USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 14
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Jarvis N. Lake was a somewhat conspicuous attorney of Little Falls, and an active public-spirited citizen ; he came here from Ames, Mont- gomery county. He was a partner with E. S. Capon from 1834 to 1847, and later a partner with his uncle, Delos Lake, until the latter re- moved to California. He then associated himself with Judge Hiram Nolton until 1854, when he removed to New York. Mr. Lake was prominent in politics as a Whig and held the position of clerk of the Assembly in 1838; was trustee of the village and president in 1854. Delos Lake, uncle of Jarvis N , practiced a few years in Little Falls, and removed to California in 1848, where he was elected judge. He died in that State.
Clinton A. Moon was born in Russia in 1827. Educated first at Fairfield, he graduated from Union College in 1853. For two years he was in the faculty of Fairfield Seminary and then studied law with John H. Wooster at Newport and was admitted in 1857. In 1860 he re- moved to Herkimer and in the following year was elected district attor- ney. In 1864 he removed to Ilion and formed a partnership with Thomas Richardson. In 1866 he returned to Russia and mingled legal business with farming until 1875. In 1876 he removed to Newport and practiced there until his death. He was supervisor of the town of Russia in 1870-72. He was a worthy member of the profession and is remembered as a man of high principles and integrity.
Charles A. Burton was born in the town of Newport, his father being Darius Burton. He acquired more than an ordinary academic educa- tion and pursued the profession of civil engineer, joining a corps engaged in the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad. After
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
completing his duties there he returned to the county, read law with Judge Graves of llerkimer and was admitted to practice on the 16th day of February, 1845. lle had a bright, analytic mind and became very proficient in the knowledge of principles and case law ; ob- tained a good practice ; was frequently chosen as a referee. He mar- ried a daughter of the late Col. Standish Barry. He was of a cheerful, companionable, social disposition, readily making and retaining friends. He continued to practice and reside at llerkimer until the time of his death, which occurred about the year 1858, while in the North Woods upon a fishing excursion,
Volney Owen practiced his profession at the village of Mohawk for many years, and in the memorable contest between the late Amos H. Prescott and John H Wooster for the Republican nomination for the office of county judge and surrogate he had three delegates from the town of Herkimer. After it was demonstrated that neither of the prominent candidates had votes enough to nominate, the Wooster dele- gates joined the three delegates of Herkimer and nominated Mr. Owen. lle was elected and served for the term of four years as surro- gate and county judge, his term commencing in 1863. Subsequently he removed to one of the Western States where he died.
James B. Ilunt was a practicing lawyer in this county from 1824 to 1836, and resided in the village of Herkimer. Ile was a son of Dr. Joseph Ilunt and born in the West Indies. He came to Fairfield to finish his education, and after leaving the academy entered the office of Simeon and Lauren Ford, in due time was admitted to the bar and at once formed a copartnership with Michael Hoffman. Mr. Hunt was an active and industrious lawyer, was well versed in the law and was a respectable advocate, leaving a favorable impression as to his ability. He was in cvcry sense a pure and upright man, just in his intercourse with his fellow citizens, generous, genial and friendly. He filled with credit the office of district attorney for this county from 1833 to 1836. Hle subsequently became enfeebled in health and, in hope of improving it, removed to Michigan and settled in Pontiac, where he enjoyed for some time a good practice. In a few years after his location in Michi- gan he was elected to Congress and served one term. Ile did not afterwards return to active practice, but held several offices, among
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them that of land agent for the government at Lake Superior. His last days were spent in Washington in some subordinate position in a government department. He was an active Democrat in politics. He died in Washington about 1860.
Henry Link was born in the town of Danube in the year 1811. He was educated in the common schools and the Canajoharie Academy, and read law in the office of Judge Lacia. After two years of practice in Fort Plain he removed to Little Falls in 1840. In 1848 he formed a copartnership with the late Judge Capron which continued until 1854, and at a later date he was a partner with Judge R. H. Smith, Hon. P. H. McEvoy, and others. He was twice elected president of the village of Little Falls, and in 1871 ran on the Democratic ticket for county judge but was defeated by Judge Amos H. Prescott. He was familiar with the German language which fact drew to him many German clients. He was a fair and honorable practitioner and enjoyed the confidence of the profession and the public. He died at his residence in Little Falls July, 1891, at the age of eighty years, having remained in practice up to a few weeks of his death.
