USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 27
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(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
John G. Gibson
William K. Harvey
Richard W. Sherman
(Rep.)
(D'em.)
(People'e)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
John G. Gibson
Jobn L. Earll
Jobn G. Gibson
Thomas E. Kinney
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Dem.)
158
L. H. Shattuck
ST.
223
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
1890
1892
1893
1895
1897
1899
Willard D. Ball
A. T. Goodwin
Thomas W. Spencer
Thomas Wheeler
176
159
206
166
157
206
166
188
130
210
00
99
250
83
299
174
256
271
184
269
222
278
242
262
7
377
342
186
407
545
495
581
543
614
591
466
618
550
8
314
682
219
727
679
673
885
708
988
553
738
603
842
co
342
682
235
655
687
683
735
574
846
490
674
561
612
10
228
194
74
227
302
249
252
231
321
251
290
208
302
11
305
244
135
379
303
368
377
378
392
436
352
434
423
12
526
310
172
599
490
624
556
579
583
414
397
435
371
13
..
..
Total . 3,058 4,222 1,482 4,932 4,445 4,950 5,013 4,476 5,633 5,364 5,283 5,473 5,560
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
Wards
1
62
217
53
221
82
185
117
165
121
114
2
385
394
261
546
430
407
430
481
356
505
3
434
338
387
486
497
346
562
306
457
351
4
320
344
273
378
387
310
441
277
366
348
5
170
217
174
230
223
247
216
196
191
256
6
248
268
183
369
214
328
259
329
234
374
7
566
724
478
876
776
691
866
692
776
717
8
601
946
696
1,038
742
1,090
1,071
973
783
1,272
9
512
705
377
899
585
717
699
656
614
725
10
206
354
188
400
274
366
342
279
245
340
11
446
441
466
534
436
504
527
470
509
511
12
397
450
325
592
506
456
600
453
534
520
13
308
300
301
326
352
312
444
343
413
429
14
242
243
221
332
311
281
352
303
328
400
15
441
329
325
440
474
337
606
289
427
414
. .
...
. ..
...
214
189
267
201
15
415
298
421
280
Morris J. Davies
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
James Dwyer
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
{Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
George Beatty
Richard W. Shermen
Thomas Wheeler
Thomas E. Kinney
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
Wards
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(People'e)
(Rep.)
N. E. Kernan
(Dem.)
Thomas Wheeler
John G. Gibson
John L. Farll
John G. Gibson
(Dem.)
John G. Gibson
William K. Harvey
Richard W. Sherman
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
5
244
40
414
397
274
267
14
Charles A. Talcott
Thomas S. Jones
Thomas Wheeler
Frederick Gillmore
Charles A. Talcott
Total 5,338 6,270 4,606 7,667 6,289 6,577 7,532 6,212 6,354 7,276
224
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
1911
Wards
1
197
84
3
. ..
..
..
3
331
492
18
8
5
4
279
366
11
4
3
5
212
220
1
1
6
313
252
21
2
5
7
601
993
37
9
11
8
1,258
752
54
12
9
9
626
643
100
5
3
10
314
311
11
4
3
11
436
652
34
2
5
12
545
549
15
5
5
13
472
459
31
7
15
14
324
427
61
2
3
15
318
558
14
4
3
Total
6,750
7,097
440
65
72
James D. Smith
(Dem.)
Frank J. Baker
(Rep.)
(Soc.)
James D. Smith
Frank J. Baker
2
524
329
30
Otto L. Endres
(Ind. League)
(Pro.)
ROME
The village of Rome was incorporated in 1819, with the following boundaries, to-wit: "Commencing at the junction of the Erie canal with Wood creek, near the white house called the 'Clark house,' and thence down the canal to the west line of George house; thence on a line of said farm to a poplar tree south of the old canal; thence to the east corner of Fiero's barn; thence to the north corner of Jacob Tibbits's barn; thence north to the east corner of Bloomfield's garden; thence northward to Wood creek; thence down the creek to the place of beginning."
There seems to have been a local pride in having one of the largest incor- porated villages in the state, rather than to be one of the smallest cities, which evidently deterred the citizens of Rome for some time in making application for a city charter; but, after its population had reached more than ten thou- sand, it was thought advisable to incorporate it as a city. The last census taken of the village of Rome was that of 1865, when it showed a population of 9,478. There was from that time onward a gradual but not rapid growth, as is shown by the census, which has been taken generally every five years. There does not seem to have been anything of great importance to record in regard to the vil- lage corporation between its organization and its being incorporated as a city. The important events which occurred in the territory known as the "town and village of Rome" are mostly recorded in other parts of this work. The present chapter has to do especially with the corporate life of the village and city.
