USA > New York > Otsego County > History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 6
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1816 .- William Campbell, Silas Crippen, Isaac Hayes, Oliver Judd, Arunah Metealf.
1817 .- Ilenry Albert, William Campbell, Cyrenus Noble, Ilumphrey l'almer, Elijah Turuer.
1818 .- Joshua Babcock, Stukeley Ellsworth, Nathan Fenton, John Moore, David Tripp.
1819 .- John Blakeley, Seth Chase, Caleb Eldred, Thomas Howes, William Nichols.
1820 .- Samuel Callwell, Seth Chase, Willard Coye, James Hawks, Ileary Ogden.
1821 .-- Joshua Babcock, John Blakely, Caleb Eldred, Stukeley Ells- worth, David Tripp.
1822 .- John Blakeley, Calvin Brooking, George Fenno, Joseph Mum- ford, Artemas Sheklon.
The council of appointment, which was abolished by the
cach district, openly nominated and appointed each year by the assembly, and not eligible two successive years. The governor was the presiding officer, had a casting vote, and alone had the power of nomination until the constitutional convention of 1801, when concurrent power of nomination was given to the several members of the eouneil. The immense political power wielded by this body may be judged of by the fact that, in 1821, 8287 military and 6663 civil officers held their commissions from this source. So un- popular had this power become with the people, that the convention of 1821 abolished it without a dissenting voiee. Otsego County was represented in this body in 1793 by Joseph White, in 1800 by Robert Roseboom, in 1805 by Jedediah Peck, and in 1815 by Farrand Stranahan. The various county officers, except members of assembly, were appointed by this body.
COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1591 TO 1822.
SURROGATES.
Surrogates were appointed for an unlimited period. Ap- peal lay from their decisions to the court of probate, which court was abolished in 1823.
James Cannon, appointed Feb. 17, 1791.
Moses Kent, appointed March 19, 1794.
Philip Vandeveer, appointed Nov. 8, 1804.
Ferdinand Vandeveer, appointed Feb. 7, 1805.
Ambrose Clark, appointed March 10, ISOS.
Billey Williams, Jr .. appointed March 16, 1813.
Ambrose L. Jordan, appointed March 2, 1815.
Nathaniel Fenton, appointed June 17, ISIS.
William G. Angel, appointed Feb. 13, 1821.
JUDGES.
The court of common pleas was continued from the co- lonial period, and the number of judges and associate justices differed greatly in the several counties, in some the number reaching twelve. In 1818 the office of associ- ate justice was abolished, and the judges limited to five, in- cluding the first judge :
William Cooper, appointed Feb. 17, 1791.
Joseph White, appointed Oct. 20, 1800.
John C. Morris, appointed Feb. 10, 1823.
CLERKS.
Clerks were appointed as follows :
Jacob Morris, appointed Feb. 17, 1791.
John Russell, appointed Ang. 14, 1501.
Francis Henry, appointed March 5. 1813.
George Morell, appointed March 2. 1815. William Nichols, appointed Feb. 13, 1821.
By an act of the legislature of the 12th of February, 1796, the office of elerk of the court of oyer and terminer was abolished, and its duties vested in the county clerks. Seven assistant attorney-generals, for as many districts, were also directed to be appointed, who performed the duties which now devolve upon district attorneys.
SHERIFFS.
Sheriff's were appointed annually, and no person could hold the office for more than four years in succession, could hold no other office, and mist be a freeholder in the county. Richard R. Smith, appointed Feb. I7. 1291.
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Samuel Dixon, appointed March 11, 1793. Benjamin Gilbert, appointed Feb. 21, 1794. Uriah Luce, appointel Feb. 6, 1798. Benjamin Gilbert, appointed March 16, 1799. Solomon Martin, appointed March 29, 1802. Arunah Metcalf, appointe.1 Feb. 22, 1806. Benjamin Gilbert, appointed Feb. 26, 1810. Isaac Williams, Jr., appointed Feb. 26, ISII. William Sprague, appointe I Feb. 23, 1813. James Hawks, appointed Feb. 28, 1:15. Paschal Franchot, appointed March 6, 1819. Seth Chase, appointed June 5, 1820. Joseph B. Walton, appointed Feb. 12, 1821.
CONGRESSMEN.
