History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 33

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 33
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 33

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).

He was one of the New Loan Commissioners of the county

# Died Dec. 13, 1858, aged ninety-one. Admitted to the bar in 1796.

+ See history of Chazy.

# Vice Kellogg, deceased.

LITTİ F

Howard & Co., Plattsburgh.

G. M. Beckwith

GEORGE M. BECKWITH was born in the historic vlliage of Lyme, Conn., June 27, 1805.

He dates his ancestry back to General Beckwith, who came to this country with Lords Say and Brook, and settled in Saybrook, opposite Lyme. His grandfather, the Rev. George Beckwith, was a distinguished divine, who preached in Lyme both before and during the Revolution.

On the maternal side he traces his lineage back to Increase Mather, of whom Samuel Mather, grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, was a descendant. His father, Baruch Beckwith, moved to this county in 1810, and settled in Beck- mantown. He was the first physician in that town, and re- mained in active practice until about 1850. Hc had an exten- sive practice, and was one of the leading physicians in the county. Dr. Beckwith was thoroughly identified with the interests of the town and county, and it was chiefly through his instrumentality that Beekmantown Corners became the seat of the best common school in Clinton County. Dr. Beck with was also a decided temperance man, and was the first in the town to banish the use of liquor at "raisings," in that early day an universal custom.

The subject of this sketch acquired the rudiments of his education at the Beekmantown common school, where he also studied Latin. He subsequently attended the Plattsburgh Academy, at that time under the charge of Alex. H. Prescott, where he remained about three years, preparing himself for college. His pecuniary condition, however, rendered a col- legiate course impossible, and in 1824 he went to La Cada, Canada, and attended school for the purpose of learning the French language. He subsequently returned to Beekman- town, and began the study of medicine with his father, and afterwards continued it with Drs. Moore and Jones in Platts- burglı.

In 1828 he abandoned the study of medicine, and commenced reading law with St. John B. L. Skinner, of Plattsburgh, a prominent lawyer, and subsequently assistant postmaster gen- eral under Lincoln. Here he pursued his studies with dili- gence and attention, and in 1832 was admitted as an attorney in the Supreme Court and solicitor in Chancery. In the mean time, however, in the summer of 1832, before he was admitted to the bar, he was appointed deputy county clerk, and upon the death of Roswell Wilson, in 1832, he succeeded

to the office, and remained in charge until election. He then formed a co-partnership in the practice of his profession with William Swetland, and continued in practice with that able counselor until 1847. He subsequently had various persons associated with him in business, the last being his two sons, George H. and Benjamin M.

Although not an active politician, he has held various offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens, always discharging his duties with distinguished credit. In 1840 he was elected to the Assembly on the Whig ticket, and in 1864 was appointed United States Commissioner, and held that office until 1871, when he received the nomination for county judge on the Re- publican ticket, and was elected. At the close of his term of office he withdrew from the active practice of his profession, and is now living in quiet retirement.

Politically, Judge Beckwith, as he is familiarly called, is a Republican. His first vote for President was cast for Andrew Jackson ; subsequently, however, he became a Whig, and upon the formation of the Republican party identified himself with that organization, and has ever been an able exponent of its principles. He has always manifested a lively interest in all matters tending to advance the welfare of Clinton County, and in addition to the official positions mentioned above, he has held various town and village offices, etc. He is an clder in the Presbyterian Church, and has been for many years. Feb. 20, 1833, he united in marriage with Hannah Elizabeth Moores, granddaughter of Gen. Benj. Moores. Their family consists of two sons and two daughters, and twenty-two grand- children. The sons, George Henry and Benjamin Moores, are practicing attorneys in Plattsburgh. Margaret L. is the wife of John W. Hubbell, of Chazy, and Lucy M. is the wife of Merritt Sowles, of Plattsburghi.

Although Judge Beckwith is now past the scriptural age of threescore and ten, and somewhat infirm in body, he retains his mental faculties in a remarkable degree, and vividly re- lates scenes and incidents of " ye olden time." He is one of Plattsburgh's most highly csteemcd and venerable citizens, and may the remaining years of his earthly pilgrimage be passed peacefully ; and when the insatiate archer, death, sum- mons him away, may he go

"Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."

