USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 54
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Ralph Hopson Woolver of Munnsville, was born at Mohawk, Her- kimer county, N. Y., September 6, 1865. He is a direct descendant of Peter Woolver, one of the earliest settlers in the Mohawk Valley, who served through the Oriskany campaign and at the battle of Oriskany under General Herkimer. Mr. Woolver was born and reared on a farm and earned the money with which to school himself and get his law education. He was admitted in March, 1892, at Syracuse, and after practicing a few months in Oneida, removed to Munnsville where he has since resided. Mr. Woolver has traveled quite extensively over the United States, particularly in the West and South.
Wallace E. Burdick of De Ruyter, was born at Burlington, Vermont, August 7, 1848. He read law in the office of Miner & Kern; was ad- mitted November 17, 1869, and has always practiced at De Ruyter.
William E. Lownsbury, special deputy county clerk since January, 1892, was born in Fenner, October 31, 1864, and educated at Cazenovia Seminary. He began to read law in July, 1886, in the office of Hon. John E. Smith at Morrisville, and was admitted May 3, 1889, at Syra- cuse. He practiced for a time with Joseph D. Senn.
Adon P. Brown of the firm of Aylesworth & Brown of Leonardsville, was born at South Brookfield October 12, 1873, and educated at Brook- field Union School. From April, 1893, to April, 1894, he read law at Brookfield, N. Y., with N. A. Crumb, and from October, 1894, to Oc-
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tober, 1897, at Leonardsville with H. M. Aylesworth, He was ad- mitted November 9, 1897, and since January, 1899, has been a member of the firm of Aylesworth & Brown. From 1889 to 1893 he served as deputy postmaster at Brookfield.
Harlan D. Preston of De Ruyter, was born at Lincklaen, Chenango county, N. Y., February 14, 1848. He was graduated from De Ruyter Institute in 1869 and from Hamilton College in 1873. He studied law at Hamilton Law School, and was admitted to practice in June, 1874. From June, 1874, to December, 1881, he practiced in Syracuse, and has since resided in De Ruyter. He served as president of De Ruyter vil- lage in 1895, 1896 and 1898.
A. E. Fitch, attorney at law, and clerk of the village of Cazenovia, was born in Baltimore, Md., August 30, 1870. He removed when an infant to Mooers, Clinton county, N. Y., where he attended the com- mon schools. Later he came to Cazenovia, entered the seminary, and was graduated with the class of 1889. Mr. Fitch is remembered by his fellow students as an athlete who won considerable distinction for the institution in field sports. Following his graduation Mr. Fitch was engaged for some time in clerical positions. He began his legal studies at Champlain, Clinton county, N. Y., in the office of Wilmer H. Dunn, then district attorney. He was admitted to the bar at Saratoga Springs and in April, 1895, came to Cazenovia, formed a law partnership with D. W. Cameron, and engaged in general practice. The firm of Cameron & Fitch continued until March, 1896, since which time Mr. Fitch has practiced alone. Mr. Fitch was appointed clerk of the village in 1897, and still holds the office. He was one of the founders of the Citizens' Club, of which he is now a member and secretary.
B. Fitch Tompkins was born at Morrisville June 20, 1875, and re- ceived his education at Morrisville Union School, Olivet, Michigan, Preparatory School, and Olivet College. He studied law for three years in the office of Hon. John E. and G. Wells Smith at Morrisville, and was admitted to practice November 15, 1898, at Albany. Since the appointment of Hon. John E. Smith as county judge he has been in partnership with G. Wells Smith. He is a man of many pleasing qualities, a forcible public speaker and ready in debate. While a freshman at college he took second prize in a prize debate in which higher classmen participated. Mr. Tompkins is assistant foreman of the Morrisville Hook and Ladder Company of which he was one of the organizers.
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THE JUDICIARY AND BAR.
Sidney B. Cloyes of Earlville, was born at Morrisville September 6, 1868. He was educated at Morrisville Union School and Cazenovia Seminary, and began the study of law at Columbia Law School, Wash - ington, D. C. Subsequently he read in the office of H. B. Coman at Morrisville for two years and was admitted September 16, 1892. From September, 1892, to January, 1894, he practiced at Morrisville, and since the latter date has resided at Earlville where he is now postmaster.
