orator, Mr. Vedder has few equals. Though he 
 always speaks extemporaneously, and often without prepara- 
 tion, his efforts upon the floor are generally models of com- 
 pact symmetrical argument. He clothes his ideas in direct 
 and forcible, yet elegant, phraseology. Sometimes bold almost 
 to audacity in his, utterances, especially when discussing 
 political questions, he frequently rises to heights of eloquence 
 attained by few public speakers. 
 
 Previous to the war, Mr. Vedder was a Democrat, but the 
 reverberation of the first gun at Sumter affected him much 
 as it did thousands of other honest Democrats throughout 
 the Sta-te. The so-called Democracy was effectually elimi- 
 nated from his political constitution. He has since acted 
 consistently with the Republican party, and is popular with 
 men of all parties, as his personal and social qualities are of 
 the most genial character. Whether we regard him in his 
 private or public life, he is above reproach, and is in all 
 
Louis C. Waehner. 315 
 
 respects an honest, able and efficient legislator. He is a man 
 of fine personal appearance and unusually pleasing address, 
 and evidently has a brilliant career yet before him. 
 
 LOUIS C. WAEHNER. 
 
 The Tenth district of New York city is represented by a 
 brilliant young lawyer, who, since his advent in legislative 
 halls, has taken a front rank in point of ability and address. 
 Louis C. Waehner was born in the city of New York in 
 1847. He is therefore one of the youngest members of the 
 present House. He is of German parentage, both his parents 
 being still living and residents of the metropolis. Mr. 
 Waehner's education was obtained almost wholly in the 
 public schools of New York city, and it is apparent that the 
 excellence and efficiency of those institutions can scarcely be 
 questioned if they habitually turn out such scholars as the 
 subject of our sketch. On leaving school, he studied law for 
 a time with Stillwell & Swain, of New York city, and 
 about six years ago he was admitted to the bar. 
 
 Mr. Waehner's political career is necessarily brief. He 
 has always been a Democrat, however, and very decided in 
 his convictions. His position as a legislator is the first office 
 he has held, though he has generally been quite active in 
 political campaigns, and in the fall of 1872 he ran as an 
 independent candidate for the Assembly, and was defeated. 
 
 In the present House he is making an exceedingly honor- 
 able record. He is an excellent speaker, and takes occasion 
 to express his views upon almost every important subject. 
 He has a fine and rather commanding presence, a powerful 
 and resonant voice, and a good delivery. He is also felicitous 
 in the choice of language while on the floor, and there are not 
 a few who rank him among the best orators in the present 
 Assembly. 
 
316 Life Sketches, 
 
 ALFRED WAGSTAFF, Jr. 
 
 Colonel Wagstaff was born in the city of New York, 
 March 21, 1844. He is of English and French extraction. 
 His maternal ancestors (the Du Boises) came from Holland, 
 where they had sought a refuge from the persecutions visited 
 upon the Huguenots in France, and settled on the banks of 
 the Hudson. Like many others of their compatriots who 
 found a safe asylum from persecution in this country, they 
 were noted for intelligence, thrift and honesty, and some of 
 them have held high positions of honor. 
 
 Mr. Wagstaff received a classical education, graduating 
 from the Columbia College Law School on the 18th of May, 
 1866, with the degree of LL.B. He was admitted, in the 
 Second Judicial district, as a Member of the Bar of the 
 State of New York, and is now successfully practicing his 
 profession in New York city, where he has acquired an 
 extended reputation as a keen and able lawyer. 
 
 During the war Colonel Wagstaff took an active and 
 honorable part in the conflict with the South. In 1863 he was 
 commissioned Colonel of the Sixteenth Eegiment, New York 
 State National Guard, serving with his regiment during the 
 Brooklyn Draft Eiots. In the summer of 1864 he was with 
 his command in the United States service, and had com- 
 mand of the Staten Island forts. He was commissioned 
 First Lieutenant in the Ninety-first Eegiment, New York 
 Veteran Volunteers, November 12, 1864, and was detailed to 
 the staff of General Morris, and subsequently as Commis- 
 missary of Prisoners, and left Fort McHenry for Virginia. In 
 February, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of Major in the 
 same regiment by Governor Fentois", upon strong recom- 
 mendations not only from Colonel Tarbell and Lieutenant- 
 Colonel DoN'ELSON", but from General Morris, who wrote a 
 letter to the Governor expressing warm praise of the military 
 
Alfred Wag staff, Jr. 317 
 
 ability of his staff oflBcer. Soon after he was appointed 
 Chief of Staff by General Crawford, and served in the 
 army of the Potomac until the close of the war. Since then 
 he has received a Brevet Lieutenant-Colonelcy, and during 
 Governor Fentok's second term he served upon his staff as 
 aide-de-camp. 
 
 Col. Wagstaff's first prominent connection with politics 
 was in 1866, when he was a delegate from Suffolk county to 
 the Republican State Convention at Syracuse, and was one 
 of the Vice-Presidents of that body. In the fall of the same 
 year he was nominated for Member of Assembly by the 
 Republicans, and elected by 486 majority. In the Legislature 
 of 1867 he made a good record, serving as Chairman of 
 Militia, and member of that on Joint Library. In 1868 he 
 was a delegate to the National Republican Convention at 
 Chicago. Since then he has been actively identified with 
 political movements in New York and elsewhere. In 187^ 
 he acted with tlie Liberal Republicans, and voted for Horace 
 Greeley for President Last fall he received an Assembly 
 nomination from the Democrats and Liberal Republicans of 
 the Seventh New York district, and was elected by a majority 
 of 239, defeating ex- Assemblyman George W. Clarke, a 
 Republican, wliose majority the previous year was 1,135. 
 
 Col. "Wagstaff is tall and straight as an arrow, and of 
 very agreeable presence. He possesses a vigorous, cultivated 
 mind, and a retentive memory. He has a keen sense of the 
 ludicrous and a bright wit, which together with an unend- 
 ing store of reminiscences, render him an entertaining 
 companion. He is also a member of unwearying activity, in- 
 tense energy and perseverance. He ranks well in the Assem- 
 bly, and is what may be termed a working member. He 
 serves on the Committees on Insurance, Militia and Griev- 
 ances. 
 
318 Life Sketches, 
 
 SMITH M. WEED. 
 
 Smith Mead Weed was born in the town of Belmont, 
 Franklin county, N. Y., July 26th, 1833. His father, Eos- 
 well Alcott Weed, was born at Lebanon, N. H., 1798, and 
 died at Plattsburgh, N. Y., in the year 1869. His mother, 
 Sarah A. Mead, a daughter of Smith Mead, a prominent 
 citizen of Clinton county, and who participated in the battle 
 of Plattsburgh, is still living. 
 