James Hart was born in Johnstown, Fulton county November 7, 1824. He completed his education at Fairfield Academy and taught school in the towns of Salisbury and Little Falls. In 1851 he commenced the study of the law in the office of Loomis & Griswold, and in 1854 was admitted. He was deputy collector of internal revenue under J. R. Stebbins, United States collector. He held several minor offices, and was a trusted and worthy citizen. He died suddenly on the 4th of March, 1888, at his residence, leaving his sons, James B. Hart and Ed- ward S. Hart, and his daughter, Nellie Hart, him surviving.
Hamilton Ward was born in the town of Salisbury on the 3d day of July, 1829. He was a son of Peter Hamilton Ward and his mother's maiden name was Eliza Cleveland, a daughter of Daniel Cleveland, a wagon maker in Salisbury. When the subject of this notice was four years old his parents removed to Green Springs on the James River in Virginia, and when he was eight years old they removed to Chemung county in this State, where he worked on his father's farm, attending dis- trict school. He was admitted to the bar at Cooperstown in July, 1851, and in August of that year he removed to Belmont, Allegany county,
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where he still resides. He was elected district attorney of Allegany county in 1856; re-elected in 1862 and in 1864 he was elected to Con- gress, and again in 1866 and in 1868. In 1879 he was elected attorney- general of the State; and in May, 1891, Governor Hill appointed him judge of the Supreme Court to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Corlett. In the fall of that year he was elected by the people and is now discharging the duties of that office ; being one of the three justices of the Supreme Court now in service who were born in the county of Herkimer ; to wit: Judge Ward, born in Salisbury ; Judge Celora E. Martin, born in Newport, and Judge George A. Hardin, born in the town of Winfield.
Thomas Dasey was a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1851, and brought to America in the following year. He worked while young in the factories, and later attended the academy where he acquired a good education. In 1874 he entered the office of Link & McEvoy and was admitted to the bar in 1878. After about four years of practice he was elected in 1882 police justice and re- elected in 1886. He was an active Democrat in politics and exerted considerable influence in the party. Genial and warm-hearted, and a good debater and effective speaker, he made himself popular with the community. In his administration of the office of justice he left an excellent record for his ability to deal effect- ively with the criminal classes. He died February 9, 1888.
George F. Crumby was born in the town of Newport in September, 1855. He was graduated from Hamilton College in 1879, and from the law department of the same institution a few years later. Hc com- menced practice in New York city where, however, he remained only about a year. Removing to Little Falls in 1881, he formed a copart- nership with Hon. R. H. Smith. In 1882 he became associated with Hadley W. Jones under the firm name of Crumby & Jones, and this partnership continued until his death, which occurred July 25, 1887. Mr. Crumby was elected school commissioner of the first district of this county in 1881 and in 1887 he was chosen president of the village of Little Falls.
John I. Prendergast, long a resident of the town of Winfield, died March 24, 1869, in Brooklyn where he then lived. He was State. sena- tor in 1814, member of the Council of Appointment in 1827, and for
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four years was judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Herkimer county. He was greatly respected and esteemed for his high attainments, integ- rity, and uprightness.
Sewell S Morgan, of the town of Winfield, was early a leading lawyer in the county. He married Julia A. Fairchild, of West Winfield, daugh - ter of Anson P. Fairchild, one of the first settlers of that town. He was elected district attorney in 1864.
Sketches of Samuel Earl, Robert Earl, Geo. A. Hardin, A. M. Mill, WV. F. Lansing, Amos H. Prescott, A. B. Steele, C. WV. Prescott, James B. Rafter, Ezra Graves and others will be found in the biographical de- partment of this volume.
Following is a list of the present members of the bar of Herkimer county.
Dolgeville, Edward A. Brown ; Danube, A. C. Dingman ; Frankfort, Jos. J. Dudleston, jr., Frank B. Parkhurst, E. Lagrange Smith, Harry G. Folts; Herkimer, Robert Earl, George W. Smith, Josiah A. Steele, Abram B Steele, J. Dryden Henderson, William C. Prescott, E. B. Mitch- ell, I. R. Devendorf, Adam J. Smith, Charles Bell, William Wither- stine, Charles E. Snyder, George H. Bunce, Robert E. Steele ; Ilion, Thomas Richardson, George O. Rasbach, James Conklin, Fred H. Ben- nett, A. D. Richardson, Lincoln C. Ackler ; Little Falls, George A. Hardin, H. Clay Hall, Albert M. Mills, Charles J. Palmer, Rollin H. Smith, Watts T. Loomis, E. E. Sheldon, Edward Simms, Edward J. Coffin, P. H. McEvoy, Fred I. Small, William F. Lansing, D. A. Cham- pion, Myron G. Bronner, John D. Beckwith, Charles L. Petree, Frank H. Willard, J. W. Fitzgerald, Hadley Jones, A. H. Bellinger, H. A. De Coster, P. H. Murphy, Richard Hurley, Nelson R. Gilbert ; Mohawk, James B. Rafter ; Newport, George M. Wirt, Charles L. Fellows ; Cul- len, J. Howard Green ; Poland, Milton Howe; West Winfield, C. D. Thomas.
