USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them preeminent in their own and many other states, Vol. 2 > Part 22
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Justice D. Cady Herrick, acted as spokes- man for the judiciary, and David Bennett Hill, ex-governor, ex-United States Sen- ator and sage, expressed to the retiring judge his high estimate of his eminence at the bar and on the bench. Governor Hill's speech was a gracious and graceful tribute from one of the State's greatest men to a wise and upright judge, before whom he had practiced as a lawyer. Three years after his retirement, Judge Parker closed his earthly career full of years and honor.
Charles Edward Parker was born in Owego, New York, August 25, 1836, and after a long and eminent service as lawyer and jurist died in the city of his birth, March 2, 1909. He was the son of John Mason Parker, congressman and jurist. He prepared at Owego Academy, then entered Hobart College, whence he was graduated, Bachelor of Arts, class of 1857. At Hobart he affiliated with Alpha Delta Phi and throughout his long life cherished a high regard for that frater- nity. It was also Hobart, his well-beloved alma mater, that, forty-three years later, in 1900, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws.
After graduation he began the study of law under the direction of his honored father, then a member of Congress, but a practitioner at the Tioga county har, later a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1858 he was admit- ted to the Tioga county bar and quickly forged to the front as an able lawyer and advocate. He gained the confidence of the public as well and in 1867 was chosen a member of the New York Constitu- tional Convention and with one exception was the youngest member of that body. He continued in successful practice until 1883, then forever retired from the ranks of practicing lawyers to don judicial ermine. He was elected judge of Tioga county in 1883, but was not allowed to
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serve out his term as on November 8, 1887, he was chosen by the voters of his State to the high office of Supreme Court Judge. His first years on the Supreme Bench were devoted to circuit work, but on the creation of the Appellate division of the Supreme Court under the consti- tution of 1895, he became a member of that body, Third Judicial Department, and its presiding justice. The Appellate Court consists of five members of the Supreme Court and in dignity and im- portance ranks next to the State Court of Appeals. He continued on the Supreme Bench until December, 1906, then, in the fullness of his intellectual power, but physically on the wane, retired having reached the constitutional limit of age. The remaining three years were spent at Owego, amid the scenes of his youth and earlier legal triumphs, well preserved in all but power of walking. He was held in high esteem by his townsmen as friend and neighbor, while his death was mourn- ed by an entire State. Letters of con- dolence came from men of eminence from all parts of the State, the press without an exception vieing in their expressions of respect for the dead jurist. His funeral was attended by men of high official and professional positions and by a large con- course of citizens.
Judge Parker married, in 1865, Mary, daughter of Judge Thomas Farrington, of Owego.
RUSSELL, Archimedes, Expert Architect.
Archimedes Russell, architect, late of Syracuse, New York, was not a man who led an exalted or pretentious life, but one which was true to itself and its pos- sibilities, and one to which the biographer may revert with respect and satisfaction. He was a man of strong intellectual force and mature judgment, of absolute integ-
rity and high motives, and was strong in his support of the ethics of his profession. Secure in his own ability, he was inclined to assist rather than to retard the prog- ress of his competitors. Kind of heart and of a cheerful disposition, he was also firm and fearless in his defence of the right at all times, and would never lend himself to anything that in his opinion would not bear the light, dealing fairly with both clients and contractors. These noble qualities he inherited from an hon- ored ancestry.
The name of Russell is compounded of two Norman and French words-Roz, meaning castle, and El, a synonym for Eau, meaning water. The name was first given to a castle in Lower Normandy in 1045, and implied a tower or castle by the water. Hugh, son of William Bert- rand, was invested with this stronghold and took its name, calling himself Hugh Rozel, from which came Rosel, Rousel, and the present orthography. The Bert- rand ancestry is traceable as far back as the seventh century, to the Norwegian Zarls, to Rerick, the first King of Nor- mandy, down through King Harold, who reigned there in 885. William Bertrand and his sons-Roger, Hugh, Theobold and Richard-accompanied William on his first expedition to England, and re- ceived large grants of the public domain confiscated from the subjugated Saxons. They were the founders of the English Russells. John Russel, who lived in the sixteenth century, was of this descent, a son of James, in the west of England. He rose in favor with Henry VIII., held many offices, and was one of Henry's executors. Upon the accession of Ed- ward VI. he continued near to the throne, and distinguished himself at St. Mary's Cyst, and was created Earl of Bedford. The fourth Earl of Bedford was a Georgian statesman, and Lord John Rus- sell was Premier of England in 1846 and
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again in 1865. William H. Russell, the famed war correspondent, known as "Bull Run" Russell, is another of the name and lineage. In this country we have had the Hon. John E. Russell and William A. Russell, Massachusetts con- gressmen, and Governor William E. Rus- sell. The armorial bearings of the Rus- sells was: Crest: A demi lion, rampant, collared sable, studded or, holding a cross of the shield.
