USA > New York > Genesee County > Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890 > Part 5
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4I
POLITICAL, AND CIVIL HISTORY.
and the Anti-Slavery Society proceeded with its organization, but was in- terrupted with stamping and unusual riotous proceedings, and after an ineffectual expostulation and remonstrance adjourned to Warsaw one week from that day.
The meeting was held pursuant to adjournment, March 22, 1836, de- clared its sentiments, and pledged $1,000 for the first year's support of a free paper. Such a paper was established (The American Citizen) in Warsaw, and was subsequently removed to Perry, then to Rochester.
It was at a convention in Warsaw (then Genesee County) that the first proposition was made to nominate a President of this stripe, and after a stormy debate, in which Myron Holley and William L. Chapin were its advocates, James G. Birney was nominated. A division followed, but the vote was concentrated on the members of Congress who favored the anti-slavery movement. This party was now called the "Liberty party," and numbered about 1,500 in the State. In 1848 they joined the " Free Soil " party. The people of Genesee were divided, and very significantly so, in the campaign of 1848, and were first in the " Hunker " and " Barn- burner " division upon the slavery question. The latter division, which opposed the introduction of slavery into new territory, received strong support in Western New York, and gave Martin Van Buren, its candi- date, a hearty support in 1848. In 1850, when Horatio Seymour was nominated for governor, the Whig and Democratic parties became di- vided into the " Hard " and " Soft " factions, the first supporting President Fillmore's administration, the latter led by William H. Seward and op- posed. In 1852, on the election of Franklin Pierce by the coalition of the Anti-Slavery or Soft Shell divisions, the Whig Party was practically annihilated, and the Republican party sprang into being, carrying the anti-slavery element with it. In all these movements no section was more active than Genesee County. The " American party," following in 1853, called " Know-Nothing party " from its secrecy, had a brief exist- ence. In 1856 John C. Fremont was the candidate of the Republicans for President, but was defeated. Those opposed were called the Democratic party. In 1860 the choice of Abraham Lincoln was made by the Re- publicans, and he was elected President. The feeling between the slave- holding States and the North had been growing during these years, and many bitter words and aggressive acts were committed by both sections, which led to the passage of ordinances of secession by the slave States, the inauguration of the civil war of 1861-65, and the extinction of slav- ery forever.
42
GENESEE COUNTY.
The Republican and Democratic parties continue to oppose each other on minor issues, alternating the "outs " and " ins," and at this writing the Republicans are in the ascendency, with Benjamin Harrison, President.
Mention should be made of the Prohibition party, which has for the past few years steadily gained in numbers in Genesee as well as in other counties and States. The party advocates the enactment of laws to pro- hibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors,-a commendable object,-but many temperance defenders do not sustain the party.
The " Greenback party," of which Genesee County has only a few adherents, has not yet been able to effect a permanent organization.
The increase in parties, and the particular complexion of Genesee County during the past half century,-since the organization of the pres- ent county,-will be seen by the aggregate for each presidential election :
Whig
Dem.
Nat. Am.
Free Soil
Liberty
1844,
3,604
2, III
298-
1 848,
2,890
1,180
55
1,20I
1852,
3,358
2, 164
323
Rep.
Am.
.
1856,
3,620
1,371
1,166
1860,
4,464
2,456
I
1864,
4,030
2,772
1 868,
4,254
2,847
1872,
4,034
2,590
Greenback
Temp.
1876,
4,322
3,321
48
2
1 880,
4,815
3,481
72
Prohibition
1884,
4,631
3,643
41
386
1 888,
4,952
3,633
408
A careful comparison of the vote for governor, each two years, will convey the idea of the local strength of Genesee County :
Whig
Dem.
Free Soil
1840,
3,650
2, 1 30
20
1842,
2,765
2,010
116
1844,
3,590
2,135
345
Am.
1846,
2,910
1,468
231
147
1 848,
2,927
1,217
1,118
53
1850,
3,049
1,611
Liberty
1852,
3.661
2,14I
184
1854,
1,597
1,102
"K .- Nothing"
1856,
3,486
1,402
1,218
1858,
2,840
1,409
584
1 860,
4,448
2,262
230
1862,
3,491
2,559
" K .- Nothing." 2,460
Rep.
26
43
POLITICAL AND CIVIL HISTORY - SHERIFFS.
Rep.
Dem.
1864.
