History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 104

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922

USA > New York > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 104
USA > New York > Franklin County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Wood, March 17, 1808; Lemuel Chapman, Feb. 26, 1812 ; Zeru- babel Curtis, April 5, 1814 ; James Campbell, Feb. 28, 1815; John Wood, March 19, 1818; John Mitehell, Feb. 25, 1822; John Mitchell, November, 1822; Reeve Peck, November, 1825 ; John Backus, November, 1828; Oren Lawrence, November, 1830 ; Aaron Beman, November, 1833; Guy Meigs, November, 1836; William Andrus, November, 1839; Loyal C. Latbrop, November, 1842; Benjamin W. Clark, November, 1845 ; Rufus R. Stephens, No- vember, 1848; James C. Deake, November, 1851 ; James C. Saw- yer, November, 1854; George H. Stephens, November, 1857 ; Daniel F. Soper, November, 1860; George G. Gurley, November, 1863; Robert A. Delong, November, 1866; William H. Hyde, November, 1869 ; Robert A. De Long, November, 1872 ; James A. Stockwell, 1875-78 ; L. J. Folsom, 1879.

COUNTY CLERKS.

Prior to the adoption of the constitution of 1821, county clerks were appointed. Since that time the office has been elective,-term, three years. The following is the list, with dates of appointment or election :

James S. Allen, March 17, 1808; Gates Hoit, Feb. 21, 1809; Gates Hoit, March 3, 1813; Asa Wheeler, Feb. 28, 1815; Ebenezer Browson, March 20, 1821; Asa Wheeler, November, 1822; George B. R. Gove, November, 1825 ; Abel Wilson, November, 1828; Samuel S. Clark, November, 1831; Uriah D. Meeker, November, 1834; Lauriston Amsden, November, 1843; Henry S. Webster, November, 1846; S. C. F. Thorndike, November, 1849 ; Franeis D. Flanders, November, 1852; Edward S. Whit- ney, November, 1855 ; Uriah D. Meeker, June, 1861; Claudius Hutchins, November, 1861; William W. Paddock, November, 1867; A. W. Merrick, November, 1873; George.W. Dustin, No- vember, 1879.

COUNTY TREASURERS.

County treasurers are elected, under the constitution of 1846, for a term of three years. They were formerly ap- pointed by the Board of Supervisors. The following is the list, with dates of appointment or election :

Hiram llorton, Dec. 5, 1810; Jacob Wead, June 12, 1821 ; Samuel C. Wead, April 24, 1843; S. S. Clark, Dec. 4, 1843; Samuel C. Wead, November, 1848; William W. King, November, 1851; Samuel M. Wead, November, 1854; Benjamin S. W. Clark, No- vember, 1857 ; William G. Diekinson, November, 1860; William D. Brennan,¿ November, 1866 ; Daniel H. Stanton, November, 1875.

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Under act of the Legislature of April 17, 1843, the Board of Supervisors was directed to appoint county super- intendents of common schools. The office was abolished in 1847, and in 1856 the office of school commissioner was created. The first election under the act was held in No- vember, 1856, -- term of office, three years. The following is the list :

D. H. Stevens, appointed November 12, 1841; E. L. Winslow, ap- pointed November, 1845 ; De Witt C. Backus, | appointed Novem-

# Appointed vice Whitney.

¿ Re-elected each subsequent term.

| The office of superintendent was abolished before he entered upon his duties.

COPYRIGHTED, 1903, BY PERRY MASON COMPANY, BOSTON,

-cover page a rare photo- le by Brady, in Wash- pictures are not needed dent in mind, yet they ed for the instruction of und to himself in grati-

ment is in progress at husetts, where there are land as sandy as any on : snow still covered the was strewn. It would Itivators believed, and go sual time, and make a mpletely hide the bare f time, admit of a more at hope is justified by ave to adopt a town seal 1 figure as conspicuously [iles Standish.

in New Hampshire" is I in the Amoskeag Mill. to lift a thousand-pound ind on a wager he has off a barrel of whisky 1 pounds as if it were one occasion, that if he s of flour he could have each hip, encircled them ked off with them. He y-three years. Many a hese powerful fellows, 1 of needless exhibitions, ould sustain them to a

ey know all about the eful auguries from the River opened for navi- r than in any previous i record. Streams at the River, for instance, were nany of them broke their scot did. Perhaps the ice of an early spring is at least it lightens and n. On the other hand, s point to that familiar ral philosopher. "I've t if I live through this . I al'ays hive through

one of the first postage- :d States-or was it the is home in Woonsocket, nry Waterman, was the

Massachusetts, in 1839, amps, and a letter was ter writing his name and ue across the face of the man did not like this he Millbury stamp. He ston, and lived to see his rly a thousand dollars the sorrows of a poor ably never occurred that i few of the stamps for

in these columns to the section of Native Plants,

" SLIM JIM."

