Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 13

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > New York > Orleans County > Landmarks of Orleans County, New York > Part 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

123

ORLEANS COUNTY.

John Gilbert Sawyer is a native of Vermont and born at Brandon June 5, 1825. He is the eldest but one of seven children of John F. and Mary J. Sawyer. In 1831 the family removed to Western New York, settling at Knowlesville, where the father was a carpenter and joiner. John G. Sawyer was educated in the district schools and at the Hillville Academy, in preparation for a collegiate course. To secure the latter he went to Kentucky and later to Arkansas, where he taught school nearly three years to obtain means to pay his college expenses. In the fall of 1846 he returned home with the intention of entering college, but for personal reasons the plan was abandoned and in the spring of 1847 he settled in Albion and began a course of law study in the office of Curtis & Stone, finishing with Judge Bessac. He was ad- mitted to practice in 1852, but prior to that time, in 1848, he was elected superintendent of public schools for this county ; the duties of this office interfered somewhat with his law study and delayed the date of his admission. In 1851 he was elected justice of the peace and held the office about five years In the fall of 1855 he formed a part- nership with the late Judge Church, which business connection was not practically ended until the death of Judge Church. In the fall of 1862 Mr. Sawyer was elected district attorney, and in 1863 was elected county judge, in which capacity he served sixteen years, having been twice re-elected. In the fall of 1884 Judge Sawyer was elected to Congress and served in that body three consecutive terms. Politically Judge Sawyer is well known as a stalwart and staunch Republican. He was originally a Whig, and was one of the organizers of the Republi- can party in Orleans county. As a lawyer and a judge he has won merited distinction, while his character as a man has made him a large circle of friends. On the 27th of June, 1855, Judge Sawyer was mar- ried to Eliza A. Shaw, of Plainfield, Mass. They have five children, two of whom are living.

Seth S. Spencer left the town of Barre in the spring of 1852, when he was twenty-one years old and settled in Albion to study law. He was at first in the office of William R. McAllister, and finished with Church & Davis. He was admitted to practice in the fall of 1856, and began in association with Edwin Porter, continuing thus until the spring of 1862. He was then elected justice of the peace and served in that

124

LANDMARKS OF

office until December, 1875. While in that office he formed a partner- ship with Holmes & Thompson under the name of Holmes, Thompson & Spencer, afterwards Thompson & Spencer, and now Thompson, Spencer & Thompson. He was appointed clerk of the Board of Super- visors, and filled the position most acceptably during twelve years. He was appointed postmaster under President Harrison.

Irving M. Thompson settled in Albion in 1852, from Carlton, and began the study of law in the office of Judge Bessac; he was then twenty-one years old. Four years later he was admitted and began practice with Charles H. Holmes; his next partnership was with Wil- lard F. Warren, which continued until 1861, after which and until the war he was associated with Edwin Porter. He enlisted and served in the 17th Battery, and three years later returned to Albion and formed a second copartnership with Mr. Holmes; in 1871 S. S. Spencer be- came a member of the firm. Mr. Thompson was district attorney in 1866-69, and also held the office of postmaster of the village. He has been many years a member of the Board of Education of the village of Albion.

W. Crawford Ramsdale was born in Malta, Saratoga county, March 5, 1856, and is the youngest and only son of six children of William and Parthenia (Crawford) Ramsdale. The family removed to Orleans county and live in the town of Gaines. The subject passed his youth on a farm, was educated in the district schools, Albion Academy, at- tended Miss Foster's select school and graduated from the University of Rochester in the class of '79. Mr. Ramsdale studied law with John H. White, of Albion, and was admitted as an attorney in 1881, and as counselor at a later date. He has always practiced at the county seat and though still comparatively young in years and in professional ex- perience, Mr. Ramsdale is regarded as one of the leading men at the bar of the county. In politics he is Democratic and is an important factor in the councils of his party. He has been the nominee of the Democracy for the offices of county treasurer and county judge and surrogate, in the canvass for the former office being defeated by only 180 votes. In January, 1884, Mr. Ramsdale married Ellen J., daugh- ter of the late Andrew Wall, of Albion.

125

ORLEANS COUNTY.