HON. J. DOUGLAS WOODWARD

was born in Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., June 4, 1804. At the age of nine years, dependent upon his own energies for success, he came to Plattsburgh, and commenced attending school at the old Plattsburgh Academy. The diligence and attention with which he pursued his studies, and the manly attributes exhibited by the young lad attracted the notice of Reuben E. Walworth, familiarly known as Chancellor Walworth, who manifested a hearty interest in his success, and the friendship thus formed continued through life. He was not only a diligent student, but his readings were extensive. He early exhibited an unusual fondness for the English classics, with which he became very familiar; and his friends recall with pleasure the many hours spent at his own fireside, enlivened by the recital of page after page, with appreciative earnestness.

Having decided upon the legal profession as his life-work, he commenced the study of the law in the office of the late Judge John Lynde, then a leading attorney at the Clinton bar.

The same untiring industry that had attracted the attention of Chancellor Walworth again manifested itself here, and May 10, 1825, he was admitted to the Clinton Common Pleas; Aug. 20, 1827, he was admitted as solicitor in the Court of Equity, of New York ; Feb. 25, 1825, as solicitor in the Court of Chancery; May 31, 1831, as counselor in the Supreme Court; May 18, 1831, as counselor in the Court of Chancery ; Feb. 21, 1832, as attorney and counselor in the United States Supreme Court; Aug. 17, 1837, as attorney in the Supreme Court, N. Y .; and Feb. 11, 1856, as attorney and counselor in the United States Court of Claims.

He commenced the practice of his profession in Plattsburgh, in an office which stood on the site now occupied by the Vilas National Bank, and continued his legal labors with success through life.

In the prosecution of his business he saw the injustice shown to the Revolutionary officers in their settle- ment with the Government, and was the originator of two important measures subsequently brought be- fore Congress. One, the bill claim- ing the half pay for life, promised under the resolve of Oct. 21, 1783, to those officers of the Revolution who continued in service to the end of the war, several times passed both houses of Congress, but was finally set aside by the urgencies of the Rebellion. The other was known as the Invalid Pension Bill, requiring payment of pensions from the date of disability, a proposition eminently just, and which has since in principle been adopted.

J. Douglas Woodward.

Politically Judge Woodward was a Democrat until the latter part of Mr. Buchanan's administration, when, seeing as he did the controlling element of the party in the hands of the slave power, which was seeking to overthrow the Union and destroy the nation, he, with a very large number of the best men of the party, rallied to the support of new men and measures in the endeavor to save the country from the impending dangers which threatened the very existence of the nation.

Judge Woodward occupied many official poritions, and always discharged their various duties with satisfaction to all concerned.

Judge Woodward was appointed master in chancery for Clinton County May 16, 1837; was district attorney during the " Patriot War;" and the Ashburton Treaty was the outgrowth of a prosecu- tion carried on by him during his term of office. In 1838 the honorary degree of Master of Arts was bestowed upon him by the University of Vermont. In 1840 he took the United States census of Clinton County, and was complimented by the Govern- ment for his accuracy and promptness .* He was appointed county

judge of Clinton County Jan. 19, 1844, and held the office several years. At the time of his death he was commissioner of public accounts of the State, having been appointed in 1867. Notwith- standing his professional and official duties were onerous and multi- farious, he found time to indulge his taste for literary and scientific pursuits, and was president of the Plattsburgh Lyceum, which was incorporated May 20, 1841.

The life of Judge Woodward is more closely interwoven with the history of Plattsburgh than mere words can picture. He was always foremost in public improvement; and it is no exaggeration to state that he did more than any one resident of Plattsburgh to lay out the town in its present condition. Streets running diago- nally through the best part of the village were made to run at right angles, and new cross streets opened, leaving beautiful squares, which are now dotted with fine residences. These improvements were often made against the most bitter opposition, and at a pecu- niary sacrifice altogether disproportioned to the benefits to be derived by him. His industry and perseverance, as well as his neatness and order were manifest in all his work. His office was a model of neatness and system. Great care was taken in' the preservation of important docu- ments. Copies of the village papers were kept on file, and bound for future reference. Several volumes of the Plattsburgh Republican, cov- ering a period of seven or eight years, between 1816 and 1824, were found in his library, and presented to the present proprietors, forming a link in the files of that publication which could not have been procured from any other source. Faithful, prompt, and energetic in the dis- charge of all public duties, with a wonderful tenacity and energy, he was enabled in the pursuits of life to triumph over unusual vicissitudes and obstacles, which, to a person of less pronounced character, would at a far carlier age have become insur- mountable.