Rome in 1802.
-
: 1
Fort.
Stanwix.
Mohawk.
-
Kiver.
Locks.
CANAL
Canal of the inland Vivigations Co.
225
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
In 1853 the village was divided into three wards, the portion east of James street being the first ward; that west of James street and south of Liberty the second ward; that west of James and north of Liberty the third ward.
It appears from the history written by Mr. Wager that the trustees of the village from 1820 to 1834, inclusive, were the following persons, viz:
1820-21-George Huntington, Elijah Worthington, Stephen White, Elisha Walsworth, Numa Leonard.
1822-Same, except Wheeler Barnes was elected in the place of Stephen White.
1823-Wheeler Barnes, Joshua Hathaway, Simon Matteson, George Brown, Denis Davenport.
1824-25-Wheeler Barnes, Arden Seymour, Simon Matteson, George Brown, Numa Leonard.
1826-George Huntington, John W. Bloomfield, Jay Hathaway, Elisha Wals- worth, Henry A. Foster.
1827-John W. Bloomfield, George Huntington, Henry A. Foster, Martin Galusha, Jay Hathaway.
1828-J. W. Bloomfield, Jay Hathaway, H. A. Foster, Seth B. Roberts, Arden Seymour.
1829-J. W. Bloomfield, Jay Hathaway, Seth B. Roberts, Francis Bicknell, Lyman Briggs.
1830-Alanson Bennett, Bela B. Hyde, Noah Draper, James Merrills, Syl- vester Wilcox.
1831-Bela B. Hyde, Henry Tibbits, James Merrills, Sylvester Wilcox, Jo- seph B. Read.
1832-A. Bennett, Alva Whedon, James Merrills, Francis Bicknell, Jay Hathaway.
1833-No record.
1834-Jesse Armstrong, John Stryker, Alva Mudge, Samuel B. Stevens, Virgil Draper.
From 1835 to 1849, inclusive, the records of the village have been lost or misplaced, and it is impossible to give the trustees for those years. From 1850 to 1869 they were as follows:
1850-Edward Huntington, Oliver J. Grosvenor, Andrew J. Rowley, Stephen VanDresar, Henry C. Mallory.
1851-52-Enoch B. Armstrong, Roland S. Doty, Woodman Kimball, Sanford Adams, Marquis D. Hollister.
1853-President, Alanson Bennett. 1st ward, H. S. Armstrong, E. A. Gage, E. M. Hinkley; 2d ward, Stephen VanDresar, J. Lewis Grant, Publius V. Rogers; 3d ward, M. L. Kenyon. Zaccheus Hill, Henry Hayden.
1854-President, B. J. Beach. 1st ward, Gordon N. Bissell, James L. Wat- kins, A. McCune; 2d ward, J. L. Grant, M. Burns, Richard Peggs; 3d ward, James Walker, S. Scofil, C. P. Williams.
1855-President, Marquis L. Kenyon. 1st ward, Harrison Jacobs, E. A. Gage, Moses Wingate; 2d ward, Michael Burns, Henry T. Utley, Eri Seymour ; 3d ward, R. G. Savery, J. H. Gilbert, M. L. Brainard.
1856-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, A. W. Cole, Joseph Higgins, Vol. I-15
226
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
Robert Whitworth; 2d ward, H. H. Pope, J. J. Armstrong, John Ward; 3d ward, A. H. Edgerton, Edward Dickinson, John J. Parry.
1857-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, Henry O. Southworth, Robert Whitworth, Jacob P. Hager; 2d ward, John Ward, Thomas H. Pond, Daniel Hager; 3d ward, A. H. Edgerton, George W. Taft, Edward Smith.
1858-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, Henry O. Southworth, Paul Schneible, Robert Whitworth; 2d ward, John Ward, Daniel Hager, Glen Petrie; 3d ward, A. H. Edgerton, G. W. Taft, Edward Smith.
1859-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, Alva Mudge, H. C. Case, H. C. Mallory; 2d ward, H. H. Pope, John Ward, D. Hager; 3d ward, A. H. Edger- ton, E. P. Wait, R. E. Lee.
1860-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, Charles F. Bissell, Henry C. Mallory, Nathaniel Hazelton; 2d ward, H. H. Pope, Adam Kochersperger, John O'Neil; 3d ward, Robinson E. Smiley, N. Hyde Leffingwell, Zaccheus Hill.