Dean F. Currie was born in Clinton, Oneida county, N. Y., Sep- tember 17, 1847, and is a son of Earl S. and Wealthy B. Currie. Of the three children of these parents, Dean F. is the only son. His father was a farmer and the son was brought up on the homestead ; was educated at the Clinton Liberal Institute and Dwight's Rural High School and took a special course at Hamilton College, graduating from the law department. Mr. Currie was admitted to the bar in 1870 and during the next ten years practiced in Clinton. In 1881 he removed to Albion, where he has since been in practice. While constantly de- voted to his profession, Mr. Currie has always been prominent in local politics and one of the Democratic leaders in Western New York. He was the nominee of his party for the Assembly in 1883, and was de- feated by only twenty- nine votes. In 1884 he again ran for the office and was defeated by sixty-eight votes. In 1885 he was elected police justice of the village of Albion and served three years. On February 10, 1888, Mr. Currie was appointed by President Cleveland United States consul at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where he served in that posi- tion until July 1st, 1892. In the fall of this year he was Democratic candidate for the senatorship of the thirty-first district and ran ahead of his ticket. As a lawyer Mr. Currie has been connected with some of the most important cases tried at the local bar, including three murder cases, in one of which while defending Emery B. Butler, in 1887, he was stricken down with paralysis. While his practice is of a general character, he has been particularly successful in criminal causes. . On July 3, 1873, Mr. Currie married Florence A. Stafford, of Clinton, Oneida county, N. Y. They have one child.

Thomas Lawrence Hughes was born in Albion October 27, 1865, and is the third of eleven children born to Patrick and Elizabeth Hughes. Thomas attended the district schools, but received his edu- cation principally at St. Raphael's Academy (a parochial school). He graduated from the Albion Free School in 1886 and was the orator of his class. He read law with John H. White and was admitted in Rochester at the June General Term in 1891. In the same month he formed a partnership with Thomas A. Kirby. Mr. Hughes is a strong Democrat and is active in the councils of the party in Orleans county. When he had just reached his majority he was elected town clerk and

126

LANDMARKS OF

re-elected a second term. He has been a delegate to both county and State Democratic conventions, and in 1890 was clerk of the Assembly cities committee He has also been clerk of the Senate judiciary com- mittee. Mr. Hughes was one of the founders of the Weekly News, an Albion newspaper, and was its editor two years.

Thomas Austin Kirby was born in Albion March 22, 1868, and is the eldest of three children of John and Catherine (Moynihan) Kirby. Until he was fifteen years old Thomas attended the village schools, then worked one year as an iron moulder, which is his father's occupa- tion. In 1886 he began studying law with John Cunneen, in Albion (now of Buffalo), and was admitted to practice in Rochester in 1889. Previous to his admission he taught school at South Barre and later attended the Cornell University Law School, from which he graduated in 1889. He began practice in Albion in July, 1889, and in June, 1891, became one of the present firm of Hughes & Kirby, who are both able trial lawyers. Since attaining his majority Mr. Kirby has been an ar- dent Republican and has closely identified himself with the work of his party in the county, and was chairman of the Republican county com - mittee for two terms. In the Democratic village of Albion he has been three times elected police justice, first in 1892. He is the only Repub- lican ever elected to any village office for three successive terms. He has before him a promising future.

Hon. Charles H. Holmes was born in Albion, Orleans county, N. Y., on the 24th day of October, 1827. He acquired a good English edu- cation in the common schools and Albion Academy, and in his twenti- eth year commenced the study of the law in the office of Hon. Henry R. Curtis at Albion, and continued his studies with Church & Davis. He entered the Albany Law School in 1853 and graduated in 1854. He was married to Miss Mary A. Spencer on the 13th day of June, 1854. Mr. Holmes was a self-made man, struggling against poverty and re- sorting to manual labor and school teaching to procure means to defray his expenses in securing an education. He was in partnership with Henry D. Tucker from January, 1858, to 1863 in the practice of the law. In July, 1865, he formed a partnership with Lieut. Irving M. Thompson, which continued till Mr. Holmes's death, Seth S. Spencer joining the firm in the spring of 1871. Mr. Holmes possessed a good

Isaac S. Signor

127

ORLEANS COUNTY.

legal mind and was very successful as a jury lawyer. He was a man of indomitable energy and perseverance. His practice became quite extensive, and regardless of his health, he put all of his vitality and energy in his cases. While trying a complicated suit in the Orleans circuit in March, 1873. before Judge Lamont and a jury, he fell to the floor from an attack of epilepsy. He never fully recovered from this, and was stricken down with apoplexy on the 30th day of September, 1874, and died the next day. His funeral was attended by a large assemblage of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Holmes was elected to Congress in 1870, representing the congressional district composed of the counties of Monroe and Orleans, and while holding that position, represented his constituency in a satisfactory manner. He joined the Presbyterian church in Albion in his twentieth year, and continued a member till his death, during all of that time being connected with the Sabbath school in some capacity.