 Mr. Weed, after receiving a good common school and 
 academic education, attended the Harvard University Law 
 School, where he graduated in 1857, with the degree of 
 Bachelor of Laws. He immediately entered upon the prac- 
 tice of law in Plattsburgh, becoming a copartner with 
 Messrs. Beck with & Johnsois' of that place. He very soon 
 displayed more than ordinary ability and skill in his pro- 
 fession, and, from 1857 to 1865, was constantly occupied with 
 its duties. In 1865, Mr. Weed was elected President of the 
 village of Plattsburgh, which office he continued to till for a 
 number of terms. In the same year he first appeared in 
 political life as Member of the Assembly from Clinton 
 county. He was returned to the Legislature for the two 
 following years, and in 1866 received from his party the com- 
 pliment of being its candidate for Speaker. 
 
 In 1867, Mr. Weed was elected Delegate-at- Large to the 
 Constitutional Convention. One of his speeches made in 
 that body on the separate submission of the negro suffrage 
 clause, attracted considerable attention at the time. In it he 
 avowed his belief that the colored people of the State 
 possessed sufficient capacity and intelligence to vote. He 
 had, in 1865, voted for the amendment to the Constitution 
 of the United States prohibiting slavery, and in the Assem- 
 bly, in 1867, urged that the negroes of the State be alloTved 
 to vote for delegates to the State Constitutional Convention. 
 
Smith M. Weed. 319 
 
 In fact, Mr. Weed then occupied the liberal ground which 
 his party have rather slowly come up to since, and was cer- 
 tainly one of the first Democrats in the country to urge the 
 propriety of the " New Departure." 
 
 In 1868 Mr. "Weed was engaged as senior counsel, on the 
 part of the State, by the managers of the impeachment of 
 Canal Commissioner Dorn. He made the principal argu- 
 ment for the prosecution in that case, which is reported in 
 the volume of the proceedings at that trial. 
 
 In 1871 Mr. Weed was again returned to the Legislature 
 from Clinton county, During this term, when " Tammany" 
 was in the very pride of its strength, he came, almost single- 
 handed, in collision with its schemes. As a member of the 
 then Railroad Committee, he successfully resisted the designs 
 of the strikers upon the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com- 
 pany. He, as a member of that Committee, proposed and 
 submitted to the Assembly a minority report in favor of the 
 repeal of the Erie Classification Act. That report was con- 
 sidered an able statement of the question, and came within 
 one vote of carrying against the full power of Tammany 
 and Erie. It was the first official document which denounced 
 the Erie Ring in unmeasured terms. 
 
 For this Tammany did not forgive him, and although his 
 desire to adhere to his party led him to support, in common 
 with other Democrats, such bills as had been made party- 
 measures at this session, he was thereafter regarded as an 
 enemy of the then party-controlling influence. He was bru- 
 tally assaulted by the notorious James Irving, then a power 
 with the " Ring," for which assault Irving was promptly 
 driven from the Assembly. 
 
 Since 1865 Mr. Weed has been a leading man in North 
 Eastern New York, not only in its politics, but in its various 
 business interests. He is now largely concerned in the 
 lumbering and mining business of Clinton county. He has 
 done much to call attention to the resources of that quarter 
 of the State, and has labored with great earnestness for some 
 
820 Life Sketches, 
 
 time to bring railroad facilities to tlie country along the 
 western shore of Lake Champlain. He forwarded very con- 
 siderably the enterprises of the railroad on the west side of 
 Lake Champlain, and the recent formation of the New York 
 and Canada Railroad Company with the design of pushing 
 a through road from Whitehall to Montreal, on the west side, 
 is almost due solely to his untiring efforts. During the ses- 
 sion of 1873 he warmly advocated the passage of the Cham- 
 plain Ship Canal Bill, and secured its passage through the 
 Assembly. 
 
 In business, Mr. Weed is enterprising and sagacious. As 
 a lawyer and political speaker, he commands attention more 
 by the substance of his matter than by any graces of diction 
 or manner. He has not the "gift of gab "or facility of 
 fluent declamation. His ideas are always put into the 
 plainest and shortest words. He needs antagonism to bring 
 him out, and is strongest in debate and repartee. 
 
 In politics he has always been a Democrat, and is greatly 
 attached to the fundamental ideas of that party. He has 
 always stood on the side of liberality and progress. Even in 
 his first term in the Legislature he became noted for his 
 advocacy of the Free School Law. 
 
 Mr. Weed was married September 6, 1859, to Carrie L. 
 Standish, seventh in lineal descent from Miles Standish, 
 of Plymouth, and daughter of Col. M. M. Stakdish, late of 
 Plattsburgh. 
 
 He was elected to the Legislature of 1873 by about 250 
 majority, although his county went for Grakt by about 
 500 majority. Last fall he was re-elected by the extraordin- 
 ary majority of 1,245. The candidate first nominated by the 
 Republicans withdrew in his favor, and when at a late stage 
 of the canvass another was nommated, he polled a very light 
 vote. Mr. Weed is this session the leader of his party in the 
 House. He was a caucus candidate for Speaker in opposition 
 to Gen. Husted, and polled the full party vote. He has dis- 
 tinguished himself by his opposition to some of the proposed 
 
George West. 321 
 
 amendments to the constitution, notably, the Fifth Article, 
 because of v/hat he regards its tendency to concentrate and 
 centralize powers which belong to the people. The defeat 
 of that article is undoubtedly due mainly to the efforts of 
 Mr. Weed and Col. Spencer. Mr. Weed is a member of the 
 important Committees on Ways and Means, Railroads, Griev- 
 ances and Rules, and by his course in the present House is 
 adding materially to his already brilliant reputation. 
 
 GEORGE WEST. 
 
 Mr. West is a fair representative of the successful busi- 
 ness man. By dint of energy, sagacity and persevering 
 industry, he has risen in a few years from comparative 
 poverty to opulence, and is now one of the largest manufac- 
 turers in the eastern section of the State. His career is 
 instructive and worthy of emulation. Born in Keentsbeer, 
 Devonshire county, England, on the 17th of February, 1823, 
 of parents in moderate circumstances, he had very little 
 adventitious aid in making a future for himself. He received 
 a good common school education, however, and inherited from 
 his pareiics industrious habile and a robust coL3titution. 
 With these as his capital he commenced the battle of life. 
 His father and uncle were paper makers, but he served a 
 thorough apprenticeship with John DEWDNEY,one of the lead- 
 ing manufacturers in tWe west of England, learning the busi- 
 ness in all its branches. Soon after reaching his majority he 
 married an English girl, whose prudent management and 
 wise counsel, no doubt, contributed in no small degree to his 
 success. He soon discovered that England failed to afford 
 full scope for his abilities, and, in 1849, when he had reached 
 his twenty-sixth year, he came with his young wife to this 
 country. When he arrived on our shores he was almost pen- 
 41 
 
322 Life Sketches. 
 
 niless, but he possessed a good stock of indomitable pluck, 
 He procured employment in New Jersey, where he worked 
 about a year. From there he went to Massachusetts, where 
 he obtained employment in a paper mill as an ordinary opera- 
 tive, continuing in that capacity about three years. Ulti- 
 mately his employers discerned and appreciated his value, and 
 he soon found himself the responsible manager of one of the 
 largest manufactories of writing paper in the Bay State. 
 During several years' experience in that position, he rapidly 
 developed the sterling qualities by which he finally won suc- 
 cess; and before he had been ten years in this country he 
 became a partner in an extensive paper mill. In the year 
 1860 he sold out his business in Massachusetts, and seeing a 
 favorable opening at Ballston Spa, removed thither. How 
 well time has demonstrated the wisdom of his venture is 
 shown by the fact that he is now sole proprietor of five 
 large paper mills, all of which are run exclusively on manilla 
 paper, used in the manufacture of grocers' bags, and also 
 a paper bag manufactory, which turns out from eighty" to one 
 hundred million of those bags per year, transacting in con- 
 nection therewith a business which averages about $65,000 
 monthly. He is also an equal partner in the firm of Gair 
 & West, whose depot for the sale of paper, paper bags and 
 twine is located at No. 143 Eeade street, New York, as 
 well as director in the First National Bank of Ballston Spa, 
 and the largest individual stockholder in the bank. 
 
