History of Salem, (Washington County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

James Duane Doty, governor of Wisconsin, was born in Salem, N.Y., in 1799. He was prepared for admission to the bar and removed to Detroit, Mich., in 1818, where he was appointed secretary of the council and clerk of the court of the territory. He was a member of the celebrated exploring expedition of 1820 under Gen. Lewis Cass, travelling in canoes 4000 miles on the upper likes and negotiating important treaties with the Indians. He was U.S. judge for the northern district of Michigan, holding his first court at the military post on Green Bay in 1824, and serving as judge till 1833. He was appointed by congress in 1830 one of a commission to lay out a military road from Green Bay through Chicago to Prairie du Chien. He was a member of the sixth legislative council of Michigan, 1834-35, and there introduced the bill creating Wisconsin and Iowa territories. In 1836 he was a member of the commission to erect a capitol building, having himself selected the site of Madison as the seat of governmerit of the territory. On Sept. 10, 1838, he was elected delegate to congress from the territory as successor to George W. Jones, and was re-elected Aug. 5, 1840, serving in the 25th and 26th congresses, to March 3, 1841. He was appointed governor of the territory of Wisconsin, Oct. 5, 1841, serving till Sept. 16, 1844, when he was removed. He was succeeded by Nathaniel P. Tallmadge. In 1845 Tallmadge was removed and Doty was re-appointed, serving till May 13, 1845, when he was succeeded by Henry Dodge. On the organization of the two houses, Dec. 5, 1842, he refused to communicate with them, declaring their assembly illegal, as no appropriation for that object had been previously made by congress. On their continuing in session in spite of his disapproval he issued a proclamation convening the legislature, March 6, 1843, selecting the same date to which the body had adjourned. After his removal from office he was appointed by the war department a commissioner to the Indians in 1845 and he was a delegate to the first constitutional convention at Madison, Oct. 5, 1846. As the constitution was not opposed by the people, a new convention was held and the state was admitted in 1848. When a third congressional district was formed in 1848 Governor Dory was elected a representative in the 31st congress and he was re-elected to the 32d congress, serving 1849-53. In 1861 he was made superintendent of Indian affairs, with headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah. He was treasurer of the territory and in 1864 was appointed governor. He died in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 13, 1865.

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

Thomas McAuley, educator, was born in Ireland in 1780. His parents immigrated to America and settled in Salem, N.Y., where he prepared for college. He was graduated at Union college, N.Y., A.B., 1804, and remained there as a tutor, 1805-06; lecturer on mathematics and natural philosophy, 1811-14, and professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, 1814-22. He was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1822, and was pastor of the Rutgers Street church, New York city, 1822-27, of the Tenth church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1827-33, president of the Philadelphia board of education, 1830; and pastor of the Murray Street church, New York city, 1833-40. He was a founder of Union Theological seminary, New York city, in 1836; a member of its original beard of directors, 1836-40; and president of the seminary and professor of pastoral theology, 1836-40. As a prominent member of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in 1837, which resulted in the division of the church into the new and old schools, he advocated reconciliation. He retired from active educational work in 1840. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Union college in 1822 and that of LL.D. elsewhere. He died in New York city, May 11, 1842.

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

James Macfarlane Mathews, educator, was born in Salem, N.Y., March 18, 1785; son of David and Mary (Macfarlane) Mathews. His father came to America prior to the Revolution, in which he took part. James Macfarlane Mathews studied under Dr. Proudfit at Salem and graduated from Union college in 1803. He studied for the ministry in the Associate seminary of Dr. John M. Mason and was graduated in 1807. He was associate professor of ecclesiastical history at the seminary, 1807-17; and paster of the South Reformed Dutch church, Garden street, New York, 1811-40. He was active in the establishment of the University of the City of New York in 1829, and was first chancellor of the university, 1831-39, when he retired. He delivered lectures in various cities. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Yale college in 1819. He was married, first, 1810, to Charlotte, daughter of Hugh Walsh and secondly, in 1825, to Ann, daughter of John Hone, a leading merchant of New York. His daughter, Joanna Hone Mathews, author of The Bessie Books and over forty other volumes for children, died in Summit, N.J., April 28, 1901. Chancellor Mathews is the author of: The Bible and Civil Government (1860); The Bible and Men of Learning (1860); Recollections of Persons and Events chiefly in the City of New York (1864). He died in New York city, Jan. 26, 1870.

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

Thomas Russell Ingalls, educator, was born in Salem, N.Y., Nov. 22, 1798; son of Charles and Cynthia (Russell) Ingalls. His father was a native of Methuen, Mass., who settled in Washington county, N.Y., after graduating from Dartmouth, A.B., 1790, A.M., 1783; and his mother was a daughter of the Rev. Thomas Russell, D.D., of Piermont, N.H. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy in 1822, and resigned from the U.S. army in 1833. He was president of Jefferson college, La., 1833-40; travelled in Europe, 1840-42; returned to Washington county, N.Y., and resided in Greenwich, where he died, July 26, 1864.

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