The early Anglo - Australian was, like his brother the American pioneer and plains- man, a rough-and-ready fellow. Side by side with him was the villain and adventurer of a shady past, who tried to prey upon him, and on whom he wrought his honest and original, though rude, idea of justice. Mr. E. B. Ken- nedy, the author of "The Black Police of Queensland," tells of an encounter with one of the bad sort and one of the good sort in the same hour.

He was on a small steamer which carried only two or three passengers. The steamer got stuck on a sand-bar along the coast, and while they were waiting the passengers amused themselves by swimming out to a bar some hundred yards away. One of the passengers who did not go was "Slim Jim," a real white man.

Mr. Kennedy happened to stray away from the others, and when he came back to the bar he found that the other swimmers had returned to the ship.

"Their tracks," says Mr. Kennedy, "showed that they had taken the precaution to go a long way up-stream before entering the water. I did the same, but did not go far enough, and found myself floating down past the ship. I called for a rope, and the only answer I got was from a big, red-faced man, who leveled a torrent of oaths at me. I scraped along the side of the hull and felt my legs sucked downwards. I coo-eed as loud as I could.

"At the same moment 'Slim Jimn' appeared. He merely said, 'Keep cool,' and threw me a rope. I was soon on board, wrapped in a rug.

*This was not the end of the adventure. The red-faced brute was the engineer, and Jim pro- ceeded to find him and 'speak firmly to him.' He learned the ruffian's name and sent for him. The man came up with a bullying air and said: """Did you send for ine, young man ?'

" '1 did,' said Jim, calmly. 'Will you take that pipe out of your mouth before it is knocked out ?'

"The engineer tore off his coat and made a blow at Jim that would have settled him if it had landed. Jim merely threw his head to one side and said :

" 'I'm glad you've put your pipe down.'

"At this moment the skipper appeared with a broad smile and watched Jim wear his antagonist out. Waiting his time, Jim sent the man spin- ning to the deck and into the regions below. For it happened that he had backed up to the fore-hatch, and the blow had sent him flying down the stairs.

"Jim rushed down after him, carried him on the deck, put him in the shade, brought him ice, and tended him like a brother until he came to.

"The shock nearly finished the bully, and although he suffered no severe injuries, he had to be invalided ashore.

"Jim was much upset, but the captain was delighted.

" 'Sir,' he said, 'if it's any consolation to you, you've knocked out the biggest bully in the fleet.' "

MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE.

New England representative in Congress A once invited a number of his fellow repre- sentatives to visit him at his home, an old sea- coast town. The New York Mail and Express reports a conversation which took place between the guests and their host.

"What is the diet of these people?" asked a New Yorker.

"Fish, mostly," responded the New England mail.

"Why," spoke up a Virginian, "I thought fish was brain food. These are really the most unintelligent-looking persons I ever saw."

"Well" replied the host aniekedy "inst think

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Photo, by Fay & Goodell, Malone.

B.Hutton

JOHN HUTTON was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in September, 1809. He came to this country with his parents in 1821, and settled in Upper Canada. He was educated at the University of Vermont, at Burlington, and subsequently became a teacher in that institution, and was the tutor of Henry J: Raymond, founder of the New York Times, and of Alexander Mann. Mr. Raymond and Judge Hut- ton formed a warm friendship, which continued through life. After leaving college he commenced the study of the law, at Malone, in the office of Asa Hascall.

After his admission to the bar he formed a copartnership for the practice of his profession with the late Joseph H. Jackson. He was also subsequently a partner with W. P. Cantwell, Esq., and later with the late Col. Wead. Mr. Hutton was chief engineer of the survey for the Northern Railroad.

In 1840 he united in marriage with Lydia Fur- ness, a native of Malone, and their family con-

sisted of the following: Mary I. Pease, deceased ; Helen H. Webster and Sarah J. Chesley, residents of Malone; Warren J., residing at Tuscarora, Ne- vada; and Carrie V., deceased.

