Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 59

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

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ADAMS CENTRE-A. E. Cooley.

ANTWERP-J. F. Cook, J. C. Trolan, H. J. Foote.

CARTHAGE-H. J. Welch, H. C. Cook, L. J. Goodale, A. H. Francis, A. E. Kilby, F. T. Evans, V. K. Kel- logg, W. B. VanAllen.

CAPE VINCENT-M. E. Lee. N. F. Breen.

CLAYTON-Horace E. Morse, Wm. H. Rees, F. D. Barker, G. E. Morse.

HENDERSON-A. M. Leffingwell.

REDWOOD-A. Harder.

THERESA-Arthur L. Chapman, Geo. P. Breen.

MANNSVILLE-A. A. Wheeler.

LAFARGEVILLE-Wayland F. Ford.

Ox Bow-M. V. Brainard.

LERAY-Wm. S. Phelps.

WATERTOWN-John Lansing, Levi H. Brown, Allen C. Beach, Charles D. Wright. Luther J. Dorwin, Bradley Winslow, Milton Ballard, A. H. Sawyer, W. F. Porter, C. H. Walts, Ross C. Scott, W. M. Rogers, Joseph Mullin, E. C. Emerson, Thomas F. Kearns, Francis N. Fitch, Hannibal Smith, Henry Purcell, Daniel G. Griffin, Geo. S. Hooker, C. W. Thompson, S. S. Trowbridge, W. A. Nims, H. M. Wilbur, James A. Ward, Elon R. Brown, Joseph Atwell, Jr., C. L. Adams, Sam Child, G. H. Walker, Joseph A. MoCon- nell, Fred A. Baldwin, B. A. Field, H. W. Steele, N. VanNamee, A. Goodale, John N. Carlisle, John Con- boy, Robert Lansing, Isaac R. Breen. Edmund R. Wilcox, Fred B Pitcher, George H. Cobb. Edward N. Smith, Harold L. Hooker, Charles G. Porter, William W. Kelley, Thomas Burns, Joseph Nellis, Gary M. Jones.

COUNTY OFFICERS.

Edgar C. Emerson, County Judge, Watertown.

A. E. Cooley, Special County Judge, Adams Cen- tre.

Ross C. Scott, Surrogate. Watertown.

F. T. Evans, Special Surrogate, Carthage.

Edward Barton, Sheriff, Watertown.

Frank L Baker, Under Sheriff, Watertown.

Frank D. Pierce, County Clerk, Watertown.

William W. Kelly, Deputy County Cierk, Water- town.

Virgil K. Kellogg, District Attorney, Watertown.

Justin W. Weeks, Crier, Watertown.

Willard C. Porter, Justice of Sessions, Theresa.

Henry Flint, Justice of Sessions, North Wilna.

Addison L. Upham, County Treasurer, Watertown.

A. F. Saunders, U. S. Loan Commissioner, Adams. William H. H. Sias, Coroner, Adams.

Elmer E. Eddy, Coroner, Redwood.

LaDette G. Gifford, Coroner, Watertown.

John P. Martin, County Court Stenographer, Watertown.

Jacob Stears, Jr., Clerk Board of Supervisors, Watertown. S. Whitford Maxson, School Commissioner, Adams Centre, J. Frank LaRue, School Commissioner, Philadel- phia. R. Sheridan Clarke, School Commissioner, Cape Vincent.

NAMES AND RESIDENCES OF DEPUTY SHER- IFFS. .

Willard E. Saxe, Watertown.

B. C. Budd, Carthage.

S. M. Byam, Chaumont.

R. M. Esselstyn, Clayton.

M. M. Miller, Evans Mills.

D. W. Youngs, Adams.

E. D. Bellinger, Lorraine.

Geo. R. Collins, Henderson.

T. T. Ballard, Antwerp.

W. J. Guthrie, Philadelphia.

Fred B. Webb, Pierrepont Manor.

