USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 59
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A few years after the war was over Mr. Scott married Elizabeth, a daughter of Peter Tierce Finn and Mary (Cozzens) Finn. He has one daughter, Mary E.
Peter Tierce Finn was a son of William Finn, one of the early settlers of Fort Edward. William Finn married Mary, or Polly Tierce, who was a daughter of Major Peter Bailey Tierce, a Major in Colonel Willett's Regiment in the Revolutionary War. The wife of Major Tierce was Polly Hunter, a daughter of Robert Hunter, who was a son of the Colonial Governor of that name. Polly Hunter's mother was Catherine Campbell, a name that is linked with Jane McCrea history.
Catherine Campbell was the daughter of Sarah (Gordon) Fraser and Archibald Campbell, who was a son of Major Duncan Campbell, of the "Black Watch," or 42d Highland Regiment, and who fell mor- tally wounded at Ticonderoga, July 8, 1758. His remains are interred in the Union Cemetery at Fort Edward.
Mr. Scott was admitted to practice law at the February General Term of the Supreme Court at Albany in 1871. He was a member of the Assembly in 1885, when he was made Chairman of the Committee on Petitions of Aliens, and was a member of the Committee on General Laws.
At present he is practicing law, and a member of the vestry of St. James Church, and Commander of C. E. Mills Post No. 491, Depart- ment of New York, G. A. R.
558
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
HON. WILLARD ROBINSON, the subject of this sketch, who is a prom- inent member of the Washington County bar, was born at West Hebron July 20, 1859, and was educated at the Union school of Fort Edward. After leaving school he was engaged in business with his father in Fort Edward from 1876 until 1887. In the latter year he began the study of law, which he pursued in the office of Edgar Hull, at Fort Edward, until 1891, when he was admitted to the bar at the General Term in Albany, N. Y. Immediately after his admission he opened an office in Fort Edward where he has since continued the practice of his profession with much success. He is distinguished for his knowledge of the law, his sound judgment and high integrity. which have led both to appointments and election to office.
On March 26, 1888, he was appointed Justice of the Peace to fill a vacancy, and in 1891 was elected to the same office for a period of four years, to which he was again re-elected in 1895. In March, 1898 he was elected Police Justice for a term of three years.
Judge Robinson has always taken an intelligent interest in public affairs and is an active worker in the interests of his party. He is at present Chairmain of the Republican Town Committee.
In 1882 Judge Robinson married Augusta L. Gibbon and they have five children, viz: Clara May, Elsie Gertrude, Florence Livingston, Leslie Gibbon and Francis Willard.
Judge Robinson's parents were John J. and Margaret B. (Cogg- shall) Robinson. The founder of the Robinson family in America was John Robinson, who came to America from Monahan, Ireland, in 1791, when he was a young man twenty-one years of age. One of his ancestors was an officer in Cromwell's Army. He settled in the town of Argyle and was Justice of the Peace for forty years and reared a family of ten children. His son, James Robinson, was the father of John J. Robinson, the father of Willard Robinson. Judge Robinson's great-grandfather, Livingston, received a large grant in the town of Hebron, Washington County, so that on both sides Judge Robinson's ancestors have been identified with the history of Wash- ington County from the earliest days. The branches of the family are numerous and are spread all over the country and have many rep- resentatives in the ministry.
Judge Robinson is a member of Washington Council No. 261, Royal Arcanum, and has passed all the chairs. He has also been twice delegate to the Grand Council of the State of New York.
559
THE BENCH AND BAR.
JUDGE FREDERICK A. BRATT was born in the town of Easton, Wash- ington County, December 2, 1855, and was educated at the Fort Ed- ward Institute and the Hudson River Institute. He studied law in the office of Hon. A. D. Wait, at Fort Edward, and was admitted to the bar at the General Term at Albany. N. Y., in January, 1882. Immediately after his admission to the bar he began the practice of his profession in Fort Edward where he has met with distinctly marked success. He was elected Special County Judge in the fall of 1898 for a term of four years. In politics Judge Bratt is a Republican and is a consistent adherent of his party.
Judge Bratt married Fannie Parish, of Fort Edward, N. Y. His parents were William P. and Jemima C. (Van Antwerp) Bratt. Peter Yates Van Antwerp was her father and he was a nephew of Colonel Yates of Revolutionary fame. Judge Bratt's grandfather, Nicholas. Bratt, was born near the city of Albany and lived to be one hundred and three years of age.
