USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 58
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In 1889 he was appointed by the Court as consultation clerk and Librarian of the Court of Appeals, Second Division, and continued in that position until the Court finished its labors in 1892 when he resumed the practice of his profession in Whitehall and has advanced to a prominent place in the front rank of the bar of Washington County.
Captain Dennis has always taken a vital interest in public affairs and leading social organizations and is Captain of Company "I," Sec- ond Regiment, National Guard.
When war broke out between the United States and Spain in the spring of 1898, separate companies of the National Guard were mus- tered into the United States service, provisional companies were organized to supply their places in the armories. In Whitehall the 109th Separate Company was organized and O. A. Dennis was elected its Captain. In this position he became very popular and shortly after the regular company returned from the war he was elected to his
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present position, that of Captain of Company "I," (9th Separate) Second Regiment, N. G. N. Y.
As an officer Captain Dennis has exhibited unusual energy and ability and it is said by competent military critics that Company "I" has attained a personnel and efficiency superior to its previous status which is saying a good deal, as the company has always been con- sidered high class.
Captain Dennis is also a member of the Odd Fellows; Whitehall Lodge No. 5, I. O. O. F. ; Whitehall Encampment No. 69, and Canton Whitehall, as well as of the military order Loyal Legion of the United States.
On November 19, 1890, Captain Dennis married Charlotte T. Davis, daughter of O. F. Davis, and they have a family of two children, namely : Louise Davis Dennis and Eunice Elizabeth Dennis.
Captain Dennis is a son of George and Sarah (Tifft) Dennis.
HON. J. M. WHITMAN-This noted lawyer and orator was born near Lockhaven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1847 and received a thorough elementary education in the district schools of his native place. He then took up the study of law and pursued it for four years at Freeport, Ills., and Lockhaven, Pa., after which he took a course in the Albany Law School and was graduated from that institution May 10, 1869. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of his profession in his native place. In February 1872 he came to Sandy Hill and made it his permanent residence. He had not long been in Washington County before he began to take a prominent place in the bar of the county through his ability as a lawyer and his splendid gift of oratory, and soon he be- came noted as the most eloquent member of the Washington County bar, and one of its finest speakers.
Were it not that he is a Democrat in politics and, therefore, among the minority in this abnormally Republican County, his talents and adaptability for public life would undoubtedly have led him into politics, and he would have held high public offices. He was ap- pointed County Judge by Governor Hill, November 10, 1886, and ably discharged the duties of that responsible office until December 31, 1887.
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He has been a delegate to Democratic Conventions repeatedly. From the time he was admitted to the bar up to the present he has done a great deal of public speaking for the Democratic party. He stumped Pennsylvania in 1872 in the campaign in which Gen. John F. Hartranft was elected governor of that state and in 1876 he made many brilliant speeches for Samuel J. Tilden in his contest for the presidency. In 1880 he also took an active part in the presidential election and in 1884 he made over sixty speeches for Grover Cleve- land. He also worked in the campaigns of 1888, 1892 and 1896.
In 1869 Judge Whitman married Mary H. Baldwin of Sandy Hill, and they have three sons, namely: Jesse S. Whitman, James M. Whitman, Jr., for nine years past a Topographer on the U. S. Geo- graphical Survey, and Richard Peale Whitman. Judge Whitman's parents were Erasmus and Sarah (Shuler) Whitman, both natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Jonathan Whitman, was a native of the State of Delaware. . His father's mother was a descendant from the Lindsey family, one of whom, his grandfather, was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary War, and the gun he carried is still a cherished heirloom in the family. The family on both sides has been American for many generations, and the Whitmans were originally Irish and English and the Shulers Hollanders.
BRODIE G. HIGLEY, one of the rising young lawyers of Washington County, was born in the town of Hartford, this County, October 9, 1872, and received his early education in the district school of his native town. At the early age of seventeen he was teaching school, which vocation he pursued for three years, when he entered the Sandy Hill High school. He studied law in the office of Charles P. Coyle of Chestertown, N. Y .. for three years and was admitted to the bar at the General Term at Albany, in April 1896, and to practice in the United States courts in 1900. He then taught school for another year after his admission to the bar, for although his aim had always been to enter the legal profession, he was desirous of equipping him- self with a finished literary education, so at the end of his year of teaching he entered Stanford University, California, in September, 1896, and graduated with the degree of A. B. on January 13, 1899, after a highly creditable course. He then returned East and in
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March, 1899, began the practice of his profession in the office of Hon. Charles R. Paris, with whom he is now associated.
