History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 862

USA > New York > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25

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see that it now contains flourishing villages and a considerable pop- ulation, characterized, as the proceedings of this day evinee, by intel- ligent views and well-directed exertions; that its soil is uncommonly fertile and its elimate eminently salubrious; and when we consider that with the natural advantages which flow from its extensive eon- neetion with onr interior seas, and the artificial facilities which it will derive from the improvements of our internal navigation, the markets of the north and south will be open to its productions, we must be persuaded that the attainment of fullness of population and exuberance of wealth depends entirely npon yourselves.

""' You havo, gentlemen, wisely chosen tho true road which leads to prosperity. Agriculture is the source of subsistence; subsistence is the basis of population ; and population is the foundation of prosper- ity and power. Agrieultnro is also the parent of individual and na- tional opulenee. It comprehends in its operations all the sources of wealth. It employs land, labor, and capital. It comprises the enl- tivation of all the fruits of the earth, embraces almost every method of obtaining food for labor, and ineludes the raising of domestie an- imals, because that employment is necessarily identified with the cultivation of vegetable food. And as the prosperity of a country essentially depends upon the quantity of surplus produce derived froin the soil, and as the amount of the materials of subsistence will always be regulated by the exortions of agrieulturists, it is evident that its benefits in these respeets cannot be too highly appreciated. But when we further refleet that it is favorable to exercise, the guar- dian of health, to contemplation, the parent of wisdom, to activity, the friend of virtue, and-to adopt the emphatie language of a su- blimne poet-to that

"Sweet peace which goodness bosoms ever,"

we must all admit that, as it was the first, it is also the best.

"' Among the various measures adopted for the promotion of this pursuit, and its invariable companion, domestie manufactures, the mnost effcetual is the establishment of societies for the collectiou and diffusion of information, and for the excitement of industry and em- nlation. This plan has been adopted in this county, and a wise legis- lature will cherish such institutions with extraordinary patronage. It is pleasing to see at the head of this establishment distinguished men, applying with so much public spirit the gifts of nature, the endowments of education, and the bounties of fortune to the iu- provement of this favored region. It is gratifying to perceive men who have cneircled themselves with high renown, and elevated the character of their country, planting the olive by the laurel, and eul- tivating the arts of peace with the same ability with which they directed the storm of war. And it is a subject of high felicitation to witness this confederacy of seientifie and practical men ; to behold the experienced agrieulturist and the enlightened professional man combining their powers in favor of agriculture and domestie manu- factures, and devising ways and means to promoto the publie pros- perity.

"' There was a period of danger, when the eyes of the people of this State were direeted with peculiar anxiety to this region ; when you passed with honor through the difficulties with which you were environed, and vindicated the character of America at the point of the sword. On this day the public eye is fixed on you with equal attention to view the prosperity of your agriculture and the wide- spreading and far-extending progress of your nseful improvements ; and I am happy to say that there will be no disappointment. The distinguished gentlemen who have united with me in this visit also unite with mo in this expression of approbation. We offer you our best acknowledgments for your friendly invitatiou and cordial recep- tion, and we humbly implore the blessings of the Almighty on you individually and collectively, and on the inhabitants in general of this flourishing county.'

" The first viewing committee, in 1818, consisted of Sam- uel Brown, James Parker, Simeon Hunt, Curtis G. Brooks, and Samuel Evans, who visited nine towns, examined seventy five subjeets, and awarded twenty-two premiums in eups, goblets, and spoons, worth $128. Three premiums in plate, worth $25, were awarded on the plowing-match ; eighteen premiums on stoek, worth $156, and fourteen on domestie manufactures, worth $93, were awarded. At the elose of the exereises the society adjourned to attend the

sale of the premium ox, which had been presented to the society by its worthy president. It was sold in small par- eels, and amounted to $619.

" On the 7th of April, 1819, the sum of $10,000, for two years, was applied by law to the encouragement of county societies for the promotion of agriculture and domes- tie manufactures, of which sum this eounty received $200. Under this act the presidents of county societies assembled at Albany and formed a board of agriculture. Of this board Mr. Le Ray was elected vice-president. No pro- vision being made for a continuance beyond two years, many county societies disbanded, but this continued in operation, and held regular meetings and fairs.