Judge Wood ward's crowning char- acteristics were purity of life, kind- ness of heart, and genial and court- eous bearing towards all. He was a thorough gentleman of the old school; a man of high-toned in- tegrity in all the relations of life, and a worthy example of all that is noble and good to the rising genera- BY HOWARD & CO tion. It was at his own fireside that his cheerful, hopeful disposition and steady affections were most enjoyed. His culture and highly social quali- ties made hini a general favorite in the best circles everywhere. His friendships were warm and enduring, devoid of the selfishness of the many who seek and obtain the confidence and favor of the public. His acquaintance in Washington was quite extensive, em- bracing among his more intimate friends such names as Wm. H. Seward, Reuben E. Fenton, Senator Harris, and many leading men of the nation. A friend, in writing to him, says, "I shall ever feel myself a better man for having known you."

He died in Washington, D. C., March 7, 1870, leaving two children surviving him,-his daughter, Helen Douglas Woodward, and his son, the Hon. William V. S. Woodward, assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of New York.

Judge Woodward came of good Revolutionary ancestry. His father, William Woodward, was a captain in the Revolutionary army, and was with Washington during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. His commissions, bearing the signatures of Gen. Washington and John Hancock, are still in the possession of the family.

The Woodward homestead, where Judge Woodward's wife and daughter now reside, is an historic spot, having been occupied as headquarters by the British officers during the invasion of Platts- burgh in 1814.

His son, William Van Schoonhoven Woodward, was assistant census mar- shal of Clinton County in 1870.

125

BENCH AND BAR.

from 1812 to 1832, and during those years held several town offices. In 1832 he was eleetcd to the Assembly to supply the vacancy oeeasioned by the death of John Walker. Mr. Palmer was in active practice at the bar of Clinton County, and was one of its leading members from the time of his arrival in this county until 1832, when lie aban- doned the practice of the law. He was unostentatious, simple in his manners and habits, highly intelligent, pos- sessing a cultivated taste and no inconsiderable claims to literary merit. In all the responsible positions he held during his life, he discharged his duties with ability and fidelity, and uniformly enjoyed the confidence and respect of his fellow-eitizens.

He died at the island of St. Bartholomew, during a tem- porary sojourn there, on the 8th day of December, 1840, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.

WILLIAM SWETLAND was born in Salisbury, Conn., April 1, 1782. Hc early manifested an interest in securing an education, and, although his pecuniary condition was un- favorable, he persevered, and, at the age of twenty-seven, graduated with high honors at Middlebury College, Vt. On leaving college he entered the law office of Zebulon R. Shepherd, an eminent lawyer of Washington Co., N. Y. After a thorough study of three years he was admitted to the bar, and in 1811 located in Plattsburgh, and opened an office for the practice of his profession. He at once took a prominent position at the Clinton County bar, and not many years elapsed ere he became the acknowledged leader of the bar of Northern New York, and acquired the name, by general consent, of " the great lawyer of Northern New York."

Mr. Swetland was a very superior office-lawyer, as well as an able and accomplished advocate. "No detail," says the late Lemuel Stetson,* " was too much for him, and he executed everything with remarkable precision and accu- racy. His legal reading was profound. As an office-lawyer (if there was any difference) he excelled in the department of special pleading. With him 'Chitty on Pleading' was a hand-book, and the preparation of his causes showed im- mense diligence both upon the faet and the law. In open court he was great in the examination of a witness, and if he suspected prevarication he placed his eye upon the wit- ness and never withdrew it till the witness proved his inno- cence or stood exposed. His eye was light blue, approach- ing gray, and, though generally very mild and pleasant, it had remarkable power, and when firmly fixed upon a doubt- ful witness it was unrelenting as the grave. Often have I seen a witness eonfounded, and brought in the end to con- fess in confusion his inaeeuraey in facts, by the combined effect of skillful questions and that unrelenting eye.