In the seventeen congresses from the organization of the government to the apportionment under the census of 1820, Otsego was joined with other counties in the formation of districts, as follows : first, with Herkimer, Montgomery, Ontario, Tioga, and part of Albany ; in 1792, with Herki- mer, Montgomery, Ontario, Ouondaga, and Tioga. In 1797, the districts were for the first time numbered, and Otsego, Cayuga, Onondaga, Ontario, Steuben, and Tioga constituted the Tenth district. In 1802, Otsego and Dela- ware were made a distriet, and in 1812 Otsego, Chenango, and Broome constituted one district entitled to two mem- bers; and this continued until the close of the seven- teenth congress. The representatives from Otsego during this period were as follows : William Cooper, iu the Fourth and Sixth ; John Russell. Ninth and Tenth ; Arunah Met- calf, Twelfth ; William Dowse, Thirteenth. Mr. Dowse died before taking his seat. At the election to fill the vacancy, John M. Bowers and Isaac Williams, Jr., were the candi- dates. Mr. Bowers received the certificate of election from the canvassers-owing to the omission of the " Jr." from the name of Mr. Williams by the returning officers of one of the towns-and took his seat at the special session, May 24, 1813. Upon examination of the case, the House de- clared the seat vacant in favor of Mr. Williams, who took his seat at the regular session of the thirteenth congress. Mr. Williams was also eleeted to the fifteenth congress. Joseph S. Lyman was elected to the sixteenth congress, and James Hawks to the seventeenth. Mr. Lyman died before the close of his term of office.
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1821.
In January, 18221, a bill was passed by the legislature submitting to the people the question of a convention to re- vise the constitution. It was adopted, and delegates were chosen to a convention which assembled in Albany, Aug. 28, and adjourned Nov. 10, 1821. Otsego was repre- sented in that convention by Joseph Clyde, Ransom Hunt, William Park, David Tripp, and Martin Van Buren. Mr. Van Buren was at that time a resident of Albany county.
Under this constitution Otsego County furnished the following State ofbeers : Win. Campbell, surveyor-general, 1835-38; Wm. Baker. caual commissioner, 1836; George W. Little, canal commissioner, 1842; Win. H. Averell, bank commissioner. 1841.
The office of county superintendent of common schools was established in 1843 and abolished in 1857, and Jabez D. Hammond, James Hetherington, Lewis K. l'almer,
Samuel H. Grant, and Leroy E. Bowe were occupants of the office during that time.
JUDICIAL.
Appointments in the judicial department were as follows : Samuel Nelson, circuit judge in 1823, puisne julge in 1831, and chief justice in 1837. First judges of county or common pleas courts : George Morell, 1827; Jas. O. Morse, 1832; Jabez D. Hammond, 1838; Charles C. Noble, 1843. Surrogates: Wm. G. Angel, 1821 ; Elisha Foote, 1824; George A. Stark weather, 1833 ; Jas. Brackett, 1841 ; Schuyler Crippen, 1845.
SENATORIAL.
The State was divided into eight senate districts. Otsego was part of the Fifth district till 1836, and theu was trans- ferred to the Sixth. The senators from Otsego. under this constitution, were Farrand Stranahan, Stukeley Ellsworth, Levi Beardsley, Sumuer Ely.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
The number of members of assembly was fixed at 12S, and Otsego apportioned four, until the census of 1835, under which there were but three, as follows :
1823 .- William IIall, Isaac Hayes, Samuel M. Iugalls, William Utter. 1824 .- John Blakeley, Samuel Russell, David Smith, George W. Stillman.
1825 .- Henry Baker, Isaac Hayes, Oliver Judd, John Woodbury. 1826 .- Levi Beardsley, William Fitch, Isaac Hayes, David Tripp. 1827 .- William Campbell, John Judson, Sherinan Page, Samuel Stark weather.
1828 .- Joseph Clyde," Horace Lathrop," Arunah Metealf, Halazy Spencer.
1829 .- Peter Collier, William Hall, Seth Hubbard, Jr., George Morell. 1830 .- William Baker, Archibald Dixon, Samuel M. Ingalls, Jesse Rosc.
1831 .- Henry Clark, Peter Collier, Schuyler Crippen, Eben B. More- house.
1832 .- Samuel Colwell, Gilbert Cone, William Kirby, Amass Thomp- son.
1833 .- William Baker, Philo Bennett, Hiram Kinne, Robert C. Lansing.
1834 .- William Baker, Samuel S. Bowne, Ransom Spafard, William Temple.
