USA > New York > Noted living Albanians and state officials. A series of biographical sketches > Part 12
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" Our display upon the ample waters of this harbor; our parades in the broad streets of this city ; our rejoicings in this banqueting hall, commemorate not only the fame of a great prince among men ; not only the victories of a great captain among warriors; not only the deeds of a great statesman among patriots. These exultant sights and triumphant sounds commemorate such fame and victories and deeds, but they commemorate far more. They com-
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memorate the nativity of a heaven-born republic among the nations of the earth. They commemorate not a govern- ment founded on a Magna Charta extorted from a King John by a compelling band of nobles, not a government founded upon a written freedom bestowed by an emperor on an emancipated race of slaves, but a new and complete creation of government, resting strong and secure upon foundations that shall last as long as virtue, honor and courage live among our people ; a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which shall not perish from the earth.
* * % * * *
" What visions of future greatness and prosperity for this broad land of ours open up before us as we contemplate the growth of our free institutions, since they were founded by the patriots of a century ago. Generations yet unborn will share the glories and blessings of the beneficent and imperish- able government transmitted to us and them by our revolu- tionary sires.
" What glorious memories cluster around this centennial day :
' Day of a hundred days. Day of a hundred years, One cry of welcome all our voices raise As the young century appears. Hail greatness yet to come, Hail millions yet to be.'
" The heroes of the American revolution are now de- parted. That age of pre-eminent creative genius has passed away. But the country which their valor, statesmanship and patriotism saved and established still proudly exists, enjoying the blessing of civil and religious liberty, augment- ing in population, increasing in resources, strengthening in power.
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"It is a prosperous, happy, indivisible union. Its con- tented people are reaping the advantages of laws made by themselves, well and honestly administered.
" The sentiments of every true American are expressed in the hope that faction may not destroy, that pride may not injure, that corruption may not undermine, and that sec- tionalism may not divide this fair republic ; but that its bord- ers may still further be extended, its commerce may float upon every sea, the stars upon its flag may be trebled, its free institutions may live on and flourish, and its liberty- loving people may continue to work out the problem of self- government so long as freedom itself exists, and until time shall be no more.
'Keep, God, the fairest, noblest land that lies beneath the sun- Our country, our whole country, and our country ever one.'"
In the administration of public affairs Governor Hill seems to be actuated by a fine sense of equity, and a just regard for the welfare and prosperity of the masses of the people. Himself a self-made man, he is a true friend of the laboring class, whose just claims he seeks to advance by every lauda- ble means. He is a hater of oppression in every form, and a lover of liberty, justice and humanity at home and abroad.
His political career has been one of steady and successful advancement during a period of twenty years.
Possessing abilities of a high order, a lawyer of great reputation ; a parliamentarian of inexhaustible resources ; a ready and accomplished orator and statesman, David B. Hill stands before the country as a distinguished leader and expounder of the true Jeffersonian principles of democracy, and as an able advocate of good government.
GALEN R. HITT.
IN THE ranks of the younger democratic Albanians no - man has risen more rapidly in the estimation of his party during the past few years than the subject of our sketch, Hon. Galen R. Hitt. He belongs to the sturdy race of New Englanders, and was born on the 16th of August, 1843, at Pawlet, Vt. There he passed his child- hood days attending the district schools of his native place, playing on the green fields of his father's farm, in- haling the pure, invigorating air of that delightful, healthful region of country, growing up a vigorous youth, with strong love for sports and pastimes, and evincing at the same time a disposition to become an educated man.
In 1859, after receiving a good common-school education, he entered the Troy Conference academy at Poultney, Vt., where he remained four years, making commendable pro- gress in his studies and taking a special interest and pride in declamation. Apt in learning, he always stood high in his class, and left the academy with an honorable record.