Mr. Higley has already attained a recognized standing in the bar of Washington County, and has been entrusted with the legal busi- ness of prominent people and business concerns; he does considerable business for banks and corporations, and recently represented the executors of the Charles Stone estate, amounting to eight hundred thousand dollars, which was in litigation.
Mr. Higley is well versed in the law, has an admirably trained and well stored mind and is scrupulous, conscientious and careful in form- ing opinions and giving advice to clients. He is an able public speaker and holds the office of Orator in the order of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is a member. He is also a member of Sandy Hill Lodge No. 372, F. & A. M.
While a student in Stanford University Mr. Higley was president of his class and a member of the executive committee of the student body. He also took an active part in all debates and was connected with the debating societies.
While residing in Chestertown he held the position of Town Clerk for two years and has taken an active part in politics ever since He is an unswerving Republican and was an officer of the Republican Club of Stanford University in 1898. While attending the University he produced some highly creditable literary work, among which might be mentioned "History of Distress and Replevin." "History of the Star Chamber," and "Public Services of Thomas Paine."
Mr. Higley's parents were Capt. Julius H. and Lydia M. (Duel) Higley.
[For genealogy see article on Capt. Julius H. Higley ].
CHARLES G. DAVIS, one of the leading members of the Washington . County bar, is a son of Nicholas and Almira (Wilcox) Davis, and was born in the town of Saratoga, Saratoga County, N. Y., May 27, 1847. He studied law in the law office of Pond & French in Saratoga Springs and afterward with Judge Potter in Whitehall. Mr. Davis was admitted to the bar in January, 1876, since which time he has been engaged in active and successful practice.
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ALANSON DOUGLASS BARTHOLOMEW, one of the leading members of the bar of Washington County, was born in Whitehall, N. Y., Sep- tember 15, 1863. He was prepared for college at the Troy Confer- ence Academy, Poultney, Vt., and then took a course in the Syracuse University from which he was graduated with the degree of Ph. B. in the class of 1886. After graduating he took up the study of law in the office of Potter & Lillie at Whitehall, and entering the law depart- ment of Cornell University was graduated therefrom with the degree of L. L. B. in the class of 1888.
During the years 1883 and 1887 he taught school for some terms. He was admitted to the bar in 1888 and spent some time in the edi- torial department of the West Publishing Company, publishers of law books in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In 1890 Mr. Bartholomew opened his offices in Whitehall and began the active practice of his profession. He has always taken an active part in public affairs and is serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. He is also Town Police Justice and Notary Public. In polities he is a Republican.
Military affairs have also entered largely into his career, and his record as a soldier is highly praiseworthy. He enlisted in the Ninth Separate Company, N. G. N. Y., in 1886 as a private, was promoted to corporal and then to sergeant in which capacity he served five years when he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He served as second lieutenant with Company "I" Second Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish war, and won high popularity both with officers and men. The Whitehall company re- turned home in splendid condition as compared with other companies, which fact is a reflection of high credit to its officers. Mr. Bartholo- mew was promoted in January, 1900, to the rank of first lieutenant of Company "I" (Ninth Separate) Second Regiment, N. G. N. Y. He is also prominent in social organizations; is a thirty-second degree mason ; a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 96, F. & A. M., of which he was Junior Warden; is Past High Priest of Champlain Chapter; a member of Whitehall Council and of Washington Commandry No. 33, Saratoga Springs. He is a Past Grand of Whitehall Lodge No. 5, I. (). O. F., and a member of Whitehall Encampment; also of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Syracuse University, and of the legal fraternity of Phi Delta Phi.