Isaac S. Signor was born at Skaneateles, N. Y. His family were originally from Dutchess county. He attended Elbridge Academy and graduated from Hamilton College in 1870, taking the first Kingsley prize in debate at the end of the senior year. At the end of 1871 he graduated from the law school and the same year commenced practice at Albion, where he remained for two years. He then went to New York city and was in the office of Davies & Work, and still later with Judge Hawes. The firm of Griggs & Signor was then formed and they did business at 237 Broadway for over three years. In 1878 he re- turned to Albion and since 1879 the firm of Signor & Wage has been in existence. Judge Signor was elected district attorney on the Re- publican ticket and served from 1881 to 1884. He was then elected county judge and was re elected. He was married in 1878 to Mary Grierson, of Brooklyn, N. Y.

Edwin L. Wage was born in Providence, Saratoga county, January 27, 1836, and was the eldest of three children of William and Julia Wage. The family came to East Gaines in 1844 and thence moved to Barre. In the latter town the mother died, and the father in Albion. After an elementary education at Albion Academy, Edwin spent his early life on a farm and also taught school. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company D., 15Ist N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, and on

128

LANDMARKS OF

the organization of the company was made sergeant. In January, 1863, he passed an examination before Gen. Casey's board and was commissioned captain in the 20th Regiment of U. S. Col. troops, upon which he joined the command in New York harbor and proceeded to New Orleans. Here he was permanently detached from the regi- ment and appointed assistant provost marshal and stationed at Carroll- ton, La. Capt. Wage resigned and was mustered out of service in August, 1865. Returning home he engaged in fire and life insurance, about eight years, after which he read law with Reynolds & Crandall, after which he entered Hamilton Law School and was graduated from there and admitted to practice in 1879. In this year the law partner- ship of Signor & Wage was formed, which has continued to the present time. In politics Mr. Wage is a strong Republican and was supervisor of the Eleventh Census for the Tenth District, N. Y. He married in 1865, Helen M. Comstock, daughter of Arnold Comstock, of Carlton, N. Y.

Irving L'Hommedieu was born in the town of Shelby, Orleans county, N. Y., January 12, 1865. He is a son of Hon. Wallace L'Hommedieu of this county, his mother's maiden name being Frances M. Berry, a daughter of the late Colonel John Berry, of Holley, N. Y. He was educated in the common schools and the Medina Academy. In 1884 he began studying law, entering the office of Hon. Edmund L. Pitts at Medina. He taught school during the winters of 1883-84 and 1884-85. He graduated from the Albany Law School in 1886 and was admitted to the bar the same year. From 1886 to 1888 he re- sided at Omaha, Nebraska: returning to Medina in 1888 the law firm of Simons & L'Hommedieu was formed, which partnership still exists. June 29, 1887, he married Christina Breed, a daughter of Charles H. Breed, of Medina. Mr. L'Hommedieu is a prominent Freemason, being a member of the lodge, chapter, council, commandery and Lodge of Perfection, having held many Masonic offices, and is at present the master of the council He is also an Odd Fellow, and is a member of the Alert Hose Company of Medina, of which he is now president. He was appointed village attorney of Medina in March, 1893, and was elected a member of the Board of Education in August, 1892, both of which positions he still occupies. Mr. L'Hommedieu is an ardent Re- publican and takes an active interest in politics.

Cechwind I. Hagen

129

ORLEANS COUNTY.