Having decided to enter upon the law as a life-long pro- fession, he accordingly began his legal studies at Rutland, Vt., and finished them in Albany, where he was admitted to the bar by the general term in the spring of 1865. In the fall of the same year he married Miss Sarah J. Crowley,
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a daughter of the late Hon. John Crowley, of Mount Holly, Vt. Then taking up his residence in this city he was not long in showing his ability as a lawyer and in building up quite a large practice, especially in criminal cases, in which he has always been remarkably successful. By his boldness, tenacity, unyielding interest and eloquent pleas in behalf of his clients, he has won for them many difficult and almost hopeless cases, thereby gaining much reputation as an able and successful counselor.
In 1874 Mr. Hitt helped to organize the Albany Boat- men's Relief association, of which he was for six years a director and for four years attorney. He joined the famous old Burgesses corps in 1877 and has acted as its president and vice-president, and is still a member.
In his political career, which we would briefly trace, Mr. Hitt has already won an enviable reputation. From the first he became an earnest and steady worker in the political field, throwing all his energies into the cause of the demo- cratic party, of which he has long been " a shining light." There is nothing unstable about his political professions. He has always been outspoken, firm, unyielding in his con- victions - following in the footsteps of the faithful in the leadership of his party amidst its sunshine of prosperity and its storms of adversity. As a leader in politics, his own abilities were soon recognized by his friends, and in the spring of 1884 he was elected an alderman from the sixth ward. And again in the spring of 1888 he was chosen alder- man-at-large, and served four years in the common council, of which he was a useful, industrious and influential member.
Mr. Hitt has entered heartily into all projects having for their aim the material improvement, advancement and adornment of his adopted city. In the bi-centennial cele-
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bration in Albany he acted a conspicuous part as chairman of the common council committee on the celebration ; and devoted much time and labor in helping to make the memo- rial occasion a grand success. In the winter of 1888 he was the first to start the carnival, which was a source of so much amusement and delight to crowds of spectators. And among other more useful things he has been deeply inter- ested in the movement in favor of furnishing the city of Albany with pure water.
But more honors of a political nature came to grace the brow of Mr. Hitt. In the autumn of 1888 he was elected to the assembly by a plurality of 1,209 over James D. Walsh, republican, and C. L. Van Allen, prohibitionist. It was in the legislature that his talents soon won him recognition, and caused him to be widely known and respected through the state as a fearless debater. He served on the standing committees on the affairs of cities and on state prisons, as well as on several special committees, the most important of which was the conference committee on the annual appro- priation.
Mr. Hitt went to work with a determination faithfully to serve his constituents in matters of general interest and im- provements. He introduced into the assembly the bill for repaving State street, so long in a wretched condition, and advocated the measure with a force, fidelity and eloquence truly admirable, not relaxing his efforts in its behalf until it became a law and its provisions accomplished. And to his worthy, earnest efforts the citizens of Albany are in- debted for the smooth, excellent, substantial repavement of State street - now one of the grandest avenues to be found in any city, and which must long continue to be the boast of our citizens and to be admired by visitors.
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By this act alone Mr. Hitt's popularity was greatly in- creased, especially among his progressive fellow-citizens, ir- respective of party, and when the democratic assembly con- vention met on the 18th of October, 1889, its attention was turned to him as the proper man, and the strongest candi- date for member of assembly from the third district, and he was accordingly renominated by acclamation. His success from the first seemed to be fully assured, and on the 5th of November he was elected over George E. Latham, the re- publican nominee, by the splendid majority of 2,534 - the largest ever given for any candidate in that district.
In the last legislature, Mr. Hitt served, with distinction, on the following committees : " Affairs of cities," " rail- roads," and " public lands and forestry," and in the con- test on the world's fair bill he led on the democratic side, and in the discussion of many important measures, he added new laurels to his well-established reputation as one of the most brilliant members of the house. Among the bills in- troduced by him now on the statute books of the state, are reappropriating money for an armory at Cohoes; amend- ing the penal code in regard to electric railroads; relative to collection of taxes in Albany; incorporating the Cathe- dral of All Saints ; relative to the Corning foundation fund ; to enable the trustees of the sinking fund to take up bonds ; revising the revised statutes, section 3, article I, chapter 4 ; amending the act relative to government of the city of Al- bany ; providing for printing copies of the Gen. Sheridan memorial ; creating a board of medical examiners for the state ; relating to the government of Albany ; regarding the property of street surface railroads ; to confirm bonds of the city of Albany for street improvements ; allowing the Broad- way horse car line to cross into Troy.