" On the 28th of March, 1828, an act was passed ineor- porating Le Ray de Chaumont, Perley Keyes, Elisha Camp, Peter N. Cushman, Egbert Ten Eyek, Rodney Burt, Daniel Eames, Mieah Sterling, Noadiah Hubbard, Orville Hunger- ford, George White, Hiram Merrill, John Brown, Curtis Golden, Samuel C. Kennedy, Ezekiel Jewett, Albert Bray- ton, Samuel Brown, John B. Esselstyn, Abijah Farwell, Edmund Kirby, V. Le Ray de Chaumont, Alfred Freeman, Simeon Hunt, Stoel Warner, Asa Carter, Jonathan Graves, William Doxtater, Clark Allen, Liberty Bates, and such as might join them, as the Jefferson County Agricultural Society. J. Le Ray was named first president; P. Keyes, E. Camp, and P. N. Cushman, vice-presidents ; O. Hunger- ford, treasurer ; E. Ten Eyck, secretary. Elections were to be held on the last Tuesday of September, and the in- come was limited to $5000. Under this act the society continued to hold annual fairs, with one or two exceptions, until reorganized under the general act of 1841.

" In March, 1830, members of the society, then the only one of the elass existing in the State, petitioned the legislature for the power of offering premiums for horses of the best speed, and that the racing of horses for such pre- miums might be allowed under proper regulations and restrictions. The petitioners set forth that the rearing of horses is mueh attended to in the country ; 'that the value of horses in market depends much upon their speed and activity ; but that, owing to the restrictions now existing by law, it is impossible properly to test the speed of horses at home, and, consequently, they ean not command that price in market which they would command eould their value be known. The soil of the county is well adapted to the growing of grains, both fine and coarse; but, in conse- quenee of the distance from the markets of the State, those productions will not bear transportation, so that the farmers are compelled to resort to the raising of live-stoek as almost the only resource for money in the county.'* This petition met with a favorable report from the committee to whom it was referred, but failed to proeure a law authorizing a raee- course.

" A convention for the formation of a State Agricultural Society met at Albany, February 14, 1832, of which Le Ray de Chaumont was chosen president. The other dele- gates from Jefferson County were Orville Hungerford, V. Le Ray de Chaumont, Edmund Kirby, Jason Fairbanks, Isaac H. Bronson, Perley Keyes, Robert Lansing, Nathan

# Assembly Doenments, 1830, vol. iv. No. 308.

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Strong, Philip Maxwell, and Robert Nichols. The result of this convention was the formation of a State Society having for its objects to improve the condition of agrieul- ture, horticulture, and the household arts. Besides the usual officers of such organizations it had a general com- mittee, the members of which were to be located in the several counties, and be equal to the representation in the assembly. Those appointed in Jefferson County were V. Le Ray de Chaumont, Edmund Kirby, and Egbert Ten Eyck.

" By this act no provision was made for county societies. In December, 1833, the Jefferson County Society addressed a memorial urging this object, and ealling attention to their own county in proof of the beneficial results of these organ- izations, as shown in improved breeds of stock, in the general practice of better and more systematic husbandry, and in a wholesome spirit of emulation, imparting value to farms and respectability to farmers. An anxious desire for an extension of these benefits induced this application, in which, of the two plans which had been before the legisla- ture at its former session, one of which provided for the establishment of agricultural sehools, and the other for county and State societies, they expressed their preference for the latter, as at that time more extensively useful. The committee who signed this memorial were J. Le Ray de Chaumont, E. Ten Eyck, E. Kirby, George White, Olney Pearee, and Orville Hungerford.

" On the 5th of May, 1841, an aet for the encouragement of agricultural societies was passed, by which this was to receive $183 for five years, and on the 19th of June of that year a new organization was completed. In the sum- mer of 1843 the society erected in the rear of the court- house a hall, 105 by 50 feet, at a cost of $1000, for the holding of fairs. On the 24th of August, 1851, the executive committee resolved to purchase ten acres of land on the Brownville road, about half a mile west of the rail- road, which was inclosed, and the building originally built near the court-house removed and fitted up with additions for the permanent use of the society. Great eredit is due to the forecast of the executive committee in thus seeuring a most eligible site for the annual fairs of the society."