1835 .- Joseph Carpenter, Henry Harvey, Cornelius Jones, Joseph Peck.
1836 .- Albert Benton, Sumner Ely, Ivory Holland. L. J. Walworth. 1837 .- Edmund B. Bigelow, Ivory Holland, Harvey Strong. 1838 .- Samuel Betts, Jr., John Drake, Jacob K. Lull.
1839 .- Jona. W. Brewer, Levi S. Chatfield, Daniel Gilchrist. 1840 .- Levi S. Chatfield, Charles Walker, Arnold B. Watson. 1841 .- O. C. Chamberlin, Levi S. Chatfield. Joel Gillet.
1842 .- Leonard Caryl, Levi S. Chatfield, Festus Hyde. 1843 .- Silas Burleson, John R. Griggs, Harvey Ilunt. 1844 .- George S. Gorham, William W. Snow, Nahum Thompson. 1845 .- F. B. Carpenter, Chris. D. Fellows, Harry G. Harden. 1846 .- Ebenezer Blakeley, Delos W. Dean, Beuj. Morehouse. 1847 .- Cyrus Brown. Francis U. Fenno, William Temple.
William Baker, of Springfield, was speaker in 1834, and Levi S. Chatfield, of Laurens, in 1842.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
District attorney's were appointed by the court of metal sessions in each county. The appointments in Otec were as follows: Ambrose L. Jordan, 1818; Robert Cany beli. 1820; Samuel Chase, 1821; E. B. Morehouse, 1:23: Schuyler Crippen, 1837 ; John B. Steel, 1- 15.
# These men, elected on opposite tickets, were both residents of Cherry Valley.
28
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
COUNTY CLERKS
were elected for the term of three years, commencing in 1822, as follows : William Nichols, Edward B. Crandal, Abner Cook, Jr., Horace Lathrop, George C. Clyde, Jesse Rose, Samuel Russell, George B. Willson.
SHERIFFS
were elected for three years, and ineligible for the succeed- ing term. The following is the list, commencing in 1822, viz. : Joseph B. Walton, John H. Hiser, Harvey W. Bab- eoek, Don F. Herrick, Levi Judson, Halsey Spencer, Henry Jones,* Amos Winsor, John Brown.
CONGRESSMEN.
Otsego County constituted a congressional district from 1822 to 1842, when Schoharie was added to it. The names of the representatives are given below : Eighteenth congress, Isaae Williams; Nineteenth, William G. Angel ; Twentieth, Samuel Chase ; Twenty-first and Twenty-second, William G. Augel; Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth, Sher- man Page; Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth, Jno. II. Pren- tiss; Twenty-seventh, Samuel S. Bowne ; Twenty-eighth, Jeremiah E. Cary; Twenty-ninth, the representative was from Schoharie; Thirty-fifth, Oliver O. Morse. .
ELECTORS.
Previous to 1825 the legislature chose the presidential electors. At the election in 1828 they were chosen by congressional districts, and by an act of the legislature of 1829 the present general ticket system was established. The following is the list : Thomas Brooks, 1804; Thomas Shankland, 1808; John Russell, 1812; Israel W. Clark, 1816; Farrand Stranahan, 1820; Edward B. Crandal, 1824; Elkanah Brush, 1828; Peter Collier, 1832 ; Joshua Babcock, 1836; Jacob Livingston, 1840; Lemuel Pet- tengill, 1844.
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1846.
The delegates from Otsego County to the convention which framed the existing constitution were Levi S. Chat- field, Samuel Nelson, and David B. St. John.
Otsego County has been represented in the State admin- istration since the adoption of the present constitution by Levi S. Chatfield, who was attorney-general for two ternis- from 1849 to 1853; Samuel North, eanal appraiser, 1870 to 1874; Ilezekiah Sturges, canal appraiser, appointed 1877-now iu office.
Of the regents of the University, two persons, residents of Otsego, have filled the office-Wm. Campbell and Jabez D. Hammond.
The office of State assessor has been filled by Ebenezer Blakeley-oue of the board of three whore duty it is to visit officially each county every two years and equalize the State tax among the several counties.
JUDICIAL.
In the organization of the judicial districts Otsego was included in the Sixth, and has had the following cirenit judges; Eben B. Morehouse, Schuyler Crippen, and Wil- liam W. Campbell.
* Died before the expiration of his term, and Jonas Platuer, Jr.,
COUNTY JUDGES.