Judge Bratt has not only been successful as a lawyer, and has achieved a high reputation from his able handling of large and im- portant cases that have gone through his hands, but since his eleva- tion to the bench he has proved himself an able and competent judge, and no appeal has ever been taken against him in the county.
ALFRED G. HILL, a lawyer of Cambridge, N. Y., was born in South Easton, Washington County, N. Y., in 1867. He was prepared for college at the Greenwich Union school and in 1885, at the age of eighteen, he entered Williams College, where, after a highly eredit- able course, he was graduated in the class of 1889.
After leaving college he secured a position in the Census Office, Interior Department at Washington, D. C., and while there improved his evenings by attending the Columbian University Law School, from which he was graduated in the class of '92. He remained in the Census Department until the death of his father, May 5, 1893, when he returned home.
After serving one year as clerk and student in the office of Hon. D. M. Westfall at Cambridge, N. Y., he was admitted to the bar in De- cember, 1894. His connection as managing clerk for Hon. D. M. Westfall soon resulted in a partnership, under the firm name of
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Westfall & Hill. This partnership was formed in October, 1895, and still continues.
During his residence in Cambridge he has been Clerk of the Board of Trustees for three years and Treasurer of the Board of Education for four years. He is a prominent Mason and is Master of Cambridge Valley Lodge No. 481, having occupied that chair since 1898.
On August 30, 1899, Mr. Hill married Fannie Robertson, daughter of the late James E. Robertson of Coila, N. Y.
Mr. Hill's father, James Hill, was a prominent man in Washington County. He resided in Easton and was a successful business man and farmer. He served three years as Sheriff of Washington County, and was many times elected Supervisor of the town of Easton.
At the sessions of the County Legislature he distinguished himself for his executive ability and was for years a strong factor in county politics.
Alfred G. Hill is one of the best known young lawyers of Washing- ton County. He has always been a student and makes a thorough and systematic study of all his cases.
W. L. SAWYER, a talented and rising young lawyer of Sandy Hill, was born in this place and after a preparatory education in the local schools he entered Union College from which he was graduated in the class of '95, after a highly creditable course.
Having decided to enter the legal profession Mr. Sawyer read law in the office of A. D. Arnold and also with L. H. Northup and was admitted to the bar July 6, 1897.
Immediately after being admitted Mr. Sawyer began the practice of his profession in the old offices, long ago rendered notable through the occupancy of Hughes & Northup, and here he has already achieved a reputation that would do credit to many an older man. He was elected Justice of the Peace in March, 1896, and was re-elected in March, 1899. Besides his college societies he is a member of the New York State Historical Society.
WV. L. Sawyer is a son of the Rev. E. R. Sawyer, D. D., Baptist minister at Sandy Hill since 1870, and one of the most highly appre- ciated divines of the county. His grandfather, Rev. Reuben Sawyer, was also a Baptist minister.
561
THE BENCH AND BAR.
ALONZO AUGUSTUS BURBY, a representative member of the bar of Washington County, was born November 16, 1873, in the town of Fort Edward, and received his education in the Fort Edward Union school and the Fort Edward Institute, graduating from the latter in 1887. He taught school for five years, and during that time began the study of law with Hon. A. D. Wait and was admitted to the bar December 6, 1894, at the General Term at Albany, N. Y. He then began the practice of his profession at Fort Edward where he has already achieved prominent recognition at the bar of the county.
In 1893 Mr. Burby was elected Justice of the Peace for a term of four years, and in May, 1898, was appointed Deputy Factory Inspector.
In politics Mr. Burby is a Republican and is noted both as an organizer and as an orator. As a public speaker he has few equals in the State and in this direction has achieved a reputation unusual for a man of his years and he enjoys the advantages, not only of an excellent education, but of a fine literary mind.
Mr. Burby is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Fort Edward Council No. 336 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. 3, Fort Edward, and has been president of this division since its organ- ization. He is also a member of the Bibby Hose Company and of the Fortnightly Club, of which he has been Treasurer since its organiza- tion.