First Judges of the Court of Common Pleas (appointed by the governor)-Henry Staring, February 17, 1791; Jedediah Sanger, March &. 1797 ; John Meyer, October 30, 1800; Evans Wharry, March 18, 1805 ; David V. W. Golding, March 27, 1810; Nathan Smith, April 7, 1814; David Holt, January 10, 1821 ; Henry Brown, Feb- 3, 1823 ; Hiram Nolton, March 23, 1825; Michael lloffman, March 21, 1830; Na- thaniel S. Benton, April 3, 1833; Arphaxed Loomis, March 23, 1835; Arunah C. 1I. Smith, January 24, 1840 ; Ezra Graves, January 24, 1845.
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
County Judges .- Ezra Graves, June, 1847, and November, 1859; Robert Earl, 1855; Volney Owen, 1863 : Amos II. Prescott, 1867 ; Amos H. Prescott, 1878-1883; Rollin Il. Smith, 1884-1889 ; Eugene E. Sheldon, 1890.
Surrogates (appointed by the governor under the Second Constitution) .-- Moses De Witt, February 17, 1791; Sanford Clark, March 19, 1798; Dan Chapman, March 23, 1803; Philo M. Hackley, March 28, 1807 : Abijah Tombling, November 6, 1816; Na- thaniel S. Benton, March 29, 1821; Arphaxed Loomis, January 10, 1828; Charles S. Benton, July 10, 1837; Lauren Ford, April 2, 1841; Ezra Graves, April 2, 1845. Under the present constitution of the State the office of surrogate in Herkimer, and a number of other counties which had each less than 40,000 population when the consti- tution was adopted, has been consolidated with that of county judge.
Justices of Sessions - 1878, Orrin A. Ford, John F. Rogers; 1879, C. P. Miller, Har- vey R. Kibbe ; 1880, J. E. S. Wilkinson, William Helmer ; 1881-1882. Elon G. Bur- *rows, Henry Sherman ; 1883, C. P. Miller, Frank Faville ; 1884, Frank I. Brace. Thomas C. Murray ; 1885, Elon G. Burrows, James Sharp; 1886, E. II. Doolittle, Alexander Fox; 1887, E. II. Doolittle, I. E. Jackson; 1888, V. S. Farrington, I. E. Jackson ; 1889, V. S. Farrington, William S. Burt; 1890, Levi Shaul, E. T. Lester ; 1891, C. W. Prescott, Munson Bunnell'; 1892, C. W. Prescott, Albert S. Coe.
District Attorneys -- Under the Second Constitution, which was adopted in 1822 and in force until the end of 1846, district attorneys were appointed by the Court of Gen- eral Sessions ; for the last forty-seven years they have been chosen by popular vote at the November elections. The list for Ilerkimer county is as follows : Thomas R. Gold, February 26, 1797 ; Nathan Williams, August 20, 1801; Joseph Kirkland, February 23, 1813; Thomas H. Hubbard, February 26, 1816; Simeon Ford, June 11, 1818, and September, 1836; Michael IIoffman, May, 1823, and March, 1836; George II. Feeter, 1825; Aaron Hackley, 1828; James B. Ilunt, 1833; Dudley Burwell, 1836; Iliram Nolton, 1837; George B. Judd, 1847; Volney Owen, 1850; Lauren Ford, 1856; George A. Hardin, January 28, 1858, and elected in the following November; Clinton A. Moon, 1861; Sewel S. Morgan, 1864; Charles G. Burrows, 1867 ; Albert M. Mills, 1870; Joseph J. Dudleston, jr., 1876; Abram B. Steele, 1880; Eugene E. Sheldon, 1886; Irving R. Devendorf, 1889.
