USA > New York > Cortland County > Pioneer history; or, Cortland County and the border wars of New York, from the earliest period to the present time > Part 27
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fences, scale aclivities, explore ravines, and swim streams ; and it is on record, that on one of these expe- ditions both horses and riders came near being drowned. "The boy was father to the man." He exhibited at an early age much natural taste for engraving, and at eighteen went to Boston for the purpose of prosecuting his studies in that art. He made rapid progress ; and has attained consummate skill in his vocation, second perhaps to no one in the profession. Successful in his business, which required but little capital, he embarked to some extent in commercial enterprise ; and has se- cured the important position of commercial agent for the American Guano Company for the New England States. He has since served as a Director in the Board of Trustees of the same Association.
He was for several years engaged in the business of Bank Note engraving, as the head of the New England branch of the eminent house of Danforth, Wright & Co.
Aside from his skill as an artist, and his staid probity as a business man, he is esteemed for all those qualities which distinguish the true gentleman,-hospitable, courteous, liberal and generous to a fault, the life of the social circle, and fond of all manly sports and pas- times, particularly of yachting. At his residence at Lynn Beach, by the "ocean and its sounding shore,"-the beauties of which he has so well described,-his poeti- cal taste greatly developed, and there his best pieces were composed. He loves the Poets, and revels with them, especially when genial friends are his guests.
He remembers Homer and its associations with the most affectionate regard. In one of his poems he pays,
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in the following stanzas, a beautiful tribute to the wind- ing stream which is the pride of the valley.
" Tioughnioga ! on thy buoyant breast, In boyhood's time, how often have I lain ; Calm, as a mother with her babe at rest, Thou bore me by thy banks sweet-scented train. Tioughnioga ! Mistress of the plain ! Thy cherished name is melody to me ! E'en though thy waters evermore complain, Like spirit tones, of times no more to be,
Oft let me greet thee still with manhood's kindling 'ee."
Mr. Glover married Vaeilette Emogene, daughter of Benjamin Hitchcock, Esq., of Strong, Maine. He won, in her, a lady highly esteemed for the graces of her mind and person, and for her true womanly character .*
The various poems which he has delivered before literary associations, stamp him as a man of superior powers of mind. His "Jubilee Poem," a youthful effort, pronounced at the Academy, July 8, 1846, is intimately associated with the history of the Tioughnioga Valley. For elevation of style, nervous energy, strong imgina- tion without the too common fault of excessive and far- fetched metaphor, together with an easy, natural and unlabored pathos, it may challenge comparison with any effort of a similar character. It will be read with pleas- ure by Mr. Glover's numerous friends, and, indeed, by all who can properly appreciate true poetic excellence.
The circumstances which led to its production are worthy of a brief narration. Prof. Otis, of Indiana, had been appointed Poet of the "Jubilee." He was pre- vented, however, from fulfilling the engagement, and Prof.
# Mrs. Glover died January 6th, 1859.
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Woolworth was made aware of the fact only a day or two previous to the arrival of the auspicious occasion. Our young friend, then an apprentice in Boston, had returned to Homer to participate in the festivities, and learned the evening previous to the opening exercises that Mr. Otis would not be present, and he secretly resolved to supply his place. During the night he produced the poem. Determining to let its fate be decided by its merits, he sent it anonymously to Principal Woolworth, who was struck with its beauties and its appropriate- ness to the occasion, and requested the bearer to name its author, which was properly declined. Mr. Wool- worth returned a befitting expression of his sentiments, informing him that the poem was accepted, and would be read at the Jubilee, and desired an interview with the author. The young poet acknowledged himself the au- thor of the production, warmly thanking his honored teacher for former encouragement, attributing whatever merit he possessed to his influence and approbation. Mr. Woolworth, by this heartfelt tribute, was quite over- come, and evinced deep emotion. In his speech at the Pavilion he made honorable mention of the poet, and the circumstances which called forth the poem. Mr. Glov- er's modest appreciation of his effort induced him to withhold his assent to its publication in the Jubilee pamphlet; but, having at length overcome his objec- tions, we now have the pleasure, for the first time, of presenting it to the public.
We have dwelt at some length upon the peculiarities of Mr. Glover, believing that our beautiful region will yet be hallowed by his muse, and cherished by kindred minds for his sake.
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JUBILEE POEM.
JUBILEE POEM.
Read at the Jubilee at Cortland Academy, July 6th, 1846.