Norman A. Crumb of Brookfield was born January 15, 1866, and re- ceived his education at Brookfield High School and Cazenovia Semi- nary. He studied law with S. Perry Smith at Morrisville, and with A. O. Briggs at Canastota and was admitted at Syracuse, May, 3, 1889. He has always practiced at Brookfield. Mr. Crumb is town clerk of Brookfield, and has served as clerk of the village for several years. He has been an active Republican and was chairman of the Republican County Nominating Convention in 1896. He is a member of and has held every elective office in Brookfield Lodge, No. 632, I. O. O. F. He is also secretary of the Agricultural Society.
B. J. Stimson, Hamilton, was born in the town of Nelson, Madison county, N. Y., April 24, 1837, a son of James H. and Cornelia (Button) Stimson. His grandfather, Barna Stimson, was a native of Massachu- setts and was one of the first settlers in the town of Nelson. When seven years of age Mr. Stimson removed to Michigan with his parents, and subsequently returned to Brookfield, N. Y., and studied law in the office of Samuel White, being admitted to the bar in 1865 at the General Term in Binghamton. In 1873 he came to Hamilton and opened a law office and has been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since. Mr. Stimson was justice of the peace in Brookfield for two terms and justice of sessions one term. He has been village clerk of Hamilton since 1885 and town clerk since 1891, except the year 1892; he was also justice of the peace two terms at Hamilton and justice of sessions one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Blue Lodge and Chapter, and in politics has always been an ardent Republican. He has also been a member of the Board of Education for three terms. Mr. Stimson married Rosalia Green of Herkimer county, and they have one son, William D., who is a jeweler in North Carolina.
John A. Johnson, Morrisville, an active practicing attorney of the county seat, is a native of Sweden, born near Stockholm, August 15, 1862. He was the third of six children of James and Mary Christina Johnson. His father came to the United States in 1869, locating first
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
at Norwich, from which place he removed to Rome, where he was a contractor. Here the greater portion of John A. Johnson's early life was spent. He was educated in the common schools, but in 1876 came to Morrisville, where he found work in a meat market, then farmed it for two years and later entered a drug store as a clerk. Determining upon the legal profession, he began reading law with Nathaniel Foote of Morrisville. About this time he was elected constable of the town and was also appointed deputy sheriff, from which position he earned sufficient means to educate himself for professional life. In October, 1884, he was admitted to practice law and began his career as a lawyer on January 1st following. For one year he practiced in partnership with Hon. E. F. Haskell, but after the removal of the latter to Oneida Mr. Johnson continued alone. He has always been an earnest Repub- lican, but only during the last six or eight years has he been active in politics. He is an active member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows or- ders. Mr. Johnson has been village trustee eight years and chief of the fire department two years. On November 11, 1891, Mr. Johnson mar- ried Sarah E., daughter of Henry and Rachel Brown.
W. H. Manchester, Morrisville .- Joseph Manchester, who settled in Madison about 1800, and was one of the pioneers in this part of the State, was a patriot of the Revolution, having entered the service at the age of sixteen and was promoted to the captaincy of his company. He wintered with Washington's army at Valley Forge and served throughout the war, re-enlisting twice. When he came into this State Capt. Manchester opened up a 200 acre farm in Madison, the same hav- ing been owned by his descendants until about ten years ago. He died in 1841. In his family were four children: Gideon, who lived on the old farm until his death; Electa, who was twice married and died in the present year; Judith, who married Isaac Taylor; and Martha, who died young. Gideon Manchester married Maria Tompkins, by whom he had these children: William T., Julia M., Mary and Harriet. Will- iam T. Manchester, the greater part of whose life was spent in Hamil- ton, was one of the prominent men of the county in his time. He was a large farmer, was once sheriff of the county, and also deputy canal commissioner. His wife was Lydia A. Mitchell of De Ruyter, sister of David J. Mitchell of the Madison county bar, and their only child was William H. Manchester, a graduate of Colgate Academy (1880), who read law with Hon. Joseph Mason and was admitted to practice in 1891. From 1886 to 1888 he was principal of the academy at Smith-
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ville Flats, Chenango county. On January 1, 1890, Mr. Manchester was appointed clerk of the Surrogate's Court of this county and has since lived in Morrisville. On February 2, 1887, he married Annie C. Wagen- hurst. They have two children, Constance M. Manchester and Mitchell W. Manchester.