4,050
2,760
)
1866,
3,978
2,495
1868,
4,239
2,863
1870,
3,701
2,548
1872,
4,061
2,604
Prohibiton
1874,
3,088
2,672
82
1876,
4,328
3,321
33
Greenback
1879,
3,735
2,939
43
82
1882,
2,898
3,518
392
52
1885,
3,693
3,014
382
1888,
4,835
3,722
418
Genesee County is the oldest county west of Ontario; its organiza- tion is given under the proper title. Its importance in the past and present in the affairs of the State is evident; its position among the first, its .
rapid development, and its admirable local government for a brief century is directly attributed to the justice and firmness of its rulers and citi- zens. We append a list of officers from its organization to the present time, and leave its civil and political status to be felt in the councils of the State as in former days. Under the first constitution all officers were appointed in the counties by the governor, and one senator from each of the four districts into which the State was then divided ; this constituted the appointing power. Under the constitution of 1821 sheriffs and county clerks were elected by the people at the November elections. In the lists following the years of appointment and election are given.
SHERIFFS.
Richard M. Stoddard
1 803-06
James Long
1842-44
Benjamin Bartor
1 807
John Sprague.
1845-47
Asher Bates.
1808-09
Henry Morrell. 1848-50
Nathan Marvin 1810
Salmon B. Lusk 1851-53
Aaron Van Cleve
1811-14
James R. Mitchell 1854 56
Parmenio Adams
1815
Alvin Pease 1857-59
William Sheldon 1816-17
Ferdinand H. Hull
1860-62
Parmenio Adams
1818-21
Parley Upton 1863-65
Worthy L. Churchill
1822-24
Arch. D. McLachlin
I866-68
William R. Thompson
1825-27
William L. Parrish 1869-71
John Wilder.
1828-30
George H. Robertson.
1872-74
Earl Kidder (app'd vice Wilder) 1831
John H. Ward 1875-77
John A. McElwaine 1831 -- 32
George W. Griffis.
1878-80
Nathan Townsend
1833-36
Irving D. Southworth
1881-83
John Wilder 1837-39
Joseph H. Robson
1884-86
Rufus Robertson
1840-41
William J. Reedy. 1887-89
Addison Foster, under sheriff.
44
GENESEE COUNTY.
COUNTY CLERKS.
James W. Stevens
1 803-09
Timothy Fitch. 1831-36
Isaac Babcock .
1810
Horace U. Soper
1837-42
Simeon Cummins
1811-15
H. H. Carpenter 1843-45
John Z. Ross
1816-17
Samuel C. Holden. 1846-48
Simeon Cummins.
1818-21
Merrill G. Soper 1849-54
Chauncey L. Sheldon
1822-24
Hiram W. Haskell
1855-60
Ralph Coffin . . .
1825-27
George H. Holden
1861-66
David C. Miller 1828-30
Carlos A. Hull 1867-75
The present clerk is Carlos A. Hull, who has been kept in the office since 1867, so efficient is he ; his deputy, George H. Holden, has served the office 41 years.
SURROGATES.
PREVIOUS to 1847 surrogates were appointed as were county judges ; by the constitution adopted that year they were elected in counties where the population exceeds 40,000 ; in counties of less population the du- ties of surrogate devolve on the county judge :
Jeremiah R. Munson 1804
Ebenezer Mix . . . 1821-39
Richard Smith
1805-14
Harvey Putnam 1840
Andrew A. Ellicott 1815-20
Timothy Fitch 1841-44
Samuel Willett . 1845-46
TREASURERS. -
THESE were appointed by the board of supervisors prior to 1847 ; since then elected :
Joseph · Ellicott ...
1 803-09
James Brisbane 1810
Asa McCracken. . 1811
Brannan Young 1 846-50
William Ramsey . 1812
Thomas Yates.
1851-53
David McCracken . 1813-18
Horace M. Warren
1854-56
James Williams 1819-21
Thomas Yates
1857-59
Ethan B. Allen 1822-24
Oliver P. Clark 1860
George W. Lay 1825-31
Nathan A. Woodward . 1861-66
Edgar C. Dibble 1832 -- 33
Andrew D. Tryon 1867-72
William Davis
1834 ·
Hiram K. Buell
1873-75
William S. Mallory
1835-39
Orrin C. Parker 1876-78
Joshua L. Brown 1 840-42
Jorome C. Guiteau 1879-81
John Thomas 1882-91
Pardon C. Sherman. 1843-44
Seth Wakeman. 1845
FIRST JUDGES, COMMON PLEAS.
