USA > New York > The men of New York: a collection of biographies and portraits of citizens of the Empire state prominent in business, professional, social, and political life during the last decade of the nineteenth century, Vol. II > Part 24
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judge of the Court of Appeals ; and the fact was made the occasion of some very flattering expres- sions regarding his professional work on the part of his political opponents.
Justice Wright is a Mason and a Knight Templar, and was three times Master of Mexico Lodge, No. 136, F. & A. M. He was also commander of the Grand Army Post at Mexico for three terms. He is a man of wide general culture, and his private library of a thousand volumes is especially rich in historical and scientific works. Since 1893 he has made his home in Oswego.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-Mamice Lauchlin Wright was born at Scriba, N. Y., Novem- ber 27, 1845; was educated at Mexico (N. Y.) Academy and Falley Seminary; served in the Union navy, 1864-65 ; studied lowe, and was admitted to the bar in 1870 : married Mary Grace Skinner of Mexico November 3, 1869 ; was presi- dent of the village of Mexico, 1879-81; was county judge of Oswego . county, 1884-91 ; has been justice of the New York state Supreme Court since January 1, 1892.
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nelson DD. Anibal is well known in Gloversville, N. Y., and throughout Fulton county, where he has practiced law for the past eighteen years. Ile was born in the neighboring county of Ham- ilton, and has spent the whole of his forty-odd years in that part of the state. He attended public and private schools, completing the course in the Gloversville High School, and going thence to Fort Edward Collegiate Institute. There he took a Latin and scientific course, and graduated in June, 1874.
Mr. Anibal was now twenty years old, ---- and had the world before him in which to choose his future career. He decided to become a lawyer ; and to that end he entered the office of C. M. Parke of Gloversville, and prosecuted his studies vigorously for the next few years. In September, 1879, at a general term of the Supreme Court held at Saratoga Springs, he was admitted to practice in all the courts of New York state ; and he has since been admitted to practice in the United States courts. On April 1, 1880, he opened an office on his own account in Gloversville, and that city has continued to be the field of his pro- fessional activity.
Mr. Anibal has never availed himself of partner- ship assistance, but has practiced alone from the beginning, preferring to succeed or fail on his own merits. He has not made a specialty of any one branch of his profession, but has carried on a general practice. In this he has been entirely successful, having conducted a large amount of business through- ont Fulton county, and established a wide reputa- tion as a conscientious and able attorney.
Though always an uncompromising Democrat in political belief, Mr. Anibal has been content to work for his party without reward ; and has never sought nor held public office. He has taken pait as a speaker in every political contest since the Tilden campaign of 1876, and has rendered substantial aid to the Democratic state committee in this way.
Mr. Anibal is a firm believer in the benefits of
NELSON H. ANIBAL.
fraternal societies, and has membership in many such. Hle belongs to Gloversville Lodge, No. 429. F. & A. M. ; Johnstown Chapter, No. 75. R. A. M. ; Holy Cross Commandery, No. 51, K. T., Gloversville,
MEY OF NEW YORK - EASTERN SECTION
of which he has been Eminent Commander : and Cyprus Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Al- bany. He is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY -- Nelson !!. Anibal was born at Benson, N. Y., July 20, 1855 ;
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HADLEY JONES
was educated at the Gloversville ( N. Y. ) High School and Fort Edward Collegiate Institute ; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1879; married Mary Catharine Warner of Gloversville June 26, 1884 : has practiced laws at Gloversville since 1880.
hadley Bones of Little Falls, N. Y., has attained a position of prominence at the bar and in the counsels of the Republican party in eastern New York. He was born in the town of Danube, Her- kimer county, forty years ago, and is a son of De Witt C. Jones and Maria Grove. After attend- ing the common schools, and graduating from Little Falls Academy at the age of twenty, he commenced reading law in the office of the late Samuel Earl in
the village of Herkimer. Having gained some pre- liminary legal knowledge in this way, he entered the Albany Law School, from which he graduated in 1880 with the degree of LL. B.