John W. Caris, Omar.

TERMS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT AND COURT OF SESSIONS-1894.

On the second Monday of January.

On the second Monday of March.

On the second Monday of June.

On the first Monday of December.

A petit jury is required to attend each of said terms.

Terms for hearing of motions, etc., without a jury,

to be held at the chambers of the County Judge:

On the fourth Monday of February.

On the fourth Monday of April.

On the fourth Monday of June.

On the second Monday of September.

On the first Monday of November.

Motions will also be heard on the morning of the first day of any Jury Term.

271

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS FOR 1894. FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.

January 8, Circuit O. and T., Syracuse; Williams. January 8, Circuit O and T., Utica; Vann. January 8, Circuit O. and T., Oswego; Wright. February 5, Circuit O. and T., Watertown, McLen- nan.

February 13, Special Term, Syracuse; Vann. February 13, Swecial Term, Utica: Wright. March 5, Circuit O. and T., Syracuse; Vann. March 5, Circuit O. and T., Rome; Williams. March 13, Special Term, Oswego; McLennan. April 2, Circuit O. and T., Pulaski; McLennan. April 2, Circuit O. and T., Herkimer; Vann. .April 2, Circuit O. and T .. Lowville; Williams.

May 7, Circuit O. and T., Syracuse; Wright. May 7, Circuit O. and T., Utica: McLennan. May 7, Circuit O. and T., Watertown; Williams. June 5, Special Term, Syracuse; Wright. June 5, Special Term, Rome; McLennan. June 5, Special Term, Watertown; Williams. September 18, Special Term, Oswego; Wright. September 18, Special Term, Herkimer; Williams. September 18, Special Term, Lowville; Vann. October 1, Circuit O. and T., Syracuse; McLennan. October 1, Circuit Part 2. Syracuse; Vann. October 1, Circuit O. and T., Rome; Wright. October 1, Circuit O. and T., Oswego; Williams. November 7, Circuit O. and T., Watertown; Vann. November 13, Special Term, Syracuse; McLennan. November 13, Special Term, Utica; Williams. December 3, Circuit O. and T .. Herkimer; Wright. December 3, Circuit O. and T., Lowville; McLen- nan.

December 11, Special Term, Watertown; Vann.

SPECIAL TERMS FOR MOTIONS --- 1894.

First Saturday in each month, except July and August, at Syracuse; Vann.

Second Saturday in each month, except July and August, at Syracuse; McLennan.

Third Saturday in each month, except July and August, at Syracuse; Vann.

Fourth Saturday in each month, except July and August, at Syracuse; McLennan.

Second Saturday in January, March, May, Septem- ber and November, at Utica; Williams.

Second Saturday in February, April, June, October and December, at Utica; Wright.

First Saturday in each month, except July and August, at Watertown; Williams.

Third Saturday in each month, except July and August, at Oswego; Wright.

Second Saturday in July, at Syracuse; Williams. Second Saturday in August, at Utica; Wright.

Special Terms will be held in connection with the Circuits, but no motion contrary to Standing Rule No. 38 will be heard. except upon orders to show cause granted by the judges appointed to hold the Circuits.

Equity causes may be noticed and placed upon the calendar for trial at the Special Terms held in con nection with the Circuits in the counties of Herkimer and Lewis.

GENERAL TERMS-FOURTH DEPARTMENT.

February-First Tuesday; Binghamton. April-Fourth Tuesday; Syracuse. September-Second Tuesday; Utica. November-Third Tuesday; Syracuse.

COUNTY COURT JUDGES.

Of the life and character of those judges who held terms of County Courts early in the present century, but little is known. We name only a few of the more prominent, and only such as were not " learned in the law," that is, were not members of the legal pro- fession. They were usually appointed for political reasons by Governors of the State.