FRIENDS of our common country ! here ye stand Once more among the scenes your childhood knew, In the fair bosom of a happy land,
Beneath your native skies of gold and blue ! Like joyful pilgrims when the shrine is won, When bosoms swell and tears impulsive start, Ye come with love warm as this summer sun, To this loved spot, this Mecca of the heart !
Ye may have roved your long and weary way O'er the broad prairies of the distant west, Where varied scenes cheer not the long, long day Of death-like silence and oppressive rest, Where evil spirits hold their hideous courts, And range with furies on the midnight air, Breathing fierce lightnings at their hellish sports, * And leave their smouldering tracks of blackness there.
Ye may have roved afar 'neath other skies,- Where the dark ocean beats a frowning shore ; Where Nature's noblest works in grandeur rise ; In Art's fair temples or in courts of lore : But here, upon your own prolific soil, How fair the landscapes to your sight unfold, Teeming with increase for the sons of toil In many a bounteous field of green and gold.
* An Indian superstition regarding the prairie fires.
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Like loving halos ling'ring round the spot, Here dwell the memories of the cherished past, Of scenes and joys which ne'er can be forgot, Too dear to die, too beautiful to last. No dread simoon upon the breeze's breath Is blasting through Tioughnioga's vale, -. No fell disease, the herald stern of death, Doth seek its prey in this delicious dale.
Again ye view each well-remembered place, Dear in the morning of your youthful years, Again behold each loved familiar face, And well-known voices greet your gladdened ears. Yet all is changed unto our stranger view,- Time hath not spared, Dame Nature wends her way, And many a form hath passed away, like dew Before the glory of the king of day.
Where is the good man Chamberlain ? and where Our friend from thy cool shades, O willow tree ! Where are the bands that knew our mother's care, This faithful mother of the good and free. In death's embrace lamented Lacy sleeps, And Kinney lives but in each bleeding breast, Affection mourns, and pity, drooping, weeps Where Curtis* lies beside the " Dove at rest."
In their last mansion sleep the brothers Lynde,t Lulled by the murmurs of Lake Erie's wave ;
* Over the remains of this lamented young man and his sister is reared a monu- ment.on which is inscribed, at the base,
"A LAW STUDENT WHO LIVED BY THE LAW OF LOVE."
And opposite,
" A DOVE AT REST."
Sweetly indicative of the character of the girl to whom reference is here made. t The brothers Lynde, with all that talents, education and wealth could bestow, . perished at the burning of the steamer Erie, on Lake Erie.
19*
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Quenched were the beamings of young Bennet's mind ; De Witt,* the child of Genius, found a grave. Peace to the sleepers ! loved, regretted throng ! Green be their memory to our latest years ! To them our freshest flowers, our saddest song, Like pilgrims at the shrine, our copious tears.
O, from the mind such memory never fades, Ne'er from the heart the love for such as these ; With us they live within these classic shades, Again their voices float on every breeze ! Where, where is Woolworth ? Heaven's own bounteous hand Hath still upheld him in his works of good ; Crowned with rich honors, long may yet he stand Amid the places where he long hath stood.
He sowed the seed of wisdom in the mind, And richly doth the harvest yield, and well, For every tare he scattered to the wind, And marked the ground wheron the seedlings fell. And downward through the maze of future thought, Wide and still wider as it flows along, Its genial influence with his genius fraught, Will live in wisdom, eloquence and song !
And here are aged men, whose locks of eld Float lightly in the valley's vernal breeze, Who, on this spot, when pioneers, beheld The noon-day sun o'ertop the forest trees. And here they felled the brave and sturdy oak Which ne'er before had known a white man's gaze, And viewed the startled deer as forth he broke His covert wild in terror and amaze.
* De Witt Glover, whose undoubted genius gave promise of the most brilliant success. He was the friend and pupil of the eminent artist, Casilear, of New York city, and his early loss, at the age of nineteen, was deeply deplored.
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With antlers high, and nostril widely spread, And quivering nerve, that form of beauty stood, And snuffed the breeze from o'er the stranger's head, Then plunged, like lightning, through the pathless wood ! And where above is reared the gilded vane O'er the fair verdure of the velvet green And the wide spreading populated plain, The wigwam of the Indian brave was seen.
Yet, when upon this new-born, sacred spot The men of wisdom and and of goodness trod, Their own great cares and hardships they forgot, And built a house wherein to worship God! Thanks, thanks, brave Sires ! your children sing your praise Amid the shades of your own fragrant bowers, And long they'll chant the soul-inspiring lays, And strew your pathway with life's sweetest flowers !
