History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 41

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762

USA > New York > Cayuga County > History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 41

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In 1828, he was elected County Clerk and removed to Aubura, where he has ever since resided. He was elected to that office a second and a third time, holding it for three consecutive terms, -nine years, the only instance in the County of an election te that office for the third time. In 1838 he was appointed District- Attorney, by the Court of Common Pleas, now the County Court, and held the office for three years. He was Inspector of the Auburn Prison in 1843, and has held several other official and responsible positions.

He has discharged the duties of every publie position which

he was called upon to fill efficiently and faithfully, and won the deserved confidence of those whom he served, whether In an official. or professional capacity, and secured the sincere regard of all that made his acquaintance. He has frequently been called upon to deliver public addresses, in which he always acquitted himself with honor and distinction, and his address upon the oe- casion of the dedication of Fort Hill Cemetery was especially happy and appropriate.

In person Mr. Myers is above the medium height, of symmetri- cal form, with a completeness and perfection of physical de- velopment seldom equalled, and his mental, moral and social qualities are but counter-parts of his physical. He Is eminently social and genial in his temperament, and delights to listen to. or relate, anecdotes and incidents, of which he has an ample store. Blessed with unusually vigorous and even health, age has made upon him much less than the average impress, and in cheerfulness of spirits and agility of movement he is equalled by few of his age.

Though nearly seventy-eight years of age, he is yet regularly on the street and in his office, and has many companions, who delight in his society. He is very companionable, and has al- ways been so. He has, and has had, many intimates. amony them the venerable and lamented Governors Throop and Sew- ard. With the latter especially, from their first acquaintance until the death of Mr. Seward. there existed the most confidential social relations. These were made manifest in the most sacred affairs of life. lle was groomsman at Mr. Seward's wedding : one of the small party that attended him on his wedding tour ; was selected to welcome home the travel-worn statesman on two occasions from his long and final wanderings : and was one of the bearers at his funeral.

There was no political afilliation between them. They be- longed to opposite parties and were each strong partisans : yet their social attachments were not thereby weakened, nor their respect for each other lessened. There could have been there- fore no other tie which bound them together than pure, sincere personal regard ; and. when we consider the sagacity and care with which Mr. Seward selected his personal friends, it is no slight compliment to Mr. Myers that he held throughout his life the firm friendship of Mr. Seward.

Mr. Myers had two sons and three daughters, of whom one daughter only survives. Of his early acquaintances among the young men of the village, and he knew them all, he alone re- mains. There are still living here men that were then resideats. who are older than he, as the venerable gentlemen Dr. Richard Steel and Abijah Fitch, but they were in a social cirele com- posed of men of riper years. Mr. Myers has therefore outlived nearly all his own family. and also the generation that sixty- two years ago, formed the village of Auburn.

221

BENCH AND BAR.

turned to Auburn, and opened an office in con- nection with his brother, P. Hamilton Myers, who soon after removed to Little Falls. He re- tained the position of County Clerk nine years successively, and is the only person who has held that office more than two terms. January 25th, 1838, at the expiration of his clerkship, he was appointed District-Attorney, and held that office three years. He was Inspector of State Prison from 1842 to 1844, during Gov. W. C. Bouck's administration. He was Postmaster one year during President Polk's administration, and from time to time has been Commissioner of Deeds, Notary Public, &c. Mr. Myers was the con- fidential friend of the late Gov. Throop and the leading man here from the time of his settlement among the politicians of the VanBuren and Ed- win Croswell order, through all the period in which Throop, Marcy and that class of politicians held public office. He is a good office lawyer, and safe counselor. He is a man of great can- dor and strict integrity. The intrinsic excel- lence of his character, his amiability and fidelity to friends, have secured for him the profound re- spect of all who know him. He survives in most excellent physical and mental condition, and is still practicing in company with W. W. Hare of Groton, who spends a portion of his time in the office in Auburn.

RICHARD L. SMITH came here from Washing- ton county about 1820, and practiced law in con- nection with James Porter, (who subsequently removed to Skaneateles and became Registrar in Bankruptcy,) and afterwards with John W. Hurl- bert. He was an active Democratic politician and very popular with the masses, especially those who angled for trout in the brooks of the neigh- borhood. He was a remarkably bright man, and a rapid writer and talker. He was a Member of Assembly in 1830 and 1836, and was appointed District-Attorney January 21st, 1832, which office he held till 1838, in which year he died. His fondness for piscatorial sports caused him to neglect his business very much during the latter years of his life, and so improvident was he in providing amusements of that character that he never accumulated any property in excess of his immediate needs.