 In personal appearance, Mr. West is a good specimen of 
 the sturdy Briton. Though short of stature, his robust form 
 and broad shoulders seem well able to carry the massive and 
 well-developed head, which seems a fit repository for a brain 
 of more than ordinary activity. He bears with him, how- 
 ever, the air and manner of one who has earned the right to, 
 take the world easy, aiid the geniality characterizing his in- 
 tercourse with others strengthens such an impression in the 
 mind of one who judges men by first impressions. He is a 
 man of much earnestness of character, and is still a hard 
 
Elisha S. Whalen, 323 
 
 worker, carrying much of his energy and thoroughness in 
 the committee rooms, though he very rarely attempts to 
 make more than a brief and pointed off-hand speech on the 
 floor of the House. 
 
 Mr. West has always been an ardent Republican, and 
 enjoys a large degree of popularity in his own district, as is 
 evidenced by the fact that he was elected to the Assembly of 
 1872 by the large majority of 1,166 over William T. Odell, 
 his Democratic competitor. In the fall of 1872 he was re- 
 elected without opposition, no other candidate being nomi- 
 nated, and in the last Legislature was the only member of 
 the Assembly having no vote against him. Last fall local 
 issues which arose rendered him less fortunate, his majority 
 over George A. Ensign, his Democratic opponent being 
 420. Mr. West is Chairman of the Committee on Trade and 
 Manufactures, and member of Public Printing and Public 
 Lands. 
 
 ELISHA S. WHALEN. 
 
 Mr. Whalen was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga 
 county, N. Y., March 24, 1817. He had common school ad- 
 vantages until the age of thirteen years, when his business 
 life commenced as clerk in a country store at Rock City 
 Falls, where he remained about two years ; thence he went to 
 West Milton in the same capacity, remaining there until 
 November, 1836, when he left for western New York, spend- 
 ing the following winter with his father's family in Monroe 
 county, whither they had preceded him by two or three years. 
 He went to the village of Medina, in March, 1837, poor and 
 unknown, but armed with a letter signed by the then prom- 
 inent men of Milton and Ballston Spa, •' commending him 
 to the respect and confidence of all with whom he might 
 
324 Life Sketches. 
 
 make either acquaintance or business." Securing a situation 
 at once with a prominent firm, carrying on a large country 
 store, post-office, grain warehouse and a potash factory, he 
 commenced a new business career at $10 per month on trial ; 
 after two months' service he was promoted to the situation of 
 book-keeper, confidential clerk and $400 per annum, then 
 the largest salary paid in the village. He has been in active 
 business life since as subordinate or principal, having been 
 engaged in merchandising, merchant, milling, and as pro- 
 duce dealer since 1841, retiring last September (on account 
 of impaired health) on a moderate competency. He is a 
 director of the Union Bank of Medina, and was one of the 
 original directors of the projected Niagara River and New 
 York Air Line Railroad, organized during the present year. 
 He was a Democrat up to the organization of the American 
 party ; joined the Republican party on the Kansas question, 
 and has acted with that party since ; was Supervisor in 1851 
 and 1852, and again 1871 and 1872, and is Chairman of the 
 present Board; was chosen Member of Assembly by the 
 American party at a special election, held December 26, 1854, 
 in place of Alexis Ward, deceased, over Bordei^" H. Mills, 
 Whig and Democrat, by over 1,000 majority; was Presi- 
 dential Elector in 1861, casting his vote in the electoral 
 cT-llege for LiN"OL?r and HA^nJN"; wa=i chosen to the 
 Assembly in 1872 by 1,385 majority, over Dr. Thomas 
 CusHiN'G, Liberal, and re-elected last fall by a majority of 
 808 over Asahel Byikgton", Democrat. 
 
 On the 6th of August, 1844, Mr. Whalen" was married to 
 Miss Catharii^e Groff, who has contributed largely to his 
 life success. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, of which he is trustee, treasurer and district steward, 
 and was lay delegate to the last annual conference of the 
 Genesee district. 
 
 His father was American born, of Irish descent, and a 
 farmer in comfortable circumstances ; his mother is of Ger- 
 man descent, American born, and both are deceased. 
 
Jacob M. Witbeck. 325 
 
 He served last year on the Committee of Ways and Means 
 and Grievances. This year he is chairman of Indian 
 Affairs and a member of Expenditures of the Executive 
 Department. 
 
 JACOB M. WITBECK. 
 
 Mr. "Witbeck is engaged extensively in milling at Nassau, 
 Rensselaer county, N. Y., where he resides, and is also a 
 partner in a large brick business at Castleton. He was born 
 on the 17th of September, 1820, in the town of Schodack, 
 Rensselaer county, and is of Dutch descent. His paternal 
 grandfather came from Holland, and was one of the first 
 settlers in Schodack, on the Van Rensselaer Manor. Mr. 
 Witbeck may be styled a self-made man. At the age of 
 eleven he was taken from school and left to work his own 
 way in the world. His subsequent career as mechanic, 
 farmer, hotel keeper, brick manufacturer and miller, has 
 been a success such as honesty and persevering industry only 
 can secure. 
 
 Although a life-long Democrat, Mr. Witbeck was elected 
 Supervisor of the town of Nassau, one of the strongest 
 Republican towns in the county, in 1868, an undoubted 
 tribute to his patriotic eflfbrts in raising soldiers during the 
 dark days of the war. His position throughout the com- 
 munity in which he is best known, is that of a man of influ- 
 ence, character, and real moral worth. Mr. Witbeck was 
 married June 7, 1848, to Miss Amakda Niver, of Kinder- 
 hook, Columbia county. N. Y., and attends the Reformed 
 church. 
 
 He is an excellent working member of the House, and 
 serves on the Committees on Federal Relations, and Two- 
 thirds and Three-fifths Bills. 
 
326 Life Sketches. 
 
 AMHERST WIGHT, Jr. 
 
 No portion of the State is more ably represented in the 
 Assembly than Westchester county. Her three members 
 are each of them of marked character and superior ability. 
 It would be invidious to draw a comparison between them, 
 but we cannot certainly transgress the bounds of propriety 
 in observing that, if such comparison were made, Mr. Wight 
 would not suffer thereby. Able, dignified and candid in 
 debate, and pleasant and courteous in his more familiar 
 intercourse with fellow members, he is respected by both 
 friends and opponents, while his decided ability inspires 
 genuine admiration. He is not, perhaps, a brilliant orator, 
 but his speeches are invariably full of sound sense, expressed 
 in well-chosen language. He shows upon the floor much 
 less of the politician than of the lawyer, while he brings to 
 the discussion of the important legal topics of the present 
 session extensive learning fortified by large experience and 
 exhaustive reading. 
 
