USA > New York > Niagara County > Souvenir history of Niagara County, New York : commemorative of the 25th anniversary of the Pioneer Association of Niagara County > Part 13
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Niagara County has furnished eminent judges to the State and County Judiciary. Nathan Dayton was County Judge in 1833, and a Circuit Judge of the Supreme Court, under the Constitution of 1821, in 1838. He was also, dur- ing his declining years, elected County Clerk of Niagara County, on the Democratic ticket, against a Republican op- ponent, and, although the County was Republican, the re- spect and consideration felt for Judge Dayton made him successful in the election. Levi F. Bowen was also County Judge, in 1851, and again in 1873, and was also appointed to the Bench of the Supreme Court by Governor Hunt, and from there went, during his last year, to the Court of Ap- peals at Albany. He was also United States Provost Mar- shal for this district during the War of the Rebellion. He also served this County in the Assembly at Albany, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1866. George D. Lamont was another Justice of the State Su-
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
preme Court, in 1871, and died while in such office. He citizen of Niagara. He was appointed United States had been District Attorney and also County Judge of our Marshal for the Northern District of New York during Mr. Fillmore's administration. Edward I. Chase, of Lockport, an able lawyer, and a brother of Salmon P. Chase, Chiei Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and Secretary of the Treas- ury in Mr. Lincoln's first Cabinet, was also United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York, appointed by Mr. Lincoln, in 1861. Another distinguished citizen of Niagara County was Sher- burne B. Piper, a classmate in Dartmouth College with Franklin Pierce, afterwards President of the United States. During Mr. Pierce's administration he possessed great influence in the Dem- ocratic councils of New York State, and was instru- mental in the selection of William L. Marcy, of New York, as Secretary of State in Mr. Pierce's Cabinet. He was District Attorney of the County, and twice elected Member of Assem- bly, on the Democratic Ticket, in this then strong- ly Republican District. Had Mr. Piper associated with public men, and interested himself in public measures, County, and State Senator, and, during the Civil War, was District Attorney under the Provisional Government of Louisiana. Hiram Gardner was another eminent judge and citizen, being twice County Judge of the County, and one of the Canal Com- missioners of the State of New York, and was of high character and ability. Down to the " Free Soil" move- ment of 1848 Judge Gard- ner had been a Democrat. In 1856 he was an ardent Republican and supporter of Fremont for the Pres- idency. In his offce were maps in black and white, illustrating the free and slave states and Territories. In 1857 ex-Governor Marcy visiting ex-Governor Hunt at Lockport, called upon Judge Gardner, at his office to pay his respects. They had been Democrats to- gether in the olden days. As they were about leaving. Marcy, looking at the maps on the walls, said : "Judge, it is easy to see from your maps and pictures what your polfiics now are. I only hope that in the next election for President you IION. TIMOTHY E ELLSWORTH. will be as unsuccessful as you were in the last."
The hope of Marcy was doomed to failure. Lincoln he would have been an influential figure in State and National politics, but he preferred a quiet life, which he led
HON. JOHN H. LEGGETT.
was elected in 1860, and Judge Gardner aided in his election in Niagara County.
OTHER INFLUENTIAL PUBLIC MEN OF THE PAST.
John T. Bush, of Niagara Falls, was another honored
HON. JOHN T. DARRISON.
for many years in the pleasant Village of Lewiston, on the banks of the noble Niagara.
Samuel Works, who, under the Constitution of 1821, was for many years Senator in the State Senate from Niag-
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
ara County, was an intimate personal and political friend of William H. Seward and Thurlow Weed, the great Whig leaders of our State. He made Mr. Weed's house at Albany his home during the sessions of the State Senate. He was a man of strong common sense, of excellent judgment and of great influence in the councils of the Whig party during his time. As an evidence of his caution, it is related that a constituent remonstrated with him for not answering his letters, and in explaining his remissness, he said: "I do not like to write letters. They make records against a man. I prefer to wait until I come home and go around to the 'houses' and see the people." Another distinguished cit-
EX-GOVERNOR WASHINGTON HUNT.
izen of Niagara County was Col. Peter A. Porter, who was killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia, in Grant's campaign of 1864. He represented his Assembly District one term at Albany, in 1862, then raised the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, and commanded it until his death. He was the son of Gen. Peter B. Porter, before mentioned, and is en- deared to all the people of this County for his high charac- ter and partiotic services before and during the War of the Rebellion. The monument erected to his memory on the banks of the world-renowned Niagara attests the apprecia- tion in which his memory is held by his friends and neigh- bors.