PRIOR to 1821 they were appointed by the appointing council; under the constitution of 1821 the governor appointed for five years ; under
45
COUNTY OFFICERS.
the constitution of 1846 they were elected for four years ; the term has been changed to six :
Joseph Ellicott 1806
William H. Tisdale
1827-29
Ezra Platt
1807-1I
Isaac Wilson
1830-35
John H. Jones
1812-20
William Mitchell
1836-40
Isaac Wilson
1821-22
Phineas L. Tracy. 1841-45
John Z. Ross 1823-26
Edgar C. Dibble.
1846
JUDGES AND SURROGATES.
Horace U. Soper. 1847-50
Randolph Ballard appointed to close the
Edgar C. Dibble
1851-54
term of Charles Henshaw, deceased.
Joshua L. Brown
1855-58
Lucius N. Bangs 1870-81
Moses Taggart
1859-66
Myron H. Peck
1882-88
Charles Henshaw 1867-70
Safford E. North 1889-96
JUSTICES OF SESSIONS.
THE constitution of 1846 abolished the office of associate judge, and created the office of justice of Sessions-two elected each from among acting justices of the peace of the county :
J. M. Holcomb, William M. Sprague
1847
James S. Stewart, Thomas Riddle
1849
German Lathrop, Miles Wallace
1850
John D. Safford, Charles S. Cone.
1851
John D. Safford, William Barnett.
1852
Wheaton S. Miller, John C. Cranston
1853
Abner Hull, Jr., John Munro, Jr
1854
Augustus Cowdin, Oswald Bond
1855
John G. Bixby, William H. Davis
1856
John G. Bixby, James Stewart
1857
William H. Davis, William Barnett
1858
Oswald Bond, Luther Crosby .
1859
James S. Stewart, Jonathan M. Foreman
1860
William G. Sherwood, William Barnett
1861
Halleck Stilwell, John F. Perry
1 862
Halleck Stilwell, William Barnett
1863
Halleck Stilwell, Samuel Church
1864
Benjamin F. Harris, Samuel Church
1865
Nathaniel Reed, Sebastian R. Moore
1866
Joseph W. Holmes, William Barnett ..
1867
Joseph W. Holmes, Lawrence L. Crosby.
1868
Charles Sprague, Lawrence L. Crosby. 1869
Charles W. Rumsey, William L. Rugg
1870-71
Ansel D. Mills, Thomas J. Dean 1872-73
Ansel D. Mills, Albert H. Perry
1874
Philip Cope, Albert H. Perry 1875
46
GENESEE COUNTY.
Philip Cope, Henry O. Bostwick
1876
Israel M. Peck, Henry O. Bostwick. 1877-78
Irving D. Southworth, Henry O. Bostwick 1879
William S. Coe, M. Nelson Moulthrop. 1 880-81
Alexander Campbell, Roswell C. Curtiss 1882
Roswell C. Curtiss, Alva Babcock. 1883
Israel M. Peck, Roswell C. Curtiss 1884
Roswell C. Curtiss, Charles F. Lewis 1885
Jay W. Stratton, Charles F. Lewis. 1886
Frank E. Vosburg, Jay W. Stratton ... 1887
William G. Pollard, M. N. Moulthrop
1888 -- 89
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
ACT passed in 1801 creating the office ; act passed in 1818 made each county a district for one ; the officers were appointed by constitution of 1821, and elected after 1846 :
Daniel B. Brown 1818-20
George Brown 1856-58
Heman J. Redfield. 1821-28
James M. Willet 1859-61
Levi Rumsey ... 1829-33
William Tyrrell:" 1862-64
Daniel H. Chandler 1834-37
C. Fitch Bissell 1865-67
Isaac A. Verplanck . 1838-41
William C. Watson 1868-73
John H. Martindale. 1842-44
C. Fitch Bissell .. . 1874-76
Moses Taggart 1845
Thomas P. Heddon. 1877-79
Isaac A. Verplanck ,1846
Safford E. North 1880-82
John H. Martindale.
1847-49
Safford E. North 1883-85
Seth Wakeman 1850-55
Frank S. Wood 1886-92
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
THE office of commissioner for the county was created by law in 1853, and David Ney was appointed by the supervisors for 1854; Mr. Howe was appointed for 1855. The change of 1856 made the election of com- missioner for each Assembly district ; for the year 1856 Israel M. Peck was appointed for the eastern district, and Homer H. Woodward for the western. In 1857 the county was made one district ; then was elected: Orange S. Throop 1857-62 Charles V. Hooper 1875-80
D. C. Rumsey 1863-68 William E. Prentice. 1881-83
R. L. Selden. . 1869-74 Arthur B. Rathbone 1884 -- 86
William J. Barr. 1887-89
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
Genesee and Ontario Counties.