Mr. Jones's experience thus far had been free from the struggles that beset the path of so many aspirants for legal honors, and he began his professional career with every condition favorable to success. Opening an office in Herkimer on his admission to the bar, he practiced there for two years : and then, in October, 1882, moved to Little Falls, where he has practiced for the past fifteen years. At first he formed a partnership with George F. Crumby under the style of Crumby & Jones. After his partner's death in 1887 he practiced alone for a time, and then for two years as a member of the firm of McEvoy & Jones. In 1892, however, the present firm of Jones & Gilbert was established, with Mr. Jones as senior partner. Ever since he went to Little Falls Mr. Jones has been recognized as an attorney of marked ability ; and his success in building up an important and lucrative practice has been most gratify- ing. He is an eloquent and effective advocate before a jury, and is deemed one of the brightest lawyers at the Her- kimer-county bar. Some of his greatest triumphs have been won against railroad corporations, several large cases of this kind having been successfully prosecuted by him.
As has been said above, Mr. Jones is a Republican, and an earnest worker in the ranks of his party. His services on the stump are always in demand, and his eloquent and forceful style makes him at once an entertaining and convincing public speaker. During the campaigns of 1892 and 1896 he was in the ser- vice of the county committee, and addressed more than twenty different audiences in behalf of the Republican candidates. In the senatorial conven- tion of 1893 he was the candidate of the Herkimer- county delegates for the nomination for state senator, and was strongly supported for the office. In 1895 he was prominently mentioned for the office of county judge, and received a large number of votes in the county convention.
Mr. Jones is interested in various business enter . prises, and holds office in several corporations. He is 'secretary of the Old Forge Co., an Adirondack
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MMEN OF NEW YORK - EASTERN SECTION
land and hotel company at Old Forge, N. Y., . himself so valuable to his employer that he was and of the Crosby Transportation Co., on the Ful- ton chain of lakes. He has membership in a number of fraternal societies, such as the Elks, Odd Fellows, and Masons ; and belongs to Little Falls Lodge, No. 181, F. & A. M. : Little Falls Commandery, No. 26, K. T. ; and Ziyara Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Utica. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and of the Elks City Club of Little Falls.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY -- Hadley Jones was born at Danube, N. Y., November 12, 1851; was educated at Little Falls ( N. Y.) Aca.lemy; graduated from the Albany Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1880 ; practiced lare at Herki- mer, N. Y., 1880-82 ; married Emily E. Neff of Philadelphia June 2, 1897 : has practiced lawe at Little Falls since 1882.
William f. fkaufman of Am- sterdam, N. Y., was born about forty- two years ago in the German principal- ity of Schaumburg-Lippe, where his father was an architect and builder for Duke George, the ruler of the province. He received his early education in the public schools of his fatherland, and at the age of nine was sent to a private school, where he remained four years. Ile then entered the school of military music at Bückeburg ; and after three years' study there he received his papers of release, and was recommended to the Marine band of Washington, D. C. He set out, accordingly, for the new world, landing in New York September 25, 1872, and proceeding at once to the capital. Professor Snyder, the leader of the band, was anxious to enroll him in the organization ; but his examination by the marine surgeon revealed the fact that he could not meet the physical re- quirements, and his application was re- fused on that account.
Mr. Kaufman was barely seventeen years old at this time, and the failure to carry out his original intentions left him to make his way unaided in a strange land. He had plenty of courage and ability, however: and he soon procured a situation in Georgetown, D. C., where he learned the confectioner's trade. The next year he obtained employment in one of the best catering establish- ments in Washington, and in a short time made
given a general oversight of the business. He re- mained there until 1879, and the next five years were spent in New Jersey, Albany, and Utica. Up to this time Mr. Kaufman, though he had filled responsible positions, had always worked as an em- ployee. In 1884, however, he moved to Amster- dlam, N. Y., and began business for himself as proprietor of a confectioner's and caterer's estab- lishment. This he has conducted ever since, and has met with much success.
Mr. Kaufman interested himself actively in the prosperity of Amsterdam from the time he took up his residence there, and he soon became known as one of its most respected citizens. He is a member of the Board of Trade, and various other organiza- tions. In politics he has always been a stanch
WILLIAM H. KACEMIN
Republican, and has done good work for his party for many years. In the fall of 1893 he was elected without opposition as alderman from the first ward of the city, and held the office for three years. This
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evidence of his popularity suggested to the party managers his probable strength as a candidate for a more important office, and in 1896 he was nomi-' nated by acclamation for mayor of the city. He was duly elected, and assumed the office January . confectioner and caterer in Washington, D. C., and 1, 1897. In the fall of that year he declined a
ARTHUR A. MCLEAN
renomination, in order to devote his entire time to his business affairs.
