USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 43
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455
BIOGRAPHICAL.
was appointed by Governor Tilden judge of the Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Grover, and he served under that appointment until Jan- uary, 1877. In the fall of 1876 he was elected judge of the Court of Appeals for a full term of fourteen years from the first day of January following. In the fall of 1890, having received the nomination of both the Democratic and Republican parties, he was again elected judge of the Court of Appeals for a full term, of which he can serve only four years on account of the constitutional limitation of age. By appoint- ment of Governor Flower he served as chief judge during the year 1892, filling the va- cancy caused by the death of Chief Judge Ruger. He received the degree of LL.D. from Union College in 1874, and from Columbia College in 1889. He was married Oc- tober 12, 1852, to Juliet Z. Wilkerson, of Richfield Springs.
SAMUEL EARL.
Samuel Earl was born August 9, 1822. His father was Jolin Earl, a lineal descend- ant of Ralph Earl, who came to this country in 1638 and settled at Portsmouth, R. I. His mother was Margaret Petry, a daughter of Dr. William Petry of Revolutionary fame. (An account of the life of Dr. Petry occurs in the earlier pages of this work.) Samuel Earl had one sister, Margaret Earl, now deceased, and one brother, Robert Earl, who for the last twenty years has been a judge of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York.
The education of Samuel Earl was acquired at common schools and at Fairfield Sem- inary, where he graduated. His early life was spent upon the farm of his uncle, Henry Petry, near the head of Main street in Herkimer village, which for over one hundred years has been the home of the Petrys and the Earls. The present Earl residence, where Mr. Earl resided during his entire life, was originally built by Dr. Petry, near the close of the Revolutionary War, and is still in excellent preservation, and is now the home of his children. His early work upon the farm of his uncle gave him a practical knowledge of farm life and farm management; and throughout his life he was largely interested in agriculture.
At the age of twenty he began the study of law. Teaching school during the winter season, he studied his profession during the rest of the time. He began his studies in the office of Hon. Michael Hoffman at Herkimer, N. Y. He also studied with Peckham and Colt at Albany, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in 1847.
Upon his admission to practice he opened an office in the village of Herkimer, N. Y. His brother subsequently studied with him; and later the two brothers formed a part- nership nuder the firm name of S. & R. Earl. This partnership continued until Robert was elected judge of the Court of Appeals. Upon the elevation of Robert to the Ap- peals bench, Samuel was for a number of years associated in the practice of law with Hon. George W. Smith, formerly Oneida county judge, and Mr. E. A. Brown, under the firm name of Earl, Smith and Brown. Subsequently Mr. Earl became the senior partner and counsel in the firm of Earl and Prescott, Mr. William C. Prescott being as- sociated with him. Later, after practicing a few years alone, he formed with C. E. Suyder a partnership that continued until his death.
45G
IHISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
Mr. Earl occupied a conspicuous position at the bar of Herkimer county and met with a large degree of success.
He was early associated with his brother and others as a copartner in the banking business under the firm name and style of The Herkimer Bank ; and upon the dissolu- tion of that firm and its formation as a corportion in 1885 he was elected a director of the new organization and a member of its executive committee, which positions he held until the time of his death.
He was one of the original incorporators of the Herkimer, Newport and Poland Narrow Gauge Railway Company, a business venture that has contributed very mate- rially to the prosperity of Herkimer village ; and in the development of that enterprise he was an energetic worker and spent considerable time and money. At the time of his death he was the senior attorney of the new Adirondack and St. Lawrence line from Herkimer to Montreal, the successor of the old Herkimer, Newport and Poland Narrow Gauge Road.
Ile was an ardent Democrat in politics and an active and efficient worker in his party. He twice received the nominaton for county judge and although of conceded ability was not able to overcome the large Republican majority in the county. For a long time he was a member of the Democratic County Committee and repeatedly rep- resented the party in State conventions. In political campaigns, by his able contribu- tions to the Democratic press, Mr. Earl rendered valnable service.
Upon all matters pertaining to the history of Herkimer county he was well informed and was a recognized authority. He was always interested in the collection of ancient documents and records pertaining to local history ; and many interesting and important papers together with original research have been been furnished by him for preserva- tion to the Oneida Historical Society, of which he was a member. Valuable historical material left by him has been used in the compilation of this volume, and his writings and addresses relative to the valley of the upper Mohawk and the Palatines are author- itative contributions to local history.