D. G. Wellington, Hamilton, was born at Cazenovia, January 8, 1838. He was educated at Union College, but left there to enter upon his legal studies which he pursued in the office of J. Sterling Smith. He then took a course in the Albany Law School and was admitted to the bar at the General Term in 1862. He immediately opened an office at Hamilton, and has continued his practice here ever since, excepting two years spent in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Wellington enlisted in November, 1863, in Company A, 176th Infantry, and served under Gen. Banks until taken prisoner at Brasher, in Louisiana. He was held at Tyler, Texas, for thirteen months and when released returned home. He was justice of the peace from 1865 to 1869 and member of the As- sembly in 1868 and 1874. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention held at Albany in 1894. He is a Republican in politics and highly esteemed by his party. Mr. Wellington's parents were Luther and Amy Wellington. His grandfather, David Wellington, was an early settler in the town of Nelson, where he went with an ox team in 1798.
Capt. Charles W. Underhill, Hamilton, was born at Bedford, West- chester county, N.Y., and was educated at Madison University (now Colgate), from which he was graduated in the class of 1862. He is a member of D. K. E. fraternity and is a Phi Beta Kappa. On July 6, 1852, he raised Company G, 114th Regiment, N. Y. Vols., and served with that rank either at the head of his company, or on staff duty, until the close of the war. He saw service in Louisiana, Texas and the Shenandoah Valley and participated in thirty battles, and was thanked by name in General Division orders after the battle of Winchester and also after the battle of Cedar Creek. He was taken prisoner at Cedar Creek and was held a while in Libby prison. After the war Capt. Underhill read law in the office of Judge Mason and was admitted to the bar at the general term in Binghamton in 1867, since which date he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Hamilton. In 1872 Capt. Underhill married Marian E. Root, and they have four children: Carrie Wager, Mary Bogardus, Frank Root, and Genevieve Louise. Frank R. Underhill was a soldier in Co. G, 203d Regiment, N. Y. Vols., during the Spanish war.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Capt. Underhill served as judge advocate of the 1st Div., 19th Army Corps, for two years during the war of the Rebellion, and he has twice been president of the village of Hamilton. He is a member of the G. A. R. No. 272, Arthur L. Brooks, and in October, 1898, delivered the address at the dedication of a monument to his old regiment at Winchester, Va.
Joseph J. L. Baker, the well-known attorney of Chittenango, was born in the town of Nelson, this county, November 24, 1833. His father, Abraham Baker, was a pioneer settler from Connecticut and came into Nelson when it was yet an unbroken forest. Mr. Baker began his education in the common schools of Nelson, taught with success for several years, and attended Cazenovia Seminary until 1859, when he entered the Albany School of Law, graduating in 1860. He then began the practice of his profession in the office of William E. Lansing, where he remained five years. Mr. Baker has practiced con- tinuously here for nearly forty years. He claims to be the oldest Re- publican in the county, as in 1855 he attended the first Republican con- vention held at Eaton, while of his nine or ten associates in that local organization, all but himself are deceased. During the civil war he was assistant provost marshal, also a deputy sheriff, and has served not less than thirteen years as a justice. Various other local offices attest his personal popularity and public spirit. In 1860 he married Angeline L. Nourse of Cazenovia, and has one daughter.
Arthur A. Foote, Morrisville, who since 1879 has been clerk of the board of supervisors, and since 1874 an active practicing lawyer of the county seat, was a native of Morrisville, born October 18, 1851, and is the son of Nathaniel Foote, the latter the senior member of the bar in the county. Arthur A. Foote was educated at Morrisville Academy and the Clinton Rural High School. He read law under his father's direction, after which he entered the Albany Law School, and was graduated in May, 1874. He has since practiced at Morrisville, devot- ing his time and energies to the profession in general, but in addition to the duties of clerk of the board of supervisors he has been justice of the peace since 1880. On June 13, 1877, Mr. Foote married Katie C. Lewis of Stratford Street. Five children were born of this marriage: Robert Nathaniel, who died August 24, 1895; Leon Laertes, who died December 9, 1898; Louis Arthur, Millie Althea, and Ethel Knox Foote.
J. T. Durham, attorney at law, was born in Verona, this county,
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THE JUDICIARY AND BAR.