Mr. Burby's parents were John J. and Anna L. (Lynch) Burby. His father was a native of Ireland, but his mother was born in this country and is a southern lady. Her people were Americans for many generations and she is a direct descendant of Thomas Lynch, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
JURDEN E. SEELEY, the well known lawyer of Granville, is a son of John I. and Avis A. (Oatman) Seeley, and was born in Hartford, Washington County, July 30, 1858. He studied law in the law offices of Pond, French & Brackett at Saratoga Springs, and was admitted to the bar May 4, 1881, and the same year located in Granville, where he formed a partnership with Levi D. Temple. In about a year Mr. Seeley purchased his partner's interest and continued his legal busi- ness alone until September, 1892, when he admitted John Gilroy of Richfield Springs, N. Y. This firm was dissolved in 1896.
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562
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
CORNELIUS L. ALLEN was born in Salem, Washington County, N. Y., in 1847. He was prepared for college in the Washington Academy at Cambridge, N. Y., and entered Norwich University in the fall of 1863. He remained in this institution during his freshman year, but the next autumn went to Yale University from which he was gradu- ated in the class of '67. He then took a course of study at the Albany Law School and was duly admitted to the bar. He began the prac- tice of his profession with his father, Judge C. L. Allen of Salem, and by reason of his high intellectual endowment and brilliant oratorical powers, soon became widely and favorably known. In 1871 he was elected Justice of the Peace for Salem and continued in that office for three consecutive terins.
In 1869 he married Ada Lansing Russell and they had a family of eight children, four of whom are living: Christine Lansing, born 1869, died 1890; Kate, born 1871; Edward Cornelius, born 1872; Sarah Elizabeth, born 1874, died 1874; Bessie, born 1875, died 1883; David Russell, born 1877; Cornelius Lansing born 1881, died 1881; Constance W., born 1890.
Mr. Allen's parents were Judge C. L. Allen and Sarah Hester (Russell) Allen. Judge C. L. Allen was Judge of the Supreme Court Bench from 1851 to 1859. The Allen ancestry can be traced to Queen Anne's time. Mr. Allen's maternal grandmother was of the Lansing family which founded Lansingburgh, N. Y.
COL. SOLOMON W. RUSSELL was born at Luzerne, Warren County, N. Y., July 5, 1836. He entered Union College, but in the middle of his course gave up his studies and raised the first company of volun- teers in Salem for service in the War of the Rebellion. His com- pany was mustered into the 2d New York Volunteer Cavalry, as Com- pany A, in September 1861. He was elected Captain of his company. His regiment was mustered out at Washington, March 30, 1862, and he was afterwards commissioned Adjutant of the 18th New York Vol- unteer Infantry and at the expiration of his term of enlistment he was commissioned First Lieutenant 49th New York Volunteer Infantry. He was breveted Major for services at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel for gallant and meritorious services before Petersburg and at the battle of Sailor's Creek, Va. He was honorably discharged at Buffalo, N. Y., in June, 1865. His entire service was in the 6th Army Corps.
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
At the battle of Rappahannock, November 7, 1863, Colonel Russell was shot through the body while jumping his horse over the enemy's works during a charge. He was carried from the field insensible and taken to Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D. C., and afterwards to Seminary Hospital, Georgetown. In May, 1864, he again reported for duty; joined the army at Spottsylvania, and served continuously to the end of the war.
After the war Colonel Russell began the practice of his profession in Salem and has continued it there ever since.
Colonel Russell has been President of the village of Salem for more than a quarter of a century and President of the Board of Education for a period equally long. He is a prominent Mason and Past Com- mander of A. L. McDougal Post No. 570, G. A. R. He was a Dem- . ocrat until the first election of President Cleveland, but has since been a Republican. He was a delegate to the National Convention at St. Louis, in 1876, which nominated Samuel J. Tilden.
On August 16, 1866, Colonel Russell married Anna A., daughter of Lucius and Rosena (Ashton) Dixon, of Warrenton, Va. Their child- ren are : Solomon W. Russell, Jr., a lawyer of Salem, Dixon P., Anna A., Rosena E., Alice F., Zada T., Mary S. and Sarah H.
ROYAL C. BETTS was born in Pawlet, Vt., June 18, 1835, and stud- ied law in the office of Fayette Porter of that place, and with O. F. Thompson of Granville. He was admitted to the bar in 1859 and opened an office in that place. In 1863 he was elected special County Judge of Washington County and was re-elected in 1867. He was elected Supervisor of his town in 1867, and again in 1868. In the fall of 1868 he was elected District Attorney of the County and was re- elected in 1871.