 Mr. Wight was born in New York city, August 15, 1828, 
 and has therefore passed his forty-fifth year. He is the son 
 of Amherst Wight, Sr., a native of Belli ngham, Mass., who 
 is still living at the age of eighty-two years, having been a 
 prominent member of the bar of this State for more than 
 half a century. Mr. Wight's mother was Johai^jsta G. 
 Sakderso^^ previous to her marriage, and it is worthy of 
 note that she was born in the historic Hasbrouck house at 
 Newburgh, which was occupied in revolutionary times by 
 General WashhsTGTOK as his headquarters. Mr. Wight's 
 education is mainly self-acquired. Previous to his thirteenth 
 year he attended a private school in New York city, where, 
 of course, his studies were almost entirely rudimentary. 
 When he had reached that age, he left school and applied 
 himself diligently to study, being especially enamored of the 
 
Amherst Wight, Jr. 327 
 
 classics, with which he became quite familiar. Finally he 
 began the study of hiw, which he prosecuted until he 
 reached his majority. He was then admitted to the bar, and 
 since that time he has practiced in the courts of New York 
 city and Westchester, devoting his talents principally to that 
 branch of the profession relating to real estate. He resided 
 in the metropolis until 1859, when he removed to Portchester, 
 where, with the exception of a brief period spent in New 
 York, he has resided up to the present date. 
 
 Mr. Wight's political creed is unmistakably Republican. 
 He has belonged to the party since its first organization, at 
 which time he aided in forming the first Republican com- 
 mittee in New York city, being then a resident of the Nintli 
 ward where the committee was organized. Though not* 
 properly speaking, a politician, he has always felt deep 
 interest in the fortunes of the Republican party, and, when 
 occasion required, has not only assumed his share of active 
 campaign work, but has often stepped into the breach, and 
 acted as the party standard bearer in exciting local contests. 
 His town is Democratic by about 150 majority, but we find 
 him, in 1871, triumphantly chosen to a seat in the Board of 
 Supervisors, to which he was also chosen in the following 
 year. In the fall of 1872 he received a spontaneous nomina- 
 tion for the Assembly from the Second district of liis county, 
 where the Democratic majority is usually about 800. The 
 opposing candidate, Elias Dusenbury, possessed undoubted 
 strength, but Mr. Wight was successful by a small majority, 
 running aevcral hundred votes ahead of the Presidential 
 ticket. Last fall he was re-elected over Johk H. Corkell, 
 Democrat, by a majority of 93. 
 
 He was married in 1856 ; became a widower in 1864, and 
 married again in 1867. Although formerly connected with 
 Dr. Osgood's Unitarian church in New York city, he has, 
 during late years, belonged to the Episcopal denomination. 
 An amiable, unpretending gentleman in every respect, Mr. 
 Wight has gained much popularity during the present 
 
328 Life Sketches. 
 
 session, and is doing excellent service for the people of West- 
 chester county. Last year he was Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Privileges and Elections, a member of the Insurance 
 Committee, and served also on the special Erie Committee. 
 In this session he is Chairman of Insurance, and member of 
 Judiciary and Sub-Committee of the Whole. 
 
 JOHN D. WINFIELD. 
 
 Mr. Win FIELD is a man of plain and even homely exterior, 
 but he evidently possesses a kindly disposition, and is swayed 
 by honest impulses. He is a hardy and active Ulster county 
 farmer, full of vigor and common sense, and can be relied 
 upon, we apprehend, in almost any emergency which requires 
 the exercise of judgment and discretion. He was born in 
 Eochester, Ulster county, April 22, 1833. His parents, both 
 of whom are living, honored and respected, are James K. 
 and Elizabeth AVinfield, his mother's maiden name being 
 Davis. In early life, he obtained a fair education in the com- 
 mon schools, and such opportunities as he had he made good 
 use of. Since reaching manhood he has followed the bent of 
 his tastes and adhered to farming as an occupation, and has 
 been quite successful in that honorable pursuit. On the 30th 
 of October, 1856, he was married to Maria Hoei^beck, also 
 of Rochester. 
 
 Mr. Wikfield has taken an active part in politics since 
 boyhood. He has always been a Democrat, and voted for 
 Fillmore in 1856. He has not frequently held public office, 
 however, his only experience in that regard, previous to his 
 legislative service, being as member of the Board of Super- 
 visors in the years 1867 and 1869, and he is now a member 
 of the Board. In the Legislature he performs his duties 
 quietly and effectively, but he is not known as a talking 
 member. 
 
Charles B. Wood, 329 
 
 CHARLES B. WOOD. 
 
 The member from the second district of Orange county is 
 Major Charles B. Wood, who now assumes the responsibil- 
 ities of official position in civil life for the first time. He is, 
 however, an intelligent and active member of the House, 
 and he faithfully looks after the interests of his constitu- 
 ents. He was born at Warwick, Orange county, on the 3d 
 of September, 1837, and is, therefore, in the early prime of 
 manhood. He was educated in the public schools, and since 
 reaching manhood has mainly followed railroading, his pres- 
 ent occupation being conductor on the Erie railway. 
 
 Major Wood was one of the first to volunteer after the 
 attack on Fort Sumter, and was mustered into the United 
 States service as a private in the 71st Regiment, New York 
 State National Guard, on the 19th of April, 1861. Subse- 
 quently he was promoted to Lieutenant and then to Captain 
 in the 124th New York Volunteers, and served during nearly 
 the entire period of the war. On the 18th of October, 1864, 
 he was discharged at Petersburg on account of disability 
 from wounds received in action, and was afterward breveted 
 Major for gallant and meritorious conduct during the war. 
 He shared in all the brilliant record made by the army of the 
 Potomac from first to last, and made a reputation as a brave 
 and high-minded officer. 
 
 In the recent Assembly canvass. Major Wood received a 
 majority of 892, over Beisvamin F. Bailey, his Republican 
 opponent 
 
330 Life Sketches. 
 
 PETER WOODS. 
 
 Mr. Woods was the opponent, in the fall of 1872, of ex- 
 Assemblyman James Irving, the candidate of Apollo Hall, 
 Custom House Eepublicans and old Tammany Ring. He 
 was the nominee of the Reformed Tammany organization 
 and the Committee of Seventy, and was also supported by 
 many Republicans. Last fall he was the regular Tammany 
 and Liberal Republican candidate, and was opposed by 
 Joseph B. Varnum, Republican, and Nicholas Haugh- 
 TON", Apollo Hall. He was born in the county of Monaghan, 
 Ireland, December 15, 1832, and is, therefore, forty-one years 
 of age. At the age of seventeen he came to this country, 
 and located in New York city, where he has since resided. 
 He was educated in the common schools of Ireland and New 
 • York, learned the trade of painter — plain and decorative — 
 and stands very high in the art, having been in business as 
 an employer more than fifteen years. He has been more than 
 ordinarily successful, and does a large and growing business. 
 