James Hyde, Samuel S. Bowne, Levi C. Turner, Edwin M. Harris, Elijah E. Ferrey, Hezekiah Sturges, Samuel S. Edick, Samuel M. Bowen. Edwin Countryman was ap- pointed justice of the supreme court in 1874, and held for that year.
SURROGATES.
Hiram Kinne, Thomas McIntosh, Jr., Edward M. Card, Byron J. Scofield, J. H. Keyes.
SENATE.
In the legislative branch of the government Otsego and Chenango fornied the Eighteenth senate district until the apportionment under the census of 1855, when Otsego and Herkimer constituted the Twenty-first district. Otsego had the following senators: David H. Little, Harmon Bennett, Franeis M. Rotch, Addison M. Smith, George H. Andrews. Ebenezer Blakely occupied a seat from Jan. 2 to March 13, 1854, when the seat was vacated in favor of Adam Storing, of Chenango. Under the census of 1865, Otsego and Herkimer were continued as senate dis- triet No. 20, with the following senators from Otsego : Augustus R. Elwood, David P. Loomis, Samuel S. Edick.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
The assembly was organized in single districts, and Ot- sego apportioned three members. Under the census of 1855 the number was reduced to two. The members have been as follows :
1848 .- Benjamin Davis, O. C. Chamberlin, Elisha S. Sanders.
1849 .- L. Mortimer Gilbert, David B. St. John, Charles C. Noble. 1850 .- Ansou C. Parshall, Joseph Peck, Edward Pratt.
1851 .- Henry J. Campbell, Edwin S. Coffin, Worthington Wright. 1852 .- Hanson Wright, Erastus King, Harvey Keyes.
1853 .- Charles MeLean, Jenks S. Sprague, John C. Spafard.
1854 .- Lewis Whipple, Andrew A. Mather, St. Paul Seeley.
1855 .- Henry Il. Davy, Alonzo Churchill, William Comstoek. 1856 .- Timothy D. Bailey, Brown Dimock, Elibu C. Wright.
1857 .- Samuel II. Grant, Charles W. Tallett, George M. Hollis. 1858 .- Charles MeLean, David M. Hard.
1859 .- Geo. F. Longenhelt, David B. St. John.
1860 .- Ezra S. Whipple, David B. St. Jobu.
1861 .- Elijah E. Ferrey, Frederick A. Bolles.
1>62 .- Leroy E. Bowe, Cor. A. Church. 1863 .- William Brooks, Cor. A. Church.
1864 .- James Young, George MI. Hollis.
1465 .- Luther I. Burditt, George M. Hollis.
1866 .- Luther I. Burditt, Shethield Harrington.
1867 .- Elgar B. Clark, Shethell llarrington.
1568 .- Myron J. Hubbard. Wiu. C. Bentley.
1869. - Wm. W. Campbell. Clifford S. Arms.
1870 .- James Young, Win. W. Snow.
1.71 .- Alfred Chamberlin, J. Lee Tucker.
1872 .- James Stewart, John Cope.
1.73 .- Wm. II. Ely, Henry Thorp.
1574 .- Wm. 11. Ely, James E. Cooke.
1.75 .- Jas. S. Davenport, George Seramling.
15;6 .- Jas. S. Davenport, Simeon R. Barnes.
1877 .- Azro Chase, Daniel F. Pattengal.
SHERIFFS.
John Brown, Jonas Platner. Jr., Seth HI. Field, Harmon Edmonds, Thomas Heath. Andrew A. Mather, William Comstock, Harvey W. Brown, Daniel Franklin, Alexander HI. Benedict, Peter Barton.
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29 .
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
De Witt C. Bates, Elijah Brown, Louis L. Bundy, Edwin Countryman, James A. Lynes, Samuel S. Edick, Samuel A. Bowen (two terms), Philor Benedict.
CLERKS.
Charles MeLean, Samuel North, Wm. C. Fields, George W. Ernst, Augustus R. Elwood, David A. Avery, Don F. Lidell, Stephen Estes,* E. Delavan Hills, Walter H. Bunn (two terms).
TREASURERS.