In 1892 Mr. Bartholomew married Mabel E. Falkenbury, daughter
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of Joseph and Harriet Falkenbury, and they have three sons, namely : Alanson Douglass, Jr., Heman Almon, 2d, and Victor Herbert.
Mr. Bartholomew's parents were Heman Almon and Alice L. (Douglass) Bartholomew of Whitehall. He is descended from William Bartholomew, a Puritan, who came to Boston in the ship "Griffin " in 1634, and who was the first representative elected from the town of Ipswich. Mr. Bartholomew's forefathers were active in the Colonial wars; one holding a Captain's commission was killed in the famous "Narragansett Fort Fight" in 1675. Seven of Mr. Bartholomew's ancestors were enrolled in the American service during the Revolu- tionary War. The Bartholomews largely outnumber any other family in the town, twenty-seven voters of that name being enrolled in 1900. all of them descended from Lemuel Bartholomew, who came from Connecticut and settled in the northern part of the town about 1769.
WILLIAM E. YOUNG, a representative member of the bar of Wash- ington County, N. Y., was born at Sandy Hill, this county, May 5, 1857, and was educated at the free school. Early in life he took up the study of law, which he read in the office of Hughes & Northup of Sandy Hill, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1880.
Immediately after his admission to the bar, he began the active practice of his profession on his own account, but has always remained in the old chambers, long celebrated through their association with the name of Hughes & Northup. He served as Deputy Clerk of the Court of Claims for five years and then in conjunction with J. A. Kellogg, formed the law partnership of Young & Kellogg, which ex- isted until 1892, when it was dissolved by mutual consent.
In 1889, Williiam E. Young married Carrie Chase, and they have two children, Chase Young and Cora Young.
Mr. Young's parents were William H. and Mary Ann (Kinselaer) Young. His father was a farmer and civil engineer in the town of Kingsbury and is still living, with residence in Glens Falls. His mother died in August, 1899, sixty-five years after her marriage.
Mr. Young's grandfather, Thomas H. Young, was a native of Ver- mont. His wife, Esther Hamilton, was at one time the only promi- nent American actress.
William E. Young is a sound, reliable and upright counselor, who is well known throughout northern New York, and is everywhere highly popular.
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HON. A. DALLAS WAIT was born at Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., September 1, 1822, and was educated in the common schools and the high school which flourished in that village for a number of years, under the superintendence of Messrs. Woodworth & Barnes. In 1838 he began the study of law in the office of Rockwell & Green, eminent lawyers of Brooklyn, N. Y., and at that time doing a large business in both that city and New York. He subsequently con- tinued the study of law in the office of his father and also with James McCall at Sandy Hill, completing there the time required to be served as a student, before his examination for admittance to the bar.
He was duly licensed as an Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court and Solicitor in the Court of Chancery at the January term of the court held in the city of Albany in 1845. Hon. Joseph Potter and the late General Hughes were in the same class and admitted to practice at the same time.
On his admission to the bar Hon. A. Dallas Wait commenced the practice of law associated with his father, Hon. Luther Wait, at Sandy Hill, N. Y. Hon. Luther Wait had for many years before this time been a practicing lawyer at Sandy Hill, and so continued for many years afterward.
In the fall of 1846 Hon. A. Dallas Wait removed to Fort Edward and opened a law office there in company with the late John Parry under the firm name of Wait & Parry, and on the retirement of Mr. Parry from practice Mr. Wait continued with the late James L. Rey- nolds as a partner, the firm being Wait & Reynolds, until the death of Mr. Reynolds in 1876, since which date he has continued his prac- tice at Fort Edward alone.
On December 11, 1855, Hon. A. Dallas Wait married Celina Bar- row, daughter of the late Hiram Barrow of Cambridge, N. Y. They have had eight children, three of whom still survive, namly: Celina, wife of Richard A. Lowe, a merchant in England, Walter A. Wait, of the law firm of Bell & Wait, Glens Falls, N. Y., and Miss Bertha E. Wait, of Fort Edward, a graduate of Fort Edward Collegiate Institute.
Soon after his admission to the bar Hon. A. Dallas Wait was named by Governor Silas Wright and appointed an Examiner in Chancery and served in that office until the Court of Chancery was abolished.