1861-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, H. C. Mallory, Jason Rastizer, George Merrill; 2d ward, A. K. Adams, H. H. Pope, Peter Quinn; 3d ward, William J. Walker, Daniel Cady, Nicholas Moran.
1862-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, H. C. Mallory, M. W. Rowe, Peter Rothmund; 2d ward, H. H. Pope, A. K. Adams, Peter Quinn; 3d ward, Z. Hill, E. A. Allen, Jeptha Matteson.
1863-President, George Barnard. 1st ward, D. B. Prince, H. Edmonds, R. Whiteworth ; 2d ward, H. H. Pope, A. K. Adams, Thomas Flanagan; 3d ward, J. Matteson, Z. Hill, E. A. Allen.
1864-President, David Utley. 1st ward, M. Maloney, Martin Seger, Daniel L. Ketcham; 2d ward, John Harrington, John Spellicy, Peter Quinn; 3d ward, James Walker, John D. Ely, Harvey D. Spencer.
1865-President, E. B. Armstrong. 1st ward, Joseph Higgins, Orson Knowl- ton, James Elwell; 2d ward, John Reifert, John Hook, Thomas Flanagan; 3d ward, Samuel Wardwell, James Walker, G. H. Lynch.
1866-President, George Barnard, Jr. 1st ward, H. O. Southworth, Orson Knowlton, Joseph Higgins; 2d ward, John Reifert, John Hook, Thomas Flan- agan; 3d ward, James Walker, Lewis Gaylord, Sylvester F. Tremain.
1867-President, James Stevens. 1st ward, Lawrence Gaheen, James Elwell, Peter Rothmund; 2d ward, Nicholas Kapfer, Thomas Flanagan, John Spellicy; 3d ward, Griffith W. Jones, Lewis Gaylord, William Jackson.
1868-President, James Stevens. 1st ward, Peter Rothmund, James H. Carroll, George H. Brodock; 2d ward, Henry W. Tibbits, Fred Rostizer, Thomas W. Edwards; 3d ward, William Jackson, Lewis Gaylord, B. W. Williams.
1869-President, Edward L. Stevens. 1st ward, James H. Carroll; 2d ward, John Spellicy ; 3d ward, Ackley B. Tuller. A portion of the old board held over this year, according to the new regulations for the election of trustees.
Rome was incorporated as a city by an act entitled "An Act to Incorporate the City of Rome," passed February 23, 1870. Municipal elections were held in the spring from 1870 to 1903, when the two great parties would present their respective candidates; and, as Rome has naturally been Democratic, the Demo- cratic party has been in control most of the time since it received its city charter. The first Republican mayor elected in Rome was E. Stuart Williams, in 1891.
Calvert Comstock 1870
Samuel B. Stevens 1875
Edward L. Stevens 1877
Edward Comstock 1881-1885
James Stevens 1887-1889
E. Stuart Williams 1891
Samuel Gillette 1893
MAYORS OF ROME
227
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
In 1895 Dr. W. J. P. Kingsley, Republican, was elected, and re-elected in 1897. Thomas G. Nock, Republican, was elected in 1903. In 1909 a curious political situation existed in Rome. Judge William E. Scripture had been renominated for justice of the Supreme Court by the Republicans, and it was desired that he should obtain as large a vote in Rome as possible. To that end an arrange- ment was made by which A. R. Kessinger, the then Democratic mayor, should be renominated by the Democrats and nominated by the Republicans, which was done, and Mr. Kessinger was of course, elected. In 1911 the Republican city convention nominated Stewart E. Townsend for mayor and Adolph F. Moldt for president of the common council. The Democrats nominated Leon V. Jones for mayor and Alfred L. Evenden for president of the common council. The Republican party was successful, Mr. Townsend receiving a plurality of 250 for mayor, and Mr. Moldt a majority of 125 for president of the common council.
VOTES ON MAYORS OF ROME.
1870
1873
1875
1877
1879
1881
Wards
130
91
249
143
264
169
307
193
314 . 209
298
186
2
256
223
200
127
-264
100
267
140
260
170
247
106
3
301
147
285
139
363
106
309
265
322
226
363
148
4
231
150
179
192
275
103
220
237
229
214
232
209
5
201
380
19'
297
245
265
214
332
260
322
209
331
Total
1,209
991 1,110
898 1,411
743 1,317 1,167 1,385 1,146 1,349
980
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
-Wards
262
129
364
182
369
430
250
19
366
358
236
113
325
116
360
7
317
158
9
166
301
11
3
336
109
398
167
349
26
490
115
=
271
361
14
4
282
152
279
198
272
32
284
268
28
201
378
16
5
210
252
213
336
184
119
180
361
31
164
496
21
Total .1,326 755 1,579
999 1,534 227 1,701 1,152
95 1,168 1,894
85
Calvert Comstock
Edward Huntington
George Merrell
(Dem.)