T. T. Flagler, of Lockport, was also a distinguished cit- izen of our County. As Assemblyman at Albany, as Rep- resentative at Washington, and as a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1866, he rendered important ser- vice to the County, District, State and Nation.
Burt Van Horn was another prominent citizen of Ni- agara. He represented his Assembly District three terms at Albany, and this Congressional District three terms at Washington. He was an active and influential Represen- tative, and was a powerful factor in Niagara County from 1860 to 1870.
The list of Niagara County's politically distinguished men is too numerous to go over in detail. The array at home, at Albany, at Washington and elsewhere, is one of which the County may be proud.
While Niagara County did not take much part in polit-
ical affairs under the State Constitution of 1777, under the second Constitution, of 1821, the third Constitution, of 1846. and the present, fourth Constitution, of 1894, she has, through her public men and political officials, taken a prom- inent stand and played a conspicuous part in the councils of the State and Nation.
OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS OF THE PRESENT.
The Collectors of United States Customs at Suspension Bridge, in the past and present, under all administrations, and the postmasters throughout the County, have been able and country, while some of them have been, and are, of com- ceptions in the past, have been competent and creditable men. Our Representatives at Albany and Washington have compared favorably with those from other parts of our State and County, while some of them have been, and are, of com- manding influence.
The present State Senator, Mr. Ellsworth, was for over eight years Collector of Customs at Suspension Bridge, be- ing appointed by General Grant during his first term. He served creditably in the military service during the Civil War on the staffs of Gens. Wadsworth and Thomas. He is now serving in his tenth year as State Senator, the longest Senatorial service of any one from our County, or in the district. With long public service, large and va- ried experience, and of excellent executive and administra- tive ability, he has become one of the leading men of the State and influential in all political affairs. In the full ma- turity of his mental and physical powers, he is about to lay aside the Senatorial toga. The County and District can not replace him.
John T. Darrison, Member of Assembly frim this Lock- port district, is serving his fourth consecutive term, an honor shared only by Peter B. Porter. This attests his worth and the appreciation of his constituents. He has also been Mayor of Lockport.
John H. Leggett, of Niagara Falls, Member of Assem- bly from that district, is now serving his second term. He will undoubtedly be returned this year, and has a promising future before him.
The present Mayors of the cities of the County are up- right and capable men.
The Common Councils of the Cities and Boards of Su- pervisors of the County compare favorably with similar bodies in other counties and cities.
From small proportions, in 1821, we have grown into large political units. We have three cities, Lockport, Ni- agara Falls and North Tonawanda. We have four villages. Lewiston, Youngstown, Wilson and Middleport, and twelve towns, Cambria, Hartland, Lockport, Lewiston, Newfane, Niagara, Porter, Pendleton, Royalton, Somerset, Wilson and Wheatfield.
At the first annual election, in November, 1822, the County cast 1,324 votes.
At the last Presidential election, in 1900, it cast 17.611 for the different candidates for President.
POLITICAL TENDENCY.
From the organization of the County, in 1821, down to the present time, it may be truthfully said that the major- ity of the people in Niagara County, and in the Congress- ional and Senatorial Districts, of which it is and has been a part, have been in political action on the side opposed to the Democratic party.
This is attested by its Congressional and Senatorial Representatives. From 1821 down to 1902, a period of eighty-one years, only four Democratic members have rep-
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
resented it in the National Congress, namely : Charles B. Benedict, elected in 1876; Robert S. Stevens, clected in 1882 ; John M. Wiley, elected in 1888, and Thomas L. Bunt- ing, elected in 1890.
The same may be said of the Senatorial Representatives at Albany, notably since the adoption of the Constitution of 1846. Since then the only Democratic Senator has been Lewis T. Paine, elected in 1878.
Also it may be said of the principal County officers, elected since 1821, County Judges, Sheriffs, County Clerks, Surrogates, District Attorneys, etc.
This is also apparent in the vote of the County for Gov- ernor and President, from 1836 down to the present time. The Whigs had a majority of 124 over the Democrats in the Presidential election of 1836. In the Presidential election of 1840 the Whigs had a majority of 745. In the Presiden- tial election of 1844 the Whigs had a majority over the Dem- ocrats of 511. In the Presidential election of 1848 the Whig candidate, Taylor, polled 2,808 votes; Cass, the regular Democratic candidate, polled 1,313, and Van Buren, 2,880. In 1852 the Whigs polled 3,413 votes ; the Democrats, 2,862, and Hale received 1,056 votes. In the Presidential election of 1856 Fremont, Republican, received 3,906 votes; Bu- chanan, 1,864, and Fillmore, 1,985 votes. In the Presiden- tial election of 1860 Lincoln received 4,992 votes and Doug- las 3,741 votes. In the Presidential election of 1864 Lincoln received 4,839 votes and McClellan 4,287. In the Presiden- tial election of 1868 Grant carried the County by several hundred majority, and in the Presidential election of 1872 he carried it by about 1,000 majority. In the Presidential election of 1876 Tilden, Democrat, had a majority in the County. I have mislaid the actual figures.
