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. 3 > Part 49
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The rare opportunities for knowing public men, presented to him soon after
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leaving college and continuing for forty years, with his close and discriminating study of political annals, afforded him abundant material as a political historian. He began the preparation of his great work (the term is used advisedly) the "Political History of New York," while still in Congress, two volumes of which were published in 1906 and a third 1909. It is a work remarkable for the extent and accuracy of its knowledge, its insight of the motives actuating its dramatis per- sonae (so to speak), its conscientious im- partiality, its vivid descriptions, compari- sons and side allusions and with perhaps, as its most striking feature, its peerless "pen portraits." In style it is peculiarly fascinating, clear as a bell, brilliant as a gem. It was widely acclaimed by the re- viewers, the "Nation" and the "Philadel- phia Ledger," both deservedly authorita- tive, pronounced in the commendatory estimates. Alexander has recently pub- lished a companion work to the "New York History" entitled the "History and Procedure of the House of Representa- tives," of which the "New York Sun" says :
The arrangement is logical; organization of the House, the history of the speakership, sketches of a long series of party whips and floor leaders, the development of committee work and of the House rules; an account of great debates, and sketches of great debaters, impeachment practices and a chapter on the "President and the House." Mr. Alexander's chapter on the Speakership, brilliant as it is, is not exceptional, but representative among his chap- ters. Those on committees, on rules of the House, on quorum, on debate and debates and on contested elections, are written with the understanding and the impartial judgment of one who has been through the mill and now looks back with calm detachment upon the scene of his former labors. The book is full of Con- gressional lore, a delightful and valuable record of men and measures.
Dr. Alexander is a member of the Buffalo and University clubs, of West-
minster Presbyterian Church (how near- ly related to the famous Presbyterian Alexanders of Princeton the writer is not informed), a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, vice-president of the New York State Historical Associ- ation, a member of Chapin Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, and a thir- ty-second degree Mason. He has in contemplation a fourth volume of the "Political History," and is busy with his pen and among his books, in his Buffalo home (31 North street), serene in his de- clining years. He married (first) Alice, daughter of Jonas and Almira Hull Col- by, of Henniker, New Hampshire, Sep- tember 14, 1871; and (second) Anne Lu- cille Bliss, daughter of David Gerlach and Mary Fiero, of Buffalo, New York, De- cember 28, 1893.
FITCH, Charles E., Lawyer, Journalist, Educator.
While Charles Elliott Fitch, of Syra- cuse, during a long and unusually active life, has held various important official positions, and always with ability and fidelity, his chief distinction is in the field of letters. With the exception of Dr. Ellis H. Roberts, of Utica, he is the sole survivor of that remarkable group of "writing editors" who made a deep im- pression upon the public affairs of the State of New York in the years following the Civil War. In the metropolis, Gree- ley of the "Tribune" and Raymond of the "Times" were both in the last decade of their service. From 1867 Dana was bril- liantly identified with the "Sun," and Bryant was yet at the head of the "Even- ing Post." Weed, of the Albany "Jour- nal," had but lately ended his newspaper activities. In the interior, a school of trenchant and aggressive journalists em- braced Roberts of the Utica "Herald," Francis of the Troy "Times," Carroll E.
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Smith of the Syracuse "Journal," Warren of the Buffalo "Commercial," and Mat- thews of the Buffalo "Express." Of Fitch it has been said by a discriminating writer, Alexander, that he was an edi- torial advocate and disputant who had to be reckoned with. In Alexander's recent history of New York, dealing with the period immediately following the Civil War, there are various references to the editorial work and political influence of Fitch, and, as said by the writer quoted, in vigor and grace of editorial expression he was at least the equal of any of his up- State contemporaries ; but he had the ad- vantage of most of them in his bountiful store of historical learning-the one un- matched fountain of enlightened and con- vincing editorial discourse.
Charles Elliott Fitch was born in Syra- cuse, New York, December 3, 1835, son of Thomas Brockway and Ursula (Elliott) Fitch ; his father was for nearly fifty years a prominent merchant and banker of Syracuse ; his mother was a daughter of Daniel Elliott, architect and builder, who settled in Syracuse in 1827. Fitch is eighth in descent from Rev. James Fitch, a Congregational clergyman, well known for his missionary labors in conjunction with John Eliot, the Apostle among the Indians, who having preached in Say- brook, Connecticut, removed with nearly all his congregation to Norwich, Connecti- cut, and is regarded as the chief founder of that place. Fitch is of pure Puritan ancestry throughout, being descended in direct lines from Governor William Brad- ford and Elder William Brewster, of the "Mayflower."