 Mr. Woods' father was a man of fine culture and thorough 
 education, having been designed for tlie medical profession, 
 but he died when the subject of this sketch was but thirteen 
 years of age, leaving, mainly in his care, a large family of 
 sons and daughters. Except his service in the Assembly, 
 Mr. Woods has never held public position. He served his 
 time, however, in the New York Fire Department, and has 
 taken an active part in New York politics for a number of 
 years, belonging to what is known as the Democratic Union. 
 For over nine years he persistently fought the old Tammany 
 Ring. Mr. Woods is a man of great business energy, and 
 much force of character, efficiently representing his district 
 in the House. He is a member of the Roman Catholic 
 church, and has been twice married, first to Anka Bren- 
 NEN", in 1858, and the second time to Elizabeth Lacompt, 
 in 1869; his first wife dying in 1862. 
 
Jacob Worth, 331 
 
 JACOB WORTH. 
 
 Mr. Worth is a resident of the sixteenth ward of Brook- 
 lyn, and represents the sixth district of Kings county in the 
 Assembly. His parents emigrated from South Germany in 
 the year 1837, locating in New York city; five years later they 
 removed to Brooklyn, and there the family have since re- 
 sided. Mr. "Worth was bom in New York soon after his 
 parents arrived in that city, and therefore he is now about 
 thirty-six years of age. His father died when he was but 
 seven years of age, and from that time he was practically 
 obliged to depend upon his own efforts to earn a living, as 
 well as to provide for his widowed mother. He thus had 
 very little opportunity to obtain an education. In point of 
 fact, the first time he ever saw the inside of a school-house 
 was in 1863, when he was first a candidate for legislative 
 honors. He is therefore self-made, as the phrase goes, and 
 self-educated. 
 
 His life has been quite eventful. At the age of fifteen he 
 went to sea, and, during an absence of three years, made 
 the circuit of the globe. Soon after his return he entered 
 the political arena, and at the early age of nineteen was 
 elected to represent his ward in the Democratic General 
 Committee. When the war broke out in 1861, he was 
 enthusiastic in championing the Union cause, and since that 
 time he has been a firm and consistent Republican, devoting 
 much time and effort in spreading a knowledge of the prin- 
 ciples of his party among his fellow-countrymen. It is 
 probably due to him more than to any other man that, in 
 spite of adverse influences arising from excise laws and 
 other issues, the Germans of the Eastern district of Brook- 
 lyn, comprising a large portion of the population of that 
 section, have been kept true to Republicanism. 
 
 In September, 1862, Mr. Worth was commissioned a First 
 
332 Life Sketches. 
 
 Lieutenant in Col. OROi^K's regiment, the 139tli New York, 
 and went with his regiment to the front. Shortly after he 
 was promoted to a Captaincy, and was given a command in 
 the 84th New York regiment. He participated with credit 
 in all the battles and skirmishes of the regiment until the 
 latter part of 1863, when he resigned because of ill-health. 
 
 In the fall of the same year he was placed in the field as 
 the Republican candidate for Assembly in the district com- 
 prising the 7th, 15th, 16th and 19th wards of Brooklyn, and 
 succeeded in defeating Frank Smith, the Democratic can- 
 didate, by over 1,000 majority. In 1864 he was re-elected 
 by about 700 majority over John" Hanson, the district 
 giving the Democratic State ticket at the same time 500 
 majority. In 1865 he was once more chosen to the Assembly, 
 receiving about 1,200 majority, Judge Eames, a very popular 
 man on the Democratic side, being his opponent. In 1866 
 he Avas a candidate for Street Commissioner against Robert 
 Fury, and was defeated by 1,400 votes, in a poH of more 
 than 48,000, running 8,800 votes ahead of the Republican 
 State ticket. In the fall of 1867 he was elected to the Assem- 
 bly from the district composed of the 16th and lOth wards 
 of Brooklyn, by .30 majority, the Democratic State ticket 
 receiving over 1,100 majority. In 1868 he represented the 
 Second Congressional district of this State in the Electoral 
 College which gave Gen. Grant the 34 votes of the Empire 
 State. He ran again for Assembly in 1869, but was defeated 
 by Bernard Haver, a Democrat, by 58 votes, owing to the 
 fact that an Independent Republican was in the field, and 
 polled some 458 votes. In 1872 he was again elected to the 
 Assembly, receiving a majority of 555 over August Mer- 
 RiNGER. He is now completing his sixth term in the Legis- 
 lature, having been elected last fall by a plurality of 958 
 over John Raber, Democrat, and John Hinman, Inde- 
 pendent. 
 
 It is almost impossible to overcome his popularity in the 
 16th ward. He has sulBfered much detraction at the hands 
 
John (/Donnell, 333 
 
 of political opponents, but he is ever ready to meet his 
 assailants face to face on any issue, and his manly course of 
 action invariably compels respect and admiration. His 
 energy and perseverance are distinguishing traits in his char- 
 acter, and the Committee of One Hundred last year showed 
 obvious appreciation of his merit, by requesting him to 
 champion their Reform Charter through the Assembly. It 
 is conceded that he worthily performed the task allotted to 
 him, not hesitating to measure lances with the ablest debaters 
 in the House. Mr. Worth has been elected to represent the 
 ICth ward in the Republican General Committee every year 
 for the past twelve years, and during the past ten years has 
 b^en the elected representative of his assembly district to all 
 the State Conventions of the Republican party. He is a 
 gentleman of good presence and commanding figure, stand- 
 ing six feet in height. K he lives to the usual age allotted 
 to man, he bids fair to become as popular in the State as he 
 is now in Brooklyn. He was married in 1861, and has two 
 interesting children. 
 
 JOHN 0'DONNET,L, 
 
 CLERK OF THE ASSEMBLY. 
 
 Though he assumed the position without experience in the 
 desk previous to last year, the duties of Clerk of the Assem- 
 bly have very rarely been better performed than by ex-Sena- 
 tor O'DoNNELL. The position is one of great labor and 
 responsibility, and requires a peculiar order of talent in the 
 incumbent; but he has shown that he possesses in large 
 degree the special qualifications required, being, as all will 
 admit who have watched him during this and the last ses- 
 sions, industrious, prompt, methodical, a good reader, a clear- 
 headed man of business, and a pleasant, courteous gentleman. 
 
334 Life Sketches. 
 
 For the admirable and orderly manner in which the legisla- 
 tive business has been transacted, great credit is primarily 
 due to Speaker Husted, but his efforts would be useless to a 
 great extent were they not aided and seconded, as they cer- 
 tainly have been, by the tact and intelligence of the Olcrk. 
 Mr. O'Doknell's ability is universally recognized, and he 
 enjoys the confidence and esteem of all the members of the 
 House. 
 