Moody Russell, father of Archimedes Russell, was born in Alfred, Maine, Sep- tember 1, 1808, and died in Andover, Mas- sachusetts, in 1904. His ancestors were members of the Plymouth Colony, Mas- sachusetts, and the greater part of his life was spent in Andover, where he was a noted contractor and builder. He mar- ried Fannie Wardwell, also a descendant of members of the Plymouth Colony, who was born in Andover, Massachusetts, No- vember 5, 1802, and died October 22, 1892.
Archimedes Russell was born in An- dover, Massachusetts, June 13, 1840, and died in his beautiful home, No. 617 Gene- see street, Syracuse, New York, April 3, 1915. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native town, and at the early age of thirteen years was ap- prenticed to Charles S. Parker, a carriage and sign painter, and was thus occupied for a period of two years, after which he again attended the schools of his native town, and also assisted his father in the extensive building and contracting busi- ness he controlled. He had almost attain- ed his majority when he entered the office of John Stevens, a well known architect of Boston, and remained with him two years. December 4, 1862, he came to Syracuse, and from that time until his death he was identified with the interests of that city. He became associated with Horatio N. White, an architect, in whose employ he remained until he established himself in the practice of his profession
independently, January 1, 1868, and prac- ticed it alone until January 1, 1906, when he formed a partnership with Melvin L. King which continued until his death. His talent as an able and gifted architect, of rarely original ideas was undisputed, and earned much commendation far and wide. Among the numerous buildings he designed some of the most notable are as follows: Onondaga County Clerk's, Onondaga County Court House, and Snow and Greyhound buildings; Con- gress Hall ; Church of Assumption School House, of Providence ; Crouse Memorial College; Third National Bank; Crouse Stable; dwellings for Jacob Amos, H. S. White, Dr. G. D. Whedon, J. S. Crouse, L. D. Denison, and many others in Syra- cuse ; the Sibley and McGraw buildings of Cornell University; Presbyterian church and D. H. Burrell residence, at Little Falls; Warren Miller mansion and Herkimer Second National Bank, at Oswego; Otsego County Court House ; Cortland House, at Cortland ; and others innumerable. From 1881 to 1885 he served as a fire commissioner, and was president of the Board of Fire Commis- sioners, 1884-85. He served as supervisor from the Seventh Ward in 1884, 1886-87, always giving his political support to the Republican party. He was chairman of a commission composed of the late Stan- ford White and others to investigate the Assembly Ceiling scandal, when Dennis McCarthy was senator. When ex-Vice- President Levi P. Morton was Governor of the State of New York, he appointed Mr. Russell as a member of a commission to complete the State Capitol. The indi- vidual members of this commission were: Lieutenant-Governor Saxon, Su- perintendent of Public Works; State En- gineer, Ira N. Hedges,s civilian; Archi- medes Russell, architect. About three years after the appointment of this com- mission the capitol was completed.
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Mr. Russell married, June 30, 1864, in Boston, Massachusetts, Susan M. Bart- lett, of that city. She survives her hus- band, and still lives in Syracuse. Mr. Russell was always ready with a friendly greeting, a cheery smile, or a word of encouragement, and these qualities en- deared him to those with whom he was associated, while the strength of his char- acter, his laudable ambition, and his earnest purpose gained him a place of prominence among the leading business men of the city.
FOWLER, Thomas Powell, Lawyer, Railroad Official.