Alfred Ethridge
Samuel B. Stevens
W. J. P. Kingsley
Edward L. Stevens
Alfred Ethridge
George Barnard
(Dem.)
E. Evans
Edward Cometock
W. J. P. Kingsley
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
( Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
F. E. Mitchell
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep. )
Tames Stevens
(Dem.)
(Pro.)
(Dem.)
(Rep. )
(Pro.)
(Dem.)
(Rep. )
(Pro.)
M. R. Jones
James Stevens
Tames C. Smith
R. M. Bingham
Geo. P. Rusg
E. Stuart Williams
Z. R. Evans
G. W. Jones
Edward Comstock
G. W. G. Kinney
228
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
Samuel Gillette
351
286
19
286
379
340
357
23
417 273
424 220
394 262
157
56
3
399
176
12
256
306
295
272
=
437
291
321
277
54
4 287
264
14
230
328
243
328
16
322
306
255
362
37
5 267
380
25
225
428
222
471
33
355
422
251
495
37
1,610 1,234
79 1,165 1,727 1,329 1,641
91 1,804 1,663 1,489 1,678
213
1903
1905
1907
1- Wards
416
444
210
2
341
196
22
3
243
173
26
9
8
3
359
307
7
348
290
27
12
361
256
16
=
11
4
301
355
20
348
311
15
20
344
305
29
=
19
5
304
570
12
178
247
11
13
206
222
40
2
20
6
. .
189
238
11
7
201
193
21
5
8
7
223
181
30
10
289
169
25
4
14
Total .1,689 1,886
52 1,764 1,604
129
61 1,832 1,463
180
47
84
1909
1911
A. R. Kessinger
A. R. Kessinger
{Rep. )
(Soc.)
(Pro.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Soc.)
(Ind. League) S. D. Townsend
-Wards
157
109
9
9
20
225
211
19
2
3
282
256
12
104
366
289
29
4
192
244
32
247
328
413 377
10
3
6
130
229
11
124
196
280
11
1
7
195
189
12
99
260
230
13
3
Total
1,269 1,425
99
911 1,731 1,961
133
15
9
168
286
229
213
00
Abner S. White
W. L. Kingsley
H. Barnard Sr.
H. A. Caswell
(Pro.)
LO Warde
(Dem.)
(Rep. )
(Pro.)
(Dem. )
(Rep. )
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Pro.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
387
29
306
128
`T. G. Nock
(Pro.) Chas. Root
DA. R. Kessinger
Thos. G. Nock
Martin Woodell
Richard A. Putnam
A. R. Kesginger
C. R. Edwards
{Rep. )
Thoe. P. Scully
Mertin Woodell
(Soc.)
R. A. Putnam
9
306
(Rep.)
(Dem.)
(Rep.)
(Soc. Dem. )
(Pro.)
(Dem.)
00 188
145
5
A
237
141
13
Martin Woodell
Dean S. Bedford
Leon V. Jones
164
161
15
4
5
146
218
6
196
192
S. E. Townsend
T. B. Metcalf
(Pro.)
(Dem.) P. H. Grogan
T. W. Singleton
J. P. MeHarg
Jerome Graves
W. J. P. Kingsley
D. F. Searle
W. J. P. Kingsley
B. S. Fox
Town Officers-From time to time the officers of the towns have been changed, but all of the laws which preceded the consolidated laws of 1909 have been
(Dem.)
167
180
36
2
(Ind. League)
Dr. W. J. P. Kingsley 1895-1897
Abner S. White 1899
Hedding A. Caswell 1901
A. R. Kessinger 1905-1907-1909
Thomas G. Nock 1903
Stewart E. Townsend 1911
MAYORS OF ROME
229
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
repealed or superseded by this act. This is the town law of the consolidated laws and is known as chapter 63 of the laws of 1909, and is chapter 62 of the consoli- dated laws, as enacted in that year. The town officers are now elected biennially, and they consist of supervisor, town clerk, two justices of the peace, three asses- sors, one clerk, one or two overseers of the poor, not more than five constables, and one superintendent of highways. There are some provisions for an increase of officers in the large towns. It is also provided in the consolidated act that at any election for the raising of money by tax or assessment women who are taxed have the right to vote.