Fitch attended select schools in Syra- cuse, except for one year at a boarding school in Stamford, Connecticut. Among his Syracuse teachers were Miss Buttrick (afterward wife of Hon. William A. Sack- ett), Samuel S. Stebbins, Joseph A. Allen
and James W. Hoyt. Among his fellow students were Andrew D. White, Oren Root, Joseph May, Rossiter W. Raymond and William O. Stoddard. He was espe- cially prepared for college at Alger In- stitute, Cornwall, Connecticut, Rev. Ed- ward Watson Andrews, principal. In 1851 he entered Williams College, and had among his college classmates United States Senators John James Ingalls and Phineas W. Hitchcock; Henry W. Sey- mour, member of Congress from Michi- gan ; State Senator Abraham Lansing, of New York; William R. Dimmock. pro- fessor of Greek, Williams College, and principal of Adams Academy, Quincy, Massachusetts; Cyrus M. Dodd, pro- fessor of mathematics, Williams College ; W. S. B. Hopkins, a leading lawyer of Massachusetts; Edward P. Ingersoll, a leading divine of the Reformed church; James Orton, naturalist, traveler and author ; and William P. Prentice, a promi- nent lawyer and linguist of New York City. President James A. Garfield, with whom he became intimate, was in the class below him. With his class, one of the most notable at Williams College, under the presidency of Mark Hopkins, Fitch graduated in 1855 with honor ; sub- ject of his commencement oration, "Berk- shire." He was a member of the Sigma Phi fraternity ; and throughout his course was prominent in the Philotechnian Soci- ety, secretary and vice-president.
In 1855-56 he studied law in the office of Hon. Israel S. Spencer, in Syracuse, and in the latter year entered the Albany Law School (now the law department of Union University), from which he was graduated Bachelor of Laws, his gradu- ating thesis being "Theory of Interest." Admitted to the bar in February, 1857, he entered upon practice in Syracuse, which continued until 1864, with the fol- lowing partners : Henry S. Fuller, Henry
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A. Barnum and A. Judd Northrup ; Fitch & Barnum were city attorneys in 1860, Amos Westcott being mayor. During this period Fitch was president of the Calliopean Society, the leading literary society of Syracuse (1856-57) ; president of the Junior Fremont and Dayton Club, a political association of young men not yet voters (1856) ; director of Franklin Institute (1858-61), and corresponding secretary in 1859; director and corre- sponding secretary of the Onondaga County Historical Society (1859-60). In 1861 he was a member of the Onondaga County Board of Supervisors from the Seventh Ward of Syracuse ; of this board he was in 1916 the sole survivor. In 1864 Fitch was appointed clerk of the Provost Court, Department of North Carolina, at New Bern, under Colonel Edwin S. Jen- ney, Provost Judge (also of Syracuse), and served in that capacity in 1864-65, and in the latter year engaged in the practice of his profession there. The Su- preme Court of the State had not yet been reëstablished, but he had much re- munerative practice in justices' courts, civil and criminal, and in military com- missions and courts-martial, some of his cases being notable.
He returned to Syracuse in December, 1865. He had a liking for his profession, but journalism now opened to him a field which was most congenial. From 1857 to this time, he had been a frequent con- tributor to Syracuse journals, and his writings had been received with favor. He now (in May, 1866) became a mem- ber of the firm of Summers & Company (Moses Summers, William Summers, Henry A. Barnum and Charles E. Fitch), publishers of the Syracuse "Standard," and of which he was made editor-in- chief, and continued as such until 1873, when he relinquished it to become editor- in-chief and a stockholder and trustee in
the Rochester "Democrat and Chronicle," so continuing until 1890, when impaired health and public duties called him from his editorial chair. Firmly adhering to Republican principles, in 1872 he favored the liberal element of the party, and he vigorously fought the Grant third term project, in line with the "Half Breeds." He gave his paper a literary as well as a political tone, and his polished style and critical analysis of character gave a special weight and attractiveness to his biographical articles and all pertaining to the personality of the prominent men of his day then before the public.