A lawyer by profession but for a quarter of a century, 1888-1912, president of the New York, Ontario & Western railroad, Mr. Fowler was better known to the business than the professional world, in fact he was one of the most widely known railroad executives in the United States. To a great executive ability, fully demonstrated in many fields, he added a wisdom in the management of men that was most remarkable. He drew men to him by his pleasing personality, and held them by fair treatment and a consideration for their welfare that made every employee a friend. When in 1912 he retired from active management of the New York, Ontario & Western he carried with him the esteem of all his subordi- nates, who as a testimonial of this esteem presented him with a handsome loving cup.
Mr. Fowler was a descendant of Revo- lutionary and Colonial ancestors, son of Isaac Sebring and Mary (Ludlow) Fow- ler, who at the time of his birth were residing in Newburgh, New York.
Thomas Powell Fowler was born Oc- tober 26, 1851, died at his summer home "Belair," Warwick, New York, October II, 1915. After completing courses at
College Hill, Poughkeepsie, he studied in Germany and then entered Columbia Law School whence he was graduated Bach- elor of Law, class of "74." After gradu- ation he was admitted to practice at the New York bar, practiced actively in New York City for several years, but gradually became absorbed in railroad management that took him from the professional held, although he always retained his connec- tion with the New York bar.
In 1879 he became a director of the Shenango & Allegheny railroad, and from that time forward his services were in demand, his trained legal mind and keen business ability rendering him a valuable addition to the directorates of many transportation companies. In 1881 he was elected a director of the Lehigh & Hudson River railroad; of the Western Pennsylvania & Shenango Connecting railroad in 1883; the New York, Ontario & Western railroad in 1884; appointed receiver of the Shenango & Allegheny railroad, March 31, 1884; and in succes- sion became associated with the director- ates of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway; Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe rail- way; Lehigh & Hudson river railroad; Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix railway; California Eastern railroad; Randsburg Railway Company ; Santa Fe Pacific rail- road; Southern California Railway Com- pany ; English Association of American Bond & Share Holders, Limited.
His connection with the New York, Ontario & Western railroad began in 1884 as a director. Four years later he was elected president, a position he filled with highest honor and efficiency until 1912 when he retired leaving the system in greatly improved physical and financial condition, with a loyal working force thoroughly organized and capable. To follow Mr. Fowler's career through its many avenues of activity would be to write a history of many of the great
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railroad systems of the United States for he held no sinecures, but gave himself unreservedly to the duties of any position he accepted during his business life. His greatest work, however, is manifest in the executive management of the New York, Ontario & Western, a road, once a re- proach, that he left an important part of a great railroad system.
While emphatically a man of affairs Mr. Fowler was not unmindful of his obligations as a citizen, meeting these honorably and in all things measuring up to the full stature of American manhood. He was senior warden of St. James' Protestant Episcopal Church, Seventy- first street and Madison avenue, New York, and met his fellowmen in social intercourse in the Metropolitan, Grolier, Down Town and Tuxedo clubs. His patriotic ancestry opened wide the doors of the orders based on Revolutionary ancestry, and he was a member of the Sons of the Revolution.
Mr. Fowler married, April 20, 1876, in the Brick Presbyterian Church, Fifth avenue and Thirty-seventh street, New York, Isabelle, daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Ruth (Seely) Dunning. Children: Ruth Dunning, Louisa Orso, Isabel Wilson, Alice Dunning, Katherine Sebring, Eleanor Rumsey, Franklin Dun- ning, Thomas Powell, Jr., and Ludlow Sebring Fowler.
LEVERICH, William,
Clergyman.
The crest of the Leverich-Leveridge family is thus described: Argent. A chevron between three matchlocks, sable. Crest : A leopard's face, proper. Motto : Virtute et opera.
"The learned and Rev. William Lev- erich than whom his descendants need wish no better ancestry" appears on the pages of Colonial history as a man of
singular piety and learning, and as a true soldier in the Christian warfare.
Like the great Apostle he was a man of many journeys, the founder of many churches, the friend, counsellor and pastor of his people. Or we can see him with Bible in hand, telling the Indians in their native tongue of One who loved them, and gave Himself for them. We find the following in Freeman's "History of Cape Cod," "He who does not think of his ancestors will be negligent of his posterity" and signed William Leverich. So we, his descendants in this distant day, love to honor his reverend name in this the land of his adoption.