In character Mr. Earl was always plain and outspoken. It was written of him at the time of his death that "he always had the courage of his convictions. Frankness and outspokenness were his cardinal virtues. Sincerity characterized his friendships. He never shirked what he believed to be his duty no matter how great the evil or how high or elevated the position of the transgressor. In him the friends of good and honest government had a most efficient aid."
Hle was one of the organizers of Christ church, Herkimer, and held the position of vestryman until his death. He was twice married. His first wife was Isabella J. Putnam, of Herkimer, N. Y., and his second wife Frances Lansing, of Manheim, N. Y. He died, leaving four children, October 10, 1891.
THE FEETER FAMILY.
As will be seen from the sketch which follows of the Feeter family, James Feeter, whose portrait appears in this volume, is descended from the first families of the Pali- tinate who settled in the Mohawk valley.
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457
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Among the oldest and in some respects the most historical families of the Mohawk valley are those descended from Lucas and Annis Feeter, who came to this country from Wittenberg, Germany, and settled in the Stone Arabia district, on lands now in- cluded in Fulton county. Lucas Feeter was father of Col. William Feeter, who was born on the 2d of February, 1756. He subsequently hecame one of the most noted and conspicuous pioneers of the valley of the Mohawk, and married Elizabeth Bellin- ger, daughter of Adam Bellinger and Mary Elizabeth Petrie. The reader of the pre- ceding pages of this volume has learned of the prominence of the Bellinger and Petrie families in the history of this part of the State. Elizabeth Bellinger. wife of William Feeter, was born March 22, 1765, and their marriage took place in 1722. In the early years of his life the name of William Feeter was written "Veeder," and " Vedder," and in 1786, when he was commissioned ensign in the militia, it was written " Father." In 1791 he was appointed a justice of the peace under the name of " Veeder."
Settled as the family were near to the neighborhood of Sir William Johnson's resi- dence at Johnstown, it is not surprising that they fell much under his influence, and to such an extent that all of the family, excepting William, followed the fortunes of Sir John Johnson and went with him to Canada. Such a course would have been impos- sible to young William Feeter, for his native patriotism and love of justice prompted him to adhere to the cause of the colonists, and to aid them to the best of his powers. On every occasion when the beautiful Mohawk valley was invaded by ruthless savages and no less blood-thirsty tories, he was among the foremost volunteers to repel the en- emy. One incident of this character is thus related by Mr. Benton in his history of Herkimer county.
"A party of Indians and tories made a descent upon a settlement in the Palatine district for the purpose of plunder and murder, and the subject of this sketch took an active part in punishing the lawless intruders. It appeared that the object of the en- emy was to plunder and murder a family related to one of the tory invaders, which was not quite agreeable to him : he therefore gave himself up, and disclosed the nefari- ous intentions of the enemy, who, finding themselves betrayed, made a rapid flight to the woods. Col. Willett did not feel disposed to let them off without a severe chas- tisement; he therefore ordered Lieutenant Sammons, with twenty-five volunteers, among whom was William Feeter, to go in pursuit, and they moved so rapidly that they came upon the enemy's burning camp fires early the next morning. Feeter and six other men were directed to keep the trail, and after a rapid pursuit of two miles in the woods a party of Indians was discovered lying flat on the ground. The latter, when they saw Feeter approach, instantly arose and fired ; but one of the enemy be- ing greviously wounded by the return fire of the Americans, the whole gang of Indians and tories fled precipitately, leaving their knapsacks, provisions and some of their arms. The result of this affair was, that three of the enemy were wounded in the running fight kept up by Feeter and his party, and died on their way to Canada; one surren- dered himself a prisoner, and the wounded Indian was summarily dispatched by his former tory comrade, who had joined in the pursuit."