Villages-Chapter 64 of the consolidated law provides for the creation and control of villages. The requirement is that the territory shall not exceed one square mile, and that there shall be not less than 200 inhabitants. Villages are divided into four classes by article 3, section 40, of the act, as follows: First, those with 5,000 or more population; second, 3,000 and less than 5,000 popula- tion; third, 1,000 and less than 3,000 population; fourth, less than 1,000 popula- tion. The officers of villages are president, treasurer, clerk and two trustees. It is also provided that in large villages trustees may be elected by wards. Many of the villages of the state have been organized by special charters, and this is true of some in this county. Under this general provision of the consolidated laws any village incorporated by special charter may re-incorporate under the general law, as provided in article 13 section 300. As a general proposition it is much better to be incorporated under the general statute than under any private act. One reason for this is that all the villages are controlled by the same officials and in the same manner, whereas, under special charters powers of officers might be very different, and a decision of the court in one case would not be conclusive on the same questions arising under different charters.
The incorporated villages within the county at the end of 1911 are as follows :
Oriskany Falls
Town of Augusta
Boonville
Town of Boonville
Bridgewater Town of Bridgewater
Camden Town of Camden
Forestport Town of Forestport
Town of Kirkland Clinton
Waterville Partly in Sangerfield and partly in Marshall
Town of New Hartford New Hartford
Clayville
Town of Paris
Remsen
Town of Remsen and Trenton
Trenton
Town of Trenton
Holland Patent Town of Trenton
Prospect
Town of Trenton
Vernon
. Town of Vernon
Town of Vernon Oneida Castle
New London
. Town of Verona
Sylvan Beach Town of Vienna
Whitesboro
Town of Whitestown
Town of Whitestown Yorkville
CHAPTER XXI
COURTS, BENCH AND BAR
During the early history of the state of New York no locality in the state contributed more, according to its population, than did Oneida county in fur- nishing able and conscientious men for high official positions. These. men were among the foremost in framing the constitution and statutes of the state, and, through the courts, in laying down those fundamental rules of law that have since been a guide to courts, legislators and lawyers.
The county of Oneida was erected by an act passed March 15, 1798, by which act provision was made for holding courts in the county and for the erection of a court house and jail. The first court of record held within what is now Oneida county convened at the "Meeting House" in the town of Whitestown on the third Tuesday in January, 1794. Henry Staring was judge, and Jedediah Sanger and Amos Wetmore justices. The meeting house referred to was the Presbyterian church at New Hartford village. This was the only meeting house then existing within the county, and the village of New Hartford was then within the town of Whitestown.
Soon after the formation of the county in 1798, Jedediah Sanger, Hugh White, James Dean, David Ostrom and George Huntington were commissioned judges, and Amos Wetmore, Thomas Casety, Garret Boon, Adrian F. Vander- Kemp, Elizur Moseley, Henry McNeil, Peter Colt and Needham Maynard assist- ant justices. John Lansing, Jr., chief justice, held the first circuit court in Oneida county at Fort Stanwix (Rome) on the second Tuesday in September, 1798. James Kent, afterwards author of "Kent's Commentaries," a justice of the Supreme Court, held the first court of Oyer and Terminer at Rome, June 5, 1798. The first court of common pleas was held by Judges Sanger, Hunting- ton and Ostrom. At this term attorneys, who had been admitted to the bar in Herkimer county, were admitted to practice in Oneida county courts. They were: Thomas R. Gold, Joseph Kirkland, Arthur Breese, Erastus Clark, Joshua Hathaway, Jacob Griswold, Nathan Williams, Francis A. Bloodgood, Jonas Platt, Rufus Easton and Medal Curtis.
From about 1802 sessions of the United States District Court have been held in Utica, and the United States Circuit Court has held stated sessions here since July, 1851.
The Supreme Court of Judicatory held sessions in Utica during its entire existence. A lawyer attending one of these sessions in 1820, in describing the court, mentions the eminent personages who were present. He says: "Chief Justice Spencer presided, with Judges VanNess, Platt, Yates and Woolworth
230
231
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
as associates. Among the eminent counsel present were Aaron Burr, Thomas J. Oakley, Martin Van Buren and Elisha Williams."