 JoH]^ O'DoNNELL is a native of Fort Ann, Washington 
 county, where he was born in 1827. His father was born in 
 Ireland and his mother in America. In early life he removed 
 to Lyme, Jefferson county, and in 1849 he settled in Low- 
 ville, Lewis county, where he now resides. In that place he 
 commenced trade as a general merchant, and by earnest and 
 careful attention to business gradually extended his means 
 and acquired the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. 
 He subsequently purchased largely of real estate, in central 
 and eligible business localities, and erected commodious 
 blocks of buildings, extending along both the main streets 
 of Lowville, which have added greatly to the commercial 
 facilities of the place. His investments proved successful to 
 that extent that he, several years ago, withdrew from trade, 
 the leisure thus secured enabling him to render valuable ser- 
 vice to the people of the State and the Eepublican party, as 
 well as to the temperance cause, with which he has long been 
 closely identified. 
 
 He has had a long and honorable political career. In 1864 
 he was a member of the Republican State Committee, and 
 was also a Delegate to the Baltimore Convention which 
 renominated President Likcoln". In the same year he was 
 a Member of Assembly from Lewis county, serving in that 
 body as Chairman of the Committee on the Internal Affairs 
 of Towns and Counties, and bestowing diligent attention 
 upon the interests of his constituents and such measures 
 as were for the public welfare. During the session he 
 secured the passage of laws appropriating about fifty thou- 
 
John G'Donnell, 335 
 
 sand dollars for improvements in Lewis county, and was 
 the author of an important bill to protect the butter and 
 cheese interests of the State. In 1865 he was elected Senator 
 "for the Eighteenth district (Lewis and Jefferson), in place 
 of Hon. James A. Bell, defeating, by a large majority^ 
 Andrew Cornwall, his Democratic opponent. During 
 his first senatorial term he was Chairman of the Internal 
 Affairs Committee, and a member of the Committees on 
 Insurance and Public Expenditures. In his first session he 
 reported and advocated the New York Excise Bill, and was 
 the author of acts to protect political primaries, caucuses and 
 conventions, and to divide a safety fund of $80,000 in the 
 Bank Department among the bill-holders of Yates and Lewis 
 counties and reciprocity banks. 
 
 In 1867 he distinguished himself by introducing a measure, 
 noted for its originality and success, and known as the 
 "O'Donnell Railroad Bill." It provided, in place of State 
 aid to individual roads, a general plan by which the State 
 should aid any steam railroad in the State, outside of New 
 York city and county, that should build and complete in 
 good running order, where a parallel road was not already 
 built or in process of building, within an average distance of 
 ten miles thereof, to the amount of $5,000 per mile for every 
 twenty miles of road. It was with difficulty that a report, 
 even for consideration, could be obtained from the Senate 
 Railroad Committee in reference to the bill. At its first 
 appearance in Committee of the Whole but two Senators 
 were in favor of it, but a long discussion of its merits changed 
 the current of opinion, and it finally passed by a large vote. 
 Afterward it passed the Assembly, but it was vetoed by 
 Governor Ffnton. He also secured the passage in the 
 Senate of bills to extend the New York excise law to the 
 State at large, to suppress obscene literature, and to prohibit 
 the employment of railroad employees who use liquors as a 
 beverage, but they were all defeated in the Assembly. 
 
 In 1867 he was again elected to the Senate, defeating Lewis 
 
336 Life Sketches. 
 
 H. Brown" by 1,647 majority. In tlie ensuing session, as a 
 reward for his fidelity to the interests of the State, and for 
 his unbending integrity and honesty, he was made Chairman 
 of the Finance Committee, a position which constituted him 
 the premier of the Senate. He was besides a member of the 
 Committees on Printing, Privileges and Elections, and Pub- 
 lic Health. 
 
 During this session he devoted himself to the revision of 
 the assessment laws of the State, and introduced a bill which 
 provided for the taxing and assessing of corporations at the 
 Comptroller's office in Albany. In pursuance of the order 
 of the Senate in connection with his bill, for the first time 
 in the history of the State, all the corporations made sworn 
 statements of the amount of their capital, surplus and net 
 earnings for the preceding five years. These returns Avere 
 embodied in a report from the Comptroller, and, in an elabo- 
 rate speech upon his bill. Senator O'DoK^srELL claimed that 
 there was $870,989,672.39 of corporate property alone liable 
 to taxation, and that of this vast amount only $235,855,172 
 was assessed for taxation. In 1869, without his knowledge, 
 he was selected as Supervisor of Internal Ee venue for the 
 Northern District of New York, which office he held until 
 August, when, by law of Congress, the two districts in the 
 State were consolidated into one. In the late Presidential 
 canvass, Senator O'Doi^'i^ell took the stump for General 
 Grakt, and held upward of fifty meetings in behalf of the 
 cause. After the close of that canvass, at the organization 
 of the Assembly, and in obedience to the unanimous wish of 
 the party in the State, who desire to carry the reforms promised 
 into the Clerk's desk, he was chosen Clerk of the Assembly, 
 without solicitation on his part. At the opening of the pres- 
 ent session there were a number of candidates for the posi- 
 tion, but Mr. O'Doni^^ell's qualifications were deemed to be 
 the best, and he was the choice of a large majority of the 
 Republican caucus for re-election. 
 
 Mr. O'DoNNELL has been the recognized champion of the 
 
John O'BonnbijL, 337 
 
 temperance interest in the Legislature and elsewhere, for a 
 number of years past, and he has given his best efforts in 
 behalf of that cause. He is, in fact, one of the most promi- 
 nent temperance men in the entire State, and frequently 
 takes occasion to deliver lectures and addresses on the sub- 
 ject. So far as honorably lay in his power, he was active in 
 endeavoring to secure the passage of the several temperance 
 bills before the last legislature. As a public speaker he is 
 fluent and argumentative, seldom failing to fix the attention 
 of an audience, and always leaving the impression that he is 
 correct and conscientious in his views. He is known as a 
 man of great energy and perseverance, and he seldom under- 
 takes an enterprise without carrying it through. Genial in 
 disposition, gentlemanly and courteous in manners, and a 
 man of fine intellectual attainments, John O'Donnbll is 
 in every way an ornament to the Clerk's desk, and an honor 
 to the State he serves. 
 
Members of the SEifATB. 339 
 
 SENATORS. 
 
 JTAXXS, DI8TBI0T8, COUNTIES IN WHICH THET RESEDS, POST-OriTCE 
 ADDRESS AND POLITICS. 
 
 Lieut.-Gov. John C. Robinson, President of the Senate. 
 
 Nun« of Sciutor. 
 
 Ooanty. 
 
 Post-office address. 
 
 Politics. 
 
 John A. King ........ 
 
 John W. Co« 
 
 John C. J«oobs.....~.~..~~. 
 
 John Fox 
 
 JaoiPB W. Booth .. 
 
 Jacob A, Orou - 
 
 Thomas A. Led with 
 
 Hugh H. Moore 
 
 William H. Robertaon 
 
 Edward M. Madden 
 
 Benjamin Ray 
 
 Roswell A. Parmenter. — 
 
 Jesse C. Dayton '.. 
 