Mr. Kaufman believes heartily in fraternal socie- ties, and belongs to several such organizations. He has taken the 32d degree in Masonry : and is a member of Artisan Lodge, No. 84, F. & A. M., Amsterdam, and of the Order of Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine. For the past six years he has been treas- urer of the Pythian Association of Amsterdam, and he was one of the prime movers in the erection of the society's building. He has also acted as treas- urer of Royal Arcanum Lodge No. 1259. He is a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, is the chairman of its board of trustees, and has been its treasurer for eight years.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- William Henry Kaufman was born at Hagenburg, Germany, October 6, 1855 ; was educated in German schools ; came to the United States in 1872 ; was employed as a
elsewhere, 1872-84 : married Minnie Ricts of Amster- dam, N. Y., May 8, 1883; was an alderman of Amsterdam, 1894-96, and mayor of the city in 1897; has conducted a confectionery and catering establishment in Amsterdam since 1884.
Arthur 2. Mcican, one of the most successful business men of New- burgh, N. Y., and well known in Demo- cratic circles throughout the state, is the son of Cornelius and Susan (O'Neill) McLean. After attending a select school in childhood he completed his education at the Newburgh Academy. He was then prepared to enter business. The grocery store established by his father long before on a small scale, had pros- pered, and assumed considerable propor- tions ; and Cornelius McLean was glad to avail himself of his son's assistance in its management, and to prepare the young man to take charge of the busi- ness at a later day. Arthur Mclean, accordingly, learned the business thor- oughly step by step, evincing a natural aptitude for practical affairs that augured well for the future of the enterprise. In 1874 he succeeded his father as proprietor of the establishment, and has since car- ried it on alone. From the humble begin- ning of 1849 it has developed into a thor- oughly equipped modern establishment, one of the best of its kind in the state.
Mr. McLean has always been a loyal and consist- ent Democrat in political belief, and enjoys the respect and confidence of his party. In 1895 he received an appointment from Secretary Carlisle of the United States treasury department as superin tendent of construction of the Newburgh post office : and the fact that this position was wholly unsought by him speaks well for the extent and character of his reputation. He was one of the delegates to the Democratic national convention at Chicago in 1896, and at the state convention at Buffalo in the same year he was elected a member of the Democratic state committee.
Being of .a social nature Mr. McLean has mem- bership in several prominent clubs and societies.
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He belongs to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Democratic Club, and the Catholic Club, all of New York city ; as well as to the Orange Lake and City clubs of Newburgh. He is one of the trustees of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Newburgh, of which the eloquent and talented Dr. Edward Me- Glynn, well known for his advocacy of the single- tax theory, and for his consequent censure by the authorities of his church, was made rector January 1, 1895.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY-Arthur A. McLean was born at Newburgh, N. Y., July 1:2, 1853 ; was educated at Newburgh Academy : entered his father's store in Newburgh in 1869; married Nannie I. Murphy of Brooklyn April 28. 1881; was appointed superintendent of construction of the new post office at Newburgh in 1895 ; was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1896, and was elected a member of the Democratic state committee in the same year; has carried on the business estab- lished by his father since 1874.
Jacob Snell of Fonda, N. Y., is descended from a family that has been prominent in that part of the state for several generations. He is a great- grandson of Jacob Snell, who fought in the war of the Revolution, and afterward served for five terms in the New York state assembly. He was also sheriff of Tryon county, comprising the territory . now included in Fulton and Hamilton counties. Alexander Snell, the father of our present subject, was born in Stone Arabia, Montgomery county, which was also his son's native place, and died there in 1871. He married Mary, daugh - . ter of Peter G. Loucks, and had nine children. From 1861 to 1864 he was sheriff of Montgomery county : so that his son, who occupied a similar position in 1886-89, was the third of the family to hold the office.
Jacob Snell was born fifty years ago, and received a good general education in the common schools. He then en- gaged in farming, and followed that occupation for upwards of fifteen years, carrying on the business of a stone con- tractor at the same time. In 1881 he left his native town and moved to Fonda, which has since been his home. He took up, also, an entirely different line of work from any in which he had
hitherto been occupied. becoming the proprietor of a hotel. This establishment was known as the Snell House, and he conducted it for ten years. No man bas a better opportunity to become gener- ally known than a hotel keeper ; and Mr. Snell, who possessed many personal characteristics that rendered him well qualified for the position, soon gained a reputation as an excellent host.
In 1895 he became the superintendent of the Mohawk division of the Erie canal, and he still holds that position. He is also interested in manufactur- ing, and is the head of a large broom factory in Fonda.