Here, too, the women who hath cheered them on Through dread and darkness, and through sorrow's night, With pictured scenes of bliss, and laurels won, And dawning glories of a future light : Still then for us, amid unnumbered woes, When hope seemed oft the shadow of despair, They bravely wrought, until in beauty rose (To truth and learning reared) this temple fair !
O noble, noble Woman ! thine the power To sculpture on the immortal, towering mind ; Man rules with wisdom the tumultuous hour ; Thine is his wisdom and thy love combined. Thanks, thanks, ye noble Mothers! grateful tears Still thank and bless ye o'er and o'er again : Full be the measure of your blissful years, Unknown by sorrow, free from every pain !
There is a charm which binds the wandering one As by ten thousand bands of meikle might,
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Tho' he doth wander 'neath the tropic sun, Or in the dismal gloom of polar night ; Tho' he doth bask amid ambrosial groves Where fields like magic and enchantment bloom, Or drink his full of oriental loves, Or lave his breast in India's rich perfume.
Or when the Syren lures with winsome smiles, And artful glances and bewitching grace, And with her honeyed tongue each sense beguiles, To prove each beauty of her borrowed face ; Or when Ambition twines the laurel wreath, And Wealth and Fortune deck his form with gold, Or when a captive, bound with chains beneath The gloomy walls of dungeons stern and old,-
'Tis the charm of his childhood, the light of his home That binds him and keeps him where'er he may roam, This the voice of its spirit, so calm and so still, That teaches him honor and shields him from ill : Then we'll love our dear home, tho' Time's flowing wave Is evermore bearing us on to the grave ; Its loves and its joys like green islands shall be, Mid the surging of life's tempestuous sea, And when from on high the dread summons shall come, Our watchword from earth shall be " HEAVEN AND HOME !''
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BRIEF NOTICES.
BRIEF NOTICES.
AMONG the first lawyers who located in the county, were Townsend Ross, Luther F. Stephens, Oliver Wise- well, and Samuel S. Baldwin. Ross and Stephens set- tled in Homer, and Wisewell and Baldwin in Cortland. Ross was an uneducated man ; but what he lacked in this point was amply made up in tact and genius. He had a clear head, was shrewd, witty and sarcastic, and in short, he was an able and successful lawyer. Ste- phens was cool and calculating. He died at Seneca Falls. Wisewell was educated for a clergyman, and followed for a time that honored profession. He had his faults to a liberal degree, and yet he possessed many good and liberal traits of character. Baldwin was prompt and energetic ; but his habits of inebria- tion rendered him less valuable to society and to him- self than he otherwise would have been. The profligate habits of his wife, though a beautiful and otherwise an accomplished woman, tended to the perversion of the more noble faculties of the mind.
Henry Stephens, from Wareham, Mass., located in Cortland Village, in 1814, and immediately engaged in the practice of his profession. He possessed energy and integrity of purpose, a fearless self-reliance, a well- regulated ambition, and a just and definite end in view. He was appointed Judge in May, 1838, and honorably filled the position until June, 1847, when he was suc-
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ceeded by Daniel Hawkes. Judge Stephens has filled various other public positions ; and has devoted his best energies to the furtherance of the numerous public improvements of the county. He filled with eminent ability the first presidency of the Syracuse, Bingham- ton and New York Railroad.
Edward C. Reed came in from Fitzwilliam, N. H., in April, 1816. He entered into partnership with Ross, in Homer, where he still remains. He made an excellent office lawyer, and a valuable citizen. Mr. Reed has creditably filled various influential positions, among which are those of District Attorney, County Judge, and Member of Congress.
Samuel Nelson came in from Madison county, and settled in Cortland Village in 1817. He had been an industrious and energetic student, and hence he early acquired a successful and lucrative practice. His im- passioned eloquence and finely rounded periods were regarded as a fair offset to the tact, genius, and scath- ing sarcasm of Stephens.
Not long after Nelson's arrival came Augustus Don- nelly and Rufus H. Beach, who became joint partners in the profession. Donnelly was a large, portly man, of commanding presence and elegant manners. He died in Homer.