 Henry C. CJonnelly 
 
 Webster Wa«ner - 
 
 Franklin W. Tobey 
 
 Wells 8. Dickinson 
 
 Andrew C. Mlddleton 
 
 Samuel 8. Lowery 
 
 Archibald C. McGowan 
 
 Charles Kellogg 
 
 Daniel P. Wood 
 
 James G. Thompson. 
 
 John H. Selkreg 
 
 William B. Woodln 
 
 William Johnson 
 
 George B. Bradley 
 
 Jarrls Lord .~ - , 
 
 Dan H. Cole - 
 
 AbUah J. Wellman 
 
 John Oanson 
 
 Albert G. Dow 
 
 Suffolk 
 
 Kings 
 
 Kings 
 
 New York 
 
 New York 
 
 New York 
 
 New York. 
 
 New York. 
 
 Westchester ... 
 
 Orange 
 
 Cohimbla , 
 
 Rensselaer 
 
 Albany 
 
 Ulster 
 
 Montgomery .... 
 
 Easex 
 
 Franklin ... ... 
 
 Jefferson 
 
 Oneida 
 
 Herkimer. 
 
 Madison 
 
 Onondaga 
 
 Chenango 
 
 Tompkins 
 
 Cayuga 
 
 Seneca 
 
 Steuben 
 
 Monroe 
 
 Orleans 
 
 Allegany 
 
 Erie 
 
 Cattaraugus 
 
 Great Neck 
 
 Brooklyn..... 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 New York 
 
 New York 
 
 New York 
 
 New York 
 
 New York 
 
 Katonah 
 
 Mlddletown 
 
 Hudson 
 
 Troy 
 
 West Troy 
 
 rty Blountain 
 
 Palatine Bridge. 
 
 Port Henry 
 
 Bangor , 
 
 Black River. , 
 
 Utica 
 
 Frankfort 
 
 Chlttenango 
 
 Syracuse 
 
 Norwich 
 
 Ithaca. 
 
 Auburn 
 
 Seneca Falls 
 
 Coming 
 
 Rochester 
 
 Albion 
 
 Friendship 
 
 Buffalo 
 
 Randolph 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Independent 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
340 
 
 Life Sketches. 
 
 MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY. 
 
 NAME, DISTRICT, COUNTY, POST-OFMCB ADDKESS AND POLITICS. 
 
 Hon. James W. Husted, of Westchester, Speaker. 
 
 Name. 
 
 County. 
 
 Post-oflace. 
 
 Politics. 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 " 7 
 
 Abeel, Hector 
 
 Alberger, Franklin A 
 
 Allen, John J 
 
 Alvord, Thos. G 
 
 Badger, Jobn P 
 
 Barrow, George 
 
 Bassett, BenJ. J 
 
 Batcheller, Geo. S 
 
 Beebe, George M 
 
 Beecher, Harris H 
 
 Bennett, George C 
 
 Berri, Eugene D 
 
 Biglln, Bernard 
 
 Blessing, Andrew 
 
 Blumenthal, Joseph 
 
 Bordwell, Orville C 
 
 Bostwick, Wm. L 
 
 Braman, Waters W 
 
 Brewer, Francis B 
 
 Brown, Arthur F 
 
 Bulkley, Justin L 
 
 Burrltt, Leonard 
 
 Coffey, Michael ~.., 
 
 Carpenter, Henry 
 
 Cauldwell, William 
 
 Chadwlck, Geo. H , 
 
 Clark, Henry M 
 
 Cleary, Wm. V 
 
 Colahan, Stephen J, , 
 
 Comstock.'Artemas W. ... 
 
 Ulster 
 
 Erie 
 
 Kings 
 
 Onondaga -., 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Onondaga.... 
 
 Delaware 
 
 Saratoga 
 
 Sullivan 
 
 Chenango.... 
 
 Kings 
 
 Kings 
 
 New York... 
 New York.... 
 New York... 
 
 Niagara 
 
 Tompkins... 
 
 Albany 
 
 Chautauqua 
 
 Oneida 
 
 Oswego 
 
 Monroe 
 
 Kings 
 
 Madison 
 
 Westchester 
 
 Oneida 
 
 Wayne 
 
 Rensselaer .. 
 
 Kings 
 
 Niagara 
 
 Stone Ridge 
 
 Buffalo 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Syracuse 
 
 Burke 
 
 Syracuse 
 
 Walton 
 
 Saratoga Springs 
 
 Montlcello 
 
 Norwich 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 New York city 
 
 New York city 
 
 New York city 
 
 Coomer 
 
 Ithaca 
 
 West Troy 
 
 Westfleld 
 
 Westmoreland 
 
 Sandy Creek 
 
 Spencerport 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Oneida 
 
 Morrlsanla 
 
 Chad wick's Mills 
 
 East Palmyra 
 
 Troy - 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Lockport 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Independ't. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican- 
 
Members of the Assembly. 
 
 341 
 
 Name. 
 
 Goantf. 
 
 Post-offlce. 
 
 Politics. 
 
 Coughlin, John D 
 
 Daly, James. 
 
 Davis, Emerson B 
 
 Deane, George B., Jr 
 
 Dennlston, Augustus „ 
 
 Dickson, Robert - 
 
 Donahue, James F 
 
 ISastman, Harvey O 
 
 Ely, Wm. H 
 
 Farrar, Alonzo H 
 
 Fish, Hamilton, Jr 
 
 Foote, Robert B 
 
 GuBS, George A 
 
 Gregory, Harmon L 
 
 Griffin, Matthew 
 
 Gumee, Emory W 
 
 Hammond, Samuel H 
 
 Hanrahan, Patrick 
 
 Hardy, Leonard F 
 
 Hayes, James - 
 
 Hazelton, William C 
 
 Healey, James 
 
 Herrlck, John 
 
 Hiner,John D 
 
 Hoag, John B 
 
 Holden, Austin W 
 
 Houghton, Charles F.....~. 
 
 Hussey, Erastus 
 
 Johnson, Willard 
 
 Jones, Griffith ~ 
 
 Kirk, William P 
 
 Knapp, William B , 
 
 Kshinka, L. C. G ~ 
 
 Landfleld, Jerome B ».. 
 
 Law, Alexander B 
 
 Lawrence, Henry 
 
 Leake, Austin - 
 
 Sew York 
 
 New York 
 
 Washington... 
 
 New York 
 
 Orange 
 
 RensAelaer ..... 
 
 Kings 
 
 Dutchess 
 
 Otsego 
 
 Columbia 
 
 Putnam 
 
 Erie 
 
 Blonroe 
 
 Schuyler 
 
 Delaware 
 
 Wayne 
 
 OnUrlo 
 
 Brie 
 
 Cayuga 
 
 New York 
 
 Seneca 
 
 New York 
 
 Lewis , 
 
 Chautauqua...., 
 
 Schoharie 
 
 Warren 
 
 Hteuben 
 
 Cayuga 
 
 Oswego 
 
 Oneida 
 
 New York. 
 
 Rockland 
 
 Albany 
 
 Tioga 
 
 Washington 
 
 Columbia 
 
 NewY. 
 
 New York city ... 
 New York city... 
 
 Whitehall 
 
 New York city..., 
 Blooming Grove . 
 