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As a polished and effective speaker, Mr. Hitt deserves more than a passing notice. He was one of the most elo- quent debaters on the floor of the assembly, and whenever he rose to speak he was listened to with undivided attention and interest. His presence is impressive ; his voice is one of considerable compass and power ; his delivery is animated, and his words are well chosen and often incisive. One of the most effective elements in his declamation is his earnest- ness of manner, a throwing of his whole feelings into the subject under consideration, and the manifest evidence of a determination to carry conviction to the minds of his hearers by a bold, irresistible oratorical display. Ready and quick in repartee, he is a hard man to discompose or intimidate by any opponent on any subject whatever.
With every promise of continued oratorical success and even more widely extended-influence he completed his sec- ond assembly term as a faithful exponent of the principles of his party and with an eye ever watchful over the best in- terests of Albany.
On the 4th of October, 1890, Mr. Hitt was renominated, by acclamation, as the democratic candidate for a third term in the legislature. Speaking of his nomination, the Albany Argus said : " Mr. Hitt served with conspicuous ability in the assembly of 1889 and 1890, and his renomination for another term is a deserved recognition of his great useful- ness to this city and its interests in the legislature.
"A year ago Mr. Hitt carried the third district by the magnificent majority of 2,500. *
* * Mr. Hitt's record in the assembly for the last two years is made up of success- ful advocacy and enactment of scores of measures of im portance to the city and county, coupled with a leading part in the general legislation of the sessions."
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And the Albany Evening Times of the same date con- tained the following : " Mr. Hitt has made his mark in legis- lative circles. There was not a member of the legislature of 1890 who did not know, honor and respect him. He was not merely the leader of the Albany county delegation ; he was recognized as an able second to the leader of the minority on the floor. He is a fearless and able debater. He can instantly command the attention of the house, and is always listened to with pleasure and profit."
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GEORGE ROGERS HOWELL.
MONG those Albanians who have devoted their time and talents more exclusively to the pursuits of sci- entific, linguistic and literary research - a man who ranks high among American scholars, is Mr. George R. Howell of the state library.
Born in the town of Southampton, Long Island, on the 15th of June, 1833, he passed his boyhood in that interesting locality. The first American ancestor of this name was Edward Howell, of Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, Eng- land, who came with his family to Boston in 1639, and soon after removed to Southampton as one of the earliest set- tlers of the place. The old stone manor house of Edward Howell is still standing at Marsh Gibbon, and is still in- habited as a residence. We may remark here that South- ampton, Long Island, was the first town settled by the Eng- lish in the state of New York. The parents of Professor Howell were Charles and Mary Rogers Howell, highly respected citizens of Southampton.
Young Howell first attended the district school and then the academy at Southampton. He very early manifested his love for books and a strong desire to gain a knowledge of various languages which he acquired with remarkable facility. After due preparation at the academy he entered
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the sophomore class in Yale college in 1851, at the age of eighteen. In this excellent and renowned institution, then under the presidency of Theodore D. Woolsey, D. D., as- sisted by such professors as Silliman, Olmsted and Hadley, he had every facility for making a rapid progress in the wide fields of learning. But the natural sciences and the languages always enjoyed the first place in his heart, and when the years of his college life were closed, his proficiency in these studies was far greater than ordinary.