PARLIAMENT BRONSON came here from Ver- non, Oneida Co., about 1825, and formed a law partnership with Richard L. Smith, in connec-

tion with whom he practiced a few years. He afterwards went into the office of Joseph L. Rich- ardson, who threw most of his business in Bron- son's hands. He was a tall, stately, genteel, pre- cise person of the Lord Chesterfield stamp, who over-topped most of his associates in stature and outshone most of them in dress. He was neat without being foppish, and his great exactness in dress and manner won for him the epithet of be- ing very parliamentary. He was a highly edu- cated, exact, conscientious, and indeed a profound lawyer in every line of information to be derived from books; but he seldom mingled with the people in their ordinary business affairs, and con- sequently was not familiar with the artifices of trade. He was proverbially a safe counselor in every department of the law he assumed to ex- pound. He never had an extensive law practice, but always a remunerative one, as those who em- ployed him at all and became acquainted with his talents continued to do so as long as they had anything for him to do. His briefs were made up with remarkable precision and fullness, and his arguments before the bench, although laconic, were forcible and convincing. He never under- took a case for a client without being first con- vinced that he was right in his legal premises, and he was therefore generally successful. He had an extensive library of very choice works, and was noted from his habit of annotating their margins. His circle of intimate acquaintances was small, but among them he was highly es- teemed. He seldom condescended to mingle in politics, or in anything which involved associa- tions with the lower classes of people ; but he at- tacked his political opponents with vindictiveness and asperity. He never entertained much re- spect for the election laws which make places of honor and trust dependent upon the caprices of the masses ; he was therefore opposed to the Con- stitution of 1846, which made the office of judge an elective instead of an appointive one. He died June 20th, 1857.

THEODORE SPENCER, son of Ambrose Spen- cer, came to Auburn about 1825, and opened an office in connection with Jno. W. Hurlbert. He practiced law some six years, and removed to Utica, where he studied divinity.

NELSON BEARDSLEY was born in Oxford, Ct., May 30th, 1807. He graduated at Yale College in 1827, and immediately thereafter removed to

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CITY OF AUBURN.

Auburn and commenced the study of law with Col. Jno. W. Hurlbert. After about six months he entered the office of Wm. H. Seward, with whom he completed his studies, and with whom, after his admission to the bar in 1830, he formed a partnership, which continued some ten years, until Mr. Seward assumed a land agency in Chautauqua county. He then associated himself with John Porter, and continued that connection till 1843, when his connection with the Cayuga Co. Bank, as President, necessitated a discon- tinuance. He has since occupied the position of President of that Bank. He was Master in Chancery from 1831 to 1840.

WARREN T. WORDEN was born in Milton, Saratoga county, November 7th, 1806. He grad- uated from Union College, came to Auburn in 1822, and in 1828 commenced the study of law with Wm. H. Seward. He afterwards pursued his studies with William Brown, and was admit- ted to the bar in the same class with Preston King and Henry R. Selden. He commenced practice first in company with Robert Campbell, of Bath, Steuben Co., afterwards Lieut .- Gover- nor, with whom he continued two or three years. He was associated five years with Paris G. Clark and a like period with W. W. Shepard, of Wa- verly. He is a good counselor, a sound lawyer, and an industrious worker.

JAMES R. Cox was born in New York City January 15th, 1821. He was educated in the common schools of New York City, Canaan, Ct., Pittsfield, Mass., and Whitesboro, N. Y. He commenced the study of law with Wm. H. Sew- ard, in Auburn, in 1842, and remained with him till admitted to the bar in the latter part of 1845, when he commenced practice here. About 1850, he formed a law partnership with Parlia- ment Bronson, which continued a year and a half, when he became associated with George Underwood and Edward H. Avery, with the former of whom he continued till his death in 1859, and with the latter till 1874, when the part- nership was dissolved. He was admitted to the United States courts in 1860 ; to the Supreme Court, on motion of S. S. Cox, in 1875 ; to the courts of Louisiana and Texas in 1872; and to the courts in Mexico, in which he has practiced chiefly the last eight or nine years, in 1873.

WILLIAM E. HUGHITT was born in Genoa, Oct. 22d, 1832. He graduated at Amherst College

in 1855, and commenced the study of law the same year in Auburn, with Underwood & Avery. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, and com- menced practice that year in the office he now occupies. He was associated with E. B. Lan- sing about a year and a half, till 1861, when the latter, who is now in Brooklyn, enlisted as adju- tant in the 75th N. Y. Vol. Infantry. He was elected County Judge in 1863 and held the office fourteen years.