" But he was greater in an argument upon the law and fact before a court and jury. He could not justly be called greater before one than other ; he was equally well fitted for either, and he seldom spoke before either without preparation, and never talked anywhere without reflection. There was method and great clearness in all that he said, and whenever the occasion required it he had great force and eloquence. I never heard an argument from him be-

fore court or jury but would have read well if it had all been printed. His clear, logieal way of dealing with a sub- ject was very fine, that alone would have secured him una- bated attention anywhere. But the effect of this was helped very much by his fine person and fine manner, and still finer voice. He was a thin, spare, pale-faced man, full six fect high, and stood erect ; his shoulders were angular, and he could give great effect to what he said by a one-sided shrug ; his neck was quite long, but his head was very long and towered high above his ears. His forehead, nose, and chin were very prominent, the cheek rather thin, but there was a remarkably fine expression about the mouth. When young and in middle age he had light-brown hair, and his complexion was a pure delicate white. His voice was fine- toned, and had wonderful compass and power of variable expression. When he pushed a point in great earnestness, it was like a silver trumpet both in power and in melody. It never grated, it never failed ; it always pleased. Even in church he could not read the responses in the service except in those distinet, rich, silver tones, rivaling the music of the choir. His motions were deliberate and tranquil; he always appeared very ealm. He never rose to speak but instantly the most profound respect and attention were ob- servable in the audience.

" Mr. Swetland belonged to the bar of the first period of his practice. His legal education, his habit of legal thought, his style of argument, his close adherence to the first principles of law, his manner of making up a brief, his gentlemanly courtesy, his care and eaution, his simple, un- ostentatious habits of life, his scrupulous honesty and fidelity, all belonged to that period, and were fashioned by the noblest examples of that day."

In speaking of Mr. Swetland the venerable Winslow C. Watson says, " In eloquenee and professional science, when I first knew him, he was approached by no rival. His pro- fessional acquirements were vast, profound, and diversified. In every department of the profession, whether as practi- tioner, a counselor, or advocate, he was at home, and alike conspicuous."

The late Chancellor Walworth said of him, " Had Mr. Swetland been ambitious of political preferment, he might have occupied a plaec in the counsels of the State or of the nation. But he appeared to be wedded to his profession and to literary studies." He died Jan. 1, 1864, and was buried in Plattsburgh.

REUBEN H. WALWORTH, LL.D., was born in Bozrah, Conn., Oct. 26, 1789. He studied law in Troy, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1809, and settled in Plattsburgh. He very soon took a high position at the bar, and subsequently removed to Saratoga Springs. He was a member of Con- gress in 1821-23, was circuit judge in 1823-28, and was chancellor of New York in 1828-48. He was an officer of volunteers in 1812, and acting adjutant-general of New York during the British campaign against Plattsburgh, in 1814. He was the author of several works, prominent among which were " Rules and Orders of the Court of Chancery of the State of New York," and the " Hyde Ge- nealogy ; or, the Descendants in the Female as well as in the Male Line from William Hyde, Norwich." He died at Saratoga, Nov. 21, 1867.

* Address delivered at the meeting of the Clinten County bar, Feb. 2, 1864.

126

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

CLINTON COUNTY BAR, 1836.

The following composed the bar of the county, Jan. 1, 1836 :

Plattsburgh .- Caleb Nichols, Eleazer Miller, William Swetland, St. John B. L. Skinner, G. M. Beck with, J. D. Woodward, George A. Standish, P. J. Roberts, John Warford, John Parker, William F. Haile, H. K. Averill, I. W. R. Bromley, A. C. Moore, L. D. Brock, Bela Edgerton.

Champlain .- Silas Hubbell, C. K. Averill, F. A. Hub- bell.

Chazy .- Julius C. Hubbell.

Peru .- G. A. Simmons, L. Stetson.

JOHN LYNDE was born in Essex Co., N. Y., in 1788. He was admitted to the bar in 1812, and for a long scries of years was justice of the peace. He was appointed first judge of the county in 1827, and occupied the office until his death, which occurred Aug. 21, 1831. Judge Lynde was an eminent counselor, and one whose ability and private virtues adorned the profession. MILES PURDY was also admitted in about 1812.

Subsequently came WINSLOW C. WATSON, WM. F. HAILE, and GEO. MARSH, men of acknowledged profes- sional ability, and of the highest personal character.