Thaddeus Chapin, Augustus Porter
1802 Polydore B. Wisner.
Amos Hall, Nathaniel W. Howell
Polydore B. Wisner 1803
47
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
Amos Hall, Daniel W. Lewis
Alexander Rea.
1804
Ezra Patterson, Daniel W. Lewis.
Alexander Rea. 1805
Allegany, Genesee, and Ontario Counties.
Philetus Swift, Asahel Warner.
1 806
Alexander Rea.
Philetus Swift, Asahel Warner
1807
William Rumsey
Genesee County.
William Rumsey
1808
Zacheus Colby 1811
Chauncey Loomis 1809
Chauncey Lewis
1810
James Gannon
1812
James Gannon. 1813
Isaac Sutherland.
1814
James Gannon, Elizon Webster. John Wilson 1815
James Gannon, Elizon Webster Isaac Wilson .
1816.
Gilbert Howell, Abraham Matteson Isaac Sutherland . 1817
Gilbert Howell, Abraham Matteson Isaac Sutherland. 1818
Fitch Chipman, Gideon F. Jenkins.
Robert Mckay .. .
1 1819
Fitch Chipman, Jesse Hawley
Samuel M. Hopkins 1820
Robert Anderson, Benedict Brooks Samuel McWhorter 1821
Apollos P. Auger, William Bristol
Otis Turner, Josiah Churchill
1822
Shubael Dunham, Orin Follett
James Gannon, Horace S. Turner
1823
Jeremiah Brown, Fitch Chipman Shubael Dunham, Gaius B. Rich
1 . 1824
Josiah Churchill, David Scott Phineas Stanton. 1
1825.
Josiah Churchill, Shubael Dunham 1 John B. Skinner . 1826
Dennis Blakely. Trumbull Cary John B. Skinner. 1827
Calvin P. Bailey, John Haskell.
John B. Skinner. 1828
Calvin P. Bailey, Timothy Fitch Stephen Griswold . ... 1829
Robert Earl, Jr., Stephen Griswold Charles Woodworth. . 1830
Seth M. Gates, Henry Hawkins
James Sprague, 2d 1831
48
GENESEE COUNTY.
Peter Patterson, Rufus Robertson.
1832
Charles Woodworth .. .
Truman Lewis, Peter Patterson Rufus Robertson . 1833
Truman Lewis, Samuel Richmond . 1834
Amos Tyrrell, Sr.
Charles O. Shepperd, Samuel Richmond Amos Tyrrell, Sr. 1835
Charles O. Shepperd, Reuben Benham 1836
Leverett Seward, John A. McElwaine
Andrew H. Green, Reuben Benham. John Head, Leverett Seward S
1837
Andrew H. Green, Horace Healey John Head, Alva Jefferson. 1838
George W. Lay, Horace Healey
John W. Brownson, Alva Jefferson $
.1839
Samuel Richardson, John W. Brownson David Scott, Isaac N. Stoddard 1840
Robinson Smiley, Albert Smith 1841
Robinson Smiley, Ira Waite
1842
Charles P. Brown, Chester Hannum
1843
Aaron Long, Chester Hannum 1844
Aaron Long, Heman Blodgett 1845
Alonzo S. Upham, Heman Blodgett 1846
Alonzo S. Upham, Tracey Pardee 1847
Martin C. Ward, Tracey Pardee 1848
Martin C. Ward, John C. Gardiner 1849
Albert Rowe, Levi Fiske 1850
Albert Rowe, Levi Fiske. 1851
Theodore C. Peters, Joseph Cook. 1852
Theodore C. Peters, Joseph Cook 1853
Ambrose Stevens, David Mallory 1854
Seth Wakeman, David Mallory .. 1855
Seth Wakeman, John J. McPherson 1856
Frank G. Kingman 1857
Elbridge G. Moulton
.1858
Elbridge G. Moulton 1859
Volney G. Knapp. 1871
George W. Wright
1860
Elbert Townsend 1872
Benjamin Pringle. 1861
Elbert Townsend 1873
Loren Green 1862
Newton H. Green 1874
Loren Green 1863
Newton H. Green. 1875
John W. Brown 1864
Eli Taylor 1876-77
John W. Brown 1865
John Sanders 1778-79
Henry F. Tarbox 1866
Joseph W. Holmes 1880-81
Henry F. Tarbox 1867
Robert W. Nichol 1882
Edward C. Walker 1 868
Lucien R. Bailey
1883-84
Edward C. Walker
1869
Charles A. Seaver 1885-87
Volney G. Knapp 1870
John McKenzie. 1888-89
T. F. Miller 1889-90
49
LEGISLATORS - BENCH AND BAR.