Edwin B. Simons was born in Shelby, Orleans county, and is a mem- ber of the law firm of Simons & L'Hommedieu. He was elected dis- trict attorney in 1893. He is a prominent lawyer and politician

Orange A. Eddy was among the prominent men of Holley, and was born in Barre, February 20. 1832. He was a son of Samuel Eddy, of Barre, who was a farmer. Orange A was educated in the district schools of his native town and at Albion Academy. He studied law in the office of Church & Davis, of Albion, and May 17, 1867, was ad- mitted to the bar. He immediately began the practice of law in Holley and continued the same until his death, May 13, 1884. In politics he was a Democrat, for several years was justice of the peace. He was a man of sterling integrity, and commanded the respect and trust of his fellow townsmen to a remarkable degree. A certain attorney was once remarked that he was the only honest lawyer he ever knew. He was known for his kindness of heart, being always ready to listen to and aid those in distress. In 1866 Mr. Eddy married Harriet M. Hendrick, daughter of David Hendrick, of Holley, who survives him. They had two children, Grace Augusta, who died young. and Mary Louise, who married Frank W. Cady, D. D. S., and resides in Albany, N. Y.

John W. Graves was reared in the southern part of this State, and during his professional career lived and practiced in Medina, where he died about three years ago. He was admitted to the bar in this judicial district. No man in Orleans county ever possessed a greater degree of native ability, and no one excelled him in summing up cases. Large in stature, and endowed with exceptional powers of endurance, he was regarded as one of the most powerful trial lawyers in the State ; his adroitness in managing cases and his ability for cross-examining witnesses were seldom equaled. At one time he was a partner of Hon. E. L. Pitts, and upon the creation of the office of United States internal revenue assessor he was the first to receive an appointment to that position. During several of the latter years of his life he was a justice of the peace in Medina.

Hiram E. Sickels began the practice of law in Orleans county and for several years followed his profession in Medina, being a partner of John W. Graves. In 1871 he was appointed reporter in the Court of 17

130

LANDMARKS OF

Appeals, a position he still holds. He is a first-class lawyer, and is conceded to be the ablest reporter that judicial body ever had.

Adna Bowen was a native of Shelby, studied law and was admitted in this county, and died in Medina, where he had always practiced. He was an exceptionally good trial lawyer and possessed a thorough knowledge of law.

James De Puy, a native of this State and a partner of Adna Bowen in Medina, was both a popular and kind- hearted gentleman and a good legal practitioner. During the latter years of his life he entered with others into oil speeulation, and died in Canada.

Archibald Servoss was one of the earliest attorneys in Medina. After practicing there many years he removed to Rochester, where he died.

Silas M. Burroughs was a colonel in the State militia, and for many years a very able lawyer in Medina, where he died. He was member of Congress and held a number of other offices of trust and responsibility.

Ephraim Garter practiced law in Medina during his early life, but about 1849 he removed to California, where he became a judge of one of the higher courts, and where he died. His brother, Reuben Garter, was also an attorney in Medina, but finally abandoned the practice of law and moved away.

Stanley E. Filkins was born in Bethany, Genesee county, February 19, 1836. Educated at the Grand River Institute in Ohio, he began the study of law with Brown & Glowackie, of Batavia, N. Y., and finished with Merrill T. Jenkins, of East Randolph, Cattaraugus county, being admitted to the bar in Erie county in 1857. In the spring of 1860 Mr. Filkins commenced the practice of his profession in Medina, where he has ever since resided. Excepting a partnership of four years with A. J. Coe he has always practiced alone. Although he has frequently been offered public office he has steadfastly refused to accept the same, preferring instead to devote his time and talents to his legal profession, in which he has attained a distinguished position. He is regarded as one of the best lawyers in Western New York.

Harry Orlando Jones was born in 1859 in Holley. His father, Harry O., was a son of Reuben D. Jones, who was a native of Boston, Mass. Reuben D. Jones resided in Holley several years and conducted a hotel,

131

ORLEANS COUNTY.

then removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the wholesale dry goods trade. His son, Harry O., was engaged in business with his father for a number of years, then engaged in the oil trade in New York. In 1854 he married Cornelia E., daughter of Hiram Frisbie of Holley. Their son, the subject, was educated in the common schools, and entered the Brockport school, graduating from the academic department in 1878. He entered Hamilton College, graduating in 1882, began the study of law in Syracuse, and was admitted to the bar in 1885. From then until 1888 he was engaged in the practice of his profession in Rochester. He was one of the organizers of the Holley Electric Light Co, and was its first president. In 1893 he was elected supervisor of Murray on the Democratic ticket, and the same year was a candidate for member of Assembly from Orleans county.