He was first elected County Judge of Washington County in the fall of 1855 and subsequently was twice re-elected to the same office. serving in all three terms.
Awallor main
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Even before his admission to the bar Judge Wait took an active interest in politics and in all the presidential campaigns commencing in 1844, and until and including 1884, addressed many meetings of the party to which he adhered. He was "a born Democrat," of old New Hampshire stock and followed that faith devotedly and enthus- iastically until he joined the American or Know Nothing party in 1855. He acted with that party until its dissolution when he returned to the Democratic party under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglass.
On the breaking out of the Civil War Judge Wait at once took the side of the Union, holding that until the rebellion was subdued, it was the duty of all patriots, irrespective of party, to stand by the old flag and support the national administration.
At a union convention held in Argyle in 1861 Judge Wait was ten- dered and accepted the nomination of District Attorney of the county and was elected and served as such for two consecutive terms.
During the war, and ever since, Judge Wait has been a steadfast ad- herent of the Republican party and was a member of the State Com- mittee and Executive Comittee thereof for several years during and after the war.
During his long professional life Judge Wait has been employed as attorney and counsel in many important suits in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals and has achieved a gratifying share of success, being well esteemed as a good lawyer both by the legal fraternity and the public at large. He has served much as Referee and in many im- portant actions in the Supreme Court in different counties in the state. He has also held terms of court in the adjacent counties, especially Saratoga and Rensselaer, at different times upon special invitation to hold such terms and has always presided with great acceptability.
In all relations of public and private life Judge Wait has indicated a high reputation for integrity, industry, ability and devotion to duty in the performance of the work with which he has been charged officially or otherwise. He is President of the Board of Education of the village High School and has served in that capacity for more than twenty years. He has been President of the village and is a director in and attorney for the First National Bank of Fort Edward and has held such connection with the bank since its organization.
Judge Wait is still vigorous both in body and mind and continues
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the active practice of law with no disposition to leave the field in which he has spent so many years of pleasure and profit, believing that the term of work for a man lasts during life if he has ability to do that work well and acceptably and during his long professional career he has won and retained the highest respect and confidence of his fellow men, not only because he is an able and accomplished law- yer, not only because on the bench he was a fair-minded and upright judge, but also because his whole life has been distinguished by hon- esty, honor and good citizenship.
SILAS E. EVARTS was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y., September 17, 1867. He was educated in the public schools, Williams College, where he received the degree of A. B., and the University of New York, from which he was graduated in the class of 1892 with the degree of L. L. B. In this year he was also ad- mitted to the bar and was a law partner with District Attorney Sam- uel Thomas at Granville for two years, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession alone.
On June 10, 1892, Mr. Evarts married Lucina Woodard, daughter of Daniel Woodard, the President of the National Bank of Granville, and they have two children, namely: Palmer and Miriam.
Mrs. Evarts' mother was Miriam McNitt, a native of Hebron, Washington County, N. Y.
Mr. Evarts is a prominent member and Warden of Trinity Church and succeeded his father, Palmer D. Evarts, in the Wardenship. His grandfather, Alonzo Evarts, was also Warden in the Episcopal Church.
Palmer D. Evarts was born in 1844 and married Elizabeth Perry, daughter of Aschel Perry of Easton, N. Y. They had two children, Ruth Louise Evarts, who is a school teacher in New Jersey, and Silas E. Evarts, the subject of this sketch.
Palmer D. Evarts was a farmer in Granville for many years, first in Easton and latterly in Granville, and was prominent as a citizen and also in politics. He died in 1894.
Mr. Silas E. Evarts, although but a young man, has advanced to a prominent position in the bar of Washington County. He has a high reputation as a counselor and enjoys the fullest confidence of the com- munity.
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JAMES GIBSON, JR., was born in Salem, N. Y., and was prepared for college at the Washington Academy from which he was graduated in the class of 1890. He then entered Princeton University where he pursued the classical course for four years and graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1894. Leaving college he immediately took up the study of law and in 1898 he graduated from the Albany Law School and was admitted to the bar the same year. He then opened his office in Salem and began the active practice of his profession.