Hon. MILO GOODRICH was born in Homer, Cortland county, January 3d, 1822, and was educated at Homer Academy and at Oberlin Col- lege, Ohio. He commenced the study of law in 1840, at Worcester, Mass., with Judge Barton, with whom he remained four years. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1844, and commenced prac- tice at Dryden, N. Y., in 1845 and continued there till the spring of 1875, when he removed to Auburn, where he is now practicing. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867-'8, and a member of the 42d Congress.

WM. B. WOODIN was born in Genoa, Septem- ber 25th, 1824. He graduated from Homer Acad- emy and studied law. He represented the 2d District of Cayuga County, in the Assembly in 1855. He was elected Surrogate of the County in November, 1859, and was twice rëelected to that position. He was elected to the State Sen- ate in 1869 and rëelected in 1871 and 1873. In 1872 he was chosen president pro tem. In the session of 1872-'3 he was chairman of the com- mittee on Cities, and retained that position in the following session. He is a lawyer of considerable ability, but has retired from practice.

HON. THEODORE M. POMEROY was born in Cayuga, N.º Y., December 31st, 1824. He was educated at Elbridge Academy and Hamilton College, graduating at the latter institution. He studied law with Wm. H. Seward. He was Dis- trict-Attorney of Cayuga County, from 1850-'56. He was Member of Assembly in 1857. He was a Member of the House of Representatives from 1861-'9, and served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the 37th and 38th Congresses, in the latter of which he was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post-Office Department. He was a member of the Committees on Banking and Currency, and Unfinished Business in the 39th Congress, and chairman of the former Com- mittee in the 40th Congress. Since leaving

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GENERAL JOHN HATCH CHEDELL, the subject of this memoir, was born in the town of Coventry, Talland county, in the State of Con- necticut, on the 24th day of April, 1806, and died in Auburn, Cayn. ga County, in the State of New York, on the 19th day of June, 1875, aged sixty-nine years. When he was at the age of ten years his father died, leaving his mother, two sisters and himself in ro- duced circumstances, or, in his own words, "without the means of support."

In the winter of 1817-'18, the family removed to Otsego county, in the State of New York, where he attended school at & small arad- emy in the town of Hartwick, for about eighteen months. At the age of twelve years he entered a country etore in Hartwick, as a elerk, and about two years thereafter he apprenticed himself to William Nichols, ef Conperstown, to learn the watch and silver- smith business, and served as such apprentice nearly seven years. On arriving at the age of twenty-one years, he took up his resi . dence in Auburn, in the year 1827, and engaged in business as watchmaker. jeweler and silversmith, and continued in such husi- ness until 1851. He was prosperous in business, and spon com. menced investing in stocks of banks and railroads, and in real es- tate. He was one of the contractors for building a large section of the' New York and Erie Railway, and the capital, business skill and energy of Gen. Chedell and his associates, aided the company ma- terially in the construction of the road. He was for many years a large stockholder. and one of the directors of the New York Con- tral and Hudson River Railroad, and a director in banks at Auburn and Syracuse; and in all his various public positions, his duties were so.discharged as to command the approval and confidence of the public. In the year 1866, Gen, Chedell was elected to the Presi- dency of the Syracuse National Bank, although he was at that time a resident of Auburn.

The following brief extract from the proceedings of tha directors on his death is worthy of natiee here :

" From Mr. Chedell's earliest connection with this institution he tnok an interest in its affairs far nhova any consideration of a self- ish character. The honor of the institution, its high standing Among men whose opinions are justly to be valued, the preservn- tion of its perfect soundness in the midst of the late civil war. a period hardly less trying financially than politically, those were the objects of his care and counsel."

Mr. Chedell was, in every sense of the word, a practical, public- spirited man. His great business energy prompted him to active and continuons effort in all he undertook, whether in his private and personal matters, or those for the public benefit. He was not merely a theorist in regard to matters of public improvement in

our city, but his time, his practical business talent, and his purae. were freely and most liberally given. Auburn has minny monu . ments of his muniticenco. All our various religious and moral 80 cieties have from time to time been the recipients of his bounty In the year 1823, he completed the tower and spire of St. Peter's church, at the cost of about ten thousand dollars, and gave to that corporation further important sume for various purposes ; and to St. John's Church ho gave with equal liberality as to St. Peter's Among his gifts to St. John's, was their church lot on which they have a chapel built, in which the society anw worship. Bly hls will. dated in 1875, he gave to St. Peter's and St. John's, each, subject In certain conditions, an additional ten thousand dollars; to the Cayuga County Asylum for Destitute Chiklren, and to the Honie for the Friendless, the sum af three thousand dollars each. We need not further follow his tracks in his acts of charity and benev alence. Enough has heca cited to show his kind heart and gener ons. unselfish liberality in all matters tending to the public good that were submitted to hlin, where his assistance by personal effort, or by pecuniary ald was required, or asked for. His wealth was the product of his labor, personal effort and prudent and careful Imsbanding of his earnings, commencing when working at his trade, at a time when, as he expressed It. he was " not worth a dollar, and did not know that he ever would be."