Sheriff's .- William Colbraith, February 17, 1791, and February 9, 1796; Peter Smith, February 18, 1795; Chauncey Woodruff, March 19, 1798 ; William 11. Cook, March 17, 1802, and March 5, 1807; Ephraim Snow, March 6, 1806; John Mahon, February 22, 1808, March 4, 1811, and March 2, 1815; Philo M. llackley, February 28, 1810; Henry Hopkins, February 23, 1813; Robert Shoemaker, February 13, 1817 ; Stephen Hallett, February 13, 1821, and November, 1822: John Dygert, 1825 ; John Graves, 1828; Frederick P. Bellinger, 1831: Francis E. Spinner, 1834 ; Stephen W. Brown, 1837; William C. Crain, 1840 ; Jeremiah Corey, 1843; William I. Skinner, 1816; Daniel Hawn, 1849; Lorenzo Carry], 1852; Peter Countryman, 1855 ; James J. Cook, 1857; Seth M. Richmond. 1861; George M. Cleland, 1864, James II. Weatherwax, 1867; Alexander Smith, 1870; Volney Eaton, 1873; James HI. Ives, 1876; De Witt C. Paine, 1880; Valentine Brown, 1883; Delevan L. Cook, 1886; Newell Morey, 1889; Sylvester Wilson, 1892.
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COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
1
CHAPTER IX.
THE HERKIMER COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
T HIS venerable society was organized on the 5th day of August 1806, at a general meeting of the physicians of the county, held at the court house, pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the State, regulating the practice of physic and surgery, passed April 4, 1806.
Dr. George Rogers was chosen chairman, and Dr. Westel Willough- by, jr., secretary, for the day. On canvassing the votes for officers of the society, Dr. Westel Willoughby, jr., was elected president ; George Rogers, vice-president ; Andrew Farrell, secretary ; and Amos Haile, treasurer.
Drs. Amos Haile, Andrew Farrell, Jonathan Sherwood, Rufus Crain and Isaac Sears, were chosen censors.
The names of the physicians present at this meeting were: Westel Willoughby, jr., George Rogers, Andrew Farrell, Amos Haile, Abijah Tombling, David Perry, Jonathan Sherwood, John Eastman and Samuel Redfield.
The first Tuesday in January in each year was assigned as the anni- versary of the society. At the annual meeting, held at the court- house in January, 1807, the society resolved, that to entitle a physician to become a member of the society, he must either produce a diploma from some medical society in the United States, agreeable to the law of this State, or a voucher that he is a reputable physician.
Westel Willoughby, jr., M. D., was appointed a delegate from the society to meet the delegates from the other counties in the State, on the first Tuesday in February, 1807, to form a State medical society.
Drs. Benjamin Hazen, Nathan Harwood, James Hadley, Isaac Sears, Jacob Abrams and William Traver were admitted members of the society. A committee was appointed to form a code of by-laws, who reported the same at an adjourned meeting, on the 5th of May fol- lowing, which was adopted, and ordered to be printed. Dr. Wil- loughby was requested to deliver a dissertation before the society, at
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the adjourned meeting in May, 1807. In 1808, at the quarterly mcet- ing in May, a seal was ordered to be procured for the use of the incor- poration ; and at the anniversary meeting in January, 1809, the meet- ings of the society were reduced from four to two annually, and a fine of one dollar imposed for non-attendance.
Dr. Willoughby was continued president of the society, until January, 1816, when Rufus Crain was elected, who held one year, and was succeeded by James Hadley, who also held the office one year, and was succeeded by Westel Willoughby, M. D., in 1818. This year the society passed an order, that the county censors of any incorporated medical society should not proceed to examine a student for a license to practice physic and surgery, unless he produce a certificate of having attended at least one session at one of the medical colleges in the United States or in Europe, after the first day of January, 1818.
Dr. Willoughby held the office of president of the society until January, 1837, when he delivered a farewell address, for which, and for his constant and unwearied exertions for the interest and welfare of the society, a vote of thanks was tendered to him. The society, also, by resolution, requested a copy of the address, and also a copy of a com- munication that day made by him, to be deposited in the archives of the society. In 1818, a vote was taken to apply the funds of the society to increase the library of the medical college at Fairfield, on condition that its members could have the benefit of the library during the recess of the lectures at the college. In January, 1819, a resolution was passed, that every medical practitioner in the county who was not then a mem- ber, be notified by the secretary to attend at the next regular meet- ing of the society, and connect himself therewith, pursuant to the act passed in 1818.
In January, 1823, an order was passed to apply the funds of the so- ciety, in the hands of the treasurer, to the benefit of the college library, in accordance with a previous resolution. The funds afterwards re- ceived were also appropriated to the same object. In 1825 the society asked the trustees of the college to pass a resolution, that all the books purchased by its funds should be delivered to the society, when the college should be located in some other place than Fairfield. In 1828 the society adopted resolutions of condolence with the families of Drs.
