Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-10-07
TOlger's Career.
From the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
Secretary Folger was born in Nan.
tucket, April 10th, 1918. His father was
a man of much local consequence, and
gave his son ample opportunities Of ed.
ucation. He graduated at Hobart col.
lege, aid was admitted to the bar of On.
tario county, New York, when barely
twenty-one years old. His fine attain
ments and excellent business habits
brought him speedily into prominence
and IN 1914 he was appointed Judge OF
the court of common pleas of Ontario
county. He was also master and exam
iner in chancery until that court was
abolished on the adoption Of the consti-
tuition OF 1916. His first campaign for
election to office was in 1851. when he
was elected county judge by the wing of
the democratic party known as the barn
burners. During his four years term on
the bench the parties were drawing into
clearer issue on the slavery question,
and in the campaign Of 1856 he and
many other prominent democrats Joined
fortunes with the party of freedom.
Among the democrats who abandoned
their old party lines at the same time
were Preston King, Ruben T.. Fenton,
Gen. James 5. Wadsworth, and Judge
Ward Hunt. In 1861 Judge Folger was
elected state senator from the Ontario
Seneca district, which he represented
for four successive terms. He attained
position of commanding influence by
reason of his suncompromising cnmity to
all jobbery and corruption, which dur
ing his last term were thriving riotously
at Albany. IN 1869, he resigned from
the senate to take the office of United
states sub-treasurer at New York. a
position which he owed chiefly to the
good Offices of Senator Conkling. who
led the wing of the republican party
which was pledged to the fortunes Of
Reuben F.. Fenton
In 1867, during his senatorial term. he
also was Il member of the constitutional
convention, acting AS chairman of the
Judiciary committee. On the reorgan-
ization of the court Of appeals in 1870
Tweed, Sweeney < Go. yiacioiisiy per.
mtted the election Of Judge Folger as
one of the two republican members of
the court. On the bench of the highest
court of the state he acquired high
reputation for thorough learning. and
was regarded as one OF the ablest Judges
of the state. On the death of Chief
Justice Sanford T. Church, in May, 1880,
Gov. Cornell appointed Judge Folger
chief justice. At the following election
he received the unanimous republican
nomination for chief justice, and was
elected for full term of fourteen years
by a plurality Of 46,l69 over Judge
Rapallo. He led his ticket by 22.OOO
votes.
In the cabinet making just prior to
Gen Garfeld's Inauguration, Judge
Folger was warmly pressed for secretary
Of the treasury. The slate, however, was
broken, and Judge Folger remained on
the bench until October %, 1881, when
President Arthur named him secretary
ofthe treasury, and the senate promptly
confirmed him. His services in the
cabinet are too recen, to call for especial
mention.
In person Secretary Folger is Of fine,
dignified presence, tall, we'll built, with
q full face, framed in grizzled side whis-
kers, sharp black eyes, acquiline nose,
and partially bald head He is man
who avoids pretentious display Of his
learning or consequence. He has won,
chiefly through the steadiness Of bis
friendships, the stability of his mind,
and the absence of egotism. He has
shown himself fearless and incorrupti-
BILE Judge and safe leader Strong con-
victions and personal independence are
his most conspicuous characteristics.
In New York he Is regarded as strong
candidate, in that he can win the sup
port of very large body of voters who,
although theoretically republicans, have
repeatedly voted for opposing candidates
in whose probity they could repose con-
fidence. Their votes elected Samuel j..
Tilden. and ii is believed their votes
will enable Judge Folger TO continue un-
broken his line of successes for every
elective Office for which he has been en-
tered.