October 18, 1865, a son of Daniel H. and Ellen (French) Durham. His father was a farmer, a resident and well known citizen of Verona for many years. Mr. Durham was educated in the Oneida High School and Yates Union School at Chittenango. He read law in the Oneida office of Sayles, Jenkins & Devereaux, and in the office of Sayles, Searle & Sayles at Rome. In November, 1887, he was admitted to the bar and the following year began practice in Rome, forming a partner- ship with A. D. Kneeland. This association continued but a year and at the end of that period Mr. Dunham came to Oneida where he has since been in practice. He has been active in Republican political cir- cles, but has never held public office except as justice of the peace (1889-1897.) In fraternal matters he has been prominent; is a past master of Oneida Lodge, No. 270, F. and A. M .; member of Doric Chapter, No. 193, R. A. M .; Rome Commandery, No. 45, K. T., and present district deputy of the 27th Masonic district, comprising the counties of Madison, Onondaga, and Cortland, and composed of twenty- six lodges and nearly 3,500 Masons. He is also a member of Eumenia Lodge, No. 196, I. O. O. F. Mr. Durham was married in 1891 to Miss Alice Twogood, of Rensselaer county.
H. B. Coman, Morrisville. - Winsor Coman, the pioneer head of a highly respected and once large family in Eaton, was born in Provi- dence, R. I., in 1776, and died in Eaton in 1860. In 1796 he came with a party of relatives and acquaintances to this State, stopping for a short time at Whitestown, from which place he soon came to Eaton and located south of the village, and was a man of prominence in the county. He served at Sackets Harbor during the war of 1812-15, and in 1814-15 represented this county in the Assembly. After making a beginning in this then new region the pioneer returned east and married Kesiah Smith, and with her came on horseback to their wilderness home. The children in this family were Stephen, who lived and died on the old farm; Ziba, who lived nearly all his life in Eaton; Smith, once a well known merchant and distiller at Morrisville, but who went to California a "'49er " and died there ; Lydia, who married Benjamin L. Choate; and Benjamin F., whose life was spent in Eaton as farmer, justice of the peace in Morrisville, and also postmaster. All these children of the pioneer raised families, but the surname has few repre- sentatives in the county. Samuel, Ziba, and Benjamin Coman were brothers of Winsor, the pioneer, and followed him into this region within a year or two after his arrival. All of them raised families, but
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
few indeed now remain. Henry B. Coman, grandson of Winsor Coman, and the youngest of three children of Benjamin F. Coman, was born in Eaton, December 8, 1858. He was educated in the Morrisville Union School and Cazenovia Seminary, after which he read law in the office of Henry Barclay and was admitted to practice in May, 1880. For ten years after admission he was clerk of the surrogate's court, but on January 1, 1890, he began general practice at the county seat, where he has since resided and practiced his profession. He has not been an active figure in county politics, yet he has been more than a passive factor in the councils of the Republican party. He was village presi- dent five years and is now serving his second term as a member of the Morrisville Board of Education. On September 25, 1888, Mr. Coman married Lucy S., daughter of Lorenzo D. and Lucy (Sandford) Dana. They have two children.
E. Watts Cushman, of Hamilton, was born in that village March 1, 1854, and was educated at the Hamilton High School. He read law in his native village, beginning in 1876, and in 1879 was admitted to the bar. He has since his admission practiced in Hamilton, from 1886 to 1894 as the partner of Hon. Joseph Mason.1
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE MEDICAL SOCIETIES AND PROFESSION.
Previous to the year 1806 persons in this State who desired to prac- tice "physic and surgery," could do so by presenting evidence of their competency to the chancellor, a judge of the Supreme or Common Pleas Court, or to a master in chancery, for which a certificate would be given which was to be filed in the county clerk's office. The penalty for non-compliance with this regulation was that no remuneration could be collected for service, or a fine of $25 where remuneration was col- lected. This rather loose method of authorizing men to practice medi- cine led to extended abuse by unscrupulous and ignorant persons. Cer- tificates were frequently granted to unqualified practitioners, through
1 The very few members of the present Madison county bar who are not represented in the foregoing pages, failed to supply the necessary data for biographic sketches.
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MEDICAL SOCIETIES AND PROFESSION.
which the health and lives of the community were endangered and the standard of the profession lowered.
An act of the Legislature of 1806 anthorized the formation of medi- cal societies and conferred on them broad powers, at the same time im- posing upon them certain duties. The chief usefulness of these societies in early years, if not in more recent times, was in preventing unquali- fied and unscrupulous persons from engaging in medical practice.
Under this act mentioned the physicians of Madison county took prompt action and on July 29, 1806, organized under its provisions. At the organization meeting held in Sullivan the following persons were present and took part in the proceedings which brought to life the Madi- son County Medical Society: Drs. Israel Farrell, Jonas Fay, James Moore, James Pratt, John D. Henry, John Dorrance, Jonathan Pratt, William P. Cleveland, Elijah Putnam, Elijah Pratt, Thomas Greenly, Amos S. Amsden, Constant Merrick, Stephen Percival, Zadock Parker, Rufus Holton, Asa B. Sizer, and Asahel Prior. An election of officers was held and Israel Farrell was chosen the first president; Jonas Fay, vice-president; Elijah Pratt, secretary; James Pratt treasurer; James Moore, delegate to the State Society; Asa B. Sizer, James Moore, Asahel Prior, Jonathan Pratt, and Elijah Putnam, censors.