In politics Mi. Snell is a Republican, and has been for many years an active party worker. He was supervisor from the town of Palatine for one terin. and town clerk for two terms. In 1885, soon after
JACOB SNELI.
taking up his residence in Fonda, he was elected sheriff of Montgomery county, and served for three years. He has frequently been a delegate to county and state conventions, and is well known in local
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MEN OF NEW YORK-EASTERN SECTION
political circles. He belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men and to the Knights of Pythias.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY - Jacob Snell was born at Stone Arabia, N. Y., July 11, 1847 ; was educated in common schools ; married ancy L. Nellis of Palatine Bridge, N. Y., July 1, 1868 ; was
JOHN DUNILIP WENDELL
a farmer and stone contractor, 1867-81 ; was super- visor from the town of Palatine in 1880, torm clerk, 1869-79, and sheriff of Montgomery county, 1886-89 ; was proprietor of the Snell House at Fonda, N. Y., 1881-91 ; has been superintendent of the Moharck' division of the Erie canal since 1895.
John Dunlap Wendell is a native of Mont- gomery county, New York, and has always lived there. His parents were Benjamin and Sarah ( Fox ) Wendell, and he was the third son in a family of ten children. Up to the time he was sixteen years old his father carried on his trade of a shoemaker in the little village of Sprout Brook. During a part of this time he was also the village postmaster, and
Judge Wendell used to carry the mail after school to and from the little settlement of Buel, about two miles away. In 1856 the family moved to a farm between Sprout Brook and Fort Plain, and from that time until he was twenty-one years old Judge Wen- dell worked on the farm for a great part of the time. His winters, however, were still devoted to his books, at first as a pupil, and after- ward as teacher of a school in the neigh- boring village of Mapletown.
As soon as he became of age Judge Wendell entered the Albany Law School, where he made so rapid progress that he was able to graduate in less than a year. Admitted to the bar in 1862, he began practice at once in Fort Plain, which has ever since been the scene of his profes- sional labors. Becoming associated at the beginning of his legal career with Judge Yost, he remained in his office for a number of years, and became well and favorably known at the Montgomery- county bar. In 1874, however, he formed a partnership with his brother, Fred Fox Wendell. Ten years later, when F. F. Wendell retired to accept the superintendency of the tax depart- ment of the West Shore railroad, where he has continued up to the present time, Edwin S. Van Deusen was admitted to the firm. Judge Wendell and Mr. Van Deusen continued to practice together until 1888, when the former was elected county judge and surrogate of Montgom- ery county.
Judge Wendell has done a large amount of legal work for the West Shore railroad for many years. While the road was being built his firm was employed to secure the right of way through Montgomery, Herkimer, and Schenectady counties; and had charge of searching the titles, drafting deeds, and trying the cases incident to the undertaking. In 1883 he became attorney for the corporation, and has retained the office ever since. During the thirty- odd years of his practice at the bar he has conducted a large amount of business, and has had a part in some of the most important trials that have taken place in the Mohawk valley.
A man of Judge Wendell's standing in the com- munity could not fail to be called upon to fill posi- tions of importance, and to take a part in public affairs. He is a stanch Republican : and has served as chairman of the county committee, and otherwise
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rendered efficient aid in the councils of his party. In 1871 he was elected by a large majority district attorney of Montgomery county, and served for three years. In 1888 he was elected to the office of county judge and surrogate, and is still holding the position, having been re-elected in 1894. His decisions are characterized by accurate knowledge of the law, and sound and discriminating judgment ; and though many of them have been carried to a higher court, they have been almost universally sustained.
Judge Wendell is one of the most prominent citi- zens of Fort Plain, and takes an active part in all matters of interest there. For over thirty years he has been a member of the Methodist church. He was one of the incorporators of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, and has been a member of its board of directors from the beginning : and he is the president of the Fort Plain Social and Literary Club. He belongs, also, to the Holland Society of New York, and has been for several years a vice president of the New York State Bar Association.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY - John Dunlap Wendell was born at Sprout Brook, N. Y., September 13, 1840: was educated in common schools ; graduated from the Albany Law School in 1862; married Luemma King of Fort Plain, N. Y., June 15, 1862 ; was district attorney of Montgomery county, 1872-74; has been county judge of Montgomery county since January 1, 1889 ; has prac- ticed lais at Fort Plain since 1862.
