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 pre?minent in their own and many other states. V.6 > Part 48
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ciety, and the Society of the Genesee, his standing in the various organizations that of an interested member who may be called upon for any service to advance their interest and add to their usefulness, either as social centers, or educational agencies. He is public-spirited and loyal to community interests, but strictly as a citizen, public office having no part in his plans.
Mr. Goff married, September 18, 1877, Clara B. Brown, of Spencerport. They have two children, Louise Loomis A. and William F. The family home at Spencer- port has been recently changed to No. 191 Seneca Parkway, Rochester.
TOTTEN, John Reynolds,
Retired Military Officer, Author.
Captain John R. Totten inherits the true American patriotic spirit from vari- ous ancestors. His father, General James Totten, was born September 1I, 1818, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and died October I, 1871, at Sedalia, Missouri. He graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1841 and served at various posts in the United States in both the Mexican and Civil wars; and was lieutenant-colonel and inspector-general of the United States army. He married, December 5, 1843, at New London, Connecticut, Julia Hub- bell Thacher, born March 6, 1823, at New London, died there January 31, 1906. She was descended from the Rev. Peter Thacher, born about 1549, at Queen Camel, County Somerset, England, died there in 1624. He was vicar of the Church of England from 1574 to 1624, and was the father of Hon. Antony Thacher, born 1588-89, in Queen Camel, died in 1667, at Yarmouth, Massachusetts. He resided for some time at Salisbury, England, came to Boston on the ship "James," arriving June 4, 1635, lived at
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Marblehead, later at Yarmouth, Massa- chusetts, was deputy to the general court of Plymouth, and a member of the colo- nial council of war. His first wife, Mary, died in 1634, at Salisbury, and he mar- ried (second) in February, 1735, Elizabeth Jones. They were the parents of Colo- nel John Thacher, born March 17, 1639, at Marblehead, Massachusetts, died May 8, 1713, at Yarmouth. He was deputy and assistant in the General Court of the Plymouth Colony, assistant in the com- monwealth of Massachusetts, justice of the peace, and colonel in the military service. He married, November 6, 1661, in Marshfield, Massachusetts, Rebecca Winslow, born there July 15, 1643, died July 15, 1683, at Yarmouth. Their son, Deacon Josiah Thacher, was born April 26, 1668, at Yarmouth, died there May 12, 1702. He was long deacon of the church there, and was married there, February 25, 1691, to Mary Hedge, born there in March, 1671. Captain Josiah Thacher, their youngest son, was born July 7, 1701, at Yarmouth, followed the sea, be- coming captain of a vessel, and settled at Norwalk, Connecticut, where he became a large landowner, and died August 22, 1780. He married (second) in 1635, at Boston, Mary (Greenleaf) Blinn, widow of James Blinn, born 1706, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, died in April, 1774, at Norwalk. They were the parents of Cap- tain John Thacher, born July 25, 1742, at Norwalk, lived in that town, in New Mil- ford and settled at Stratford, Connecticut. He commanded a company in the Revolu- tionary War, was wounded and taken prisoner at Valcour's Island, October II, 1776, paroled and exchanged and con- tinued in the service. He married (sec- ond) in 1777-78, at Stratford, Mehitable (Ufford) Thompson, widow of Lieuten- ant William Thompson, born March 16, 1745, at Stratford, died September 6, 1807,
in Litchfield, Connecticut. He died at Stratford, January 16, 1805. Their sec- ond son, Anthony Thacher, was born Jan- uary 7, 1782, at Stratford, and lived at New London, Connecticut, where he was cashier of the New London Bank, and died December 26, 1844. He married, February 24, 1806, at New London, Lu- cretia Christophers Mumford, born Au- gust 10, 1785, at Salem, Connecticut, died April 6, 1871, in New London. Their fifth daughter, Julia Hubbell Thacher, was born March 6, 1823, in New London, and became the wife of General James Tot- ten, as above related. Their youngest child is the subject of this biography.
John Reynolds Totten was born No- vember 4, 1856, at Barrancas Barracks, Pensacola, Florida, where his father was then stationed. He received a liberal edu- cation, being a student at the Episcopal Academy of Cheshire, Connecticut, and was' graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in the class of 1878. He graduated from the United States Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, in 1882, and was assigned to service in the First United States Infantry as second lieuten- ant. He was successively second lieuten- ant and first lieutenant in the Fourth United States Artillery, served with the army of the United States from June 14 to August 28, 1878, at West Point, as- in- structor of tactics. From June, 1878 to 1879, he was stationed at Fort Hale, Da- kota, and for about a year at Alcatraz Island, in San Francisco Harbor. From May 1, 1880 to 1882 he was at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and at Fort Preble, Maine, from May I, 1882 to 1884. He then became instructor in French and English at the West Point Military Acad- emy, and assistant professor of Spanish from 1884 to 1889. On October I of the latter year he was stationed at Fort
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Adams, Rhode Island, and was attached to a light battery. He resigned from the army October 1, 1890, to take effect April 1, 1891. Since that time he has resided in New York City, and has given much at- tention to literary work, especially in his- torical and genealogical matters. He has long been an officer of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society as trustee and chairman of its executive com- mittee, and during much of the time as honorary librarian. Among his most notable works is the "Thacher-Thatcher Genealogy," which is still running in the "New York Genealogical and Biographi- cal Record." He is also the author of many general essays. He is a communi- cant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and adheres to the principles expounded by the Republican party in political mat- ters. He is affiliated with numerous patriotic societies, including the New York Society of Mayflower Descendants, Sons of the Revolution, Society of the Colonial Wars, New York Historic- Genealogical Society, New London Coun- ty Historical Association, United States Military Academy, Alumni Association, and of clubs, including the Army and Navy and New York Athletic. He was married, at Garrison-on-Hudson, New York, September 5, 1889, to Elma Smythe (Preston) Van Voorhis, widow of Arthur Van Voorhis.