Next came Nathan Dayton, Jonathan L. Woods, Daniel J. Betts, John Thomas, and Hiram Gray. Day- ton was born in Granville, Washington co., N. Y., in August, 1794. He had been well-educated and well- trained. He studied with Messrs. Sheperd and Barber, in his native village, until October, 1819, when he was admitted to the bar, and soon after settled in Truxton,
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but subsequently located in Cortland, where, after a year's residence and an ordinary practice, he became a partner of Samuel Nelson, and immediately found the area of his practice greatly enlarged. He was after- wards a Justice of the Peace, District Attorney, and Member of Assembly. In 1831 he removed to Lock- port. Here he rose rapidly in the profession, and has at different periods held the office of first Judge of Niagara county, Circuit Judge of the Eighth Circuit District, and County Clerk ; the latter office he still holds. Judge Dayton has ever been an active and en- terprising man, universally respected in and out of the profession. Woods became his law partner in Cortland, where he gained an honorable reputation as a legal adviser. His personal appearance, genial temper and courteous demeanor weighed strongly in his favor, and certainly made him many warm friends. In 1831 he was elected to the Assembly, a position which he hon- ored. He too went to Lockport, where he became de- servedly popular. He also rose to the office of Judge .- Betts was well-educated, and possessed many attractive qualities, and was, in short, a general favorite. His brilliant career was, however, soon cut short. He died in the midst of his usefulness .- Thomas migrated from Connecticut. He soon established a just and apprecia- tive reputation. He now resides in Syracuse .- Gray came from Washington county, and completed his stud- ies with Nelson, Dayton and Woods. He is now one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of this State.
William H. Shankland, originally from Montgomery co., located in Cortland in 1827, where he soon acquired an excellent practice. He made an able legal adviser and an eloquent advocate.
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Horatio Ballard commenced reading law in the office of Henry Stephens, in 1822, and completed his studies with Judge Jewett, at Skaneateles. He was admitted as an Attorney to the Supreme Court, in August, 1828 ; as Counsellor, in May, 1831 ; and soon afterwards ad- mitted as Solicitor and Counsellor in Chancery. He became a partner of Stephens, and on the elevation of the latter to the bench, he succeeded him to the leader- ship at the bar. He is a gentleman of great purity of character, and is undoubtedly one of the most indus- trious, energetic, and thorough-read lawyers in the county.
Samuel N. Perkins, also, studied with Stephens, but at what particular period the author is not informed. He made a fair, average lawyer. He lies entombed in the Cortland Cemetery.
Next came Joseph D. P. Freer, Daniel Hawkes, and James S. Leach. Freer studied with Dayton and Woods. He was well read in the profession. He, too, died early. -Hawkes studied with Stephens and Ballard. He had been well-educated, and was a thorough student. He succeeded Stephens to the bench. Disease fixed its fatal grasp upon him, and he found an early grave .- Leach was born in Sangerfield, Oneida co., August, 1812. He was educated on a farm until sixteen years old. Spent two years at Union Academy, and a like number at a mathematical school at Clinton. He stud- ied with Shankland, in Cortland, and was admitted to the bar in 1835. He entered into the practice of his profession in Cortland, where he remained until 1850, when he removed to Syracuse. He has tact, energy and genius, yet he takes the world easy, and neither
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mourns over his past or present achievements, but is looking steadily forward to what he terms the glorious future. He is now a prominent practising lawyer in the central city, and is highly respected in and out of the profession.
Henry S. Randall was born in Madison co., in 1811. Received his academic education in Cortland Academy, under Prof. Avery and Dr. Taylor. Graduated at Union College in 1830. Studied with Stephens and Betts, and was admitted as an Attorney in 1834; as Coun- sellor and Solicitor in 1844. Mr. Randall has not, however, practiced his profession. He served for seve- ral years as Corresponding Secretary of the State Agri- cultural Society, and first moved in the Executive Board to hold a State Fair. At one period he devoted con- siderable attention to farming, and at another, filled with credit and ability the editorial chair.
In 1839 he was appointed by the Secretary of State a visitor of Common Schools, and although he received no compensation for the arduous labor, he entered at once upon the duties of the office, and visited and re- ported to the Secretary the condition of all the schools in the county. He is the author of several valuable agricultural works ; of one of these 37,000 copies had been sold several years since.
In 1843-4 he held the office of Superintendent of Common Schools, and his admirable reports were of great value.
In 1851 he was elected Secretary of State, and en- tered upon the duties of the office Jan. 1, 1852. He filled the office with acknowledged ability and success. He was subsequently employed for several years in
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gathering the materials and writing the life of Thomas Jefferson, which has been but recently issued, in three elegant octavo volumes. It is unquestionably the most perfect biography ever written of this truly great man ; is an honor to our national literature, and will, as it deservedly should, remain a standard work for all future time.