Previous to the present constitution the office was filled under appointment by the board of supervisors. For about thirty years previous to 1848, the office was held by Henry Phinney, who succeeded his father, Elihu Phinney, and who was probably the first treasurer of the county. Papers dated 1797 are ou file made out by him as treas- urer. The office has been held by the following persons by election : John L. MeNamee, Charles J. Stillman, Edwin M. Harris, Dorr Russell, James I. Hendryx, Hor- ace Lathrop, David A. Avery, Marcus Field, Frederick L. Palmer.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Since this office was made elective in 1856, the follow- ing persons have been elected in the distriets of Otsego, as follows : First distriet, -- Albert G. Tuthill, Nelson O. Wen- dell, Charles F. Thompson, Julius R. Thompson, Charles F .. Thompson ; two terms, Nahum T. Brown, Albert G. Tuthill. Second district,-Milo H. Gross, Henry T. Har- ris, Martin Shepherd, William Church, Henry R. Wash- bon, Benjamin C. Gardner, Eli R. Clinton, Jr., Warren L. Baker, Edward E. Beals.
CONGRESSMEN.
Under the census of 1850, Otsego and Delaware were united in a congressional district. Chenango was added under the census of 1860. Representatives from Otsego were George A. Starkweather, William W. Snow, Richard Franchot, William C. Fields, David Wilber.
ELECTORS.
Lyman J. Walworth, in 1852; Ebenezer Blakeley, in 1864; Edmuud A. Ward, in 1876.
CHAPTER XIII. BENCH AND BAR.
THE following persons constituted the members of the Otsego County bar, January, 1823, at the time G. A. Starkweather was admitted, viz. : Cherry Valley,-Jabez D. Hammond, Oliver Morse, Levi Beardsley, Isaac Seeley, Alvan Stewart, James Bracket, Horace Lathrop, and George C. Clyde ; Cooperstown,-Robert Campbell, Sam- uel Starkweather, Ambrose L. Jordan, E. B. Morehouse, Farrand Stranahan, Joseph Lyman, George Morell, and William H. Averell. Joseph Rice, of Milford ; Sherman Paige and Henry Ogden, of Unadilla ; John Cox Morris, of Butternuts; William G. Angel, of Burlington ; Schuy-
ler Crippin, James Hyde, Daniel Andrus, and Veder Green, of Richfield ; Henry Brown, of Springfield ; Elijah Terry, of Maryland. The following were admitted subse- queut to 1823, namely, Jeremiah E. Carey, Edwin Coun- tryman, Wills S. Hammond, De Witt C. Bates, Richard Cooper, Levi C. Turner, Jerome B. Wood, Lyman J. Walworth, Abraham Becker, James E. Dewey, Levi S. Chatfield, Samuel S. Bowne, James Davis, Cutter Field, Nathaniel Moak, Abner Cook, and Charles Noble, all dead except Dewey, Moak, Countryman, Carey, and Chatfield. The three former are in practice in Albany, and the two latter in the city of New York.
ROBERT CAMPBELL was a graduate of Union college, and oue of the oldest meiubers of the Otsego bar. Unassum- ing in deportment, a man of few words, seldom addressed the jury upon the facts in the case, but his opinion upon questions of law was held to be final and conclusive, and his opinion was frequently asked by the court in the trial of causes. He was a man of striet integrity, and was held in the highest estimation, especially by the younger mem- bers of the bar. He was familiarly called " honest Bob."
SAMUEL STARKWEATHER and AMBROSE L. JORDAN soon became the leading members of the Otsego bar, and retained that position during their practice. Jordan was a tall, slim, symmetrically-built man, and pleasing in his manners; Starkweather was a man strongly proportioned, of dark complexion, dark eyes and hair, with a massive head, and every feature of his face indicative of strong will and energetie action. In natural eloquence Jordan occupied the first rank; but in elose logical reasoning Starkweather was by far his superior. The former kept the attention and won upon the jury by figures and tropes ; the latter pressed home his argument continually and forced conviction. Jordan often brought his pleading into play with the imagination ; Starkweather kept his plead- ing ever bearing upon the intelleet. Jordan often turned from the jury to indulge in personal allusions to worry his opponent; Starkweather seldom indulged in satire, but when he did it always, like the bee, left its sting behind. Jordan was often playful and diffuse; Starkweather always elear and methodical. They were both mien of mark, and would have been marked men before any tribu- nal. Jordan left Otsego for Hudson about 1824, and from Hudson to the city of New York. Stark weather left for Europe in 1831.
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JABEZ D. HAMMOND Wrote the political history of the State of New York. He was a gentlemau of the old school, a man of learning and ability, highly esteemed, frank and independent iu his opinions, plain and without guile, strong and reliable ; was judge of Otsego County ; a good elemen- tary lawyer, and had many warm friends.