In 1876 Fitch was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Cin- cinnati, and in 1888 was chairman of the State Convention in Buffalo. In 1880 he was supervisor of the United States Cen- sus for the western district of the State. From 1890 to 1894 he was Collector of Revenue for Western New York, under appointment by President Harrison, and made a phenomenal record, collecting for the government the sum of nine million dollars, and, in his final settlement, with- out a penny at fault in his accounts. In 1894 he was secretary of the New York State Constitutional Convention. During all the years from 1864 to 1892 he was frequently on the stump in behalf of the Republican party in its most important campaigns ; and he was a delegate from Onondaga or Monroe counties to many Republican State Conventions, usually serving upon the committee on resolu- tions.
Fitch has been especially distinguished in the fields of literature and education. In 1877 he was elected by the Legislature a Regent of the University of the State of New York, and as such served with conspicuous ability for the unusual period of twenty-seven years from 1877 to 1904. From 1893 to 1896 he was university ex-
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tension lecturer, delivering ten lectures on "Civil and Religious Liberty" in a score of cities and towns in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania ; from 1895 to 1904 was lecturer before Teachers' In- stitutes under appointment by the Hon. Charles R. Skinner, superintendent of public instruction, and speaking in nearly every county in New York, mainly on historical subjects ; and from 1904 to 1906 was chief of the important School Li- braries Division of the New York Educa- tion Department. During all these years he also delivered many orations and ad- dresses, all distinguished by lofty literary and oratorical ability. These include, in part :
Annual address as president of the Calliopean Society, Syracuse, 1856 and 1857; address in com- memoration of the laying of the first Atlantic cable, Syracuse, 1858; "The National Problem," at Delphi, July 4, 1861 ; "Union and Liberty," at New Bern, N. C., July 4, 1865; "The Press of Onondaga County," at Syracuse, and repeated in various villages in Onondaga county, 1868; "The Risks of Thinking," before the Sigma Phi So- ciety at the University of Michigan, 1870; "The Limitations of Democracy," at Marathon, N. Y., July 4, 1871; "Union and Unity," at Cortland, N. Y., 1872; "American Chivalry," at Syracuse, Memorial Day, 1874; "Church and State," at annual meeting of school commissioners and su- perintendents, State of New York, Rochester, 1875; "Education and the State," before the New York State Teachers' Association, Watkins, N. Y., 1876; "National and Individual Independence," at Skaneateles, N. Y., July 4, 1876; "Chivalry and Duty," at Albion, N. Y., Memorial Day, 1877; "The Perils of Journalism," before New York Press Association, Syracuse, 1878; "The Mean- ing of the Flowers," Geneva, N. Y., Memorial Day, 1879; "Migration and Development," before Wyoming Pioneer Association, Silver Lake, N. Y., 1880; "Mental Limitations," at Commencement, Ingham University, 1880; address and author of resolutions at citizens' meeting at Rochester, on death of President Garfield, 1881; the sketch of Garfield, printed in "International Magazine" by request ; "The American College," 1884, at semi- centennial of Sigma Phi chapter at Williams Col- lege, and repeated substantially at the centennial
of the University of the State of New York, in the Senate Chamber, Albany; Historical address at semi-centennial of the City of Rochester, 1884; Five lectures on "Journalism," before students of Cornell University, 1885; "A Layman's View of the Medical Profession," before graduating class of Medical College, Syracuse University, June II, 1885; "Journalism as a Profession," Rutgers Col- lege commencement, June, 1886, and repeated at Haverford College, March, 1890; "The Christian School," at Keble School commencement, June,
1889; "The Value of Exact Knowledge," Foun- ders' Day, Lehigh University, 1891; Memorial address on George William Curtis, before the Regents of the University of the State of New York, Senate Chamber, Albany, 1892; "Higher Education and the State," University Convoca- tion, Albany, July, 1893; Historical address at Centennial of Onondaga County, Syracuse, 1894; Historical address at semi-centennial of City of Syracuse, 1897; "Patriotism in Education," before State Teachers' Association, Rochester, 1898; Historical address at semi-centennial of Genesee county, Batavia, 1902; "Regents' Ex- aminations," at University Convocation, Albany, 1902; Memorial address on Carroll E. Smith, before Onondaga County Historical Association, Syracuse, 1903; "Susan B. Anthony and Hu- man Liberty," before Syracuse Political Equality Club, April 20, 1906; also many unpublished lyceum lectures and papers read before the Fort- nightly and Browning clubs of Rochester, and elsewhere, and which were all burned in the Albany Capitol fire in February, 1911-a most serious loss to the memorabilia of the State. These included "Gerrit Smith," "Thomas Chat- terton," "The Law of Libel," "John Milton as a Politician," "Robert Burns," "Arnold of Brescia," "Henry Clay in 1850," "The Intercontinental Rail- way," "The Puritan and the Dutchman," "Prussia and Stein," "A Forgotten Author-Fitz Hugh Ludlow," "Drawn Toward the Orient,-Lafcadio Hearn," and a lecture on Abraham Lincoln, which he delivered a hundred times.