William Feeter found little sympathy in the neighborhood of his father's home, and took up his residence for a time with a Mr. Yauney's family. The latter was a firm patriot and he presented to young Feeter the musket which he carried through the war, and which is still preserved in the family. Soon after the close of the Revolu- tion, during which Colonel Feeter rose to the rank which gave him his title, and per-
458
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
formed service which entitles him to the patriotic remembrance of the country, he settled on a large farm within the present limits of Little Falls, and cultivated it for more than fifty years. In the year 1797, noting the discomforts of the people through the depri- vation of mail facilities. he conceived the idea of establishing a mail route on his private account. His son, Adam, was then sixteen years old, and his father fitted him out with a good horse and saddle- bags and started him in the new undertaking. The boy's (Inty was to solicit subscribers to newspapers and to carry all letters entrusted to him between Albany and Little Falls on both sides of the river, and to Johnstown and vicinity through the Royal Grant, north of Little Falls, and to German Flats and on nearly to Utica, which was then the border of civilization. This unique mail service was continued three years and was thoroughly successful in its various features of pro- curing subscribers, doing business l'or Mr. Porteous, the only merchant then in Little Falls, and for a Mr. Kane, who had a store a little east of the village of Canajoharie, besides the delivering of a large number of letters. The hardships of Adam Feeter on these trips, summer and winter. in which he had often to cross the river by fording when it was swollen with floods, would furnish materials for a most romantic narra- tive.
Colonel William Feeter reared a family of twelve children, and died at his home- stead on the 5th of May, 1844, aged eighty-eight years. He was a member of the Lutheran church and of the Fairfield lodge of Masons. His wife died Angust 30, 1831.
Following is a list of commissions held by Colonel Feeter during his life :
William Father, by commission dated the second day of October, 1786, signed by Geo. Clinton, governor, &c., was appointed ensign of Captain Jacob Petry's company in regiment of militia in Montgomery county, whereof Henry Staring is lientenant- colonel commanding.
William Veeder, by commission dated the Ilth of February, 1789, was appointed en- sign of a company of light infantry in the regiment of militia in the county of Mont- gomery, whereof Henry Staring is lieutenant-colonel commanding.
William Feeder, by commission dated the 8th of March, 1791, was appointed cap- tain in the regiment of militia in Herkimer county, whereof Henry Staring is lienten- ant-colonel commandant.
William Feetor, by commission dated the 9th of October, 1793, was appointed cap- tain of a company of light infantry in a regiment of militia in the county of Herkimer, whereof Jacob Petrie is lieutenant-colonel commandant.
The above commissions are all signed by Geo. Clinton, governor.
William Feeter, by commission dated the 11th day of April, 1796, signed by John Jay, governor, &c., at our city of New York, was appointed second major of the regi- ment of militia in the county of Herkimer, whereof Jacob Petrie is lieutenant-colonel commandant.
William Feeter, by commission dated the 27th day of March, 1797, signed by John Jay, governor, &e., at our city of Albany, was appointed first major of the regiment of militia in Herkimer county, whereof Richard Petri is lieutenant-colonel commandant.
William Feeter, by commission dated the 29th of March, 1798, signed by John Jay, governor, at Albany, was appointed lieutenant-colonel commandant of a regiment of militia at Herkimer.
Adam Feeter, son of Colonel William Feeter, was born in the town of Little Falls, October 27, 1782. The successful conduct of the mail ronte established by his father
459
BIOGRAPHICAL.
has been mentioned. This business gave him a very wide acquaintance through the Mohawk valley, and also among officials at Albany, by whom he was often entrusted with the carriage of important State papers. It was his pride to relate that in his three years as mail carrier he never missed a trip, or lost a letter or paper. In the year 1800 a government mail route was established which was tendered to him; but he declined it, preferring a more quiet domestic life. After his marriage to Mara Keyser, February 10, 1805, he settled at Ingham's Mills, where he carried on a milling business a few years, but as it did not agree with his health, he purchased a farm in the town of Manheim and there spent the remainder of his life. He died April 15, 1865, at the age of eighty-three years, in the enjoyment of the respect of the whole community.