William E. Hobby, a prominent member of the Orleans county bar, has for many years been in practice at Holley and has had an extensive business. During the war he was in the navy. He is a prominent citizen of the county.

Gurdon W. Fitch, son of Dr. W. R. Fitch, was a member of the law firm of Sawyer & Fitch, and several years was clerk of the Surrogate's Court. He was among the most prominent of the younger members of the bar.

Several citizens of Orleans county in early years held judicial offices who were not educated for the legal profession. John Lee, ancestor of the Lee family in Barre, was a native of Massachusetts, migrated to Madison county, N. Y., and thence to Barre in 1816, where he took up a tract of land. He was an intelligent and energetic man and foremost in public affairs. He was appointed a judge in the Court of Common Pleas of Genesee county and filled the office with ability. He died in October, 1823.

Abraham Cantine, a native of Ulster county, N. Y., was a soldier in the war of 1812, returned to Ulster county and was appointed sheriff, soon after which he settled in Murray, Orleans county. He was elected to the Assembly for 1827, and served five years as an associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was also collector of tolls on the canal in Albion in 1835. He lived in the latter place several years before his death, which took place in 1840.

132

LANDMARKS OF

Eldridge Farwell, the conspicuous pioneer of Clarendon, a record of whose life is given in the history of that town, was appointed a judge in the Court of Common Pleas in 1825, and held the office five years He died October 15, 1843.

Robert Anderson, a pioneer of Gaines, was appointed a justice of the peace in 1817 and held the office until 1822, and in the winter of that year was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; he held the office two years and resigned. He held the office of supervisor many years before and after the organization of Orleans county, and was in the Legislature in 1822.

Austin Day, a native of Vermont, settled in Murray in 1815 ; served as constable several years, and practiced pettifogging considerably. He held the office of judge of the Court of Common Pleas about five years, and was elected sheriff of the county in 1847. He removed to Albion in 1848, and died October 15, 1858.

Elijah W. Wood was a native of Massachusetts and settled in Murray at an early day. He served many years as constable and justice of the peace, and practiced pettifogging. During one term of five years he served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

CHAPTER XI.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

The pioneers of any locality have always been followed by the " good physician." This is one of the unpleasant necessities of human ex- perience. In the early years of the present century the State of New York, unlike Pennsylvania and the New England States, had done very little to encourage science, and there was no school of medicine worthy of the name nearer than Boston or Philadelphia. Few young men could then afford to go so far to qualify themselves for a profession, whatever inducements its future seemed to promise him. This led to the prevailing custom among young aspirants for medical practice to enter the office of a neighboring physician, study his books two or three

133

ORLEANS COUNTY.

years, and at the same time accompanying his tutor in professional visits. At the end of the term the young doctor felt qualified to begin his professional career. The laws then governing the admission to practice of physicians were practically worthless, but in 1806 the Legislature passed an act repealing former laws applying to the medical profession, and authorizing the formation of a general State Medical Society and county societies This action was immediately productive of great benefit to both the physicians and the public. Charlatans were excluded and a standard fixed for the admission of students to the county societies which insured the public against mal- practice by uneducated persons.

The Orleans County Medical Society was organized January 8, 1873, at a meeting held in the office of Dr. J. W. Randall, in Albion ; he was the chief actor in promoting the organization. There were present at the meeting, Drs. Randall, H. W. Lewis, H. C. Tompkins, E. R. Armstrong, R. W. Smith, William McKennan, E. P. Squier, Thomas Cushing, C. S. Pugsley, J. H. Taylor, W. Noble, J. D. Warren, S. R. Cochrane, R. E. Cochrane, and James Chapman.

Dr. Randall presided over the meeting and Dr. Chapman acted as secretary. The name as given above was adopted and a committee appointed to prepare and report a constitution to a subsequent meeting. The second meeting was held on the 5th of February, at which the con- stitution was adopted. Among its provisions was one establishing the place for holding the regular meetings in Albion (unless otherwise voted) on the third Wednesday of January, April, July, and October of each year, the first one in each year to be the anniversary meeting. The first officers elected were as follows: President, Dr. J. W. Randall ; vice-president, Dr. Thomas Cushing ; secretary and treasurer, Dr. James Chapman ; executive committee, Drs. William McKennan, E. P. Squier, and C. S. Pugsley. The official term was fixed by the constitution at one year.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 13

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084