Since the first purchase of ten aeres, the society has added five more, and erected stabling and hall facilities, having at the present time accommodations for over two hundred head of stock, four halls for floral and other dis- plays, a grand stand, seated and covered, and the grounds well fenced. The society held its sixtieth annual fair at Watertown, on September 11 to 13, inclusive, 1877, at which there were fifteen hundred entries of live-stock, do- mestie manufactures, products of mechanical arts, produets of the farm and garden, ladies' handiwork, ete. The re- ceipts were $3500, $2802 being the gate fees ; $1200 were paid in premiums. Hon. William M. White, of Alleghany county, New York, delivered the annual address. The offi- cers of the society for 1877 were, Gen. S. D. Hungerford, president ; James M. Felt, general superintendent ; Charles Richardson, treasurer; Wines R. Skeels, secretary.

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY FARMERS' CLUB was an outgrowth from the agricultural society, founded in

a laudable desire to improve the general stock of informa- tion and modes of practice in agricultural operations. It was organized in 1870, its first president being Clift Eames, and A. C. Middleton its first secretary. During its exist- ence of four years, its meetings were made interesting by able essays and spirited discussions on agricultural subjects, and much benefit accrued therefrom to those who attended its sessions. In 1874, David Hamlin suggested to the members the formation of the

WATERTOWN DAIRYMEN'S BOARD OF TRADE,

which suggestion was put into successful operation, the board of trade being organized in May of the last-named year. Its first officers were, David Hamlin, president ; Mad- ison Cooper, viee-president ; Luman D. Olney, treasurer ; W. R. Skeels, secretary. The first meeting was held June 6, 1874. During the first year of its existence fifty-three cheese-factories were represented in the board; in 1875, ninety-two factories ; and in 1876, sixty-nine. On the 2d day of October, 1875, forty-nine factories offered 27,939 boxes of cheese, averaging sixty pounds to the box. On the 10th of July, in the same year, 9922 boxes were sold, weighing 595,320 pounds, averaging 112 cents per pound, or $68,461.80 for the total sales. Seventy-eight factories were represented in thesc sales. The buyers come from all parts of the United States and Canada to the sessions of the board, which are held on Saturdays of each week. The success of the board, in the advantages gained by the pro- ducers, exceeds the expectations of its founders, and the competition created by it tends to make the standard of the produet of the factories higher, which commands at the present time the best markets at home or abroad. The present officers are, H. W. Hadsell, president, and Wines R. Skeels, seeretary; Mr. Skeels having held the position since the first organization of the board. The sessions of the board are held in the city of Watertown.

CHAPTER VIII.

PUBLIC OFFICERS.

First Election-Manner of holding Elections-Constitutional Legis- lation-Qualifications of Suffrage-Council of Appointment-Con- gressional Districts and Members of Congress-The Legislature- Senatorial Districts and Senators-Assembly Districts and As_ semblymen - Delegates to Constitutional Conventions- County Clerks-Sheriffs-County Treasurers-District Attorneys-Coro- ners-Loan Commissioners-Excise Commissioners-School Com- missioners-Presidential Electors-Lieutenant-Governor.

THE first election held under color of law in the colony of New York was in 1665, when Governor Nieolls, early in that year, issued his proclamation to the inhabitants of Long Island, calling on them to elect deputies to a conven- tion to settle the affairs of the Province, to allay the dis- content that had arisen among the colonists under the Dutch, by the laek of a legislative body. The. convention met at Hempstead, on the 1st of March, 1665; remained in session two or three days, passed the " Duke's Laws," and adjourned. This body, however, could hardly be ealled

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

a legislative assembly, as it only confirmed laws of the Duke of York's own making. The Court of Assize, however, was established, which thenceforward exercised a limited legislative power in amending and adding to the duke's laws, subject to the latter personage's approval. This system was worse than the one under the Dutch governors, and greater dissatisfaction resulted among the people; but they failed to get relief until the collector of the port of New York was arrested for detaining goods the duties on which had not been paid, and charged with high treason before the Court of Assize, and sent, by that tribunal, to England for trial ; which proceeding opened the eyes of the duke to the natural consequences of his arbitrary proceeding, when, to save his own private purse from the charge of the colony, he sent out Colonel Dongan, as governor, with power to convene a General Assembly.