lin areninulated a fine fortune, and, so far as wealth was con corned, was prospered, and favored beyond his expectations; while in his domestic life he was called to bear afflictions that fall to the lot of but few. He married in January. 1828, Melita, daughter of the late Philip Cook, of Stonhen county, N. Y The fruit of this union was seven children. three sons and four daughters, His oldest son. John, served in the war of the Rebellion, and while in the army he was stricken with sickness that eventually, after his discharge and return home, praved fatal. Five others of his children pre- reded him to the grave, the only survivor bring his daughter Laura, Ilis wife died before him, and on June 19th, 18;5. he passed away. after having survived and hurled his entire family, with the single exception above noted. His burden was heavy. hut he høre it with the patience and fortitude of a Christlan, who, trong in the faith, believes that all things work together for good to those who east their cares upon ane who nhounds in merey and compassion, and is mighty to save. He was far more than twenty years n member of St. Peter's (Episcopal Church, at Auburn, and showed his faith by hle works. While devoted to the prosperity of the church of his choice, others will bear witness to his regular. consistent liberality, free from bigotry and sectarian bins, and with charity toward all.

223

VILLAGE AND CITY GOVERNMENT.

Congress he has been engaged in banking and express business and the practice of law, and is now a member of Wm. H. Seward & Co.'s Bank- ing House. He was Auburn's first City Clerk, which office he held three years continuously, and was Mayor in 1875 and '76.

CLINTON DUGALD Mc DOUGALL was born in Scotland, June 14th, 1839, and came to America with his parents in 1842. He received an aca- demic education and studied law. In 1861, he raised a company for the 75th N. Y. Vols., and went with his regiment to Florida. He was made Lieut .- Colonel of the 11 1th N. Y. Vols. in August, 1862, and Colonel in January, 1863. He com- manded a post at Centerville, Va., to June, 1863, when he joined the Army of the Potomac, in which he commanded the 3d Brigade, 3d Divis- ion, 2d Corps at Gettysburg, and afterwards the 3d Brigade, Ist Division, 2d Corps, till the close of the war. He was brevetted Brig .- General in 1864. He returned home at the close of the war and resumed banking business. He was ap- pointed postmaster in Auburn, in March, 1869. He was elected to the 43d and 44th Congresses as a Republican, and was appointed U. S. Mar_ shal for the Northern District of New York near the close of Grant's administration.

The present lawyers are, Chas. L. Adams, Wm. Allen, Mortimer V. Austin, E. H. Avery, Chas. M. Baker, E. E. Cady, Chas. E. Cootes, James R. and Wm. C. Cox, J. T. M. Davie, P. Fred. Deering, Robert L. Drummond, Chas. F. Durston, Wm. Fosgate, Milo Goodrich, Benj. F. Hall, W. R. Hallock, W. W. Hare, Wm. E. Hughitt, James Hunter, - Hulbert, E. D. Jackson, Fred H. Kennedy, James Lyon, Patrick Mc Laughlin, Edward C. Marvine, Henry A. Maynard, Michael S. Myers, S. L. Paddock, Amasa J. Parker, S. E. Payne, (the present Dist. Attorney,) N. Homer Potter, Lavern A. Pierce, Geo. O. Rathbun, John Rosecrans, C. N. Sitt- ser, Richard C. Steel, F. P. Taber, John D. Tel- ler, Rollin Tracy, Geo. B. Turner, Geo. Under- wood, Herman Van Laer, James White, Oliver Wood, Edwin A. Woodin, William B. Woodir., Warren T. Worden, Warren A. Worden, Frank D. Wright, and David Wright.

VILLAGE AND CITY GOVERNMENT.