OLIVER MORSE was a well-educated man, a good lawyer; was also judge of the county court for several years ; a quan of ability.
LEVI BEARDSLEY was State senator for some six or eight years ; a gentleman of fine address, and a most gevial com- panion.
ISAAC SEELEY was a first-class lawyer. His arguments, whether upon questions of law or facts, were compact and logical. An incident occurred in a case he was trying, in
> John March was appointed in 1866 ride Estes, deceased.
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30
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
which his father was a witness. Isaac called him to the stand, and put him a question which seemed to indicate a wish for an affirmative answer. The venerable old man answered, " Isane, it is possible such a conversation may have occurred, but I have no recollection of it, and can't swear to any such thing." " Oh," says Isaac, " you know, father, I would not wish you to testify to anything you don't clearly recollect." He answered, " I don't believe you would, Isaac."
ALVAN STEWART .- But of all the lawyers at the bar at the time we speak of, Alvan Stewart was the most remarkable. He was not noted for his ability as an elementary lawyer, but for his wit, drollery, and ridicule. Stewart was about six feet three inches in height ; loosely made, large bones, long arıns, with large blue eyes, which he would roll about upon the audience in a sort of stare ; awkward in his move- ments, and careless in his dress. His very appearance would raise a laugh. His powers of ridicule were beyond all con- ception. In an action brought by Starkweather in favor of Swain Seward, against a man by the name of Moore, Stewart appeared for the defendant. It was an aggravated case of slander, and a respectable verdict ought to have been rendered by the jury. Stewart had contrived to get the fact out that Swain had dug for money in the Blenheim moun- tains, and that he also understood palmistry. Swain hap- pened to sit directly in front of Stewart while addressing the jury. After making a few remarks applicable to the case, Stewart starts Swain off, with a crowbar upon his shoulder and a hazel switch in his hand, for the Blenheim mountains, to dig for hidden treasure in the bowels of the earth. By and by there was a dip of the hazel switch, and Swain laid down the switch and weut to work with the erowbar. In the mean time a storm had arisen, and it thundered and lightened, and the stubborn oaks beut beneath the blast, but Swain kept at his work with the crowbar, Stewart drawing back his long arms and imitating the manner in which Swain was digging into the bowels of the carth. By and by Swain hits the chest containing the treasure sought, and he eries out " Eureka !" at the top of his voice, which made the whole court-room, even the judge on the bench, start ; and the instant of time Swain struck the chest, the devil, his co-worker, seized hold of the ring of the chest, and it went chink, chink, chink, into another part of the mountain, and it was gone. Stewart was solemn and grave during the whole time, and looked as though he had suddenly appeared from the lower region. After breathing a while he proceeds, " Gentlemen of the jury, that is Swain, sitting there," pointing to him ; " he under- stands palmistry. He can tell by this line in the hand how many children your wife will have, how many of them will be boys, and how many gals. He can tell you by this line in the hand whether the oldest gal will marry a miller or a doctor, a clergyman or a tailor, a tall man or a short man, a man with a broad-brimmed hat or a narrow-brimmed hat." Every person in the court-house was in a perfect roar of laughter, and the result was, a verdiet of six cents.
HON, EBEN B. MOREHOUSE was born in Ihillsdale, county of Columbia, in this State, in the year 1791. The delicacy of his constitution while a youth was such as to induce his friends to believe that he would fall an carly
victim to an hereditary consumption ; and for that cause he was, at an early age, taken from a boarding-school and placed in the office of a medical practitioner, as it was thought the exercise incident to the practice of physic would be the most sovereign, and, indeed, the only means of giving health and vigor to his slender constitution,
At the age of sixteen, he therefore entered upon the study of medicine, as he said, with the same cheerfulness that he would have received from the hands of a nurse or physician a dose of medicine he was designed to mix for others; although the practice of medicine, as he felt satisfied, would be distasteful to him, yet he was fond of the science as a study and pursued it with great diligence and pleasure, and received from the State medical society, in February of 1812, a diploma to practice as a physician and surgeon in this State. He commenced business as such at Caugh- nawaga, county of Montgomery, and while there practiced with marked success, and secured the respect and high esteem of the citizens of that locality. Intending, however, to change his residence to a larger town, he accepted, in 1813, an offer to be attached to a regiment of militia marching from that county to Sacket's Harbor, for service in the war then pending with Great Britain.
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