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN is a son of John and Catharine (O'Brien) Sulli- van, and was born in the town of Horicon, Warren County, N. Y., April 2, 1857. In 1875 he entered the law office of the late Hon. U. G. Paris, and was admitted to the bar of the State of New York, at the November term, 1878. Since his admission to the bar Mr. Sul- livan has been engaged in the general practice of law at Sandy Hill and has held different public offices.
564
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
JUDGE A. N. RICHARD, one of the best known lawyers in Sandy Hill, and a popular citizen of this village, was born in Glens Falls, Warren County, March 24, 1857. He was educated in the Fort Edward In- stitute and the Island Grove school and read law in the office of Rob- ert Armstrong, Fort Edward, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in 1884, but did not immediately take up the practice of his profession, but traveled west and south in other interests for some time. In 1890 he settled in Luzerne, and began the active practive of his profession . with much success, but after a residence of five years in that place he came to Sandy Hill in 1895 to be in a larger and more active center and made it his permanent residence. Here he has become a strong factor in the legal profession. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1899 and subsequently was elected to the same office.
In politics Judge Richard was a Democrat until 1894, since which date he has been an ont and out Republican.
In 1895 Judge Richard married Mary Davison. The family consists of four children living, three daughters and one son, namely: Ethel, Anna, Clara and Earl.
Judge Richard's parents were M. D. and Maryette (Wing) Richard. His father, M. D. Richard, was a lumberman. His grandfather, Ed- mond Richard, was a native of Connecticut, but removed to Genesee County, N. Y., and subsequently to Warren County, where he died at the advanced age of 93 years.
Judge A. N. Richard is a genial and affable gentleman, popular with a host of friends and acquaintances and enjoying the confidence and respect of all who know him.
RUFUS R. DAVIS was born in the village of Whitehall, September 7, 1857, and is a son of Oscar F. and Charlotte T. (Rowe) Davis. He began reading law with his father, and in 1881 was admitted to the bar, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of law with his father, under the firm name of O. F. & R. R. Davis. This firm has a good general law practice and a splendid law library.
JOHN PARRY of Sandy Hill became a member of the firm of Wait & Parry at Fort Edward, the senior member being Hon. A. Dallas Wait. Mr. Parry, after a few years, abandoned law for the lumber business. He died during the War of the Rebellion.
565
THE BENCH AND BAR.
FREDERICK I. BAKER was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washing- ton County, N. Y., May 29, 1844, and was educated by private tuition in his native village, at a school in Montreal and the Fort Edward In- stitute. He studied law in the office of Hon. Joseph Potter at White- hall, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. Immediately after his ad- mission he opened a law office in Minneapolis, Minn., where he re- mained one and one-half years. He then returned to Fort Ann and embarked in the iron ore business with his father and others, and con- tinued in this industry for about ten years. He then resumed the practice of law in Fort Ann, which he has continued ever since.
Mr. Baker is a Democrat in politics and has twice held the position of Postmaster at Fort Ann, for terms of four years each, under the two administrations of President Cleveland. He also served as Jus- tice of the Peace for five years and was counsel for the village of Fort Ann for eighteen years.
He received the appointment as postmaster from President Cleve- land upon the strength of his own letter without any outside influence. He has been a member of the Democratic County Committee for the past twenty years with the exception of one year when he was post- master. He has been delegate to six Democratic State Conventions and has been Chairman of the Town Committee continuously since 1876.
In 1869 Frederick I. Baker married Harriet Rice, daughter of John Rice, an old family of Fort Ann. The Baker family was formerly of Granville. Mr. Baker's great-grandfather, Benjamin Baker and his brother, Nathaniel, were among the first settlers of that town, and the family was one of the most prominent in that part of the county. Benjamin Baker was one of the first half dozen residents assessed in Granville.
Frederick I. Baker's parents were Amyel and Salome (Bigelow) Baker. Amyel Baker came to the town of Fort Ann from Granville in 1835. He was engaged in the lumber and mining industries for many years.
GENERAL JAMES C. ROGERS of Sandy Hill studied law with A. C. Hand in Elizabethtown. He entered the army soon after the Civil War broke out and rose to the rank of Brigadier-General. He was Member of the Assembly in 1866, since which he has devoted himself entirely to his profession.