In 1854 he graduated at Yale with honor, and stepped out into the busy world with the proud consciousness of having been a faithful student, and with a laudable ambition of making his mark in literary circles. Turning his collegiate education to some practical use, he now spent several years in teaching in academies, while at the same time he con- tinued in private those studies which were more congenial to him. With his favorite books in hand, the fireside at home was invested to him with quite as much interest as the stirring public scenes of a college life. While he laid the foundation of his learning at old Yale, he afterward continued, as all successful teachers and scholars have done, to build upon that foundation, elevating, strengthening, polishing the superstructure till the whole fabric should be crowned with intellectual glory and stability. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Howell decided upon studying for the ministry, and accordingly, in September of that year, he entered Prince- ton Theological seminary, from which venerable institution he was graduated in 1864. For about two years he was en- gaged in. ministerial work in western New York. An inci- dent now occurred which turned his attention in the direc- tion of a more purely literary line. The two hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the settlement of Southampton
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was to be celebrated in 1865, and from the high scholarly reputation that Mr. Howell had already gained he was in- vited by his townsmen to deliver the address on that oc- casion at his native place. He consented, and in a most interesting effort, which required no little labor to prepare, he gave, before an interested and delighted audience, a glow- ing history of Southampton and its noble pioneers. It was so well received that in the following year, at the request of the citizens of the town, it was greatly enlarged and printed under the title of "The Early History of Southampton, Long Island, with Genealogies, N. Y. 1866." A second edi- tion of this valuable local history was published at Albany in 1887, making an octavo volume of 473 pages. A work of great research, it fully displays the patient, industrious habits of Mr. Howell and reflects no little credit upon his literary taste.
In 1865, on the recommendation of Dr. Macauley, secre- tary of one of the Presbyterian boards at Philadelphia, he was offered a professorship of Latin or Greek at his option, in a prosperous college in Iowa. His engagements at the time forbade his accepting this offer, and as a further induce- ment to obtain the aid of his scholarship in the west, the presidency of the same college was then offered. But this, too, he was obliged to decline for the same reason. The nature of the future life work of Mr. Howell seems now to have been clearly indicated, and he appeared to have been unexpectedly led into a position congenial to a scholar, which he has since illustrated with commendable ability and rare devotion. In 1872, at the suggestion of Dr. S. B. Woolworth, he was engaged, on account of his linguistic attainments, to take an office in the state library as assistant librarian, with a view of qualifying himself thoroughly as a
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successor to Dr. Homes. The state library is an excellent school for the complete development of the qualities of a first-class librarian. And for sixteen years Mr. Howell has devoted himself with unremitting energy at his post in making himself familiar with the rich treasures of this library, and with its wants and best modes of administration, until he has acquired what comparatively few men possess, a most intimate and general knowledge of books in all de- partments. Here his earlier study of different languages has been of great utility to him in the classification, catalogu- ing and arrangement of the ninety-six thousand volumes in the general library. His suggestions with regard to the purchase of suitable or desirable volumes have also been useful in the development of its resources.
During the long period of Dr. Homes' confinement to his house by sickness, Professor Howell was obliged to perform the duties of both assistant and general librarian ; and since the death of Dr. Homes, in November, 1887, he has been the acting librarian of the general library, the duties of which he has most successfully performed.
For more than three years Professor Howell has been the secretary of the Albany institute, in the welfare of which he has taken a deep interest. He has read several able papers on scientific subjects before the institute, some of which have been published in the " Transactions of the Al- bany Institute," including "Linguistic Discussions," "The Open Polar Sea," and " Heraldry in America." His wide knowledge of existing works of local history and genealogy as well as his general literary and scientific attainments make him especially useful to the readers of the library.
Now in the full vigor of manhood, and with long and varied experience in the pleasing walks of science and litera-
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ture, he is still following the " even tenor of his way " in his chosen profession, whose charms for him are far greater than merely worldly greatness or political power.
On the 18th of August, 1868, Professor Howell married Miss Mary Catherine Seymour, a daughter of Norman and Frances Hale (Metcalf) Seymour of Mount Morris, Living- ston county, N. Y. He has one son, Seymour Howell, who in the September of 1888, entered the Freshman class of Harvard university.
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JAMES WESLEY HUTT.