Among the eight children of Adam Feeter was James Feeter, whose portrait is found in this work. He was born at Ingham's Mills, Herkimer county, N. Y., on the 14th of January, 1806, and inherited the hardy German characteristics which gave himself and his ancestors long lives of activity. After securing a fair practical educa- tion while living at his home in Manheim, Mr. Feeter settled permanently in Little Falls in 1831 and three years later engaged in the grocery business with the late Orrin Searles. He had previously on the 24th of September, 1829, married Cynthia Small, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Small, of the town of Herkimer. After two years' business connection with Mr. Searles, Mr. Feeter purchased his interest and from that time on until his death he continued in the same line of trade, in which he was thoroughly successful. At a time when Little Falls was a small village, Mr. Feeter erected a busi- ness block, which until this day is an evidence of his belief in the prosperity of the village. His business career in Little Falls covered a period of nearly sixty years, and during all that time it received his undivided attention and supervision. Naturally prudent and economical, he accumulated a large fortune, although he lost heavily by the freshet of 1842, and a fire in 1848, when his store and contents were wholly de- stroyed. Mr. Feeter's acquaintance with the older citizens of Little Falls and the immediate surrounding country was extensive, and among them his character and business ability was held in the highest respect. His sagacity and foresight as applied to his own transactions were remarkable, while his business habits were founded upon unimpeachable integrity. He was in business affairs uncompromising, but privately he was a charitable citizen. An ardent lover of his home and its associations, he sought little for personal pleasure in society, but found contentment and enjoyment in the companionship of his contemporary fellow citizens, and the attachments of his home. Forbearing and kind to all and upon all occasions, he still was firm in his convictions and outspoken in expressing them. He built and owned the Feeter block and improved other real estate in the village, and was always ready to lend his aid as far as judicious in the advancement of the interests of the place. He was long a member and vestry- man in Emanuel Episcopal church and a believer in the teachings of religion. In politics Mr. Feeter was an ardent Republican after the formation of that party, and in early years took a very active interest in its success. In 1847 he was elected to the Assembly, and held the office of president of the village several terms. It should be remembered that his election as assemblyman was on the Whig ticket, in a district strongly Democratic. In his political work he made the acquaintance and friendship
460
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
of Gov. John Young, Millard Fillmore and other prominent men, and was a lifelong friend of Roscoe Conkling (and his allegiance to him could never be shaken) and Thur- low Weed. Ilis election as a Whig in a district so strongly Democratic, gave him considerable local prominence and led to his subsequent activity in the counsels of his party. Is a recognition of his political services he was chosen a member of the State committee and presidential elector from his district. Mr. Feeter was one of the prin- cipal organizers of the Little Falls National Bank and one of its directors until his death. A resolution adopted by the board after his death said : .
" In the death of Mr. Feeter we are deprived of an associate whom an acute faculty of observation and long business experience made a safe adviser in all fiscal matters, and the loss of whose sound counsel and ever ready assistance is deeply felt by our board; the stockholders of this bank have lost an officer whose efforts have largely contributed to its prosperity and who deservedly possessed their entire confidence."
Mr. Feeter's death occurred January 23, 1892.
Mr. Feeter left him surviving, only one son, James D. Feeter, at the present time cashier of the Little Falls National Bank and one of its principal stockholders.
ALBERT G. STORY -ALBERT STORY.
The immediate ancestry of the family of this name was from New England. Will- iam Story removed from Connecticut to Cherry Valley in the early days of that his- torte ground, and long was proprietor of a stage route on the old Albany turnpike. Ile died in Cherry Valley. Itis wife was Euniee Cary, and his children were Albert G., John, Fred T., Charles, George, Julia, Eunice.
Albert G. Story, son of William, was born in Cherry Valley October 19, 1812. He was given opportunity to secure an ample education, finishing with a course in Union College. Leaving his studies he entered the Central Bank of Cherry Valley as a clerk, where he continued until 1833, when he removed to Little Falls as a candidate for the cashiership of the Herkimer County Bank ; in 1833 he was chosen teller, which posi- tion he held only six months, when he was promoted to cashier. This responsi- ble office he held many years and until the death of Col. William H. Alexander (which occurred February 22. 1867), then president of the bank, when Mr. Story was placed in that position until 1886, and has continued to be connected with its affairs until the present time. During h's long business career in Little Falls, Mr. Story has risen to a foremost position in financial circles and in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. With unassuming integrity of purpose and singular devotion to duty, Mr. Story has guided the llerkimer County Bank to an honorable place among banks in the State, and has passed a far longer life than that commonly allotted to man in the active service of that institution. Mr. Story was formerly and down to the war period, a Democrat in politics : but when the country was placed in peril his sympathies and his patriotism carried himn over into the Republican fold, and there he has since remained ; but he has taken no active part in politics. In local public spirit he has not
461
BIOGRAPHICAL
been lacking, especially in the work of educational advancement. He was largely . re- sponsible for the organization and establishment of the Little Falls Academy, and held the office of treasurer many years. In the introduction of gas-lighting in the village also he took a very prominent part, laving the foundation of the enterprise himself. Mr. Story married Sarah Morse, of Cherry Valley, who is deceased. Their children were five, as follows: James, Mary, both of whom died young ; Sarah, married S. B. Neff, of Philadelphia ; and Emily, married E. P. Janes, of New York.