Judge Hutton was widely known as an able law- yer, a versatile and accomplished scholar, and an energetic and successful business man. He filled the office of county judge from 1851 to 1856, during which his sound judgment, fearless inde- pendence, and close attention to his official duties commanded the respect of the entire community. He manifested a decided interest in educational matters, and devoted much attention to the welfare of the academy and schools, and was long connected with the board of trustees.

Politically he was a Whig, and subsequently a Democrat. He was a conservative and a national man, and his sympathies were strongly enlisted in behalf of the government in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion and maintain the Union.

He died April 1, 1862.

383

BENCH AND BAR.

ber, 1847; Roswell P. Wilson, William P. Cantwell, Sidney P. Bates, Eugene Wilbur, George T. Collins, Sidney P. Bates, Fred- erick H. Petit, William Gillis, George W. Lewis, Cyrus P. Whitney, William Gillis, David D. Dewey, S. A. Ellsworth.

DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

Nathan Carver (Franklin and Clinton), 1821; Joseph R. Flanders, 1846; Joel J. Seaver, 1867; William A. Wheeler was delegate at large and president of the convention.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

James Campbell, 1828; James B. Spencer, 1832; Jonathan Wallace, 1840; Hiram Horton, 1864; Francis D. Flanders, 1868; Wells S. Dickinson, 1876.

CHAPTER LXIX.

BENCH AND BAR.

AMONG the earliest and ablest members of the Franklin bar was ASA HASCALL. He was a native of Vermont, studied law in Essex County, and in 1815 settled at Malone. He held the office of supervisor of Malone from 1818 to 1838, and from 1840 to 1843. He was also many years district attorney of Franklin County and justice of the peace, and also repeatedly represented his district in the Assembly. In his private and public life he was a true specimen of the noblest work of God. He discharged the duties of the various positions to which he was chosen with great eredit, and the members of the bar were accustomed to re- gard him, with a feeling akin to reverence, as a pattern of integrity and worth in his profession whom they might safely imitate. " As a citizen, as a lawyer, and, above all, as a Christian, his influence was great and unbounded, and em- ployed to a good account."

MARSHALL CONANT studied law with Jackson & Hutton, but was never in the active practice of the profession. He was clerk in the railroad office here for some years, and is now a land-agent, residing in La Crosse, Wis.

LEANDER DOUGLASS was a practicing attorney in Cha- teaugay. He now resides in Illinois.

GEO. W. FIELD practiced in Malone for some time, and subsequently moved West.

EDWARD FITCH studied law with Jackson & Parmelec, and commenced practice in Mooers, Clinton Co. He soon after returned to Malone and formned a copartnership with A. B. Parmelee. In 1858 he returned to New York, where he is still in practice. He was member of Assem- bly from Franklin County in 1855.

RICHARD G. FOOTE was one of the oldest members of the bar. He was a son of Appleton Foote, the land-agent for Gilchrist & Fowler.

WILLIAM L. HORTON was admitted to the bar in 1844, and lived and dicd here.

HON. JOSEPH HALL JACKSON was born in New Dur- ham, N. H., June 11, 1787, and graduated from Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N. H., in 1807, and married Eliza- beth Gillette in June, 1829. He taught at Danvers, Mass., 1808.

Mr. Jackson read law in New York City three years, and began the practice of law at Durham, N. Y., and continued

at Albany. He was admitted an attorney-at-law of the Supreme Court of the State of New York on May 17, 1811; was admitted attorney and counselor of Common Pleas in Orange County, May 30, 1811 ; attorney and counselor of Common Pleas in Ulster County, Sept. 18, 1811 ; attorney and counselor of Common Pleas in Sullivan County, June 9, 1812; attorney and counselor in Supreme Court of the State of New York, Jan. 1, 1840; and admitted solicitor and counselor in Court of Chancery, Feb. 22, 1843; also solicitor, counselor, and advocate in District Court in and for the Northern District of New York, Jan. 19, 1843; and solicitor, counselor, and advocate in Circuit Court in and for Northern District, Jan. 19, 1843. He was elceted dis- trict attorney of Franklin County in 1841 and 1842 and member of Assembly in 1843, and discharged the duties of that post with- honor to himself and credit to his constitu- ents. He was appointed by William H. Seward, Governor, a commissioner under and pursuant to the act entitled " An act to provide for a survey of the several routes for a railroad from Ogdensburgh to Lake Champlain," passed May 14, 1840 .*

Upon the resignation of George P. Allen, editor, from the Northern Spectator, Mr. Jackson was editor for a time, and during his life was a voluntary contributor to its columns. Indeed, his pen was ever ready on important political, judi- cial, and financial topics of the times. He employed the leisure of official life in the preparation of several works.