In the Presidential election of 1880 the Republicans carried the County by 541 majority for Garfield. In the Presidential election of 1884 the Democrats carried the County by a majority of 318 for Cleveland. In the Pres- idential election of 1888 Harrison, Republican, had a ma- jority in the County of about 500.
In 1892 Cleveland carried the County by about 200. In
1896 Mckinley carried the County by about 2,300, and also carried it in 1900 by about 1,600 majority.
CONCLUSION.
The political outlook of our County is full of hope and encouragement. The Erie Canal, with its probable enlarge- ment, running through the center of the County, east and west; with Lake Ontario, destined in the near future to in- creased commercial importance, on its north ; and the beau- tiful and useful Niagara River, on its west ; with the present and unquestionable future development of electrical power at Niagara Falls, our County should look forward with growing faith to greater manufacturing, commercial and political power and usefulness.
The character and political intelligence of our people may be relied on to maintain the high standards of the past and present of our political officials and representatives.
Integrity, ability and fitness should always be the tests for political office, and if these tests shall be observed and maintained, the political future of the County will always be safe.
[*The Hon. Richard Crowley, who contributed the chap- ter on the Political History of the County, has had a notable career in public life, and Mr. Crowley's observations, either oral or written, are always received with respectful attention and regarded with keen interest. Mr. Crowley was born in Lockport, December 14, 1836. He was admitted to the bar at an early age, and was the first City Attorney after Lockport was incorporated as a municipality, in 1865. He was State Senator from 1866 to 1870; United States Attor- ney for the Northern District of New York from March, 1871, to February, 1879, when he resigned, having been elected to Congress in 1878. He was a Member of Con- gress from 1879 to March, 1883. He was appointed by Governor Morton agent for the State of New York to ad- just the war claims against the United States, growing out of the Civil War and the Spanish War, which position he still holds .- ED.]
LIGHT HOUSE AT OLCOTT BEACH.
niagara County in the Mars.
BY L. D. LE VAN.
HE United States troops entered Fort Niagara for the first time, on its peaceable evacuation by the British, on August 1I, 1796. From that time it has been continuously garrisoned by our soldiers, except from the middle of December, 1813, to the end of the war (it being surrendered to us in peace in March, 1815), and for a period after 1825, when it was intentionally left tenantless.
Of the part that our County played in the War of 1812 I shall say but little. The British victory at Queenston Heights, in 1812; their capture of Fort Niagara by night at-
L. D. LE VAN.
tack, when its gates were wide open and its commandant ab- sent ; the burning by them of the entire American frontier, both the latter in December, 1813, left that territory for a while without an inhabitant. Eighteen hundred and four- teen saw the United States troops the aggressors Canada was invaded, and after our victories of Chippewa and Lun- dy's Lane, the sortie from Fort Erie ended the war here- abouts in our favor.
That sortie was planned and led by Gen. Peter B. Por- ter, then a Major General of New York militia, and the only white leader that the Senecas, friends of the Americans, would follow in war. According to Lord Napier, "that is the only instance in history when a besieging army was ut- terly routed by a single sortie."
Many Niagara County men, yes, all of those who were living on the frontier, fought long and well for their coun- try and their homes. They all took part. Many were wounded, many were killed; of the individual war actions of many of them there never was any record. Some joined the United States army ; many more joined the militia ; many simply banded together, and in a desultory way fought the British and savages as they burnt and murdered in that De- cember of 1813; fleeing, of course, when they were out- numbered, most of them joining the next year in the inva- sion of Canada.
Of the war record of the Niagara County men in the regular army, during the War of 1812, I have been unable to get access to the records. It is not permitted by the rules of the War Department at Washington. Of the rec- ord of the militia, I could not in the time assigned me make the required investigations.
It is of the services of Niagara County men in the Civil War that I am to write.
BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR.