-
g & Prescott
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Bryan, Willard and Todd, who died the preceding year, and requested biographical sketches of their lives to be deposited in the archives of the society. The society had not met with a more severe loss in one year. These gentlemen were of high professional repute, and of great personal worth. The society in 1830 had its attention called to the evils of intemperance, and resolved unanimously to discountenance the use of ardent spirits ; and the annual meetings were changed to the first Tuesday in June, in each year.
In 1831 measures were taken to procure a medical topographical sur- vey of the county, in accordance with a circular from the State Medical Society. There is no record that the several committees, appointed under the resolution, to procure the survey, ever made any reports. Dr. Calvin W. Smith was designated as the candidate to the State Medical Society, for the honorary degree of doctor of medicine.
The society this year, 1832, took measures to petition the Legislature, to restore that part of the revised statutes, regulating the practice of physic and surgery, repealed by the act of 1830; and appointed a com- mittee to circulate memorials for that object.
In 1837 the society adopted a regulation requiring the physician em- ployed at the county poor house to make an annual report of his cases of practice ; that the library committee should make an investigation into the state of the society's library, count the number of books on hand, and compare the treasurer's reports, and the augmentation of the library for the preceding five years. Also, that each member of the society be requested to keep a record of all the deaths which might oc- cur in his practice, tlre age of the patients, the diseases of which they died, and how far said deaths were caused by intemperate habits of life, and report thereon to the society.
Dr. Harvey W. Doolittle was chosen president of the society in June, 1837, was succeeded by Dr. Calvin W. Smith for one year in June, 1838, and was again chosen in 1839, and held the office by annual elec- tion until June, 1842.
In January, 1839, the society adopted the following :
" Whereas, by the dispensation of Divine Providence, since our last meeting, this society has been deprived of one of its most valuable members, and the community of one of its brightest ornaments, in the death of Dr. John Holmes :
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
Resolved, That the members of this society shall wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, as a testimony of their high respect for their deceased friend ; and that the secretary be a committee to present the condolence of this society to the relations of the deceased."
At the semi-annual meeting in January, 1840, the society adopted a like resolution on the announcement of the death of Dr. Calvin W. Smith, and appointed a committee to write a biographical sketch of the lives of Drs. Smith and Holmes.
The professors of the Medical College at Fairfield, having resigned, and the trustees of that institution having failed to procure the appoint- ment of others to continue the lectures, the society, in 1843, took effect- ual measures to reclaim, secure and preserve the society library, which had been deposited in the college under the care of the trustees and professors of that institution, as before noticed.
In June, 1842, Dr. Lester Green was elected president of the society, and a resolution was adopted pledging the influence of the members to forward any feasible plan for resuscitating the Medical College at Fair- field, and tendering the use of the society's library to the trustees of the college when the professorships should be filled and the lectures re- sumed.
At the annual meeting in 1843, Dr. Green was re-elected president. The whole number of volumes on the catalogue of the society's library was 590, of which 475 were brought from Fairfield, fifty- four were charged to members and sixty-three were lost or missing. The society adopted a set of by- laws, regulating the safe keeping and the use of the library. Dr. Alfred E. Varney was chosen president at the annual meeting in 1844, and the delegate to the State society was requested to lay before that body the opinion entertained by this society, " that it is the duty of the medical faculty generally, to memorialize the Legis- lature of this State to procure the passage of a law to prohibit the sale or use of any secret compound as a medicine," and to ask the State so- ciety to adopt measures to lay this subject before the Legislature at the next session. These proceedings were rescinded at a subsequent meet- ing. Some doubts having been entertained, growing out of the legislation of the State in respect to medical societies, in regard to the legal exist- ence of the society, a resolution was adopted in January, 1845, to con-
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tinue the association as an organized body, and the unanimous opinion of the society to that effect was declared.
Dr. Abram Snyder was chosen president in June, 1845. A resolu- tion was passed to appoint a committee to present the condolence of the society to the family of Dr. Westel Willoughby, deceased, and request a biography of his life, and also that the society should wear the usual badge of mourning.
At the annual meeting in 1846, Dr. Caleb Budlong was elected pres- ident ; Dr. Walter Booth in 1848, and Dr. Abram Snyder, again in 1849. Drs. J. R. Brown, Wheeler, Griffith and Snyder were elected delegates to the National Medical Association. Drs. Brown and Wheeler were ap- pointed a committee to prepare and present to the society a biographical sketch of the life of Dr. Lester Green. The transactions of the society at its annual meeting in June, 1847, do not appear to have been recorded, nor is the death of Dr. Lester Green noticed except as above mentioned.
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