STATE SENATORS.
THE following persons have been chosen State senators from the
county :
Alexander Rea
1808
Trumbull Cary 1831
Isaac Wilson 1818
Harvey Putnam
1843
David E. Evans . .
1820
Alonzo S. Upham
1850
Heman J. Redfield.
1823
George Bowen
1870
Ethan B. Allen
1826
Edward C. Walker 1886
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Samuel M. Hopkins.
1813
Seth M. Gates 1839
Benjamin Ellicott
1817
Albert Smith
1843
Parmenio Adams
1825
Harvey Putnam. 1847
Phineas L. Tracy
1827
Augustus P. Hascall 1851
George W. Lay
1833
Benjamin Pringle
1853
Harvey Putnam
1837
John Fisher
1 867
Seth Wakeman. 1871
The coroners now serving the county are Lucius B. Parmelee and Isaac T. Mullen, elected in 1887 ; and Elliott C. Smith and Alpheus. Prince, elected in November, 1888.
Present superintendents of the poor : Cortland Crosman, elected in November, 1886; Dwight Dimock, elected in November, 1887 ; Richard Pearson, elected in November, 1888 ; Dwight Dimock, Corfu, elected in November, 1886.
Robert A. Maxwell, of Batavia, served as treasurer of the State in 188 1,. and as superintendent of insurance in 1886-89.
BENCH AND BAR.1
T HE editors of the Gazetteer and Biographical Record have asked for their publication a sketch of the lives of the men who in the past have been representative members of the legal profession in Gene- see County. The scope of this article does not include any lawyer now liv- ing. It isonly of those whose earthly labors are ended that we are to speak. Within the limit of space assigned it will be impossible to give more than an outline of the lives of these men, many of whom have been among the foremost citizens of Genesee County. It is not claimed that mention is made of every lawyer who has practiced here, neither does this sketch include those who have pursued their studies or practiced in this county for a short time, but who have made their reputations elsewhere. In any
1 By Hon. S. E. North.
50
GENESEE COUNTY.
community the members of the bar are always in a large sense public men. Many important judicial positions are necessarily filled from their ranks, while legislative and other official places are often occupied by lawyers. The bar of Genesee County forms no exception to this rule. There nas never been a time when it did not include many men of rec- ognized ability, and the bar as a whole has always compared favorably with that of any other county of anything like equal size. Of those whose names are here recorded only Martindale, Wakeman, Hewitt, and Taggart were personally known to the writer. The estimates given of the professional characteristics of the men who form the subject of this article have been derived largely from conversation with those who knew them as lawyers and citizens, and partly, of course, from such printed sketches as were available. The historical facts have been gathered from biographies found in many different places, from newspaper files, court records, from recollections of old inhabitants, and in several instances from such meagre statements as are chiseled in marble in the cemetery, or are written down in not less formal phrase in the books of the surro- gate's office.
The first judge of the county was Joseph Ellicott, the same man who, as surveyor, blazed his way through the primeval forests of Western New York, and laid out the counties, towns, and villages of the Holland Pur- chase. Mr. Ellicott was not a lawyer. He resigned the position of judge a short time after his appointment in 1803, and was succeeded by Ezra Platt. Of Judge Platt but little information is available, except that he discharged the few duties of the office until about 1812. His will is recorded in book I of Wills in the surrogate's office, at page II, and is the third will entered in the county records. The first was that of Daniel Totten, recorded January 20, 1808, and the second, that of David Frank- lin, was recorded March 30, 1809, while the record of Judge Platt's will was made January 9, 1812, making three wills in four years.
The succeeding judges down to 1847 were John H. Jones, Isaac Wil- son, John Z. Ross, William H. Tisdale, William Mitchell, Phineas L. Tracy, and Edgar C. Dibble. During the same period the surrogates of the county had been Jeremiah R. Munson,-whose name does not appear in any of the records of the office,-Richard Smith, Andrew A. Ellicott, Ebenezer Mix, Harvey Putnam, Timothy Fitch, and Samuel Willett. Mr. Mix filled the office from 1821 to 1840. Under the law as it has existed since 1847 the functions of county judge and surrogate have been performed by the same official. The duties of surrogate prior to that date were few, as estates were seldom settled.