The result of the Presidential election in November, 1860, was received in the Southern States in such manner that ambitious and unscrupulous politicians felt encouraged to advocate, and to endeavor to carry out their long and well designed theories and plans of secession. The Southern people were stimulated to violence by inflaming harangues and falsehoods. The voices of the supporters of the Union were drowned by the excited and specious arguments of the demagogue and his recital of the imaginary wrongs of the South, or terrorized into silence by lawless elements, en- couraged by the leaders of the secession movement. The year closed amidst scenes portending evil to the Union. On January 9 the rebel batteries in Charleston harbor fired upon the Star of the West, a swift merchant steamer, chartered by the general government in New York City, and sent from there on the night of the 5th loaded with needed supplies and men for the relief of Maj. Anderson. They continued their fire after the captain had displayed the flag of the United States.
The news of this act aroused the people of this County and of the whole country. At 4:30 o'clock of the morning of April 12 a shot was fired from the mortar battery near old Fort Johnson, and a moment later fell upon Fort Sumpter, under the flag of the United States. This shot, although not the first fired upon the national flag, inaugurated a conflict of gigantic proportions and far-reaching consequences, from which the United States emerged forever as a united Nation.
The bombardment of Fort Sumter was shortly followed by its surrender. The suddenness of the intelligence was followed by prompt and efficient action in every quarter. On April 15 the President issued his proclamation, calling for 75,000 men. The quota assigned this State consisted of seventeen regiments, each of 780 officers and enlisted men.
NIAGARA COUNTY'S RESPONSE TO THE CALL.
When the call was made for men to defend their coun- try's flag, Niagara County responded nobly. Her loyal sons, from every vocation of life, left home and loved ones. The young, as well as the old, felt the insult that had been given, and were ready to resist it.
For four long years the struggle lasted, and then the Boys in Blue came marching home. And when the work was ended, the victory won, many came home to die, just waiting to hear the last gun sounded and once again to see the faces of the loved ones, that was all. They were satis- fied and ready to go to their reward.
Niagara County may well be proud of her part, for she contributed her full share to the cause. Many, when their regiments were mustered out, before the close of the war,
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
again took up arms with other companies to continue ser- vice.
Notwithstanding their privations, there were others who suffered as much as they. The mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts at home waited for news from the army, wish- ing, and yet dreading it, for who knew how many names would be on the list of missing or dead. Word would come that a son was wounded, or a brother stricken with a dread disease. Who suffered the most of them, the boy in the camp or the woman in the home? One was a physical pain, while the other a heartache, almost overwhelming in its violence.
Niagara's daughters deserve as much praise as her sons. Both were brave-one to stay at home and wait patiently for the outcome, the other to give up his life, if it were neces- sary, for his country on the battlefield.
OUR REGIMENTS AND COMPANIES.
Among the many different companies and regiments, in which so many of our citizens enlisted, there are some that are distinctively known as Niagara County organizations. I must refer to them more particularly than many of the others, as a great majority of our men were enrolled and mustered in them. Those to which particular reference is made are as follows : The Twenty-eighth and One Hundred and Fifty-first Infantry, the Eighth Heavy Artillery, Com- pany M, First New York Light Artillery, Twelfth, Nine- teenth, Twenty-third and Twenty-fifth Light Batteries of Artillery, and the Second Mounted Rifles.
TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
Companies A, B, C, I and K, of the Twenty-eighth In- fantry, known as the Niagara Rifles, or Scott's Life Guard were recruited at Lockport and Niagara Falls. Every town, village and hamlet in the County contributed its quota in these companies. The regiment was completed and mus- tered in the United States service, for two years, at Albany, May 22, 1861, under the command of Col. Dudley Donnelly, who fell, mortally wounded, at Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9, 1862, and died of his wounds August 15, 1862, at Culpeper, Virginia. There were enlisted in this regiment from the County 436 men, many of the recruits enlisting for three years. The three year men were, in May, 1863, trans- ferred to the Sixtieth New York Volunteers.
The regiment left the State June 25, 1861; served at Washington, D. C., from June 28, 1861; in Butterfield's Brigade, Keim's Division, Patterson's Army, District of Pennsylvania, from July 8, 1861 ; in Stile's Brigade, Banks' Division, A. P., from October 15, 1861 ; in First Brigade, First, Williams' Division, Fifth Corps, A. P., from March 13, 1862; in same brigade and division, Department Shenan- doah, from May, 1862; in First Brigade, First Division, Sec- ond Corps, A. Va., from June 26, 1862; in the First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Corps, A. P., from September 12, 1862; and was honorably discharged and mustered out un- der Col. Edwin F. Brown, June 2, 1863, at Albany.