566
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
ROBERT O. BASCOM was born at Orwell, Addison County, Vt., November 18, 1855. He received his literary education in the com- mon schools and the high schools of Brandon and Shoreham, Vt., and at the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, graduating from the latter institution in 1876. He began the study of law in 1880 in the office of Don D. Winn where he remained for a short time after which he entered the office of Hon. Edgar Hull with whom he remained until admitted to the bar September 14, 1883. Immediately after his admission he began the practice of his profession in Fort Edward and has not only been successful, but has attained the position of one of the foremost lawyers in Washington County. He is not only a sound counselor but is a speaker of a high order. He makes a careful study of all his cases and when in court handles them admirably.
In politics Mr. Bascom is a Republican and has been Chairman of the Republican County Committee for two years, of which committee he has been a member for many years.
On December 20, 1882, Robert O. Bascom married Mary L. Platt, daughter of Myron and Sarah E. (Larabee) Platt. They have a family of three children, namely: Wyman S., Robert P. and Fred G.
Mr. Bascom's parents were Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Clark) Bas- com, both of whom were natives of Vermont.
Mr. Bascom traces his ancestors back to Thomas Bascom, a native of England, who came to America in 1634 and settled in Windsor, Conn. He had a son, Thomas, Jr., who was born in Connecticut, February 20, 1641 Of 1642.
His son was Thomas the third, and was born in Northampton, Mass., in 1668. He had a son, Ezekiel, who was born at Northampton, Mass., November 22, 1700, and his son Elias, was born at Hatfield, Mass., December 19, 1737. He had a son, Artemidorus, who was born at Northfield, Mass., May 8, 1774, and his son. Samuel H. Bas- com, was the father of the subject of this sketch and was born Feb- ruary 27, 1819, in Orwell, Vt.
Elias Bascom was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. Ezekiel Bascom was a soldier in the Colonial wars of 1723 to 1725.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the Bascom family ranks among the oldest in America, and that at least one member of the family participated in the struggle which led to the establishment of the American Republic.
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
In addition to his large legal practice Mr. Bascom gives attention to other important subjects and affairs. He is Assistant Secretary of the New York State Historical Association and has done a great deal towards furthering the interests of that intelligent body. He is also a member of Fort Edward Lodge No. 267, F. & A. M., of the Royal Arcanum, Fort Edward Council, and is a charter member of the Fort Edward Club. His ability as a speaker brings him before the public in connection with social and public matters, and he is always willing to aid every worthy cause with his voice and influence.
Mrs. Bascom is a lady of fine intelligence and high culture. She takes a deep interest in all literary matters, especially historical sub- jects and writings. She is a direct descendant of Richard Platt, who came from England in 1638 and settled at New Milford, Conn. Sen- ators Orville C. Platt of Connecticut and Thomas C. Platt of New York are also descended from Richard Platt.
Mrs. Bascom was one of the charter members and is Registrar of the Jane McCrea Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion.
ARCHIBALD S. DERBY, one of the younger members of the Washing- ton County bar, was born at Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., and was educated at Union College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Ph. B., in the class of 1896, and at the Harvard Law School where he was graduated in the class of 1899 with the de- gree of L. L. B. He was admitted to the bar at Albany in 1899 and immediately began the practice of his profession at Sandy Hill in the old chambers of Hughes & Northup.
Mr. Derby is the son of Hon. John H. Derby of Sandy Hill.
J. SANFORD POTTER, son of Hon. Joseph and Catherine E. (Boies) Potter, was born June 27, 1848, and was educated at the Norwich Uni- versity and Williams College. He was admitted to the bar in 1871 and became a member of the law firm of Potter, Tanner & Potter. This firm subsequently became Tanner & Potter and finally Potter & Lillie, which is today one of the leading law firms of the county.
568
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
HON. A. D. ARNOLD, one of the best known lawyers in north- eastern New York, was born in the town of Hartford, Washington County, N. Y., and received his literary education at the Albany Normal School and the Troy Conference Academy, Poultney, Vt. Having decided upon the law as his life profession he entered the old historic office of Hughes & Northup at Sandy Hill, and after the regu- lar course of study was admitted to the bar at the General Term in Albany in 1882. Early in his student years he evinced the executive ability and capacity for handling cases which have since won him distinction and he became managing clerk for Hughes & Northup in 1879. This position he held for a period of four years, finally resign- ing, in 1883, to continue the practice of his profession by himself. He accordingly opened the office in Sandy Hill which he has since occu- pied and at once assumed a prominent place in the bar of Washington County. He has not only built up a large practice, but has achieved a high reputation both as an advocate and counsellor.
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