The Rev. William Leverich was born in England in 1605, and was a son of Sir Sabille Leverich, of Drawlington Hall, Warwickshire. The name originated with a Baron Liebrich who came with William the Conqueror in 1066 and the family is mentioned on the Doomsday Book. John Sabille Leverich was knight- ed by Queen Elizabeth in 1562. The name has been variously spelled, but Leverich, or Leveridge are both used in the Colonial records, and signifies, "Rich in love."
The Rev. William Leverich was a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cam- bridge, England, taking A. B. in 1625 and A. M. in 1629.
Though born and educated in the Church of England, his sympathies were early enlisted on the side of the Non- conformists. . So he left the bosom of Motherchurch to arrange himself with the band of seventy Puritan ministers who fled over the seas for "freedom to worship God." Some merchants from Bristol, England, had settled at Dover, New Hampshire, of which Captain Thomas Wiggins was superintendent. In 1632 he went to England in the interests of the colony, and on October 10, 1633, returned on the ship "James" with thirty
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others, "and among them," says the record of Winthrop "was the Rev. Wil- liam Leverich, a godly minister." They landed at Salem, and reached Dover on the last Sunday of October and the tree was still standing a few years ago under which the Rev. William Leverich de- livered the first sermon ever preached by an ordained minister in the State of New Hampshire. The Church of Dover cele- brated in October, 1883, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its existence, and on that occasion many paid their graceful tribute to the memory of the saintly scholar and apostle, William Leverich, the first pastor of the church at Dover.
In 1635 he moved southward to Boston, forming the friendship of the two most noted divines of the day, viz, the Rev. John Cotton and Rev. John Eliot. It was the latter who first suggested to him the study of the Indian tongue for which he afterwards became so noted, and of whose labors Palfrey, Hubbard, Marten and others bare record. He was also placed by Dr. Cotton Mather in his classis "among the first great men." After a short asso- ciation with the Rev. Ralph Partridge at Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 1637, Mr. Leverich, with ten others, came to Sand- wich, Cape Cod. They were soon joined by fifty more from Duxbury and Plymouth, and a church was formed with William Leverich as pastor. By the theoretic principles of Puritanism, no one was allowed to sell lands without the consent of the minister, so here at Sand- wich a church was built by this influence whose power was felt throughout the colony. The Indians were numerous about Cape Cod, and William Leverich accordingly acquired their language, and they were ever his devoted followers, while their orderly and peaceful lives throughout his pastorate attested to his faithfulness among them. The early
years of his pastorate at Cape Cod were peacefully passed, but as the town grew refractory spirits found entrance, "in- veighing against the minister and magis- trates to the dishonor of God." Captain Miles Standish and Thomas Prince tried to throw oil on the troubled waters. To prevent the entrance of those whose fit- ness was questioned, the law more emphatically enforced that none be ad- mitted to town rights without the consent of Mr. Leverich, and the town authorities. This offended many, and they turned their animosity toward the minister, accusing him of novelties in religion, of using the services of the English Church in Holy Communion and baptism, which was often practiced during the first years of the church in Salem.
In 1647 we find William Leverich em- ployed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England for work among the Indians, extending his labors to the Plymouth Colony, and be it said to the eternal honor of John Eliot, Wil- liam Leverich and many others, that dur- ing their ministries never was peace broken by the horrors of Indian warfare.
In view of Mr. Leverich's success among the natives, the society approved and directed that he should turn his atten- tion to the Indians of Long Island. So in 1652, with a dozen or more of his parish- ioners, he explored the country about Oyster Bay, Long Island, and in 1653 with these friends of Sandwich, he left Cape Cod for the shores of Long Island, "The Isle of Shells." Mr. Leverich de- sired to form a colony on Long Island, so with Peter Wright and Samuel Mayo, they purchased a tract of land of the Indians at Oyster Bay and Huntington. It is curious to see the consideration given for these lands, viz. Indian coats, kettles, hatchets, awlblades, shovels, and as much wampum as would make four pounds sterling. This was signed by the
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mark of Assiapum, the sachem, and a paper was given to the rest of the com- pany admitting them to equal rights, and in ten years there were fifty landholders.
During five years Mr. Leverich labored at Oyster Bay among the Indians, but with never a conspiracy among them. But we could have seen him teaching in the Indian wigwams amid the terrors of pestilence, giving them bread, or even a cup of cold water in the name of the Master. "The salaries," says Mr. Wood, "of these first ministers were raised as other taxes, and the amount fixed in money was really paid in produce or cattle."