5I
BENCH AND BAR.
Richard Smith, whose portrait has for many years hung in the court- house, over the chair occupied by the presiding judge, was born in Con- necticut, February 17, 1779, and died December 31, 1859. He was a graduate of Yale College and removed to Genesee County in 1803. He was at one time a partner of Daniel B. Brown. Judge Smith seldom, if ever, appeared in court. It is not known that any of the other incum- bents of the office up to that time were particularly prominent as lawyers, neither is much information available as to any county judge prior to Phineas L. Tracy. Judge Ross is spoken favorably of as a citizen and lawyer. He died October 27, 1826, at the age of 40 years.
Few men have been more closely identified with the history of Genesee County than Judge Tracy. He was born December 25, 1786, at Nor- wich, Conn., and graduated at Yale in 1806. He was admitted to the bar at Albany in 1811, and removed to Genesee County in 1813. For many years he had an extensive and lucrative practice, and was a man of marked force and ability. He was elected to Congress in 1827 and again in 1829, and in 184I was appointed "first judge" of the county by William H. Seward, then governor. After his retirement from the bench in 1846 he practiced law but little. He was for many years a member of the vestry of St. James's Church. His death occurred De- cember 22, 1876. An obituary published at that time says : " He would have been 90 years old on Christmas day. A good and just man, full of years and ripe for the harvest, has gone to his peaceful rest."
The next county judge was Edgar C. Dibble, who held the office dur- ing the year 1846, and again from 1852 to 1856. Judge Dibble was a fairly well-read lawyer, a man of good character, and he discharged the duties of his office satisfactorily. He died February 28, 1862, at the age of 57 years. During the period of his professional career he was at dif- ferent times in partnership with Timothy Fitch, John H. Martindale, and Martin F. Robertson.
Judge Dibble was succeeded by Horace U. Soper, who served four years. Judge Soper is said to have made a good record upon the bench, but was never especially prominent as a practitioner. He was an amiable and agreeable gentleman, of attractive manners and large general in- formation. He died January 15, 1878, at the age of 72 years, leaving no descendants.
Joshua L. Brown became county judge and surrogate in 1856 and held the office four years. He died at the age of 48, June 19, 1860, a few months after the expiration of his official term, at St. Louis, Mo. Judge
.
52
GENESEE COUNTY.
Brown was a good citizen, and a lawyer of extensive learning and de- cided ability. He is said to have possessed less' aptitude for the trial of causes before a jury than for the other duties of his profession, although he tried a large number of cases. Before the court, or as a counselor in his office, he was a strong, safe man. A member of the bar now living tells how he had a habit during the trial of criminal causes, where, as often occurs, the defense was conducted by some yonng man designated by the court, of taking a seat near the junior thus assigned, when, as the trial proceeded, he would draw his chair up and make suggestions. After a little he would be on his feet arguing a law point, and in one case at the close of the evidence he proceeded at once to sum up to the jury, much to the discomfiture of the young lawyer who had prepared, with great care, an address which was to make his reputation. Judge Brown was for many years a partner of Maj. Henry I. Głowacki, who in well earned retirement from the active labors of life still survives. The firm of Brown & Glowacki enjoyed for many years an extensive and lucrative practice, which was at its full height at the time of Judge Brown's death.
Moses Taggart, who succeeded Judge Brown, died at his home in Ba- tavia, February 17, 1883, at the ripe age of 82 years. He was the Nes- tor of our bar, having been in active and continuous practice for about 55 years. During his eventful life he had endeared himself to the pro- fession, of which he was an honored member, and was universally re- spected in the community where he had so long resided. As a lawyer he was thoroughly grounded in the elementary principles of legal science. Throughout his career he was esteemed for his good judgment, safe counsel, and extensive research rather than for any special ability as a trial lawyer. He had little liking or aptitude for the work of an advo- cate. A strong, helpful friend of young men, he had witnessed the career of every man at the bar at the time of his death, and it is safe to say that every one of the number felt a sincere attachment for the venerable and honored father of the fraternity. Judge Taggart was born at Colerain, Mass., August 21, 1799. At the age of 18 years he left his native town to find a home in the newer region of Western New York, and traveled all the way to Byron on foot. His legal studies were pursued in the office of Phineas L. Tracy. Upon his admission to the bar he became a partner of Albert Smith, who at that time was an able and noted prac- titioner. At different periods of his life he was in partnership with Daniel H. Chandler, Charles Henshaw, Seth Wakeman, and during the
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