Augustus Sacket was a very estimable gentleman, from whom Sackets Harbor took its name. He was part proprietor and agent

of the lands comprised in that village. It does not appear from the record that he offici- ated in any of the courts in this county in any other capacity than that of first judge.

Ethel Bronson was one of the early settlers of Rutland, was agent of the proprietors, and was the father of Isaac H. Bronson, heretofore mentioned.

John Brown resided at Brownville; was a brother of General Jacob Brown, of the army of 1812, from whose father the town took its name. "But in the mutations of life it re- tains now scarcely anything of this family or its fortunes, save the distinguished name '

Noadiah Hubbard was one of the very first settlers of the town of Champion, and a resi- dent there until a few years since, when he died nearly 100 years of age. He was the father of Frederick W. Hubbard, one of the justices of the Supreme Court from 1852 to 1858, now deceased, and of Mrs. George C. Sherman, who is now living, and of Mrs. Robert Lansing, now deceased.

Hart Massey, born in Salem, N. H., Decem- ber 5, 1771; came to Watertown in 1800; pur- chased a tract of land on which a portion of the city of Watertown is now situated; moved his family here in 1801: and first re- sided in a house where the Paddock Arcade now is, then on the lot now owned by E. L. Paddock, on Washington street. In 1812 he built the first brick house erected in the county, which is now standing on Massey avenue. He was appointed a judge in 1820.

Undoubtedly one of the ablest of the early county judges was Perley Keyes, a bright but uneducated man, and better remembered as a local politician than as a judge. By nature he was a man of superior intellect and nerve. He was the father of Perley G. Keyes, known in his day as Gardner Keyes, and grandfather of Rev. Richard G. Keyes, now living in the old homestead in Water- town. He died May 13, 1834, and was buried in a cold snow storm; while the 1st of May, 1894, shows strawberries and many fruit trees in blossom, and the forests putting on their robes of green.

Hiram Dewey lived in Orleens. He held the office of judge during the latter part of the existence of the old Court of Common Pleas. He was a farmer until he became a large stockholder and an officer of the Jeffer- son County Agricultural Insurance Company, when he removed to Watertown, and resided there until his death.

Jason Clark resided at Plessis, in Alexan- dria. He was the general land agent for Woodruff and Stocking; had been a surveyor for LeRay for many years; was repeatedly elected supervisor of his town. He was an intelligent and influential man, and well known throughout the county.

This comprises the most of those who officiated on the bench during the existence of the old Common Pleas-not lawyers by profession. There are few persons now liv- ing who remember these men or their history. What has been written of them has been obtained mostly from the records. On the

272

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

abolition of the old Court of Common Pleas by the constitution of 1846, its place was taken by what is now known as the County Court, which has the same relative jurisdic- tion as the Court of Common Pleas, one judge being elected by the people, whereas he had previously been appointed by the Governor. At the present time the county judge is elected for six years. This county judge has two assistants, who are denomin- ated justices of sessions, but they have noth ing to do with the trial of civil cases. Such, in brief, is the organization of the present County Court.

THE SUPREME COURT.

Under the present organization, each State Senatorial district was made a judicial dis- trict, and in each district four judges were elected, each having concurrent jurisdiction. At present the State is divided into five judici- al departments, and the Governor selects from the judicial (formerly Senatorial) dis- tricts certain judges who are to hold the General Term, to which appeals are taken from the Circuit Courts. Appeals are also heard at General Term from the County Court ; and appeals from the decisions of the General Term are brought before the Court of Ap- peals.

The first Supreme Court held in Jefferson county, was on June 17. 1807. at the same place where the Court of Common Pleas was held. Present : Hon. Smith Thompson, justice; Augustus Sacket, Joshua Bcalls, Perley Keyes, judges; Lyman Ellis, assistant justice.

The sixteenth and last Supreme Court was held in June, 1822. Present: Ambrose Spencer, chief justice; Egbert TenEyck, Richard Goodell, Hiram Steele, judges.