For the last twenty-five years of his life Mr. Jackson resided at Malone, engaged in the practice of his profession.

In July, 1844, he formed a law partnership with A. B. Parmelce, which continued for two years. At a later period the late John Hutton was his law partner, and at a later period still Albert Hobbs became a member of the firm. In his law practice Mr. Jackson was remarkable for the ac- curacy of his pleadings, never avoiding the sober duties of the lawyer for the sake of rhetorical display, and for the skill and preciseness which all the written instruments drafted by him exhibited. He had the ability to present his views with great clearness and in terse, compact sen- tences. Possessing a mind cast in no common mould, with the advantages of a thorough classical and legal education and a profound attention to study and books, he loved them as friends. Mr. Jackson, as a lawyer, stood eminently high, few men, if any, in Northern New York surpassing him in ripe scholarship and professional superiority. As a coun- selor and the depository of important publie trust, he com- mnanded unqualified confidence. His excellent understand- ing, his professional skill and experience, his inflexible integrity and honesty of purpose, his mild, cheerful, and gentlemanly deportment, his clear method and exact punc- tuality, qualified him in an uncommon degree to fill the many offices of trust and confidence with which he was trusted. Mr. Jackson died in Malone, Franklin Co., N. Y., on Jan. 7, 1856, aged sixty-seven years and seven months.

E. A. KEELER practiced in Malone, and subsequently re- moved to Chateaugay, where he now resides. William C. Me Vicker was also a member of the bar, who lived and died here. Horace Maynard was in practice here for some time,

" Mr. Jackson was the Whig candidate for canal commissioner in 1844.

334

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and subsequently removed to the West. Joseph Moulton was one of the earliest practitioners at the Franklin bar. One Purdy was also an carly member of the bar.

John H. Russell practiced here in an carly day. He was grandfather of Leslie Russell, a leading lawyer in Can- ton, N. Y. Elisha B. Smith, William B. Barry, William Hogan,* Sidney Lawrence, f Albon Man, Francis Storms, George H. Wood, Horace Meriam, Thomas Wright, Jr., and C. H. Wheeler, were also early practitioners. The latter came to Malone from Whitehall, N. Y., and subse- quently returned to that place.

Albert Hobbs studied law with Joseph H. Jackson, and was admitted to the bar in 1850. He commenced practice in Malone, where he has since resided. He was a member of Assembly in 1856, of the Senate in 1864 and 1865, and county judge in 1867.

Azel Hayward was a graduate of Middlebury College, Vermont, as well as a native of that State. He had con- siderable intellectual and legal ability. It is supposed that he studied law in Salem, N. Y. He came into Franklin County about 1829, locating at Fort Covington. Hc at- tached himself to the Democratic party, and was soon appointed district attorney by Governor M. Van Buren. Shortly afterwards he was appointed postmaster at Fort Covington. These offices he retained until his death, Jan. 16, 1835. In 1833 he married Miss Harriet Goldsmith, who still survives him as the widow of the late Dr. Thomas R. Powell, of Malone. Though he came into the county a perfect stranger, yet Mr. Hayward's genial feelings and ac- knowledged ability soon secured him a prominent place at a bar composed of such men as Jackson, Parkhurst, Hascall, and Wallace, as well as in the party to which he attached himself. He was of fceble constitution, and hard work in the practice of his profession, together with habits con- formed to the times and always prevalent in a new country, soon brought upon Mr. Hayward a pulmonary difficulty which carried him quickly to his grave. He died at the age of thirty-three, leaving no children surviving him. 'A few years have sufficed to efface his memory from the re- membrance of his old associates and townsmen.

Jonathan Wallace was born in Essex Co., N. Y., studied law with Ralph Hascall, in that county, and came into Frank- lin County in 1815. Mr. Wallace was one of the earliest settlers in the county, and never had any kinsmen thercin. He was six feet and two inches tall, had a high, intellectual forchead and a commanding appearance. In advanced life he had a wise look which attracted the attention of all and induced many to think him wiser than he really was. He was a modest, mild, and timid man, chary of his words, had a soft voice, and was slow of speech. The last to express an opinion, taking always sufficient time to consider the ques- tion presented to him, anticipating difficulties at which a more venturesome man would not hesitate, he seldon ad- vised wrongly. He was, prior to his coming into Franklin County, a volunteer at the battle of Plattsburgh, receiving a bounty-land warrant for his services thereat. He married, in the fall of 1817, Miss Florilla Hitchcock, daughter of Dr. Buel Hitchcock. He died June 14, 1856, leaving no children surviving him. Mr. Wallace was appointed a