Mr. Fitch has been a contributor at various times to "Harper's Weekly," the New York "Tribune," the New York "Times," the Troy "Times," and the Syra- cuse "Herald," and was associate editor of the Rochester "Post-Express" (1896- 98). He is author of the article on "The Press," in Peck's "History of Rochester ;"
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"The Public School History of Common School Education in New York from 1813 to 1904." published by the Department of Public Instruction, 1904; "Secretary's Report at Fiftieth Anniversary of the Class of 1855," 1905; "History of Brown- ing Club, Rochester," 1910; Mr. Fitch also edited "Political New York from Cleve- land to Hughes," (1913) ; and was super- vising editor and writer of many brilliant biographical sketches of the "Memorial Cyclopedia of New York." He received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Syracuse University, 1875; was a trustee of the Mechanics' Savings Bank of Rochester, 1878-99; one of the founders of the Fortnightly Literary Club of Roches- ter, 1882, resigning therefrom in 1898; elected member of Williams Chapter, Phi Beta Kappa, 1883; president of Roches- ter Historical Society, 1892-93 ; one of the founders of Sigma Phi chapter at Lehigh University, 1887, and at Cornell Univer- sity, 1890; received honorary degree of L. H. D. from Hamilton College, 1895; has been member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants, American Geographical So- ciety, American Historical Society. Syra- cuse Club (predecessor of the Century), the Rochester and Rochester Whist clubs, president of the Williams College Asso- ciation of Western New York, and of the Sigma Phi Association of Central and Western New York.
Dr. Fitch married, July 21, 1870, Louise Lawrence, daughter of Thomas A. Smith (sometime editor of the Syracuse "Stand- ard") and Charlotte Elizabeth (Lawrence) Smith, and own cousin of the Hon. Car- roll E. Smith. His children are: Law- rence Bradford (B. A., Williams, 1892), a civil engineer of Rochester ; and Elizabeth Le Baron, wife of Rev. Wallace Hubbard Watts, chaplain, United States army.
FENWICK Y. HEDLEY, Managing Editor.
FASSETT, Jacob Sloat,
Lawyer, Legislator, Capitalist.
Jacob Sloat Fassett was born in El- mira, New York, November 13, 1853, son of Newton Pomeroy and Martha Ellen (Sloat) Fassett, grandson of Jacob Sloat, of Sloatsburg, the builder of the first cot- ton-twine factory in the United States, and a descendant on the paternal side of ancestors who came to New York from Vermont by the way of Pennsylvania.
Jacob Sloat Fassett attended the public schools of his native city, and became a student of the academy at Elmira, and in the fall of 1871 matriculated at the Uni- versity of Rochester, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1875, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, having especi- ally distinguished himself in belles lettres and oratory, with high prizes to his credit. He was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and has for many years been a trustee of his alma mater. After giadu- ation he determined upon the law as his profession and accordingly studied in the office of Smith, Robertson & Fassett (his father), at Elmira. He was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1878 and as a counselor, at Albany, in 1879. Within half an hour after his admission as coun- selor he was handed a commission from Governor Robinson as district attorney for the county of Chemung. He held this position for one year, -a signal recognition of his talents by a political opponent, but a fellow citizen. During the years 1880 and 1881 with the view of per- fecting himself in his profession, he stud- ied law and political economy in the Uni- versity of Heidelberg; then returned to the United States. In 1878, after his ad- mission as attorney, he opened an office for the practice of his profession in El- mira and has continued therein to the present (1916) ; although at times with-
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drawn from its activities by political pref- erment and business interests.