The new governor arrived in August, 1683, and on Sep- tember 13 he ordered the election of a General Assembly, consisting of fourteen representatives, which met October 17, 1683, and again in October, 1684, and a new assembly was convened in 1685. But in the mean time the Duke of York had succeeded to the throne as James II., and having more funds at his disposal, the motive which prompted the general assembly was removed, and accord- ingly, June 16, 1686, he abolished that body, the assembly being dissolved January 20, 1687. In its stead James authorized the governor, by and with the consent of the council, to enact such laws as he deemed best, subject to the king's approval, and to become void if at any time disapproved. This arbitrary form of government continued until June 3, 1689, when Captain Jacob Leisler seized the fort in the name of William and Mary, and issued writs for the election of members of assembly. Every county but Suffolk chose representatives. This assembly met in April, 1690, and held two sessions, one in April and the other in October, passing altogether four laws.

On March 19, 1691, Governor Sloughter arrived, com- missioned by the new sovereigns, and directed to re-establish the general assembly and reinstate the people in their rights .* The elections in the colony up to March 27, 1778, were held before the sheriff, by poll or viva voce vote; but the constitution, in deference to the popular and growing demand for the ballot system, provided for the same as an " experiment," and directed the legislature to pass the necessary laws, after the cessation of hostilities, then waging between the colonies and the mother country, to carry into effect the provision; guarding the same care- fully, however, in order that if the "experiment" should not prove "all the faney painted it," the former system should again prevail.t

On the date last mentioned, the legislature provided for the election by ballot of a governor and lieutenant-governor, but retained the viva voce system for the election of repre- sentatives. This preliminary law remained in foree until February 13, 1787, when the necessary legislation was had to put in full operation the ballot system, which has ever

since obtained. By this law the sheriff received the ballot- boxes with the ballots, returning those for governor, lienten- ant-governor, and senators to the secretary of State's office, where they were canvassed by a joint committee of the legis- lature. The ballots for assemblymen were canvassed by the mayor and aldermen in New York city, and by the board of supervisors, judges, and assistant justices of the courts of Common Pleas elsewhere. This system was done away with by an act of March 27, 1799, and local boards instituted, who were required to inspect and canvass the ballots, the result to be recorded by the town clerk, who was to return it to the county clerk for the same purpose, by whom it was trans- mitted to the secretary of State, to be by him also recorded. A board of State canvassers, consisting of the secretary of State, comptroller and treasurer, then canvasses these re- turns and publishes the result. By the act of 1787 gen- eral elections were held on the last Tuesday of April, and might continue for five days. The inspector system, with some amendinents, is still in force, the board of supervisors being the county canvassing board, and the State board being composed of the officers comprising the same under the law of 1797, and, in addition thereto, the attorney-gen- eral, State engineer, and surveyor, any three of whom form a quorum. The inferior civil magistrates and officers under the Dutch had been elected, and in the articles of capitu- lation of 1664 it was stipulated those officers then in office should fill out their unexpired terms, when new incum- bents should be elected who should swear allegiance to the new power. It was expressly stipulated that the "town of Manhattans should choose deputyes who should have free voyces in all publique affairs, as much as any other deputyes."

The electors under the colonial rule were such of the in- habitants as were freeholders of forty pounds value, or had an income of forty shillings per annum, or paid a rental of that amount, or were freemen of the cities of New York and Albany. Under the first constitution, the governor, lieutenant-governor, and senators were chosen by freehold- ers, being actual residents, and possessed of freeholds of the value of one hundred pounds over and above all debts charged thereon. For members of assembly, male inhabit- ants who had resided within one of the counties of the State six months preceding the election could vote, pro- vided they owned within the county a freehold of twenty pounds, or paid a yearly rent of forty shillings, and were rated and actually paid taxes. By an act of April 9, 1811, these values were changed to corresponding smuns in the Federal currency, viz., two hundred and fifty dollars, fifty dollars, and five dollars. No discriminations were made against blacks and mulattoes, except that they were re- quired to produce authenticated certificates of freedom. Freemen of Albany and New York cities were entitled to vote for assemblymen, without the property qualification, provided they were such freemen of Albany at the time of the adoption of the constitution, and of New York, Octo- ber 14, 1775. The elective officers under the first consti- tution were those already named, and town-officers, except justices of the peace, all others being appointed by the gov- ernor and a council of appointment, which latter was com- posed of one senator from each district, openly nominated

# Leisler, resisting Govornor Sloughter's rights, was arrested for treason, condemned, and executed.

+ Sce Constitution, 1777.

