USA > New York > Noted living Albanians and state officials. A series of biographical sketches > Part 3
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
In religion, Mr. Brooks is an Episcopalian - a member of St. Peter's church, in whose welfare he has taken active interest, and was for two years treasurer of the church. In January, 1890, he was elected a trustee and treasurer of the Corning Foundation for Christian Work in the diocese of Albany.
On the 22d of January, 1889, Mr. Brooks married Miss Frances S. Patten, daughter of the late Samuel Patten of this city. An interesting feature of this wedding was the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Brooks of Rockdale, N. Y., father and mother of the subject of this sketch, who, a few days previous had celebrated the fifty-seventh anniversary of their own marriage.
Mr. Brooks is possessed of high social qualities, and may be called, in the higher sense of the term, a society man, in which are embraced the principles of a true manhood.
29
JONAS H. BROOKS.
His tall, commanding presence graces the social gatherings of Albany, where his ready conversational powers, his cul- tivated and polished manners, his sunny disposition, and his high-toned moral and intellectual characteristics are highly and justly appreciated.
" Man in society is like a flower Blown in its native bed: 'tis there alone His faculties, expanded in full bloom, Shine out; there only reach their proper use."
1
CHARLES J. BUCHANAN.
N industrious and accomplished Albany lawyer, who has already gained no little distinction in the legal profession, and whose record in our civil war was most hon- orable, is Charles J. Buchanan, now of the well-known firm of Moak & Buchanan.
Of Scotch-Irish ancestry - an ancestry noted for its strong mental and physical powers - he was born at New Berlin, Chenango county, N. Y., on the 27th of December, 1843. In the common schools of his native town, and in the New Berlin academy, amidst the richness and quietude of rural life, his school-boy days were pleasantly and profit- ably passed. A studious youth, he was ambitious to lay a substantial foundation on which he might build some useful intellectual superstructure. But when he left the academy in the hope of continuing his studies at college the civil war had broken out and the young student was fired with patriotic zeal in a loyal cause.
In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the First regiment of United States sharpshooters (Berdan's) and went im- mediately to the front, his regiment being at once as- signed to the army of the Potomac. He was then about eighteen years of age, vigorous in body, unfailing in courage and eager to engage in the deadly conflicts for loyalty when-
NIE
31
CHARLES J. BUCHANAN.
ever they should come. He served three years in Col. Berdan's regiment, rising to the rank of first lieutenant and acting adjutant of that organization. This famous regiment of brave men, armed with Sharp's breech-loading rifles, served always in the army of the Potomac, participating in all its campaigns and battles and rendering valuable service to the Union cause, especially in the fierce struggle at Chan- cellorsville and in the decisive battle of Gettysburg, where, by its bold and memorable reconnoissance on the morning of July 2, 1863, the rebel attack upon the Union left was un- masked and the Round Tops -- the key of the battlefield - were saved from capture by the enemy.
To follow young Buchanan through all the long and tedious marches and the many engagements in which he took part, would greatly exceed the limits of this sketch. We would merely say, that his regiment was engaged in upward of forty-three battles and skirmishes, from Yorktown, in 1862, to Appomattox, in 1865. He was never away from his regiment until his final discharge, and was never sick nor wounded whilst in the service. Some of the most important and memorable conflicts in which he participated, were those at Yorktown, Hanover Court- House, the Seven Days' bat- tles before Richmond, Antietam, Wapping Heights, Fred- ericksburgh, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court-House, Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, the mine explosion at Petersburg, Weldon railroad, and the siege of Petersburg.
At the close of the war, with a military experience so remarkable, Mr. Buchanan sought to further develop his mental resources by a course of close, scientific study. For this purpose he wished to become a cadet, and through the influence of Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, Michael C. Kerr and
32
NOTED LIVING ALBANIANS.
others, he received an appointment to the United States military academy at West Point. There he remained about three years, making excellent use, especially, of the severe, mathematical discipline afforded in that institution -in- structions which have been of the greatest utility to him in his subsequent career.
ยท Contemplating the law as his life-long profession, Mr. Buchanan resigned his cadetship in the academy and began his studies with the firm of Smith, Bancroft & Moak in 1870. It was a most fortunate step for a young student of legal as- pirations. Mr. Buchanan was afforded every facility by that noted firm for carrying his studies rapidly forward, besides receiving the most generous personal treatment by its in- dividual members. In January, 1874, he was admitted to the bar at the general term in Albany, and soon afterward became a member of the firm with which he had studied. Mr. Bancroft died in January, 1880, and Mr. Smith in De- cember, 1884, when the present firm of Moak & Buchanan was formed. This is now one of the largest and most suc- cessful law firms in this city or state. Its practice embraces often very important and intricate cases in all the higher courts; and its members are noted, especially, for their careful and deep researches into all legal questions affecting the interests of their numerous clients.
Besides his absorbing law practice Mr. Buchanan takes great interest in the military affairs of the country and is a fast friend of the veterans of the late war. On the 2d of July, 1889, he delivered an oration at Gettysburg on the dedication of the monument to the First regiment of United States sharpshooters - a monument dedicated to the men of Berdan's regiment, who fell on that great battlefield. It was a proud day in the history of Mr. Buchanan, who,
33
CHARLES J. BUCHANAN.
twenty-six years before, had, himself, with his brave com- rades met and fought a portion of the Confederate army on that ever-memorable and decisive field. With all the thrilling associations of the past crowding upon his mind, Mr. Buchanan spoke with great earnestness and deep emo- tion, and his address was received with applause by the large audience composed of old soldiers and citizens. It has since been issued in a pamphlet form, and is replete with interesting historical facts.
Mr. Buchanan is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Fort Orange club, the Buchanan society of Scotland, the St. Andrew's society, and of the board of trustees of the Albany law school, of which he is secretary, and is also a trustee of the National Savings bank of Albany. He has been for some years chairman of the examining committee of the third judicial department for the examina- tion of law students. He has always taken great interest in the Young Men's association, has been first vice-president thereof, and has been several years a member of its board of managers. He has also declined frequent requests to become a candidate for president of the association. He was prominent in raising the Harmanus Bleecker Hall fund, and he is now one of the commissioners of Washington park, and also its treasurer. In politics Mr. Buchanan has always been a republican.
In October, 1875, he married Miss Caroline Van Valken- berg, daughter of the late Isaac Van Valkenberg, of North- ville, Fulton Co., N. Y.
Mr. Buchanan is an able lawyer, a popular, progressive citizen, but at the same time very unpretending in all the public and private acts of his life. His great modesty ap- pears in his seldom alluding to his war record, and in his 5
34
NOTED LIVING ALBANIANS.
not boasting of any personal services rendered on the field of strife. But truth compels us to say, that among the noble defenders of a loyal government, whose names will always be enshrined in the hearts of the lovers of our glori- ous Union, will stand conspicuously in the bright, worthy list the name of Charles J. Buchanan.
-
JOEL WAKEMAN BURDICK.
N Albanian well known in railroad circles and by the traveling public is J. W. Burdick, the genial general passenger agent of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company railroad. He comes from the sturdy, enterprising race of New Englanders who have done so much to advance the material interests of our country in the development of its vast resources. Born on the 20th of June, 1853, in the rural village of Almond, Allegany county, N. Y., he is a son of R. M. Burdick and Sarah E. Farnsworth, his wife. His father, now retired from the more active duties of life, is still living on the old homestead at Almond, while a few years ago the grave closed over his mother. One of his original ancestors was Samuel Hubbard Burdick, a follower of Roger Williams, and who, with the daring old pioneer and founder of the first Baptist church in America, left the shores of England - driven away by the storm of persecu- tion - and came to this country in 1631, settling a few years later in the new but hospitable region of Providence, R. I. There Mr. Burdick purchased six hundred acres of land, on a portion of which now stands the beautiful city of Provi- dence. He was perfectly willing to endure the hardships in- cident to pioneer life in the wilds of America for the sake of enjoying freedom of conscience in religious matters, and for
36
NOTED LIVING ALBANIANS.
the greater opportunity of laboring in broader fields in the rising cause of civilization and good government.
J. W. Burdick, the subject of this sketch, received his early education at the village school of his native place, where he was noted for his studious habits and his fondness for literature and art. He would gladly have continued to cultivate his literary tastes through the higher schools of learning, but more speedily remunerative work demanded his attention. Wishing to do something for himself in the way of earning a living, and cultivating a feeling of self-reli- ance, he left the paternal roof when scarcely fifteen years of age and started out to learn the telegraph business. He soon found employment as an operator for the old Erie Rail- road Company. Easily mastering the art, he shortly after- ward became a ready, expert and successful operator. Re- liable and trustworthy in every respect, he filled successively the positions of operator and train dispatcher.
His abilities and superior qualifications for general rail- road work in its more particular and difficult departments becoming more widely known and fully recognized, he ac- cepted a position in 1879 as clerk in the general office of the passenger department of the D. & H. railroad. For faith- fulness and efficiency in his duties he was promoted in 1880 to the chief clerkship in the same company. In 1881 he was placed in charge of the entire telegraph system, in ad- dition to his other duties, and for four years he filled this position most acceptably. In 1883 he was made assistant general passenger agent of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company's railroad, and in 1885 succeeded Mr. D. M. Ken- drick as general passenger agent, having in charge all the passenger interests of the company- an office which he still occupies with commendable ability, reflecting no little
37
JOEL WAKEMAN BURDICK.
credit upon himself and honor on the large and prosperous company by which he is employed.
Thus by industry, perseverance, strict integrity and a full knowledge of his business, Mr. Burdick has steadily risen to more responsible positions until he has gained an enviable reputation though scarcely in the prime of life.
During the summer of 1889 Mr. Burdick, with a view to wit- nessing the workings of foreign railroad systems, and seeing places famous in history, literature and art, crossed the At lantic, visiting England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzer- land, etc. He was greatly interested in the great picture galleries of Europe, and made frequent visits to them. He was much pleased with the richness and beauty of English landscapes, and loved to visit the more retired places and study the rural life, the manners and customs of the people. On the whole, his taste for the beautiful and the sublime in nature and art was highly gratified by his two months' tour in foreign lands, and he returned home with pleasant mem- ories of his visit, and with enlarged knowledge of men and things in the old world.
In 1872 Mr. Burdick married a daughter of W. W. Bart- lett, of Corning, N. Y., a retired farmer. They have four children, two boys and two girls, and their home life is both cheerful and happy.
Mr. Burdick is a member of the Albany club, and of the New England society of New York city. Unassuming in his manners, gentle in his disposition, always attentive to his line of business, with an eye on the welfare of the com- pany he represents, he has worked his way up, as we have already seen, to places of usefulness and responsibility, by his own unaided efforts, and has clearly demonstrated his admirable fitness for the work to which he has been called.
EUGENE BURLINGAME.
N THE long list of noted Albanians who have reflected honor upon their native or adopted city, the name of Eugene Burlingame stands in a conspicuous place. He has thus far exhibited a true manhood, an enterprising, indus- trious and persevering spirit in his private and professional career. He comes from a substantial family of New Eng- land, the distinguished Anson Burlingame being a relative of his. He was born on the 24th of January, 1847, in the town of Willet, Cortland county, N. Y. His grandfather, a pioneer from New England, was one of the earliest settlers of that county, and possessed the same adventurous, daring spirit that has characterized the most prominent men of the eastern states. He found his way to his new settlement through a vast and howling wilderness, crossing the Cats- kill mountains on horseback in olden times, and finally taking up his residence amid the primeval forests of Cort- land county. Here he went to work with strong hands and a brave heart to clear up the wilderness around him. He was a man of more than ordinary physical and mental powers, attaining the great age of ninety-three, when he died honored and respected by all who knew him. 1 I
Eugene Burlingame is a son of Westcott Burlingame and Melinda Eaton, both of whom are still living. His earliest
39
EUGENE BURLINGAME.
years were passed on his father's farm, where, as soon as he was old enough, he assisted in its cultivation, attending the district schools in the fall and winter months. Though a hard-working farmer's boy, yet he loved his books more than he did farming, and his young heart was set upon ac- quiring a thorough education. For this purpose he entered the Cincinnatus academy in Cortland county, where he re- mained about two years pursuing his studies with great ardor and delight, and so early and well founded was he in the general principles of science and literature that on the expiration of this period he returned home and for one winter taught a district school. Among his pupils were many of the boys and girls with whom he had been reared. He was then but eighteen years of age, but his brief experience as a school teacher was a successful one. Still his thirst for knowledge was not to be satisfied with his previous attain- ments, and so he determined to advance higher in the pur- suit of learning. In the winter of 1866 he was induced by a friend of the family of Dr. Samuel B. Woolworth, then the acting president of the Albany normal school, to come to this city and enter the institution. Soon after this, the late Dr. Joseph Alden was chosen a permanent president of the school. After a diligent course of instruction young Bur- lingame was graduated with honor from this institution in the summer of 1868. In the autumn of the same year he be- came principal of the union school at Athens, N. Y. At the close of the first year he wished to resign his principal- ship, but was prevailed upon by the trustees to remain another year in charge of the school. Under his popular and successful management the school greatly flourished. But the early ambition of Mr. Burlingame's life was not to continue a teacher, but to become a lawyer, and towards
40
NOTED LIVING ALBANIANS.
the carrying out of this design he bent all his energies. The books that possessed the most charms for him from his boyhood were elementary treatises on the law and its liter- ature. His brightest hopes were at length realized when in 1870, at the age of twenty-three, he entered the Albany law school. Here he had the very best legal instruction. Isaac Edwards was then the dean of the school, Judge Ira Harris a lecturer on constitutional law, and Judge Amasa J. Parker and Judge W. F. Allen, of the court of appeals, were also of the faculty. Under such learned and eminent instructors, the law students were placed in a position to succeed, and young Burlingame was one of those who eagerly embraced the opportunity offered. His whole heart was in his legal studies, and so rapid was his progress that in the summer of 1871 he took the degree of LL. B.
Desirous of obtaining a more complete knowledge of the law in all its various branches he then went to Hudson and entered the law office of Newkirk & Chace, prominent attor- neys and counselors, who had a large and widely extended practice. In this office he remained over a year, and the knowledge, experience and observation he gained there were of great service to him in commencing his own prac- tice of the legal profession. Albany was selected as the field of his labors, and coming here in the summer of 1872, he at once formed a partnership with Charles W. Mead, Esq., which existed about five years. On the dissolution of this law partnership he opened an office for himself at No. 452 Broadway, where he still remains, carrying on a large, lucra- tive and constantly increasing practice. Before he was in practice a year he argued several cases before the court of appeals, which is an unusual achievement for a young lawyer. While he is frequently consulted and does a great
,
41
EUGENE BURLINGAME.
amount of work as counsel for other attorneys, he always tries and argues his own cases, and he has been remarkably successful in winning the most of them. In the trial of causes, for which he has a great liking, he is deliberate and dignified in his manner, quick to apprehend the strong points of his own case and the weak ones of his adversary, and ready with abundant resources to meet the ever-chang- ing phases of a closely contested case. In the earlier years of his practice, unlike the experience of the majority of young lawyers, he was often pitted in the trial of causes against such capable and experienced counselors as A. J. Colvin, Judge A. J. Parker, Rufus W. Peckham, Jacob H. Clute, George L. Stedman, Judge Countryman, N. C. Moak, Robert E. Andrews, Samuel Edwards, now justice of the su- preme court; Attorney-General Francis C. Barlow, Attorney- General Daniel Pratt, Charles S. Fairchild, late secretary of the United States treasury, and others ; and it is remarkable that he was generally successful in his legal contests with such celebrities of the law. Mr. Burlingame has already been engaged in many important causes, among which was the noted trial of John Hughes, charged with the murder of William J. Hadley, Esq., in 1880. This trial was held in the old assembly chamber, which was crowded with spec- tators during the proceedings. Mr. Burlingame was as- sociated with Hon. John W. McNamara in the defense, while Attorney-General Hamilton Ward and District At- torney Lansing Hotaling were for the prosecution. The plea for the defense was that of insanity.