Mr. Leverich built the first grist mill at Huntington, and the writer has a re- ceipt of forty pounds for it from one Henry Whitney.
On the records at Albany in 1660, Gov- ernor Stuyvesant writing to the directors of the West India Company at Amster- dam, Holland, says: That the Rev. Wil- liam Leverich was to sail on the first out- going vessel for the purpose of obtaining medicines for the colonies. It was the following year before he sailed, and in 1663 the medicines were sent to "the Eng- lish clergyman versed in the art of physic," for it was a common thing among the university educated theo- logues to attend the lectures of the medical professors.
On Mr. Leverich's return to Hunting- ton in 1662, from Holland, his congrega- tion gave him a quantity of land, and also built a parsonage for him. The first church was erected in 1665, the congre- gation prior to that worshipping in the Town Hall. In 1662 William Leverich went to Newtown, Long Island, to pur- chase lands for his sons, Caleb and Eleazar, and as Newtown at that time was destitute of spiritual guidance he remained and ministered to them for a while, but still keeping oversight of the
church at Huntington. In 1665 he re- turned to the last place, and we find the name of William Leverich on the Nicoll patent, both at Newtown and Hunting- ton.
In 1669 the people of Newtown having been for nearly ten years without any minister, except for Mr. Leverich's so- journ among them, now turned their attention to him, and with the leading citizens, constables and overseers pre- sented their proposals, but he did not leave the pastorate of Huntington until 1670. Says Mr. Davenport, "Some have wondered why he left a place so endeared to him, by the ties of friends and fortune, but he was getting in the decline of life, and it was no doubt the desire to pass the evening of it in the bosom of his family. that decided the change." There was perfect harmony on either side, and re- gret at his loss for Huntington.
The first church edifice at Newtown (that is the Puritan Church) was erected in 1671. In 1675 the Indian wars in New England caused great apprehension of an outbreak on Long Island, and Newtown was placed in a state of siege. But not so had the red man learned of William Leverich and others, and the fearful tide of savage warfare never passed over its peaceful towns.
The closing years of the Rev. William Leverich's life were rest and peace-until early in 1677 he fell asleep, "he was not for God took him."
The Rev. William Leverich left two sons, Caleb and Eleazar, the former tak- ing out letters of administration on his father's estate, June, 1777, bearing the signature of Governor Andros. Caleb was born during his father's settlement at Cape Cod, and he married Martha, widow of Francis Swain. His name appears among the freeholders of New- town, December 4, 1666, and he enjoyed the esteem of his townsmen, and was one
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of the original members of the Presby- terian church. His children were John, Mary and Eleanor. Eleazar died child- less.
John Leverich, Sr., and grandson of Rev. William Leverich, left a widow Hannah, and four children: John, Wil- liam, Elnathan and Samuel. John, Jr., died before his father.
Prior to the Revolution, by the Eng- lish law, the eldest son was the heir. But John Leverich, Sr., divided his estate equally among his four sons: John, Jr., William, Samuel and Elnathan.
In 1781, by an indenture in the pos- session of the writer, Sacket Leverich, son of John, Jr., deceased, for the sum of twelve hundred pounds, lawful money of the colony, receives three- fourths of his three uncles undivided estate. John Leverich, Jr., was born in 1696, and married (first) Amy Moore, (second) Susannah, widow of John Sacket, and (third) Sarah, daughter of Silas -. He died in 1780, leaving four children. His eldest son, John, mar- ried his stepsister, Elizabeth Sacket, and left three children: Sacket, Amy and Richard. In their day commenced the stormy times of the Revolution. The old farm, bought by Caleb Leverich for his sons, was during the bitter strife for in- dependence, truly the scene of great activity. For some part of the time there was stationed on it 1168 men, viz. "The Royal Highland Forty-second Regi- ment," the celebrated Black Watch, Thomas Sterling, commandant. Many were the stories told about his honorable ·treatment of all, forbidding his soldiers to commit any depredation, and several times when they transgressed his rules they received no sympathy if met with disaster. Cholera carried away quite a number, they were buried in a corner of the farm, and the burial place was marked by a pile of stones called a cairn, every
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