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and appointed each year by the assembly, no senator being eligible two years successively. Nearly every civil, military, and judicial officer was appointed by this eouneil. In 1821, eight thousand two hundred and eighty-seven-military and six thousand six hundred and sixty-three civil officers held their commissions by its authority. The council grew arbi- trary and abused its power, wielding it oftentimes for par- tisan purposes, and henee beeame unpopular and distasteful among the people, and the constitution of 1821 abolished it without a dissenting voiee. The journals of the council fill fourteen manuseript volumes in the office of secretary of State.

The constitution last named vested the power of the eouneil of appointment, modified and restricted, in the governor and senate, extended the list of elective officers largely, and made more liberal concessions on suffrage. In 1826 an amendment was adopted by the people, making the eleetive franchise free to all white male citizens resident one year in the State, regardless of property qualifieations, the vote being 127,077 for, to 3215 against the extension, in the State; and in 1845 an amendment was adopted for the abrogation of the property qualification for office.

The time of holding the general elections was changed, under the constitution of 1821, from April to November ; and April 5, 1842, an aet was passed directing eleetions to be held in one day, on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November. The first constitution declared ministers of the gospel and priests ineligible to office, civil or military, in order " that they might have no hindranee in giving their entire attention to their sacred ealling," and the constitution of 1821 continued the disability ; but the " eloth" are eligible now to any station the people may sce fit to elevate them to. Under the constitution of 1821, the governor appointed the judicial offieers, justices of the peace being nominated to him by the boards of supervisors, and eounty judges as under the first constitution, until 1826, when the latter officials were made eleetive. Under the . first constitution the clerks of the courts were appointed by the tribunals which they served; but in 1796 the offiee was abolished, and the county clerks made ex-officio elerks of the several eourts in the counties.

Under the constitution of 1846, nearly every eivil offiee was made elective, and have remained so to the present time, the people refusing to sanction a proposition to make the judges of the courts appointive in 1873. In 1869, the people also put the stamp of their disapprobation upon a proposed artiele in the defeated constitution of 1867, for qualified suffrage.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

The constitution of the United States direets that a een- sus be taken every ten years, which has been fixed at those ending with a eipher, and after each enumeration Congress apportions the representation among the several States. Under the first constitution of New York, the apportion- ment for the State was as follows: 1789, ratio 30,000, 6 representatives ; April 14, 1792, ratio 33,000, 10; Janu- ary 14, 1802, ratio 33,000, 17; December 21, 1811, ratio 35,000, 27. Under the constitution of 1821, the appor- tionment was as follows : March 7, 1822, ratio 40,000, 34

representatives ; May 22, 1832, ratio 47,000, 40; June 25, 1842, ratio 70,680, 34. Under the present constitution, the apportionment has been as follows : July 30, 1852, ratio 93,423, 33 ; July 5, 1861, ratio 127,000, 31 ; 1872, ratio 133,000, 33.

As soon as practicable after cach apportionment, the legislature divides the State into congressional districts. In the first two divisions the districts were not numbered, the third division, in 1797, being the first one to number them. By an act of March 20, 1802, Herkimer, Oneida, and St. Lawrence were made the 15thi distriet. The aet of ereetion made Jefferson and Lewis a part of this distriet ; and April 8, 1808, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Jefferson were made the 10th district. On June 10, 1812, Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence were made the 18th ; April 17, 1822, Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Law- renee were made the 20th, and entitled to two members ; June 29, 1832, Jefferson was made the 18th ; September 6, 1842, Jefferson was made the 19th ; and July 10, 1851, Jefferson and Lewis were made the 23d. In 1862, Her- kimer, Lewis, and Jefferson were made the 20th, and in 1871 the last-named counties were constituted the 22d.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 862

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 862