This brings us down to the circuit courts held under the constitution which took effect January 1, 1823. Under this constitution Nathan Williams was appointed circuit judge for the fifth judicial district, and continued to serve as such until the appointment in his place of Samuel Beardsley, April 19, 1834. It does not appear from the record that he ever officiated as such judge, and is supposed to have resigned or not to have accepted the appointment, for, on May 7, 1834, Hiram Denio was appointed such judge in his place. He officiated until April, 1838. Isaac H. Bronson was appointed in the place of Hiram Denio, who resigned on account of ill-health. Bronson was then a member of Congress from this district, and his vote was wanted in Congress to sustain the administration of Martin Van Buren as President; for this rea- son he declined to accept the appointment. In the fall of 1838 he was a candidate for re- election, and was defeated. He was subse- quently appointed by Van Buren as judge of the United States Circuit Court of Florida. He left Watertown, and thereafter resided in Florida during the remainder of his life On June 17, 1848, Philo Gridley was appointed circuit judge for this district, and immedi-

ately entered upon the duties thereof, and continued to act as such circuit judge and vice-chancellor until July, 1847, when the constitution of 1846 went into effect.

LYSANDER H. BROWN.

The life. character and eminent ability of Lysander H. Brown, a member of the Jeffer- son county bar, deserve more than a com- monplace tribute. The germ of eloquence seems to have been born in him. It was not the eloquence that entertains without instruct- ing, but the eloquence of manner, thought and diction that leaves a lasting and ennobl- ing impression upon the mind. He was born in Brownville, December 20, 1808. The early part of his life was spent upon a farm; and he attended, during the winter, the district school. In 1828 or 1829 he entered Union Academy, at Belleville, where he remained two years. It was here that he had the op- portunity of cultivating his special gift. În 1831 he entered Union College. graduating in July, 1834. During this time the Rev. Dr. Nott, in the full vigor of his life, was the president, and Dr. Alonzo Potter, afterwards bishop of the diocese of Pennsylvania, was the vice-president of that institution, with a large faculty possessing as high a character, and occupying as high a position in public estimation, as any institution of learning in the country. Young Brown found there ample opportunity to cultivate that gift of eloquence so marked a feature in his life.

Graduating with the highest honors of the college, Mr. Brown, in October, 1834, be- came the principal of the Champion Academy. Under his direction that academy at once took high standing among the educational institu- tions of the country. He remained in charge of the academy until March, 1838. It was during this period that the public first be- came acquainted with his ability as a capti- vating public speaker. In March, 1838, he left the academy and came to Watertown to complete the study of the law. It was during this summer that he commenced his political life by public speeches in favor of the election of Isaac H. Bronson for Congress. In October, 1839, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court. In 1840 he was in the political field in support of Martin Van Buren, but his eloquence made little impression against the senseless excite- ment of that log cabin campaign.

In 1844 occurred the presidential campaign between James K. Polk and Henry Clay. During this campaign Mr. Brown was nomi- nated for the Assembly. The ablest political speeches Mr. Brown ever made were during this campaign for the election of the Demo- cratic candidate for President. Mr. Brown was elected to the Assembly, and took his seat January 1, 1845. His acts there are a matter of public record. It was universally conceded that he was the best speaker in the House. In 1847 he was elected surrogate, and held the office from 1847 till 1852. He died in 1892, full of years and of honors.

273

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

HON. PARDON C. WILLIAMS.

THE biography of a genuinely successful man is not only interesting but instructive; and when real success is attained logically as the result of character self-developed, a moral impulse of the highest value is awakened in the young.

Such a lesson is taught in the career of Mr. Williams. Judge Williams was born July 12, 1842, in the town of Ellisburg, in Jefferson county. His father's name was William Williams, and his mother's name was Jerusha Plummer.