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Bradley Winslow, well known at the bar and in public life in Jefferson county and throughout northern New York, was born in Watertown sixty-odd years ago, and has always lived there. His education, begun in the district school of his native place, was continued at the Oneida Conference Seminary, at Falley Seminary, and at Wyoming Sein- inary, Kingston, Penn. ; and at the age of twenty-two he began reading law in the office of James F. Starbuck. He afterward spent several months at Pro- fessor Fowler's Law School at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., and in July, 1855, was admitted to the bar at a general term of the Supreme Court in the 5th judicial district.
General Winslow began his long career at the bar on January 1, 1856, associating himself for that
purpose with Lafayette J. Bigelow in the firm of Wins- low & Bigelow. He quickly became known as a lawyer of ability and promise, and in 1860 was made district attorney of Jefferson county. This office he resigned in the spring of 1861, and devoted the next four years to the service of his country ; but on his return to Watertown in 1865 he was elected once more, and served for the next three years. In 1866 he became a member of the firm of Hammond, Winslow & Williams, consisting of the late Senator H. S. Hammond and Pardon C. Williams, now jus tice of the Supreme Court. General Winslow has continued ever since to practice his profession in Watertown, and has had an important part in the legal contests of that section of the state. \1. present he conducts his business without partnership assistance.
BRADLEY WINSLOW
Never unmindful of his duties as a citizen, whether in times of war or of peace, General Winslow has devoted considerable time to the public service. In 187 4 he was elected mayor of Watertown. Hle bad
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previously been twice elected as district attorney ; and in the fall of 1880 he was elected state senator from the 21st district, consisting of the counties of Jefferson and Oswego.
General Winslow's military career, of which men- tion has already been made, was alike honorable to himself and useful to his country. Enlisting in May, 1861, he was elected first lieutenant of company A, 35th New York volunteers, on its organization ; became captain of his company in July ; and was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment in August. In September, 1864, he was appointed and commis- sioned colonel of the 186th regiment, New York vol- unteers, and joined the Army of the Potomac. He was assigned to the 2d brigade, 2d division, 9th army corps ; and in the assault upon the rebel for- tifications before Petersburg, April 2, 1865, was severely wounded. " For gallant and meritorious conduct " during this assault, he received from
President Andrew Johnson a brevet commission as brigadier general, and the appointment was con- firmed by the United States senate. After the close of the war General Winslow still retained his interest in military affairs; and in 1868 he was appointed brigadier general in the National Guard of the State of New York, and assigned to the command of the 16th brigade, holding the position for several years.
PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY- Bradley Winslow was born at Watertown, N. Y., August 1, 1831 : was educated in district schools and private seminaries ; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1855 ; married Geraldine M. Cooper of Adams, N. Y., November 15, 1855 ; was district attorney of Jefferson county, 1860-61 and 1866-68. mayor of Watertoren in 1374, and state senator, 1881-8.2 ; has practiced late at Watertoim since 1856, with the exception of four years spent in the Union army.
CHEMUNG SECTION
In the Chemung Section are pub- lished the biographies of subjects from the counties of Broome, Chemung, Che- nango, Steuben, and Tompkins.
MEN OF THE CHEMUNG SECTION
George C. Bayless, one of the most promi- nent citizens of Binghamton, N. Y., is descended from old English stock. His mother's family, the Corbetts, came from England in the early part of the seventeenth century, and settled near Braintree or Quincy, Mass. ; and his grandmother, Chloe Smith, was a cousin of John Quincy Adams. On his father's side the family record concerns some matters of considerable general interest relating to the early history of the country. The founder of the line was one of the first settlers of Connecti- cut, having come to America from Holland, whither he had fled to escape religious persecution in Eng- land. The family soon moved to Long Island ; and in October, 1664, Governor Nichols granted a peti- tion signed by John Bayless of Jamaica, L. I., and three others, asking permission to purchase from the Indians a large tract of land in New Jersey. The purchase was made soon after, and was confirmed by the governor December 1, 1664. The original deed from the Indians is now in the office of the secretary of state at Trenton, N. J., and conveys to John Bayless, Daniel Denton, Luke Watson, and asso- ciates, the land now occupied by Newark. Elizabeth, Paterson, Passaic, and other cities of lesser note- about 200,000 acres in all. In exchange for this land, now of such enormous value, the settlers made payment as follows: "twenty fathoms of Trayden cloth, two made cotes, two gunnes, two kettles, ten barrs of lead, twenty handfulls of powder, and four hundred fathoms of white wampom." This land was afterward sold to Philip Carteret, governor of New Jersey.
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