 Lanslngburgh 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Poughkeepsie 
 
 East Worcester ... 
 
 Kinderhook 
 
 Garrison's 
 
 Abbott's Corners. 
 
 Plttsford 
 
 Altay 
 
 Griffin's Corners... 
 
 Clyde 
 
 Geneva 
 
 Buflalo 
 
 Weedsport , 
 
 New York city 
 
 Ovid 
 
 New York city 
 
 New Bremen 
 
 Smith's Mills 
 
 Sharon Springs 
 
 Glens Falls 
 
 Coming 
 
 Aurora 
 
 Fulton 
 
 Floyd 
 
 New York city 
 
 Haverstraw 
 
 Albany 
 
 Newark Valley 
 
 Shushan , 
 
 Claverack _, 
 
 New York city 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Itepubllcan. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat, 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
342 
 
 Life Sketches, 
 
 Name. 
 
 Lincoln, Cyrillo 8 
 
 Lockwood, Horatio 8... 
 
 Lynde, Dolphus S 
 
 McAfee, Knox 
 
 McGroarty, John 
 
 Mackin, James 
 
 McQueen, Daniel P 
 
 Manley, John 
 
 Melvln, Theodore N 
 
 Miller, Edmund 
 
 Miller, Warner 
 
 Morey, Jonathan B 
 
 Murray, Francis 
 
 Nice, John 
 
 Oakley, James M 
 
 O'Callaghan, Thomas.... 
 
 Parry, John J 
 
 Patten, Matthew 
 
 Persons, Elam 
 
 Petty, Nathan D 
 
 Phillips, George W 
 
 Phllpot, Edward G. 
 
 Pope, Gardner 
 
 Pope, Seth G....v 
 
 Prince, L. Bradford .. 
 
 Qulnn, Terrence J „ 
 
 Ryan, James , 
 
 Sanford, Jonah , 
 
 Scherman, George 
 
 Schlfferdecker, Fred 
 
 Shattuck, Stephen D 
 
 Sherwood, George.. ....... 
 
 Simon, Ckarles 
 
 Sloan, George B - 
 
 Smith, Hugh 
 
 Smith, Joseph W 
 
 Snyder, Robert A 
 
 County. 
 
 Ontario 
 
 Greene .. ^ 
 
 St. Lawrence. 
 
 New York 
 
 Kings 
 
 Dut<:hes;i 
 
 Schenectady... 
 [Cattaraugus... 
 
 Kings 
 
 Chemung 
 
 Herkimer 
 
 Livingston.... 
 
 New York 
 
 Erie 
 
 Queens :.., 
 
 New York 
 
 Oneida 
 
 New York 
 
 Jefferson 
 
 Suffolk 
 
 Cortland 
 
 J'adison 
 
 St. Lawrence .. 
 
 Queens 
 
 Albany.- 
 
 New York 
 
 St. Lawrence.. 
 
 New York , 
 
 Albany 
 
 Steuben 
 
 Broome 
 
 Onondaga 
 
 Oswego 
 
 Jefferson 
 
 Erie 
 
 Ulster ^ 
 
 Po«t-offlc«. 
 
 Naples ,,.,. 
 
 Hunter 
 
 Hermon..~ 
 
 New York city 
 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Fishklll 
 
 Schen«ctady...«. ........ 
 
 Little Valley 
 
 Brooklyn , 
 
 Elmlra 
 
 Herkimer 
 
 Dansville 
 
 New York city 
 
 Grand Island 
 
 Jamaica 
 
 New York city 
 
 Rome 
 
 New York city 
 
 EUisburgh 
 
 Rlverhead 
 
 Homer 
 
 Pratt's Hollow 
 
 Ausable Forks 
 
 Ogdensburg 
 
 Flushing 
 
 Albany , 
 
 New York city 
 
 Hopkinton 
 
 New York city 
 
 Albany 
 
 Cohocton 
 
 Binghamton 
 
 Syracuse 
 
 Oswego 
 
 Perch River 
 
 Buffalo 
 
 Saugertles 
 
 Poatics. 
 
 Republican. 
 Republican. 
 Republican, 
 Republican. 
 Democrat. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Republican, 
 Democrat. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Republican. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Democrat. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican, 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Republican. 
 Republican. 
 Republican- 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Republican. 
 Democrat. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Republican, 
 Republican. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 Republican. 
 Democrat. 
 Republican. 
 
Members of the Assembly. 
 
 343 
 
 Name. 
 
 Oountjr. 
 
 Poet-offlce. 
 
 Politics. 
 
 Spencer, Cluirles 8 ~ 
 
 Spencer. Geo. W 
 
 Stacy, Orrin T 
 
 Stephens, Stephen D.. Jr.... 
 
 Stover, Martin L ~ ... 
 
 Sullivan, James E.....~>.~.. 
 
 Sunderlln. John .~- 
 
 Taylor, Oeorge — . ..— . 
 
 Tewkabary, Samuel W 
 
 Thorp , Henry — .~... — ^^^ 
 
 Townsend. Elbert — ^ 
 
 Tedder, Commodore ?...-.« 
 
 Waehner, Loaia »>.«>.. 
 
 Waf sUff, Alfred,yr. 
 
 Weed, Smith M 
 
 Weet, George — 
 
 Wbalen. Eliaha 8 
 
 Wight, Amhent, Jr — -~~. 
 
 Winneld, John D 
 
 Witbeclc. Joeeph M 
 
 Wood, Charlea B 
 
 Wooda, Peter 
 
 Worth, Jacob 
 
 New York — 
 
 Yatea 
 
 Allegany ...... 
 
 Richmond ... 
 Montgomery 
 New York..... 
 
 Fulton k Ham., 
 
 Monroe ~.. 
 
 Wyoming ..~. 
 
 Otaego 
 
 Genesee ..., 
 
 Cattaraugus... 
 
 New York. 
 
 New York. 
 
 Clinton 
 
 Saratoga 
 
 Orleans -.. 
 
 Westchester . 
 
 UUter 
 
 Rensselaer .... 
 
 Orange ~ 
 
 New York.... 
 Kings 
 
 New York city.. 
 
 Penn Yan 
 
 Ru8hford..~ 
 
 Richmond 
 
 Amsterdam 
 
 New York city. 
 
 Gloversviile , 
 
 Rochester -.. 
 
 Perry Center.... 
 
 Butternuts 
 
 Pavilion Center 
 
 EllicottvlUe 
 
 New York city. 
 New York city . 
 
 PlatUburgh 
 
 BallstonSpa...... 
 
 Medina. , 
 
 Port Chester.... 
 West Hurley.... 
 
 Nassau 
 
 Middletown ...... 
 
 New York city . 
 Brooklyn 
 
 Republican, 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat, 
 
 Republican, 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Liberal. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Liberal. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Republican. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat. 
 
 Democrat, 
 
 Democrat 
 
 Republican. 
 
mmm-^ 1/ DAY USE 
 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 —&E&^r^m^^ir 
 
 ^(E1602810)476B 
 
 funeral Library . 
 Sft^ti of California 
 
 U-i-««g.keley 
 
Mill 800 
 
 Fur 
 M5 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UBRARY