His father always followed the occupation of a farmer. He was a man of moderate means but of unsullied character, and pos- sessed the respect of his neighbors during a life of about eighty years. While he was

ready to do all in his power to aid, yet, owing to a large family, Pardon C. Williams fortunately had to rely mainly upon his own efforts to make a career for himself in life. Eager in the pursuit of knowledge, and in- tensely ambitious, Young Williams made rapid progress in the excellent common schools of those days at Pierrepont Manor, and became a student successively at Belle- ville Academy and at Clinton Liberal Insti- tute, Clinton, in which schools he thoroughly prepared for the classical course in college; and then he entered college at St. Lawrence University, where he remained two years. Every one knows that the two first years in college cover the better part of truly disciplin- ary studies.

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Mr. Williams commenced teaching in the common schools at the age of fourteen years and taught winters for six terms. Thus it will be seen that he acquired the best sort of an education, theoretically and practically. He was compelled, as a teacher, to reduce to practice what he had acquired in the Acad- emy during the spring and fall terms,

In the spring of 1869. Mr. Williams com- meneed the study of law in the office of Hammond & Bigelow, at Watertown. Upon passing the required examination he was ad- mitted to the bar at a General Term of the Supreme Court held at Watertown in October. 1863. He immediately became a member of the law firm of Hammond & Williams, and in that firm and in the firm of Hammond. Winslow & Williams, he remained until 1867. when he practiced law for seven years with- ont a partner. In 1868 he was elected dis- triet attorney of Jefferson county, and vohm- tarily retired from that office at the termina- tion of his second term of service, January 1, 1875.

In March, 1874, the strong and successful law firm of MeCartin & Williams was formed, and continued until the election of Mr. Williams to the office of Justice of the Supreme Court, in the fall of 1883. June 1. 1884. he entered upon the performance of his duties as a justice of the Supreme Court, and his term of service ends in 1898.

Mr. Williams was married to Sarah E. Hewitt. an adopted daughter of the late Clark Hewitt, of Watertown, N. Y., Septem- ber 9. 1868. Their family consists of one son and two daughters. The eldest daughter is now a senior in Vassar College, and his son is preparing for Yale College at Andover, Mass.

Judge Williams' chief rest from his intense labors as a judge consists in the enjoyments of his home life. The happiness and culture of his children seem his great desire, and he freely bestows upon them the counsel that ex- perience can give, and every advantage that his wealth affords.

This is a brief outline of the chief bio- graphical facts in the life of Judge Williams to the present time. But to outline in brief space his life as a lawyer and judge is is more difficult. As district attorney he de- veloped and exhibited distinguished ability as a criminal lawyer. So thorough was his preparation of his cases as district attorney, so acute his knowledge of criminal law, that he rarely failed to secure the conviction of the guilty. however ably defended. The cele- brated Adams Bank burglary cases and the Smith murder case gave him full sweep for the display of all his abilities as a criminal lawyer. The facts were very complicated in both cases. and the defendants were defended by the best legal talent in the State.

After he retired from the district attorney- ship, so great was his reputation as a crimi- nal lawyer, that he was engaged frequently for the people in murder trials in this and neighboring counties till he was elected judge. In his civil practice he was engaged.

on one side or the other in the most impor- tant cases in this section of the State.

His method as a lawyer was: first. a thorough analysis of the facts of the ease and a logical and systematic analysis of the evi- dence. Then an exhaustive preparation of the law as applicable to the case. In every case when called for trial, he was " semper paratus." As an advocate he was more dis- tinguished by a logical and clear presentation of the case to the honest convictions of the jury than by an oratorical appeal to their feel- ings and prejudices.

Judge Williams' career as a justice of the Supreme Court, best illustrates his intellect- ual and moral character. His industry and capacity for work are remarkable. His con- sideration of the cases tried before him is ex- haustive, and the decision is, in all important cases, almost always accompanied by an opinion showing a thorough examination of the evidence and the law. So careful is he in this respect that it has become proverbial in the profession that it is very difficult to re- verse his decisions. No one will dispute the fact that during his occupancy of the judicial office no other judge on the bench in this State has exeelled him in the extent, impor- tance and variety of his judicial work.