O NE OF the most thorough-going and competent men in the express business is James W. Hutt, general superintendent of the National Express Company, whose head-quarters are in Albany. He belongs to a substantial old family of Schoharie county, N. Y., of Holland-Dutch origin, who early came to this region and took an active part in the civilization and progress of the country and afterward in defending their homes in the attacks of British and savage foes. Those old pioneers were men of the sim- plest habits, loyal in their attachment to the principles of civil and ecclesiastical liberty and earnest in their endeavor to cultivate the virgin soil and to turn the wilderness into fruitful fields.
The great-grandfather of the present Mr. Hutt was John Hutt, one of those revolutionary patriots who was actively engaged in the border warfare of Schoharie county. In 1776 we find him enlisting as a private in the Fifteenth regiment, first company, of the united districts of Schoharie and Duanesburg. He served in the lower fort under Captain Stutroch at the time of Johnson and Brandt's invasion. And among other instances of his valor in 1782, we see him displaying heroic courage in the defense of the house of Major Becker when it was surrounded by a party of
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Indians under Captain Crysler. He was near the house when the alarm was sounded by the terrified women and children that a force of Indians was rushing toward the dwelling. Immediately a large Indian sprang forward to seize Mr. Hutt, but the dauntless soldier raised a whiffletree which he held in his hand, defiantly in the face of the In- dian, who at once recoiled. Mr. Hutt then sprang into the door which Mrs. Becker was holding open for him. The brave woman then quickly shut and bolted the door while Mr. Hutt seized an old musket and was ready for the
encounter. In the dwelling were only three men, Major Becker, Mr. Hutt, and George Shell, another Schoharie sol- dier, who fortunately happened to be present. Besides these inmates were Mrs. Becker, Mrs. Adam Zimmer, pos- sibly one or two other women and some eight or ten chil- dren, who went up-stairs to escape, if possible, from the tomahawk and scalping-knife. Then began a desperate struggle for life against fearful odds. The attack and de- fense are thus vividly described by Mr. Simms in his Fron- tiersmen of New York: "The major took his station at the south-west corner window, which commanded the enemy's approach to his barn; assigned to Hutt the eastern gable windows, and to Shell the north-west window opposite his own, which commanded their approach to the mill, which stood a few rods from the house upon grounds occupied by the race-way of the present mill. The lower sash of the up. per windows was also secured by planks. The enemy im- mediately ran around the eastern end of the house and there gained temporary shelter, some under the creek bank, some behind a fence, and others behind a small log building standing at a little distance south-east of the house, used as a store-room. The enemy fired numerous balls in at the 24
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windows, twenty-eight entering the window Hutt was sta- tioned at. He was bold and vigilant, and often incurred the censure of Major Becker for exposing his person so much about the window, telling him that the force of the enemy was unknown, but their own was three men, the loss of one being one-third of their strength. Hutt, however, could not be restrained by the prudent counsel of the major, and kept constantly returning the shots of the enemy. Dis- covering through the cranny of the log building the hat of one of his foes, Hutt sent a bullet through the brim of it close to the crown. This hat, it was afterward ascertained, was on the head of Captain Crysler. The balls of the en- emy cut the air around the head of Hutt, but fortunately without injury." This fight lasted a few hours, and after mak- ing several attempts to burn the house the assailants, twenty- three in number, left for the forests, while the inmates es- caped from a horrible death. This most remarkable and successful defense of life and property by John Hutt and his companions was long after related with thrilling interest by the firesides of old Schoharie. He died in 1825.
His son John, grandfather of the present Mr. Hutt, was prominently identified with the manufacturing and busi- ness interests of Schoharie county. He died in Iowa in 1852.
His son William, the father of James W. Hutt, was born at Sharon in 1810. He was during his entire life promi- nently identified with the interests of old Schoharie county.
Previous to the organization of the National Guard he was a lieutenant in the Ninth regiment, Third brigade, First division cavalry of the state of New York, from which he was, at his own request, honorably discharged in 1835.
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