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

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Biographies:

Lucius Harwood Foote, diplomatist, was born in Winfield, Herkimer county, N.Y., April 10, 1826; son of the Rev. Lucius and Electa (Harwood) Foote, and a direct descendant from Nathaniel Foote, 1633. In 1836 he removed with his parents to Rockford, Ill., and attended Knox college and Western Reserve college. In 1853 he went to California, where he was admitted to the bar in Sacramento in 1856. He was municipal judge of Sacramento, 1856-60; collector of customs, 1861-65, and adjutant general of California, 1872-76. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1876 and two years later was appointed by President Hayes consul to Valparaiso, Chili, becoming charg? d' affaires in 1881, upon the death of U.S. minister Judson S. Kilpatrick. He was one of the final arbitrators in the settlement of the boundary question between Chili and the Argentine Republic and induced the Chilean government to call its congress together to ratify the same. In 1882 he was sent to Central America on a special mission, receiving the thanks of the state department for the settlement of the question involved. While there he was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Korea, with instructions to negotiate changes in the treaty made by Admiral Shufeldt, to exchange the ratifications of the same, and to establish a legation in Korea if he thought it advisable. Within a few months he established the most cordial relations with the government. At his suggestion the first embassy was sent to the United States, and by his advice France, Russia and Germany were invited to enter into treaty relations with Korea. During the revolt of 1883 in Korea, all the Japanese remaining in Seoul, excepting those given refuge at the American legation were killed. Subsequently General Foote, upon the request of the king of Korea, suggested the basis upon which the difficulties were finally settled with Japan. In 1884 he resigned the post of minister to Korea and on his way to the United States was granted audience with the emperor of Japan who thanked him for preserving the lives of his subjects in Korea, and for services rendered in the settlement of questions growing out of the Korean revolt. He also received the thanks of the government of China and an autograph letter of acknowledgment from the king of Korea. He returned to San Francisco, Cal., where he engaged in literary pursuits and in 1890 was appointed secretary and treasurer of the Academy of seiences. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Knox college in 1875. He translated Heine's poems (1896) and is the author of: Red-Letter Days and Other Poems (1880); On the Heights, a volume of verse (1897); besides numerous contributions to periodicals.

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

George Anson Hardin, jurist, was born in Winfield, Herkimer county, N.Y., Aug. 17, 1832; son of Col. Joseph and Amanda (Backus) Hardin, and grandson of Nathan and Philena (Clark) Hardin of Connecticut. He was educated at Union college, 1852-54; admitted to the bar in 1854, and was state senator, 1862-63. He practised law at Little Falls, N.Y., until he was elected justice of the supreme court in 1871 and re-elected in 1885 for a term of fourteen years. He was appointed presiding justice of the supreme court by Governor Cleveland in 1884, and by Governor Hill in 1885, and presiding justice of the 4th department of the appellate division of the supreme court by Governor Morton in 1895. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Hamilton college in 1876, and from Colgate university in 1899. He died in Little Falls, N.Y. April 6, 1901.

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

Seth Merrill Gates, representative, was born in Winfield, Herkimer county, N.Y., Oct. 16, 1800; son of Seth and Abigail (Merrill) Gates. He was educated in the public schools and at Middlebury academy and was admitted to the bar in 1827. He practised law in Le Roy, N.Y., and in 1836-37 served in the assembly. He became editor and proprietor of the Le Roy Gazette in 1838, and was a Whig representative in the 26th and 27th congresses, 1839-43. He was prominent in the early anti-slavery contest, and drew up the protest against the admission of Texas which was signed by John Quincy Adams and other prominent Whig members of congress. A Savannah slave owner offered a reward of $500 for his "delivery anywhere within the state of South Carolina, dead or alive." In 1848 he was the Free soil candidate for lieutenant-governor of New York. He was married three times: in 1826 to Eliza Keyes; in 1841 to Fanny Jeneatte, daughter of Erastus Parsous and sister of Governor Lewis E. Parsons of Alabama; and in 1867 to Cornelia (Rochester) Bishop, daughter of Col. Nathaniel Rochester, and the widow of William S. Bishop. He died in Warsaw, N.Y., Aug. 24, 1877.

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

Chester Holcombe, diplomatist, was born at Winfield, Herkimer county, N.Y., Oct. 16, 1844; son of the Rev. Chester and Lucy ( Tompkins) Holcombe; grandson of Chester Holcombe and Gilbert Tompkins, and a descendant of Thomas Holcombe, who came to America in 1630, settling in Boston, Massachusetts Bay colony. He was graduated from Union college, New York, in 1861, and went to China as a teacher and missionary. He was connected with the U.S. legation at Peking, China, as interpreter and secretary, 1871-85, and acting minister, 1875-76, 1878-89, and 1881-82. He was also a member of the commission for the negotiation of new treaties with China in 1880; assisted in negotiating a treaty with Korea in 1882, and was offered but declined a decoration from the Emperor of China. He is the author of: The Real Chinaman (1895); several works in the Chinese language, and newspaper and magazine articles.

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