Many of his decisions in civil cases have been original in jurisprudence, and his opinions have been adopted by the Court of Appeals. The famous Wilkinson cases, and his interpretation of the statutes as to prefer- ences in assignments (though opposed by de- cisions of judges in New York city at the time, was adopted by the Court of Appeals), may be given as illustrations of his powers.

But it is in the trial of criminals that Mr. Justice Williams is easily the most eminent judge in the State. He presided at the trial of Roxalana Druse, for murder at Herkimer: at the trial of Calvin McCoops at Utica, for the killing of Theresa Johnson; at the trial of Frank Mondon, for murder at Herkimer: at the trial of Morrity Richter, for the murder of Professor Smith, at Herkimer: at the trial of Susan Hart, charged with killing her child at Evans Mills: at the trial of Clement Arthur Day, for murder, at Rome: at the trial of Frederick Life, for murder, at Rome: at the trial of Morris Congdon, for murder. at Cortland (which trial was not in Judge Williams' district, and he presided at the special request of Justice Smith, of El- mira); at the trial of Roselle William Mitch- ell, for murder, at Utica: at the trial of Louis Laves, for murder, at the same time: and also at the same time at the trial of Samuel T. Newell, for murder; at the trial of James A. Platts, at Herkimer; and at the trial of Nor- ris Pebles, at Lowville.

In the trial of criminals, Justice Williams is careful that every right the law affords is given the prisoner; yet so masterful is his conduct of the trial that it is not known that any guilty one has escaped the just punish- ment for his crime.

Mr. Justice Williams' reputation for fair- ness and thoroughness in criminal trials had

VaFi, DE Baile ... . Are You.

275

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

become so well astablished throughout the State, that Governor Flower specially desig- nated Justice Williams for the trial of Bar- tholomew Shea, at Troy, this last summer. This was a perilous position for any judge, owing to the political prejudices and intense feelings existing in Troy, and, for that matter, throughout the State.

Judge Williams conducted the trial with such distinguished ability and fairness as to greatly increase, not only his reputation as a judge in criminal trials, but to win the praise of all parties who participated in or were ob- servant of the trial.

It is no encomium, but the simple state- ment of a fact, to say that Judge Williams to- day is the most eminent Justice of the Supreme Court in this State, to preside over criminal trials. Time has proved the fact that Judge Williams has realized the advice of Lord Bacon on swearing in Justice Hut- ton, when he said: "Fear no man's face, yet turn not stoutness into bravery. Be a light to jurors to open their eyes, not a guide to lead them by the nose."

In closing this sketch, it may not be im- proper to express a few reflections, and to peer through the veil of the future with pro- phetic vision. The writer believes in the old classical system of education, and he was once delighted to hear Judge Williams say : "In my work as judge, I find by digging to unravel the intricacies of the Latin and the subtilties of the Greek, I prepared myself for the patient study that the consideration of cases requires."

It is well known that philosophical phi- lologists, from the study of language alone,

discovered that the race which made the literature of India was of the same race that has made European civilization; both are branches of the old Asyrian race.

In the same manner the philosophical au- thropologist can discover from the name of Judge Williams' father, (to wit: William Williams), that he was of Welsh origin -- from a people that defied Roman power, the Nor- man conquest and the Saxon invasion, and is honored by England's royalty in naming the male heir-apparent to the throne, the Prince of Wales. This brave Welsh people gave to America Thomas Jefferson and many another illustrious name, and in modern times that race has given to the world and to Gladstone that noble woman whose fidelity, devotion and wealth made possible the marvelous career of William E. Gladstone. Who will dare to define the exact influence of the Welsh blood in the making of the character of Judge Williams?

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 59

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094