History of Elizabethtown, (Herkimer County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Robert Safford Hale, representative, was born in Chelsea, Vt., Sept. 24, 1822; son of Harry and Lucinda (Eddy) Hale. He was a brother of Matthew Hale. He was graduated from the University of Vermont in 1842 and after an interval of teaching he settled at Elizabethtown, N.Y., in January, 1844, and began the study of law. He was admitted to practice in January, 1847, and formed a partnership with the Hon. Orlando Kellogg, which continued until the fall of 1856, when he was elected surrogate of Essex count),, N.Y. He served as such until January, 1865, when he resumed practice. He was a Lincoln presidential elector in 1861 and in 1865 was elected a representative in the 39th congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his law partner, Orlando Kellogg. At the close of the session he was retained by Secretary Stanton as counsel in the controversy with President Johnson, occasioned by the removal of Secretary Stanton and the appointment of Gen. Lorenzo Thomas as secretary of war. He was employed by the U.S. treasury department in the claims for abandoned and captured cotton before the U.S. court of claims, 1868-70; and was Republican candidate for judge of the N.Y. court of appeals. In 1871 he was retained by the state department as counsel for the United States before the British and American claims commission under the treaty of Washington, which occupied him till December, 1873. He was a representative from New York in the 43d congress, 1878-75, and was a commissioner of the state survey in 1876. He was a regent of the University of the state of New York from March 29, 1859, till his death. He was married to Levine Sibley, daughter of Jeremiah Stone of Elizabethtown, N.Y., and their son Harry became a practising lawyer. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of Vermont in 1870. He died at Elizabethtown, N.Y., Dec. 14, 1881.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Hand, jurist, was born in Elizabethtown, N.Y., May 1, 1834; son of the Hon. Augustus C, Hand. He was gradated from Union college in 1851, was admitted to the bar and practised with his father at Elizabethtown, 1853-60. In 1860 he removed to Albany, N.Y., where he was corporation counsel for the city in 1863, and reporter of the court of appeals, 1869-72. He declined the Democratic nomination for governor in l872, and an appointment of judge of the superior court in 1875. He was president of the Y.M.C.A. of Albany in 1863, and of the New York bar association in 1865. In June, 1878, he was appointed by Governor Robinson judge of the court of appeals of New York to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge William F. Allen. Upon the election of a seccessor in November, 1878, he returned to private practice and was subsequently appointed commissioner for the reform of the city government. He was president of the special water commission of Albany in 1885; senior counsel in the elevated railroad cases; and aided the state in prosecuting the canal contractors. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Union in 1884. He edited The Philobiblon of Chancellor Debury (1861). He died in Albany, N.Y., May 21, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor