USA > New York > Noted living Albanians and state officials. A series of biographical sketches > Part 4
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EDWIN K. BURNHAM.
paper until 1875, when Mr. Jones assumed its entire con- trol and management.
Mr. Burnham's popularity continuing to increase among the people of his adopted county, he was, in the fall of 1884, elected to the assembly from the second district of Wayne - usually largely republican -by a plurality of 135 over Chester F. Sweezey, the republican nominee. In the as- sembly he was a useful working member, and served with credit on the committee of railroads, etc. When in the legislature he secured the passage of a bill establishing the custodial asylum for feeble-minded women at Newark, Wayne county, New York - now a large state institution - and is a member of the board of trustees of the institu- tion. In the fall of 1885 he ran for county judge and re- duced the usual republican majority of 2,000 to 500.
After the expiration of his legislative term Mr. Burnham continued his professional work as a lawyer in the village of Newark until he was again called into public service as a state official. June 1, 1889, he was appointed to his pres- ent position of honor and responsibility as superintendent of public buildings. On assuming his duties he adopted several new rules and regulations conducive to the more perfect working order in his office at the capitol. One of these rules, suggestive of patriotic zeal, was his directing that from the tall staff on the capitol building should be displayed every week day, from sunrise till sunset, the stars and stripes. And to him belongs the honor of having originated the plan now so extensively adopted, of having the national flag unfurled over our public school buildings.
Simple in his manners, sincere in his friendships, and earnest in his efforts to administer the affairs of his office with efficiency and honesty, Mr. Burnham seems to be ad-
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mirably qualified to adorn the position for which he has been carefully selected by the trustees of public buildings of the state of New York.
He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and several other organizations. In 1865 he married Nancy Dillingham of Randolph, Vermont. They have three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter.
NORTON CHASE.
MONG the rising young men of Albany who have re- flected no little credit upon their native city by their earnest efforts for the advancement of worthy causes, is the Hon. Norton Chase. Born in this city on the 3d of Sep- tember, 1861, he is a son of Nelson H. Chase, a useful and respected citizen of Albany. From his earliest youth he was inclined to study, and when a mere child he became a pupil in the Albany academy, where he devoted himself with great ardor to study, and made rapid progress in as- cending the hill of science. Seldom, indeed, has that ex- cellent institution been favored with a more diligent and successful student. His school boy days were those of pleasantness and of increasing attractions for intellectual culture. Learning was no drudgery to him; and with an ease and quickness unusual in most students of his years, he was fully prepared when the hours of recitation came ; consequently he always stood among the best scholars in his classes, and when he graduated in 1878, he went forth from the academy with the highest honors, having taken five gold medals. In the same year he entered Yale college and carried on his studies there with a view principally to select- ing the law as a profession, towards which his natural taste led him. On leaving Yale college he returned home and
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entered the Albany law school. From this excellent and flourishing institution he graduated in 1882 with the degree of LL.B., and was admitted to the bar.
In the opening of his legal career Mr. Chase was most fortunate in forming business relations with the late Judge Samuel Hand, one of the most eminent and accomplished jurists that ever graced the Albany bar. In his office he began the practice of law, and continued it with growing satisfaction and success, acquiring a high standing at the bar. Soon after the death of Judge Hand in 1886, Mr. Chase formed a co-partnership with Mr. Frank B. Delehanty un- der the firm name of Chase & Delehanty. This energetic, popular firm still continues, succeeding to much of the prac tice of Judge Hand, and having worked up a large and lucrative clientage.
Their practice has been of a nature unusual for so young a firm, and has been uniformly successful. Mr. Chase early appeared before the court of appeals and has argued im- portant causes there, as well as at the general term of the supreme court, while in the surrogate's court the firm has had charge of the important contests arising in the wills of the late Robert Higgins, Weare C. Little and John L. Oliver. In recent days its successful litigation with the Lamson Consolidated Store Service Company, involving over twenty different cases, two of which involved $1,000,000 each, has brought much credit to this active firm.
As a politician, Mr. Chase was early and thoroughly trained in the Jeffersonian school of democracy, and like Judge Hand, his able adviser and much-beloved friend, he has always been strongly attached to the principles of his party, following them with unswerving fidelity and advocating them with marked ability on many occasions. He is, in
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NORTON CHASE.
every respect, a thorough democrat, without hypocrisy and without guile.
In 1885 Mr. Chase was nominated as a democratic mem- ber of assembly in the third district, and after a stirring canvass he was elected by a majority of 1,978 cver his op. ponent Harmon Pumpelly Read - an increase of 800 over the usual democratic majority, and carrying every election district in the assembly district, a victory never achieved before. This was certainly a splendid triumph for a young man just entering the field of political warfare. His legis- lative record in the assembly of 1886 was creditable and consistent, marked with steady adherence to democratic principles, to the interests of his constituents, and to the welfare of the city of Albany and its workingmen. He served as a member of the committee on judiciary, military affairs, two-thirds and three-fifths bills and the assembly committee of the whole.
In the House his voice was soon heard and his influence felt. He performed admirable work and attracted much attention for the zeal and earnestness which he infused into all his actions. No better friend of the people and the peo- ple's interests ever sat in a legislature. His course at the close of the session received the deserved approval even of those politically opposed to him.
A ready debater, a pleasing speaker, happy in his choice of language, and well versed in the science of politics as well as of law, his talents were soon recognized and appre- ciated in the legislature and he became an influential, studious and hard-working member. He took part in the principal debates on leading questions before the house, and showed himself to be a true and reliable friend and a staunch advocate of the interests of organized labor. Mr.
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Chase has since given hi; support and counsel to the party which has now honored him and honored itself. He has been a delegate to many of its conventions and has nominated many successful candidates for office, and in the last demo- cratic state convention placed in nomination Mayor Maher of this city, in a speech which was greatly applauded. Mr. Chase has also spoken for his party in all the campaigns of recent years, and in the presidential election of 1888, was one of the orators on board the Thomas Jefferson, which made the celebrated trip down the canal from Buffalo to Albany. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Chase was nominated for senator in the seventeenth senatorial district, and the contest between him and his republican opponent, Henry Russell, was one of the most memorable in senatorial annals. After a bitter fight in the courts, Mr. Russell was declared to have been elected by a plurality of 8, and thus the political storm was temporarily abated.
Two years later, at the democratic county convention, which met at the city hall, October 18, 1889, he was re- nominated by acclamation as his party's candidate, and the voters of the district expressed their opinion of the legal decision of two years ago by electing him by a majority of 3,15I over his republican opponent, Major George H. Treadwell.
In the present senate, of which he is the youngest mem- ber, he was made a member of the committees on insurance, general laws, public buildings, world's fair and poor laws.
He at once took a leading part in senatorial debate, speaking often, earnestly, and forcibly on all important measures and gaining a high reputuation as a model legis- lator. Among the bills which he introduced and which have become laws are the following: To appropriate
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NORTON CHASE.
$365,000 for continuing work on the capitol; the general registration act; to amend the act incorporating relig- ious and charitable societies; in relation to Baptist and Congregational churches; to provide for the purchase of the Rensselaerwyck rifle-range; to authorize Cohoes to improve her water-works; defining the titles of the com- missioners of Washington park: relative to the govern- ment of public parks in Albany; amending the Hawk street viaduct act in relation to assessments ; to amend the act incorporating Cohoes; allowing Christian asso- ciations to be free from taxation of property used for their specific purposes ; incorporating the New York and New England Agricultural and Industrial Society.
Mr. Chase is a member of many clubs and societies and is a trustee of the Albany Exchange Savings bank. He has also manifested great interest in military matters. In 1881 he was commissioned first lieutenant and appointed adju- tant of the Tenth battalion, and in 1886, was elected major of the same organization, which position he still holds.
Mr. Chase on June 22, 1887, married Mabel Louise, daughter of Henry L. James, Esq., of Williamsburgh, Mass.
Senator Chase possesses a genial, sunny disposition, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of hosts of friends for his excellent social qualities, his strict integrity and many other traits which enter into the formation of a true manhood. As years pass, such men are bound to rise higher and higher in public estimation, and to receive well-merited honors at the hands of their fellow-citizens.
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ALDEN CHESTER.
WELL-KNOWN, industrious, painstaking lawyer of this city, whose early struggles in life and well-directed efforts to secure an education have been crowned with suc- cess in his chosen profession, is Alden Chester. Born at West- ford, a small village in Otsego county, N. Y., September 4, 1848, he is the youngest of four sons of Alden Chester. His father was born at New London, Conn., in 1803, and died at Westford on the 4th of March, 1857. He was a public- spirited man, of a noble nature, and a true friend of educa- tion. At first a cabinet-maker, he afterward carried on the business of manufacturing sash, blinds and doors. The orig- inal ancestor of this branch of the Chester family in this country was Capt. Samuel Chester, who came from England to Boston and removed to New London in 1633. He was a prominent and well-educated man, a commander and owner of ships in the West India trade, and was also a mer- chant and land surveyor. He finally removed to Groton, where he owned ground on which stands Fort Griswold and the Groton monument, which his son John conveyed to the government in 1777. He was also one of the commission- ers of the general court in 1693 to settle the boundary be- tween Connecticut and Massachusetts.
The mother of the present Mr. Chester was Susan G.
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ALDEN CHESTER.
Draper. She was married to Mr. Alden Chester, senior, in 1838, and is still living at the old homestead in Westford, in the 79th year of her age. She descended from James Draper, who was the first of the Draper family to emigrate to this country. He came from England about 1643, and was one of the early settlers of Roxbury, Mass.
Alden first attended the district school in his native place, and a few years later the Westford Literary institute, at that time a flourishing private academy, where he applied himself diligently to his books, for which he had a great liking. Ambitious to excel and apt in learning, he was always ahead of his classes. What aided in the formation of his literary taste, was the practical use which he made of the public library at Westford, of which his father was one of the founders, and which is still in existence. By the death of his father, when Alden was a mere child, he was mostly thrown upon his own resources, earning the money which was necessary for carrying to a successful completion his professional course of study. During a portion of the time while at the Westford Literary institute, he was both a student and a teacher, and he was also for a short time a clerk in the country store and post-office at that place. While studying and teaching, his health became impaired by too intense mental application, and he was obliged tem- porarily to seek a change of occupation. At about the age of 18 he accepted a position as telegraph operator on the old Albany and Susquehanna railroad, receiving only a week's instruction in this art before taking entire charge of an office which he successfully conducted for two years. He next went to Boston where he was employed for a year by his brother as a clerk in the office of the Ætna Life Insur- ance Company. While in the literary metropolis of New
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NOTED LIVING ALBANIANS.
England his attention was turned to the study of the law, for which he had a predilection. Without entering any law office there as a student, he employed all the time he could command in reading such legal treatises as were recom- mended to him by a lawyer with whom he boarded. After having acquired a knowledge of the elementary principles of the profession he was choosing as a life work, he went to New York and entered the justly celebrated Columbia col- lege law school- one of the best institutions of the kind in the country - where under the masterly instruction of Pro- fessors Theodore W. Dwight, Francis Lieber and other dis- tinguished instructors, he enjoyed rare opportunities for legal study - opportunities which he was not slow to em- brace with the greatest ardor. To assist him financially, he became a frequent correspondent for the newspapers during his first year of student life in the metropolis, and devoted the vacation preceding his closing year to editing a weekly newspaper in Otsego county.
Mr. Chester graduated from the Columbia college law school with the class of 1871, and in May of the same year he was admitted to the bar at the general term of the su- preme court in New York city. That he was a close, in. ' dustrious student of the law, and well versed in its kindred branches, was evinced on graduation day, when he took a prize of $75 in the department of political science, that being one of only five prizes given to a graduating class of ninety-nine. The prize was awarded on the combined merits of a graduating essay and the final examinations. Dr. Lieber was then professor of constitutional history and public law in the department of political science in the law school; and to him Mr. Chester was greatly indebted for much of the valuable instruction which he received in that
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ALDEN CHESTER.
department. He deeply cherishes the memory of that pro- found scholar, renowned teacher and author, who died in 1872, but whose works on "Civil Liberty and Self-Govern- ment," "Political Ethics" and Legal and Political Her- meneutics," will stand as enduring monuments to his gen- ius and his memory. In an article in the Columbia Jurist for February, 1886, Mr. Chester has given some pleasing reminiscences of Dr. Lieber, in which he says : " His lectures were oral, but delivered from carefully prepared notes. He always elucidated the subject in hand in great detail, showing constant evidence of profound study and deep research. His great familiarity with mat- ters of history, his wonderful memory and his philosophical treatment of every subject, made his lectures very entertain- ing as well as instructive. We were indeed highly favored who were permitted to prosecute the study of political science under a teacher whose writings, as the Nation has truthfully said, 'are universally regarded as among the most important contributions in the English language to the science of politics.'"
On receiving his legal diploma Mr. Chester immediately came to Albany - where he has since resided -and entered into partnership with Andrew S. Draper, now state super- intendent of public instruction, who was himself just com mencing the practice of law. From 1876 to 1882, Hon. William S. Paddock was a member of the firm under the name of Paddock, Draper & Chester. Since the retirement of Mr. Draper in the spring of 1887, Mr. Chester has con- tinued to practice alone, and by a faithful discharge of his professional duties he has secured a large clientage and is doing a successful business.
In politics Mr. Chester is a republican, and though not a 8
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frequent aspirant for political honors and emoluments, he has already, though comparatively a young man, filled in a most creditable manner, several important places of public trust and responsibility, and rendered efficient service to his party. In 1874 and in 1876 he was deputy clerk of the New York state assembly ; and for several years he was a member and secretary of the republican general committee of Albany county. In educational matters in our city he has taken a deep interest. On the expiration of the term of the late Hon. Charles P. Easton as member of the board of public instruction, Mr. Chester was chosen in his place ; and during his last year of service he was elected and served as president of the board. In 1881, Mr. Chester in connec- tion with Mr. Douw H. Fonda, was an earnest worker in a cause for which intelligent Albanians will ever be grateful, and that was a successful effort in inducing the board of education to throw open the High school library -too long isolated and neglected - to all who may desire to con- sult its valuable treasures, and thus to render it more effec- tive as a factor in the general education of the people. Since that time this library has been free to the public as a circulating library.
In 1882 Mr. Chester was appointed by Attorney-General Benjamin H. Brewster, assistant United States attorney for the northern district of New York, under the Hon. Martin I. Townsend, United States attorney. While serving in this capacity Mr. Chester tried on behalf of the government many important cases in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Au- burn, Utica and Albany. Many of these cases were of great public interest, and the manner in which he conducted them reflected no little credit upon him and evinced his legal ability, his remarkable industry and his sound judgment.
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ALDEN CHESTER.
In 1885 in consequence of the appointment by President Arthur of his partner, Mr. Draper, as judge of the court of Alabama claims, Mr. Chester resigned his office as assistant United States attorney that he might more fully attend to the growing law business of his firm. On retiring from his office he received a public recognition by the United States court, over which Judge Coxe presided. for his faithful performance of duty, as well as the following graceful tribute from the venerable Martin I. Townsend :
" From the day of your entrance upon your official duties until now, our social and official intercourse have been with- out a cloud, and in parting with you I feel that I am sus- taining a great personal loss. Allow me to say further that I feel that your resignation is also a loss to the government as well as to myself. I take this occasion to bear witness to the judicious and faithful manner in which you have dis- charged your official duties, as well in the labors of the office, as in the courts where the eye of the public was upon you and where your conduct has commended you to the judges, to the bar and to the attendants in the halls of justice."
In Mr. Chester's private practice he has been connected with many important cases, only a few of which can be men- tioned. He was counsel for the relators in People, ex rel. James Young, v. Edward Roark, and in People, ex rel. John Greer, v. James Carlisle, in which the title to the offices of supervisor and alderman of the seventh ward of this city was tried, and the relators in each instance decided to be entitled to the offices. He successfully conducted a con- siderable number of mandanius cases against the state comp- troller in 1878, to determine the amount of compensation to which the officers and employees of the legislature were
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entitled. He was one of the counsel for the sitting mem- ber, when the legislative seat of Hon. A. S. Draper was contested by Daniel Casey, a case which involved the right of a member of the board of public instruction to a seat in the assembly. Later he was counsel for Hon. George S. Weed, when his seat in the assembly was contested, on the ground that he was ineligible to the office of member of assembly, under the constitution because of holding the office of United States commissioner. In both cases the assembly decided the sitting members eligible and entitled to their seats. Mr. Chester recently acted as counsel for the relators in the Second avenue assessment cases, con- ducting them successfully through all the courts, the court of appeals finally deciding the assessment void. He has also been engaged in many important patent litigations and contested will cases. While conducting a general law practice, he numbers among his clients several life and fire insurance companies and has in recent years been engaged as counsel for the companies in many important life and fire insurance cases. In 1883 he compiled and annotated the insurance laws of the state for the state insurance department. He has also conducted a very considerable business in the man- agement of estates and trusts and has acted as referee in various important suits. He has a large and well-selected law library, which is the lawer's right arm in the successful prosecution of his duties.
In seeking occasional relaxation from the severe and con- fining labors of professional life, Mr. Chester enjoys, in a true Waltonian spirit, the pleasures of angling and is an ex- pert with the rod and the reel. He also delights in the # exciting and healthful sports of the marksman, and is a good shot with a rifle.
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ALDEN CHESTER.
His career is like that of many of the professional men of our country, who by their early toil and persistent efforts under adverse surroundings, have risen to distinction. In- dustry has ever marked his pathway; and without preten- tious display he moves serenely along, both through the storms and sunshine of life, attending faithfully to the duties of the passing hour. In public speaking he is ready, earnest and deliberate, presenting his subject in a clear, strong light, with well-chosen words, calculated to engage the close attention of his hearers, and to carry conviction to their minds. He has delivered quite a number of Inde- pendence and Memorial day addresses ; spoken on educa- tional and miscellaneous topics, and taken an active part in several political campaigns. With a retentive memory he draws largely for illustrations from the intellectual treasures with which he early stored his mind. Self-reliant, indepen- dent, and unyielding in his belief of what is right or wrong, he exhibits the characteristics of the cultured man and the useful citizen, governed by high and honorable principles, which are the guide, inspiration and solace of a true life.
FREDERICK COOK.
MAN who has reflected great honor upon American institutions, is the Hon. Frederick Cook, ex-secre- tary of state of New York. He is a striking representa- tive of the best type of a German citizen whose leading traits of character have been fully developed upon Ameri- can soil. He was born on the 2nd of December, 1833, at Wild- bad, Germany, a noted watering place in the famous Black Forest district. His father was a contractor, a man who in- tended to have given his son Frederick the advantages of a thorough collegiate course. The boy was placed at the best school in the neighborhood, and his youthful years were earnestly devoted to the elementary branches of learning. The industrious young student was increasing rapidly in knowledge from year to year, with the brightest prospects before him, when suddenly a dark cloud overshadowed his opening literary career and dashed to the ground his hopes of obtaining a complete collegiate education. When he had reached his twelfth year, his excellent father, who had taken so deep an interest in the instruction of his promising son, died, leaving a family of eight children. By this irreparable loss the happy home was broken up and the children scat- tered abroad. Without a father's watchful care, Frederick was left at this tender age almost entirely to his own re-
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