Mr. Gibson possesses not only the advantages of a university educa- tion and natural abilities of a high order but also enjoys the prestige of an illustrious ancestry, so that he has not only sprung into a fine legal practice but is also highly popular as a public man. In 1899 he was elected President of the village of Salem and in December of the same year he was elected to the office of Master of Salem Lodge No. 391, F. & A .. M., and during the same year was elected a trustee of the Washington Academy and of the Bancroft Public Library. He is also one of the vestrymen of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Mr. Gibson is the son of James and Jennie (Cowan) Gibson and the grandson of Judge James Gibson who was State Senator from 1867 to 1868 and County Judge from 1851 to 1857. He was also Worshipful Master of Salem Lodge No. 391, F. & A. M., and one of the most universally esteemed figures in law, politics and masonry not only in Washington County but throughout the entire State of New York.
ROBERT R. LAW, Official Court Stenographer. was born November 30, 1854, and received his early education in the Cambridge Washing- ton Academy In 1873 he began the trade of printer with the Wash- ington County Post and was connected with that paper for a long time, both as editor and partner.
On June 14, 1888, Mr. Law received the appointment of Official Court Stenographer for the Fourth Judicial District of the State of New York, a position which he still occupies. He was admitted to the bar in 1891.
R. R. Law has been actively identified with the public affairs of Washington County for over twenty years. He was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in 1879 and has been a member of the Board of Education since 1882. He was a strong advocate of the New High School building at Cambridge and served for some time as Clerk of the village. [See page 133, Part II. ]
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GEORGE SCOTT, Town Clerk of Fort Edward, was born near Hook, in the town of Argyle, June 19, 1838, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father, John Scott, owned a farm in that vieinity, on which George spent his youthful days.
His mother's name was Nancy Brown a daughter of James and Hannah Brown, all of whom were Presbyterians and members of the Rev. George Mairs' Church in the village of Argyle.
His brothers are James, John, Robert and William. George attended the Hook school, Fort Edward Institute and the Argyle Academy, and at the breaking out of the Civil War he went to the front.
He served in the Argyle Company of the 123d N. Y. Regiment and in the 16th United States Infantry. In the Argyle Company he was Orderly, or First Sergeant under Capt. Duncan Robertson, and near the close of the war he was transferred to the 16th United States Infantry.
Always on duty, he participated in all the marches of the 123d Regiment, and took part in all of its skirmishes and battles, including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Pine Hill, Kenesaw, Kolb's Farm, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta.
Before Atlanta had fallen Sergeant Scott was transferred to the 16th United States Infantry and took part in the battles in the rear of Atlanta, assisted in tearing up the railroad at East Point, and was in the battle of Jonesboro, where a decisive victory for the Union sealed the fate of Atlanta.
After the fall of Atlanta the 16th United States Infantry was ordered back to Lookont. Mountain, where, on the 4th of October, 1864, he received an honorable discharge from the United States ser- vice, with honorable mention in his discharge for his services in the battle of Jonesboro.
After his discharge, instead of returning home, he started for the front again, and left Chattanooga as a passenger on top of a freight car, in order to reach Sherman's men at Atlanta. But at this time Hood's army was beginning to march north and the freight train on which Mr. Scott was a passenger, had soon to face burning culverts and bridges, and the conductor ran it back to Chattanooga. Mr. Scott, with three other soldiers, however, did not return. Each vol- unteered to go on, and after experiencing many hardships and priva-
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tions on their long march in endeavoring to avoid Hood's men, in- stead of trying to find any of them, they succeeded in joining the Union forces at Atlanta.
George Scott was captured on October 19, 1864, at Vinings Station, near Atlanta, by Wheeler's Cavalry, and was sent to Cahaba prison and soon after to the prison pen at Millen, and was subsequently transferred to Andersonville, where he remained a prisoner through the winter of 1864-5, and was among the last released in the spring, reaching the Union lines at Jacksonville, Fla., on April 28, 1865, after the war closed, and he arrived on the steamer "Daniel Webster" at Parole Camp, Annapolis, Md., May 10. 1865.
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