justice of the peace by Governor Clinton in 1818, which office he held by appointment or election, except for a period of two years, continuously down to the day of his death. He was a Whig in politics, and, although the town where he resided was generally Democratic, yet no efforts of his political opponents could defeat him. He was an excellent judge both of law and facts, his decisions entirely impartial. Parties from the surrounding towns preferred to have their causes tried before him, as his decisions were regarded as nearly equal to those of any court. Defendants always felt as though there would be no partiality in favor of the plaintiff for them to overcome.

Although frequently nominated for more important . offices, yet, belonging to a party usually in a minority in the county, he was never elected to any more important offices than those of justice of the peace, justice of ses- sions, and supervisor. Mrs. Wallace married Deacon A. Brown, of Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and removed to Adams to reside in 1858, where she died in 1879.

Early in life Mr. and Mrs. Wallace united with the Bap- tist Church in Fort Covington, then under the pastoral care of Dr. Nathaniel Culver, and ever after continued to be consistent and earnest supporters of the same, both at home and abroad.

Mr. Wallace accumulated considerable property, nearly all of which he devised to his widow. He was scrupu- lously honest. When he collected any money for a client, he would put away precisely that particular money, and de- liver the same to the person for whom it was collected. He was very particular to pay anything that he owed, and the writer; who settled his estate, never found but one man to whom he owed a dollar after a continued business life, including dealings with all in his vicinity, for a period of more than forty years. Would that we had more like him !

Jabez Parkhurst was born at Sharon, Vt., Oct. 24, 1785. His father was Capt. Ebenezer Parkhurst. Jabez was the ninth of twelve children. His father was located upon a hard, mountainous farm on the eastern side of the Green Mountains. During the Revolution, while Capt. Parkhurst was in attendance as member of Assembly at Brattleboro', his buildings were destroyed by fire set by the Indians. He was unable to do much towards aiding his son Jabez in the acquisition of an education ; but, nevertheless, by . teaching school in winter and working on a farm in vaca- tion, with what little assistance his father could give him, he was enabled to acquire a collegiate education, graduating at Vermont University in 1810, and in the same class with Hon. Jacob Collamer and Hon. Norman Williams, of Woodstock. Soon after his graduation he came to Malone to teach in Franklin Academy and study law. He was admitted as an attorney about 1814. For a short time he acted as deputy county clerk of Franklin County. He commenced practice in Fort Covington about 1815, forming a copartnership with Mr. Wallace.

Soon after he took up his residence there he married Miss Fidelia Man, daughter of Dr. Man, of Westville. Mr. Parkhurst was a superior scholar, and always took great interest in the schools of the county. Through his instrumentality an academy was incorporated at Fort Cov- ington, and of its board of trustees he was president as

* See history of Bombay.

+ See history of Moira.

LITTLE

Photo, by Fay & Goodell, Malone.

Acresce A. Taylor

HORACE ADAMS TAYLOR is a son of a farmer, George Washington Taylor, a native of Vermont, and a pioneer in the settlement of Bangor, Franklin Co., N. Y., where he died in the spring of 1874, at the age of seventy-six years.

His mother, Abigail Taylor (whose maiden uame was Abigail Lawrence), was a native of Connecticut, and died at Bangor in August, 1874, at the age of seventy-four years.

His grandfather, James Taylor, served in the war of the Revolution seven years, and was one of the band of heroes that accompanied Arnold through the wilderness from Cambridge to Quebec, by way of the Kennebec River, in the fall of 1775, and par- ticipated in the attack on that city under Mont- gomery, and survived the hardships and sufferings of that perilous expedition, and at the close of the war was honorably discharged, and paid for the seven years' services in Continental money, some of which has been kept in the family in memory of his efforts in the cause of freedom.

Horace Adanis Taylor was born in Morristown, in the county of St. Lawrence, and State of New York, ou the 8th of August, 1824, and removed to Bangor, Franklin Co., N. Y., with his parents in 1828, where he spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm.

He received his education at Franklin Academy in Malone, N. Y., where for a time he was assistant teacher. At the age of twenty-one years he was

elected town superintendent of common schools of the town of Bangor, which office he held several years in succession. He studied law in the office of Hon. William A. Wheeler in Malone village, and was admitted to the bar in 1851.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 104

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 922

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922