Mr. Burlingame also succeeded in securing a verdict for the plaintiff and consequent vindication of his client in the case of McCabe vs. Halsted, a peculiarly complicated action for malicious prosecution. The case was tried before Judge 6
EDWIN K. BURNHAM.
BUSY, representative man, who has faithfully served his country both in a military and civil capacity, is the Hon. Edwin K. Burnham, the present careful, efficient superintendent of public buildings of the state of New York, whose official residence is now in Albany. In his veins flow the blood of the loyal, patriotic, enterprising race of New Eng- landers. Vermont is his native state, and in the rural town of Randolph - named, we believe, in honor of the famous Virginian orator and statesman John Randolph - he was born on the 8th of September, 1839. His father at one time was a member of the Vermont legislature.
After first attending the common schools of his native place, when a mere child he was sent to the academy at Royalton, Vt., where he spent several terms closely pursu- ing his studies and showing more than ordinary progress among youthful students in the attainment of knowledge. His classical course was afterward completed in the Orange county, Vt., grammar school.
He first established himself at Newark, a flourishing vil- lage in Wayne county, N. Y., where his reputation as a young man of high and honorable principles and of a pub- lic-spirited nature soon brought him into favorable notice and gained for him the full confidence of his townsmen.
45
EDWIN K. BURNHAM.
Naturally of a judicial turn of mind, it was easy for him to turn his attention to the study of the law as a congenial profession. And accordingly, with this object in view, he came to Albany in the spring of 1862, and attended one term in the excellent and popular law school here.
But amidst the stirring scenes of the civil war, when the nation was thrilled with horror and our veins were chilled with fear, young Burnham felt that it was his duty to tem- porarily relinquish his law studies, and follow the flag of the Union through battle-fields to hard-won victory. In Sep- tember, 1862, he returned to his native state and imme- diately enlisted in company C, Fifteenth Vermont volun- teers, a nine months' regiment. He served as sergeant and was mustered out with the regiment, August 6, 1863. He was engaged in several skirmishes, and bravely fought side by side with the Green Mountain boys in the terrific strug- gle for victory on the ever-memorable field of Gettys- burg.
In the fall of 1863, shortly after his regiment had been mustered out, he returned to Albany and resumed his legal studies. He graduated from the Albany law school in the spring of 1864, and soon afterward was admitted to the bar at the general term of the supreme court, in Albany. At Newark, in the suminer of 1864, he formed a law partner- ship with J. E. Briggs.
Again the ardor of his patriotic spirit was rekindied, and while the government needed more loyal defenders he could not remain longer from the field of strife. In August and September (1864) he recruited a company at Newark, and in the following October joined the One Hundred and Eleventh regiment, New York volunteers. He was at once
46
NOTED LIVING ALBANIANS.
assigned, as captain, to the command of company D of that regiment. Captain Burnham remained with his gallant, well-disciplined regiment until it was mustered out in June, 1865, taking part in all the engagements in which it par- ticipated.
At the close of the war Captain Burnham returned to Newark, where he met with a warm reception among his friends and the loyal citizens of old Wayne county. There with active mind he resumed the duties of the legal pro- fession, and soon secured a large and lucrative practice, be- sides enjoying the confidence and esteem of all who knew him for his personal worth, his general intelligence, his sound judgment in matters of law, and his creditable war record.
In 1874 he was elected supervisor of Arcadia; an office which was again bestowed upon him in 1883 and in 1884.
His sterling qualities of head and heart and his impartial- ity in the transaction of business matters between man and man caused his selection as a most suitable candidate for justice of the peace. He was elected by a flattering ma- jority ; and for eight years filled that office with great satis- faction to all classes.
In politics Mr. Burnham was a republican until 1866, when he joined the democratic party, in the interest of which he has since acted with broad and liberal principles rather than a narrow partisan spirit.
In the course of his studious, industrious career Mr. Burn- ham has shown considerable ability as a newspaper writer and manager. In 1872, in connection with James Jones, he started a democratic campaign paper which was after- wards called the Newark Union and which became a regular democratic paper. He was the responsible editor of that
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.