At an adjourned meeting held October 26, 1807, Drs. Jonas Fay, A. S. Amsden, and John Dorrance were appointed a committee to report all practitioners who were working without a license. This action shows the existing feeling at that time among reputable physicians regarding the operations of charlatans and quacks. The good work went on and on April 26, 1808, the president, secretary, and treasurer were jointly delegated to " summon Hubbard Smith, William Patrie (Petrie ?) and David Williams to appear and show that they are legally qualified to practice Physic and Surgery in this State."
Efforts to gather the nucleus of a library were early put forth, and some money subscribed for the purpose. The amended by-laws of 1819 specify that the surplus money in the treasury be not expended for library purposes until they amount to $75. In the same year steps were taken to introduce the description of cases by the members for mutual improvement and elevation. It was provided that every mem- ber should present at the semi-annual meeting or soon thereafter, one case, both in its symptoms and method of treatment, to a committee of three, who were to select such as seemed most important to be recorded in a book to be read at the annual meeting, or otherwise treated.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
On July 28, 1820, the by-laws relating to a library were abolished and Drs. John L. Cazier, Peter B. Havens, and Thomas Spencer were di- rected to purchase periodicals for the u e of the society. In July, 1821, Drs. Havens, Spencer and Clarke were appointed a committee to formulate a plan for the production and reading of prize dissertations, and subjects were offered for one each to be delivered at the ensuing semi-annual and the annual meeting.
The purchase of books and periodicals continued, the records show- ing that a committee was appointed in July, 1824, for that purpose, while in 1825, $30 were appropriated for books and $10 for periodicals. At the meeting of July 26, 1825, Drs. Bailey, Mead and Silsby were ap- pointed " to consider the most effectual method to suppress Quackery." This is another indication that the society, like those of all other coun- ties, found their utmost efforts were necessary to rid the profession of ignorant practitioners.
In 1826, and other years down to recent times, further sums were de- voted to the purchase of medical literature, Dr. Thomas Spencer being delegated to expend the money. This practice continued down to Jan- uary, 1849, when it was ordered that the library of the society be sold at auction at the next meeting, July 21, 1849. At that date the sale was postponed and the records show no further action regarding the library.
This was evidently a period of sluggishness in the society, as at the meeting last named it was resolved "to put forth endeavors to sustain the society," and to "make an effort to form a District Association with Otsego and Chenango counties."
In 1832-33 further efforts were made to relieve the county from the operations of quacks and to draw into its membership all qualified phy- sicians in the county. Between 1830 and 1840, a few papers were read before the society by members which attracted attention and discussion. In 1834 a committee was appointed to examine the medical botany of Madison county. The society also took its share about that time in the prevailing temperance movement, adopting the following resolution on the subject :
Resolved, That it is the deliberate conviction of this Society that the common use of distilled spirits has heretofore been a productive source of disease, crime, poverty and premature death; that it is entirely unnecessary for men in health; and that it might be dispensed with in the treatment of disease.
An important step was taken at the same time designed to elevate
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MEDICAL SOCIETIES AND PROFESSION.
the standard of scholarship in the profession, as seen in the following resolution :
Resolved, That in the present advanced state of the science of medicine this So- ciety regards the legal term of study too short, and think it ought to be extended one year, and that some care [should] be taken to fix preliminary studies.
It will be remembered that about 1840-45 the subject of mesmerism and clairvoyance came prominently before the public, creating no little interest. The members of the society proclaimed their views on the matter in a series of lengthy resolutions, wherein they ridiculed the whole theory as " all fallacious and unworthy to be countenanced by members of our profession." During the same period, Homoeopathy began to make itself felt in the community, and the members of the society, at first, had little more respect for it, apparently, than they had for mesmerism. A resolution on the subject was offered at the meeting of July 30, 1844, and after discussion was laid on the table. But the new practice gained more and more adherents, and on January 28, 1845, it was the subject of an address by Dr. George S. Loomis, after which the following interesting resolutions were offered, earnestly dis- cussed, and finally adopted with only one dissenting voice :
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