Isaac A. Gates is a native of the town of Scott. He was admitted to the Supreme Court, in 1841, and is now a prominent practicing lawyer in Homer.
Lewis Kingsley is a native of Cincinnatus. He stud- ied with Barak Niles and Benjamin F. Rexford, and was admitted to practice, in 1846. He now resides in Norwich.
Hiram Crandall came from Plymouth, Chenango co. He was educated at Homer; studied law with William H. Shankland, and was admitted to the Supreme Court, and Court of Chancery, in January, 1846. He entered into practice with Shankland, with whom he remained until the latter was elevated to the Supreme Bench, when he became a partner of Robert O. Reynolds, and continued with him until his decease, in Sept., 1855. Mr. Crandall possesses good legal abilities, is prudent and cautious-two excellent qualities in an honorable attorney. In a military capacity he has risen from third Sergeant to Lieut. Colonel. He is now the popular and courteous Post-master in Cortland Village.
Samuel C. Graves commenced reading law in the office of Judge Reed, in 1844 ; was admitted to prac- tice, in 1848, and soon after formed a law partnership with Lewis Kingsley, with whom he remained until 1851, when the firm was dissolved, preparatory to Mr.
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Kingsley's removal to Cortland to assume the duties of County Judge. Mr. Graves is fitted to adorn either branch of the profession.
R. Holland Duell was born in the town of Warren, Herkimer co., N. Y., Dec. 20, 1823. His education was derived from the common school, with the exception of one or two years' attendance at the Syracuse Academy. He entered the law office of Charles B. Sedgwick, of Syracuse, in March, 1842, and remained with him until his admission to the bar in July, 1845. Commenced practice at Fabius, Onondaga co., during the same month, and remained there until July, 1847, when he came to Cortland Village, and formed a law partner- ship with Judge Stephens. In Nov., 1850, he was elected District Attorney of Cortland county, and in Nov., 1853, was reelected to the same office. In Nov., 1855, was elected County Judge and Surrogate, and in 1858 was chosen a member of the 36th Congress, from the 21st district, to succeed Henry Bennett.
Judge Duell is possessed of finely developed talents, remarkable shrewdness, tact, and address, and in short, exhibits all the elements of an accomplished legislator.
James A. Schermerhorn is a native of Schenectady. He was educated in Cortland Academy and Geneva College. He read law with Daniel Hawkes, in Cortland Village, and was admitted an Attorney at Law and So- licitor in Chancery, at the quarterly term of the Supreme Court, 1847. Mr. Schermerhorn is a well-read lawyer ; he however excels chiefly in the first branch of the pro- fession,-as a legal adviser,-not caring to shine in the capacity of an advocate.
Edwin F. Gould was reared in Cherry Valley. Hc
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received an academic education ; studied law with Shankland & Leach ; was admitted to the bar at the General Term of the Supreme Court, held at Ithaca, July 4, 1848, and commenced practice in Cortland Vil- lage. Mr. Gould is an accomplished writer and an elo- quent speaker. As editor of the Central New Yorker, published at De Ruyter ; Madison County Journal, at Hamilton ; Cortland County Whig, at Homer, and the Cortland American, at Cortland Village, he exhibited a clear, vigorous intellect.
George A. White is a native of Cortland, where he was reared and educated. He studied law with J. D. P. Freer, and was admitted to practice, in January, 1848. He commenced practice in Homer, but sub- sequently returned to Cortland, where he has since remained. Mr. White has secured a very lucrative practice, and it is not saying too much, an enviable reputation as a lawyer. With care and application to his profession he may rank with the first class lawyers in the State.
Horace L. Green is a native of Virgil. He was edu- cated at Cortland-studied law with Stephens & Du- ell-was admitted to the bar in 1852, and commenced practice in Marathon-was elected Justice of the Peace in 1854-removed to Cortland in 1856, where he has since continued to practice. In 1857 he was elected County Treasurer-an office which he has thus far filled to the general satisfaction of all parties. He is a gen- tleman of good habits, fair legal acquirements, and is deserving of great credit for his early political achieve- ment.
A. P. Smith is also a native of Virgil. He was born
e a
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in the year 1831 ; received his academic education in Cortland ; graduated at the State Normal School, in 1853 ; commenced the study of law with H. L. Green, at Marathon, and completed his studies with Horatio Ballard ; was admitted to practice, at the January term of Supreme Court, 1856, and at the November election of the same year, was elected District Attorney of Cort- land county. Mr. Smith was an industrious and energetic student. His career in the past has been eminently successful- the future is bright and promising.
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