New-York tribune., 1902-04-27
FRANKLIN COUNTY MEN.
BORN IN THE BRA CING AIR
OF THE NORTH WOODS.
city RESIDENTS WHO DELIGHT TO RE
CALL THE DAYS OF THEIR YOUTH
AMID DISTRACTIONS OF NET
ROPOLITAN LIFE

ROPOLITAN LIFE
I'VE like New York; you could not drive US away
Prom the city; brt we love the old home also, and
seeing the faces know there, hearing about the
places ana the people We knew in our childhood
and boyhood days are among the pleasures OF ouf
new lie in the metropolis
This sentiment was loudly applauded by
ierge company at a public dinner recently
The company consisted OF who had come
from ''up the State" who were firmly settled
In New-York. but loyal TO the place OF thelr
birth and proud Of their country origin So
cieties OF this sort have always existed in this
city. but they were until recently OF foreign
character. There Dutch, Irish French. Ger
man and English societies, and many citizens not
content with organizations representing their coun-
try formed other societies TO which only men from
certain parts OF the foreign lands were eligible
This caused the organization of Irish county
cieties English sectional associations, and German
societies Of which the Bavarian, Sachsen. Platt-
oeatsch and Hessan were among the most I'M
portant
1t was probably the example set by these social
podies and the desire to keep alive the memories
of the old home that caused the formation in this
city OF societies representing the various parts OF
the country. After the Southern New-England
and similar societies came the State, county ana
city organizations. Among the first Of these was
the Albany Society Of the City OF New-foTk
Other organizations followed. and they have all
been successful and their meetings highly enjoy
able.
Franklin County, in the far northern part Of the
State has many representatives in this city, who
make trips their former home. and return
10 the metropolis with tales Of experiences in the
woods and the picturesque streams OF their
native county and few Of these men met In 1883
and orsanized Franklin County society. The
founders were Ashbel P. Fitch, Daniel ?. Morse
Edwin Z. Dickinson. George Barry Mallon Fred
erick L, Allen and William c. Breed. Like similar
organizations. the Franklin County Society has no
MIA Of T1lr
members come together a year at dinner
and reunion This takes place on the Saturday
nearest to March s. which is the date of the forma-
ton Of Franklin County
The first dinner took place at Delmonico's on
the evening Of March S. 1909 The membership at
that time less than fifty, but the number has
been doubled since ana still does not Include
many Franklin County who are residents Of
this city. The dinner souvenirs are always In the
form Of woodland and hunting scenes IN the AL
rondack region
lit is not every mans good fortune. said a
member of the society. Ito have been born in
Franklin County. Many New-Yorkers have made
their loss good by purchasing property and spend
ing their vacation in that county. We
make them feel at home there. and follow up the
county hospitality by making them eligible TO
membership in our society In that way we have
gained number Of members who are Franklin
County men by adoption Then there are also
men who have enjoyed our dinners well that
they became anxious to be in ranks, and these
men have also been allowed to join the society"
Among the men who have attended ali the din
ners OF the society as guests are Charles 3. Nc
Ieughlin Charles II. Truax, John r. Van Wormer,
Chester s. Lord, George R. Nally, William Rum
sey Edward W. Hatch, Henry a Gildersleeve
Arthur Ingrahan, Gilbert NJ. Speir and Arthur T.
Sullivan.
The dinner Of the Franklin County Society
bring. to Neg-york many residents OF the county.
Excursions are made up at Malone and surround
ing towns. and this gives the people "at home a
chance to see how the boys getting along in
New-York-
I'VE like TO go to New-York." said a Franklin
County man. land what is known as the
eights OF the great city, but we have sights at
home also, Of which we are as proud as the New
Yorker is Of his. The Raquette. Salmon. St Regis
ard Sarsnac rivers our forests Of pine oak. cedar
and spruce the invigorating air and beautiful
sceuery are among the natural attractions OF the
county There are great level stretches and noun
famous regions in the 173 square miles OF
the county and may travel far before he
discovers more beautiful picture than may be
seen from Mount Seward peak of the Ausable
range which stands about forty-five hundred feet
high Come and visit and be convinced that
the FORTY thousand residents OF the county are
Justly proud OF their home"
ASHREL P FITCH IS Of the adopted
Of Franklin County. He was born in Clinton
County In 1s4s. and came to this city when a
child. but he has always been closely identified
with Franklin County. and is looked upon
zone OF the family. His father was the law part
ner of Governor Myron H. Clark. He knew that a
OF the German language would be an
advantage 10 young man, and he sent young
Ashbel Germany after his preliminary educa-
tion. where ne attended lectures at the universi-
ties Berlin and Jena On his return TO the
United States he took course at the Columbia
Law School, and admitted te the bar in 1859
His familiarity with German brought him such !
valuable clients as the GerTnania Bank and the
Brewers Board OF Trade and when ne became !
candidate for public Office he received much SUD-
port from his German fellow countrvmen" In /
1855 he ran for Congress low tariff Republican
defeating General Egbert J.. Viele. He served In
Congress from 1887 TO ISs3-one tern as Repub- /
hcan and three terms g Democrat In 1893 he |
was elected Controller OF the city as a Democrat
and served until 1897 and then ran for reelection
on the Republican ticket, but was defeated He ia
now president Of the Trust Company Of America
JOHN T. GILBERT. Of Malone. was horn q,
Flttsforo VT In 1851. His father Simeon Gilbe-,
ano MS mother. who Margaret Ingersol he
songeo to old New-Englan6 families He was
graduated from Vermont University in 1873 and
aiter teaching school several years studied law
was ADMITTED 10 the bar and located at Malone
where he still lives. He served as a. nernber Of
Assembly IN 1876. 1877 and 1878. where he took n !