During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, one officer, fifty-one enlisted men; of wounds re- ceived in action, one officer, fifteen enlisted men ; of disease and other causes, forty-seven enlisted men; total, two offi- cers, 113 enlisted men ; aggregate, 115; of whoni two en- listed men died in the hands of the enemy; and it took part in the following engagements, viz :
Near Martinsburg, West Virginia, July II, 1861; in Virginia, opposite Point of Rocks, Maryland, August 5, 1861 ; Berlin, Maryland, September 18, 1861; Winchester,
Virginia, March 23, 1862; Montevedio, Virginia, March 27, 1862; near Columbia Furnace, Virginia, April 15, 1862; near Harrisonburg, Virginia, April 24, 1862 ; operations in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, May 23, 1862; Front Royal, May 23, 1862 ; Middletown, May 24, 1862; Newton, May 24, 1862; Winchester, May 25, 1862 ; Bunker Hill, May 25, 1862; near Luray, Virginia, June 30, 1862; Rappahan- nock, Virginia, July 25, 1862; Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9, 1862 ; Gen. Pope's campaign, Virginia, August 16- September 2. 1862; Rappahannock Station, August 23, 1862; Sulphur Springs, Virginia, August 23-24; Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862; Chancellorsville, Virginia, May I-3, 1863.
COMPANY H, FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
Company H, Forty-ninth Infantry, was recruited at Lockport, and commanded by Capt. Charles H. Moss. It was mustered in the service for three years, September 18, 1861, at Buffalo. Eighty-nine men enlisted from the County.
The company left the State September 20, 1861 ; served at and near Washington, D. C., from September, 1861; in Third, Stevens', Brigade, Smith's Division, A. P., from Octo- ber 15, 1861 ; in Third, Davidson's, Brigade, same division, Fourth Corps, A. P., from March 13, 1862; in Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Corps, A. P., from May, 1862; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. George H. Selkirk, June 27, 1865, at Washington, D. C. It took part in the following engagements
Lewinsville, Virginia, October 13, 1861 ; Watt's Creek, Virginia, April 1, 1862; Watt's and Young's Mills, Virginia, April 4, 1862; Siege of Yorktown, Virginia, April 5-May 4, 1862; Lee's Mills, April 5, 1862; Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862; before Yorktown, April 26, 1862; Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862; Mechanicsville, Virginia, May 24, 1862; Gold- ing's Farm, Virginia, June 5, 1862; New Bridge, Virginia, June 18, 1862; Seven Days' Battle, Virginia, June 25-July 2, 1862; Garnett's Farm, June 27, 1862; Garnett's and Gold- ing's Farm, June 28, 1862; Savage Station, June 29, 1862; White Oak Swamp Bridge, June 30, 1862; Mal- vern Hill, July 1, 1862; Harrison's Landing, Virginia, July 3, 1862; Crampton Pass, Maryland, September 14, 1862; Antietam, Maryland, September 17-18, 1862; Fred- ericksburg, Virginia, December II-15, 1862; Marye's Heights and Salem Church, Virginia, May 3-4, 1863; Deep Run Crossing, Virginia, June 5, 1863; Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, July 2-3, 1863 ; Fairfield Gap, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1863; Antietam and Marsh Run, Maryland, July 7, 1863; Funkstown, Maryland, July 13, 1863; Williamsport, Mary- land, July 14, 1863; Rappahannock Station, Virginia, No- vember 7, 1863 ; Mine Run campaign, Virginia, November 26-December 2, 1863; Wilderness, Virginia, May 5-7, 1864; Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, May 8-21, 1864; Piney Branch Church, May 8, 1864; Landron's Farm, May 10, 1864; the Salient, May 12, 1864; North Anna, Virginia, May 22-26, 1864; Totopotomoy, Virginia, May 27-31, 1864; Cold Harbor, Virginia, May 31-June 1, 1864; before Petersburg, Virginia, June 18-July 9; December-April 2, 1864; Assault of Petersburg, Virginia, June 18-19, 1865; Gurley House, Weldon Railroad, Virginia, June 21-23, 1865; Fort Stevens, District Columbia, July 12-13, 1865 ; Charlestown, West Vir- ginia, August 21, 1865; Opequon Creek, Virginia, Septem- ber 13, 1865; Opequon, Virginia, September 19, 1865 ; Fish- er's Hill, Virginia, September 22, 1865; Cedar Creek, Vir- ginia, October 19, 1865 ; Petersburg Works, Virginia, March 25, 1865; Appomattox campaign, March 28-April 9, 1865;
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