By statute, provision for a court house was made to be built in Rome, to be located within one mile of the fort-Stanwix-and in 1800 Dominick Lynch donated a site for the court house and jail. The buildings were constructed on the site donated, and their location has never been changed. Hugh White do- nated the site for the same county buildings at Whitesboro in the year 1801. The jail at Whitesboro was completed before that at Rome, and also before the court house at Whitesboro, and the first session of the court of common pleas was held in a schoolhouse at Whitesboro in May, 1802. When the jail at Whites- boro was completed the court ordered all Oneida county prisoners confined in the Herkimer jail transferred to Whitesboro. The Whitesboro court house is still standing, and is used as a town and village hall. The first court house built at Rome was burned in 1847, but was immediately rebuilt, and was enlarged in 1897, and again in 1902-3. In 1806 an act was passed authorizing courts to be held alternately in Rome and Whitesboro. This arrangement continued until Utica had so far outstripped Whitesboro in population that it was more con- venient for litigants to come to Utica than to Whitesboro, and provision was made for the holding of courts in Utica instead of Whitesboro.
In 1813 the regents of the university granted a charter for an academy in Utica, and it was proposed by certain residents of Utica to erect a building for the purposes of an academy, a court house and a public hall. A portion of the money for the building was raised by subscription, and John R. Bleecker and Charles E. Dudley gave "two village lots valued at five hundred dollars for the site." The building was erected on the site donated on the westerly side of Chancellor square. In 1851 a new court house was built on John street directly in the rear of the old one, and a new academy was built by the city on the lot formerly occupied by the old academy and court house. The John street court house was rebuilt about 1868, and was used by the county until a public demand was made for better accommodations. The increase of population and of in- dustries caused a large increase of business in all the county offices; moreover, the county clerk's office was located on Genesee street, a long distance from the court house, was totally inadequate to the wants of the county, and was not a fireproof building, and it was realized that the valuable records of the county were liable to be destroyed should a fire occur in the building. This subject was taken up by the Utica chamber of commerce, and a resolution was adopted providing for the appointment of a committee to present the subject to the board of supervisors. The committee consisted of Henry J. Cookinham, Josiah Perry and Smith M. Lindsley. The committee performed its duty, and the board of supervisors, in the winter of 1901, took steps looking to the building of a new court house, and a resolution was passed appointing a committee to pro- ceed with the work. Just at this time, and principally through the influence of Hon. John C. Davies, then attorney general of the state, a special act of the legislature was passed creating a board of commissioners for the erection of a new court house in Utica. This commission consisted of seven Republicans and seven Democrats, seven commissioners being lawyers, and seven being business men. Their names were Henry J. Cookinham, W. Stuart Walcott, Edwin H.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
Risley, Josiah Perry, VanRensselaer Weaver, Frederick T. Proctor, Alfred H. Munson, Albert R. Kessinger, James P. Olney, Henry W. Bentley, Byron A. Curtis, Leslie W. Kernan, Smith M. Lindsley and George E. Norton. Mr. Walcott declined to serve, and William G. Mayer was elected in his place; Leslie W. Kernan died, and Thomas S. Jones was elected in his place; Henry W. Bent- ley, who had acted as chairman of the commission up to the time of his death, also died, and Henry B. Belknap was elected a commissioner in his place, and Henry J. Cookinham was elected chairman. Sylvester Dering was the efficient clerk of the Commission. The board of supervisors, which, by general statute had the power to erect a court house, opposed the commission and refused to issue bonds of the county to furnish money for the building as the special act required. The Court of Appeals sustained the commission in a proceeding to compel the supervisors to issue the bonds, and, after a bitter legal fight, the work proceeded and the building was completed in 1909. The court house is located between Mary, Charlotte and Elizabeth streets, and with the lot and the fur- nishings cost nearly a million dollars. The plan was procured in the following manner. The commission selected fourteen different architects to prepare plans to be submitted to the board under fictitious names. These plans were first to be submitted to Prof. Ware, who was at the head of the department of architect- ure in Columbia University. He was to examine them and give his opinion as to their respective merits, and then the commission was to make the selection. After a most careful examination, lasting about three weeks, the commission voted unanimously in favor of No. 9. When the small envelope which contained the true name of the architect was opened, the name was found to be "Cutter, Turner & Ward" of Boston. The building was constructed according to the general plan submitted, but some changes were made, regretfully, by the com- mission, because they had not sufficient money to carry out every detail as planned. It is one of the most convenient and beautiful court houses in the entire country. The first session of the Supreme Court was opened in this building by Justice Irving R. Devendorf on the 21st day of September, 1908, before the building was entirely completed.
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