WINSLOW C. WATSON was born in Albany, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1803. He was educated at Albany Academy and Mid- dlebury College, Vermont, from whichi latter institution he graduated with the degree of A.M .; studied law with Chicf Justice Ambrose Spencer, and was admitted to the bar in 1824. He practiced in Plattsburgh until 1833, when he abandoned the profession in consequence of ill health. Mr. Watson has been an active man, and has occupied various offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens. He was ex- aminer and master in chancery in Vermont, member of the first Senate in that State, county treasurer, delegate from Vermont to Democratic convention at Baltimore in 1835, from New York in 1832, and to Cincinnati in 1856, and to various other political, civil, and ecclesiastical bodies. He has been a candidate for member of Assembly, county judge, member of Congress from Essex County, and also State treasurer, and was a Presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1856. Mr. Watson has added many valuable contributions to the historic literature of our country, among which may be mentioned, " Men and Times of the Revolution," " Report and Survey of Essex County," " Pioneer History of Champlain Valley," " History of Essex County," etc. He has also been a contributor to various magazines, newspapers, etc., commencing as early as 1819.

WM. F. HAILE was born Nov. 4, 1791. In 1811, at the early age of twenty-one, he entered the United States army as ensign, and was engaged in several battles on the Niagara frontier, and was severely wounded at the battle of Lundy's Lane. He was promoted to captain for gallant conduct, and remained in the army several years after the war, when he resigned. He then removed to Plattsburgh, and studied law in the office of Wm. Swetland,* and on his

admission to tlie bar formed a co-partnership with Mr. Swetland, which continued for several years. He was first judge of the county, from April, 1837, to March, 1843, and was also the fifth collector of customs for the district of Champlain. He enjoyed a reputation for honor, integ- rity, sound judgment, and was a thoroughly practical man. Politically he was a Democrat. He died Oct. 21, 1860, aged sixty-nine years.

GEORGE MARSH was born at Plattsburgh, Dec. 9, 1798, and died Aug. 11, 1832.+

ST. JOHN B. L. SKINNER, JOHN MORGAN, J. DOUG- LASS WOODWARD, and AMASA C. MOORE were also of this period. Mr. Skinner was surrogate from 1831 to 1840 ; county clerk, from 1842 to 1845. He was assist- ant postmaster-general under Presidents Lincoln and Grant, and died in Washington while in office.

Afterwards came Henry K. Averill, Bela Edgerton, Isaac W. R. Bromley, Geo. A. Standish, Peter J. Roberts, Lorenzo D. Brock, Geo. Moore, and George M. Beckwith. Mr. Brock was born in 1809, and was district attorney from 1844 to 1851. He died Dec. 14, 1867.

GEORGE W. PALMER commenced the study of law in the office of Judge John Palmer. He subsequently studied with Messrs. Swetland & Beckwith in Plattsburgh, and the Hon. Daniel Gardner, of Troy, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and in 1844 was appointed surrogate of Clinton County, in which capacity he officiated until the office was abolished in 1847. In 1856 he was elected rep- resentative in Congress, and re-elected in 1858. In 1862 he was appointed by the President consul at Crete. In 1866 he was appointed judge of the mixed court which had been established at Sierra Leone by the United States, Great Britain, and other powers for the suppression of the African slave trade, and continued to hold the office till the court was terminated by treaty.

Following Judge Palmer came Perry G. Ellsworth, county judge in 1856, James Averill, Lemuel Stetson, Henry S. Johnson, Daniel B. Johnson, Albert G. Carver, G. H. Beckwith, and Thomas Armstrong.

PETER SAILLY PALMER, son of Hon. John Palmer, was born at Hampton, Washington Co., N. Y., Sept. 20, 1814, to which place his father's family had removed from Platts- burgh during the invasion of the latter place by the British. He was educated at the Plattsburgh Academy, and com- menced the study of his chosen profession in the office of Judge William P. Haile, at Plattsburgh, and closed his studies in the office of the celebrated law firm of Mckown and John Van Buren, in Albany, N.Y. He was admitted to the Supreme Court May 13, 1836, and to the Court of Chancery in September of the same year. He subsequently removed to Michigan, and was admitted to the courts of that State in October, 1839, and in 1840 was elected judge of probate of Macomb Co., Mich. In the spring of 1841 he resigned and removed to Plattsburgh, where, in 1845, he resumed practice.

In 1863 he was elected county judge and surrogate of Clinton County, and held that office from Jan. 1, 1864, to

* Mr. Swetland was his brother-in-law, they having married sis- ters.

+ He studied with Sperry, and at the time of his death bid fair to become one of the prominent lawyers of the State.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 33

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