Albert Story, son of A. G. Story, was born in Little Falls August 1, 1841. His education was obtained in the schools of his native village, at Stockbridge, Mass., and one year at Clinton, finishing when eighteen years of age. After leaving school and for a short time he was in the bank with his father, which he left. in July, 1862, to take the post of quartermaster of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment New York Volunteers. At the end of a year ill health forced him to resign his commission, and lie returned to Little Falls and accepted a clerkship in the Herkimer County Bank, where his father was then cashier. In 1867 he was promoted to the position of teller, which place he filled until 1888, when he was made cashier, and still occupies this responsible position. An active Republican in politics, Mr. Story has received evidence from his constituents that they placed confidence in his ability and faithfulness. He was elected village trustee in 1872, supervisor February 4, 1873, being then the first Republican supervisor elected in the town in twenty years; was elected county treasurer in 1878 and held the office two terms; and in March, 1892, was chosen president of the village. In these various positions of trust and responsibility Mr. Story has served with the utmost acceptance to his friends and demonstrated his possession of administrative qualifications of a high order. His long career in the bank has added to public con- fidence in its stability and in his capability as a financier. Mr. Story is a member of Emanuel Episcopal church, and is vestryman and treasurer. He was married June 21, 1876, to Mary Josephine Arnold, of Little Falls.
WILLIAM G. MILLIGAN.
The subject of this sketch is of Scotch ancestry. His father was William Kerr Mill- igan, a native of Glasgow, who came to this country about the year 1812. He served as clerk for William Alexander, the Little Falls pioneer and merchant, and son-in-law of John Porteous. (See preceding history of Little Falls.) He died in Little Falls in January, 1828, at the early age of thirty-four years, a few months after his return from a visit to his native land. He was a man of excellent business qualifications and character and principles above reproach. His wife was Mary Fergus, of Glasgow, a woman of marked characteristics, who died in Little Falls at the age of eighty-six years.
William Kerr and Mary Milligan had seven children, as follows: William G., Mary, Andrew, John, James, Henry, and David. Of these William G. is the only survivor. He was born at Little Falls January 30, 1817. He attended the district schools of his
59
462
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
native village after reaching a proper age, until he was six years old, when he was taken by his father to Scotland, to remain four years. While there he attended a high school in Glasgow, and after his return was in school in Little Falls until about fifteen years old. It was his father's request that he should become a practical mechanic, and he accordingly spent four years in learning the cabinet-maker's trade. As a journey- man workman he then traveled quite extensively in the south and west, working at various places on the way. With the natural thoroughness of his habits he had made himself an excellent workman, and was never without a place when he desired employ- ment. Finally returning to Little Falls he married the daughter of William Girvan, Elizabeth Ann, and settled in the grocery trade, which he continued about eight years, his store being on Mam street. After a year of idleness, Mr. Milligan made all prep- arations to join the grand concourse of gold-seekers to California. But at just that time the late Amos A. Bradley left the Herkimer County Bank, in which he had acted as teller. creating a vacancy, and Mr. Milligan abandoned his plans of going to Califor- nia and entered the bank as bookkeeper. He filled this position four years, when he was promoted to the office of teller. In 1867 he was chosen cashier and filled that place until 1888, when he was elected president of the bank. This responsible office he still holds. In all these positions Mr. Milligan has not only given the highest satisfaction to patrons and stockholders of the bank, but has demonstrated his possession of business qualifications of a high order. Prudence, sagacity, sound judgment, and unwavering integrity-these are the marked characteristics which have distinguisbed his adminis- tration of the affairs of the bank ; and at the present time, although far advanced in years, Mr. Milligan is active in body and mind, and gives the same devoted and con- stant attention to his duties that has been his customi during so many past years. No man in Little Falls has to a greater extent won the confidence and esteem of the com- munity, while his geniality and courteous demeanor on all occasions have given him a wide circle of sincere and devoted friends.
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