He married, February 13, 1879, Jennie L., daughter of Judge E. B. Crocker, of Sacramento, California, a lady of large fortune, fine culture and charming man- ners, an efficient helpmeet to him through- out his eminent career. In the fall of 1883 he was, as a Republican, elected to the State Senate from the Twenty-sev- enth District (Allegany, Chemung, Steu- ben) and, by successive reëlections, re- mained therein for the ensuing eight years, exercising marked influence in its deliberations and gaining celebrity as committeeman, speaker and parliamen- tarian. He served as chairman of the committee on commerce and navigation and that on insurance, and member of the committee on finance, on cities and others. In 1889, upon the death of Sena- tor Low, he was elected temporary presi- dent of the Senate by a unanimous vote, and was reelected in 1890 and 1891.
As a legislator, high minded, acute and accomplished, his name is connected with many important measures and he was in- strumental in securing the passage of many excellent laws, among them being the one making employees the first pre- ferred creditors in all assignments. He also conducted the aqueduct investiga- tion, and the investigation into the mu- nicipal departments of the city of New York, which resulted in considerable benefit to that city. As a debater he was ready, clear, incisive and cogent-at times supremely eloquent ; and, as a presiding officer, thoroughly informed in rules and precedents and quick-witted in applying them while firm and courteous in bear- ing. He retired from the Senate with a brilliant record in all respects, unex- celled and rarely equaled in the legisla- tive annals of recent years.
Meanwhile, he became, and is still recognized, as the leader of his party in
his section of the State, utilizing its re- sources, directing its policies and mar- shaling its forces. Sagacious, unsullied and ardent he has held almost uniformly his senatorial and congressional districts in his keeping and materially changed the political complexion of his own county (Chemung) which long, under the skill- ful management of Governor Hill, had been in the habit of rolling up large Democratic majorities, Fassett's mag- netic personality supplementing his ex- ecutive ability ; for many men have loved, as well as admired, him. He was from 1879 until 1896 editor and proprietor of the Elmira "Advertiser," of which his college classmate, Edward L. Adams, now United States consul at Dublin, was, for years, the able managing editor, but to which Fassett himself contributed many leading articles. He was a delegate in 1880 to the Republican National Conven- tion at Chicago, and was secretary of the Republican National Committee from 1888 until 1892. In 1891 he was nominated enthusiastically and unanimously by the Republican State Convention at Roches- ter, for Governor, in accepting which he delivered one of the most feeling, telling and eloquent addresses that it has been the privilege of a political convention to hear, following it with a whirlwind can- vass; but the die was cast against him .; and for reasons not essential here to reca- pitulate and which involved no reflections upon him, the Democratic ticket, with Governor Flower at its head, was elected. In 1892, he was chairman of the Republi- can National Convention at Minneapolis, sounding in his speech the keynote of the campaign. He was also chairman of the Republican State Convention of 1904. He was a representative in Congress for three terms (1905-1I) maintaining therein the same high standard of speech and ac- tion that he had attained in the Senate.
Since his retirement from Congress,
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while still retaining his interest in poli- tics, he has neither sought nor seemed to desire public preferment, devoting him- self mainly to his large business enter- prises. He is or has been manager and vice-president of the Second National Bank of Elmira; vice-president of the Commercial State Bank of Sioux City, Iowa; manager of the little mining town of Banner, Idaho; of a ranch and cattle company which conducts an extensive business in New Mexico; and is under- stood to hold various concessions in Ko- rea. He holds a controlling influence in the development of the hardwood re- sources of the Philippine Islands, and the introduction therefrom in this country of what is commercially known as Philip- pine mahogany; controls heavy lumber interests in North Carolina and Canada ; and is deeply engaged in the manufacture of the Corona Typewriter, and of glass bottles. He is a member of the Order of Free Masons, having received the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite; of the Order of United Workmen ; Improved Order of Red Men; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and of the honorary college fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa. He is also a member of the Uni- versity, Bankers' and Metropolitan clubs of New York City. In 1901 Colgate Uni- versity laureated him with the degree of Doctor of Laws. He lives happily and hospitably in the elegant homestead in Elmira. He is still (1916) but sixty-three years of age ; and it is not improbable, as it is to be hoped, that further political honors may attend his declining days.
WALLACE, William James, Lawyer and Jurist.
William James Wallace was born in Syracuse, April 14, 1837, the son of E. Fuller and Lydia Wheelwright Wallace,
who removed from Massachusetts to Syracuse shortly after the opening of the Erie Canal and resided there the rest of their lives. The father was liberally edu- cated and a lawyer by profession, but did not engaged in practice after leaving Mas- sachusetts. From 1861 until 1870 he was United States Consul at Santiago de Cuba.
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