ALEXANDER, De Alva S., Lawyer, Legislator, Author.
De Alva Stanwood Alexander, of hon- orable esteem in the field of politics and, of even higher distinction in that of letters, was born in Richmond, Maine, July 17, 1845, the son of Stanwood and Priscilla (Brown) Alexander. On the paternal side, he is the eighth in descent from Philip Stanwood, who came from England to Gloucester, Massachusetts, in
1652 and, in the seventh from David Alexander who, migrating from Ulster, Ireland, settled at Harpswell, Maine, in 1719. He is eighth, in the maternal line, from George and Mary (Murdock) Brown, who came from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1635.
Alexander's elementary education was obtained in the common schools of his native town. His father dying, he re- moved, when thirteen years old, to Ohio, with his mother; and, in 1862, with his heart in the Union cause, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment (infantry) Ohio Volunteers, serving until the close of the war. There- after, he returned to his native State and entered Bowdoin College, from which he was graduated in 1870, a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, with a fine record as a scholar, especially in the English branches. He is a loyal son of Bowdoin and, honoring it, has by it been honored, receiving the Master's degree in 1873 and that of Doctor of Laws in 1907 and has for years been one of its board of overseers. Soon succeeding gradu- ation, Alexander again went a westering, seeking an opportunity for the employ- ment of his maturing powers and after teaching in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a time, found it in journalism, in that city in 1871, as one of the proprietors and editors of the "Daily Gazette," already a leading Republican journal of the State. He at once made a mark by his thought- ful editorials, both of a political and literary cast, materially enhancing the prestige of the paper and attracting to himself the confidence and friendship of many of the leading politicians and pro- fessional men of the State, especially of Senator Oliver P. Morton, the famous war governor. In 1874, he disposed of his interest in the Fort Wayne "Gazette" and took service as staff correspondent with the Cincinnati "Gazette," with resi-
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dence at Indianapolis. Meanwhile he acted as secretary of the Republican State Committee and studied law, being ad- mitted to the bar in 1877.
Thus, dropping his pen as a journalist, which he did not resume for nearly thirty years, and then as an author, he engaged actively and successfully in the practice of his profession for the ensuing four years, at Indianapolis, still maintaining a lively interest in politics. In 1881, upon the recommendation of Senator Benja- min Harrison, always Alexander's friend, he was appointed, by President Garfield, an auditor in the treasury department, serving under Secretaries Windom, Fol- ger, McCulloch and Manning; his re- tention by the last named being unusual and distinctly complimentary, as tendered by a political opponent and, as is under- stood, at the suggestion of President Cleveland. This is emphatic testimony to the intelligence and fidelity with which Alexander had discharged his highly re- sponsible trust. While residing at the national capital he was elected com- mander of the Department of the Poto- mac, Grand Army of the Republic. At the expiration of his term as auditor, he removed to Buffalo, thus becoming a citi- zen of New York, and formed a law part- nership with the Hon. James A. Roberts, his college class and fraternity mate, sub- sequently comptroller of the State. In June, 1889, Alexander was appointed United States district attorney for the Northern District of New York, by Presi- dent Harrison, embracing what are now the northern and western districts. This appointment was objected to in certain quarters because, as alleged, his brief residence in the district did not entitle him to such marked political recognition and that it must, therefore, be regarded as a purely personal appointment on the part of the President who was firm in asserting his prerogative, for he knew his
man and that his official conduct would vindicate his preferment; as it certainly did. The arduous labors of the office, in- volving an exact knowledge of the law and integrity and courage in enforcing its sanctions, were duly fulfilled, demon- strating his legal ability and also induc- ing a full measure of public esteem. He held the place until December, 1893.
Devoting the next three years to the private practice of his profession he con stantly increased in political strength and popular favor and was in 1896 elected a representative in Congress from the Buffalo district, remaining as such for fourteen years consecutively - among the longest tenures accorded to a New York member. In Congress throughout he· assumed a commanding stand, especi- ally active and influential on the judici- ary committee. He aided in drafting the important bills reported by the commit- tee, for twelve years, and usually sup- ported them in the house by speeches, long or short, as occasion demanded. He was chairman of rivers and harbors, and as such bore the burden of the work in committee and upon the floor. It is sig- nificant that he never lost a bill that he reported from either committee. With a positive "genius for friendship," his bearing - frank, cordial, cheery - won the regard of all and the affection of many of his colleagues; as his helpful offices rendered him extremely popular with his constituency. Political life, on its higher plane, always seemed to him a worthy ambition, and his time and thought, outside of his profession, have been subject to the demand of his party on the stump and in the work of organi- zation ; but while a partisan, he has not believed in party success at the cost of principle; and has uniformly identified himself with clean politics.
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
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