In 1805 the population of the Corners was about two hundred and fifty, and a shorter and

more euphonious name was desired, which, after much discussion by the citizens in public mect- ings, was found in the classic name of Auburn. By 1815, the general desire for the benefits con- ferred by corporate powers was met by the char- ter obtained April 18th of that year. The meet- ing at which the first village officers were elected was held at the Court House, on Monday, May Ist, 1815, and Enos T. Throop, Joseph Colt, Bradley Tuttle, David Hyde and Lyman l'aine, were elected Trustees ; Ebenezer S. Beach, Eleazer Hills and David Brinkerhoff, Assessors ; Wm. Bostwick, Treasurer ; John Ilaring, Clerk; and Dr. Hackaliah Burt, Overseer of Highways. At that meeting the trustees were authorized to levy and raise a tax on the inhabitants of the vil- lage, not less than $1,000, nor more than $1,500, as they in their discretion might think proper. At a meeting held at Reading's Inn, May 3d, 1815, Joseph Colt was unanimously elected Presi- dent ; and the trustees decided to raise $1,500 for the improvement of the streets. At a meet- ing held two days later, at the same place, it was " ordered that sidewalks be laid out on the turn- pike, eight feet in width from the line of the turnpike, and that at least five feet of the outer part of the walks be laid in the following manner, to wit : along the outer side of the walk a sill of timber, and the residue of the five feet to be flagged with flat stone at least two and one-half inches thick, or good hard brick, descending to- wards the road in the proportion of one inch to three feet, and elevated at least one inch above the sill ; and that posts be set on the outer side of the walk at least five inches square, and three and one-half feet high, and not more than ten feet apart, and that a railing four inches square be framed in the posts, the top of the railing to be just three feet above the sill." This presents a picture which many of the present citizens of Auburn will recognize. At the same time it was

" Resolved, That whenever any individual is desirous of making sidewalks in front of his house or lot in conformity to the above orders, and shall obtain permission to do so under the hand of the President, he shall be allowed his reasonable charges and expenses for making such sidewalks, out of such moneys as shall be in the hands of the trustces for purposes unappropriated."

The following action taken May 20th, 1815, may be revived with interest just at this time when the discussions upon the currency question

224

CITY OF AUBURN.

are so general and prominent. The President was ordered to procure, sign and issue in the name of the corporation, small bills, not exceed- ing fifty cents in value, to the amount of $2, 500. July 6th, 1815, authority was given to increase the issue by $1,500, in bills less than one dollar ; and October 3d, 1815, it was still further increased by $6,000. March 9th, 1836, the town of Auburn, which was formed March 28th, 1823, was merged in the village, and additional powers conferred upon the trustees.

The growth of Auburn from a village to a city had not been rapid, as the chief element con- tributing thereto was its manufactures, which de- veloped gradually and healthily. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, had a depressing influence for a time, but was measurably compensated for by the construction of the Auburn & Syracuse Rail- road some ten years later. In 1848, the popula- tion had increased to about 6,000, and March 2Ist, of that year, it was incorporated as a city, with four wards, which have since been increased to ten, partly by the accession of new territory and partly by the division of other wards.

The first city officers were, Cyrus C. Dennis, Mayor; Theodore M. Pomeroy, Clerk; James H. Bostwick, Police Justice; Joseph White, Marshal; Charles A. Parsons, Superintendent of Common Schools ; Lawrence White, Collector; Horace G. Van Anden and Elisha White, Overseers of the Poor ; Clark Mastin, Samuel Eddy and Jacob Shimer, Constables ; John Richardson, Super- visor, Ist Ward; Joseph Morris and Shubael Cottle, Aldermen, Ist Ward; Edmund Mortimer, Assessor, Ist Ward ; James V. Palmer, Lyman Paine, and John M. Dates, Inspectors of Elec- tion, Ist Ward ; John Olmstead, Supervisor, 2d Ward ; Joshua Burt and Chas. F. Coffin, Alder- men, 2d Ward ; Wm. H. Coffin, Assessor, 2d Ward ; Ebenezer Catlin, Lester V. Keyes and Wm. Sunderland, Inspectors of Election, 2d Ward; Josiah N. Starin, Supervisor, 3d Ward ; Edward Barber and Jno. B. Gaylord, Aldermen, 3d Ward ; Henry R. Garlick, Assessor, 3d Ward ; Asahel C. Munger, Wm. Goodwin and Edward N. Ketchell, Inspectors of Election, 3d Ward ; Wm. Beach, Supervisor, 4th Ward ; Ste- phen S. Austin and Wheaton Sanders, Aldermen, 4th Ward ; Jno. H. Hiser, Assessor, 4th Ward ; Philo Halladay, Abram A. Vanderhuyden and Asa Spencer, Inspectors of Election, 4th Ward.

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History of Cayuga County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 41

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 762

Author: Storke, Elliot G., 1811-1879. cn
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 762