Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-03


didate Mr. Merritt was third in the con-
test, with only fourteen votes to his credit,
while Mr.. Wainwright received fifteen The
three candidates refrained from voting. Mr..
Odells enemies assert that they are in con-
troll or the republican state committee. and
that they can depose him at any time. AL
though Mr.. Odell is maintaining a defiant
attitude publicly. 1t is known that he has
indicated his willingness to give up the
craftsmanship if lie is assured that he will
be succeeded by some man who is not en-
tirely hostile TO him. His offer has not yet
been accepted and the next move in the
process of elimination may be demand
from the state committee for his resigna-
ton.
Mr. Odell last night openly stated that the
vote cast for Mr. Wainwright was his
Mervin c. Stanley, leader of the Vain
wright boom, who represents Lemuel E
Qugg's district In the assembly. has all
along insisted that it was not an Odell
move
Mr.. Wainwright was the only man who
credited this. He sis strongly opposed to
Mr. Odell. 1t was not until he had ex-
hausted every expedent that Mr. Odell met
his crushing defeat.
Scion of Noted Family.
The selection of James W. Wadsworth,
jr., as speaker of the New York assembly
brings prominently into public view the
fourth generation of the name in family
which has been potential in the shaping of
public affairs and public policies in the
state of New York for more than century
past. 1t was in 100 that the first James
Wadsworth took up his residence In west
New York. That James Wadsworth
went west with his brother William from
Connecticut. into what was then a forest
covered wilderness. The Holland Land Co.
had purchased from the six nations of In
dams many thousands of acres of land
west of the Genesee river.
The TWO Wadsworth boys-James and
William-with funds loaned them by a rela-
tive in Connecticut, purchased more lands
from the Indians. swell as vast track
from the Holland Land Co. They under
took the settlement and cultivation of
these lands upon a scientific and at the
same time business-like basis. and so well
did they succeed that the records of Mon
roe. Livingston, Wyoming and Genesee
counties show as many acres of land in the
name of the Wadsworths today as there
We're when the first deed was passed to
the two Connecticut brothers. Further
than this, because of intelligent cultivation
the farms in the Genesee valley in the
name OF the Nadsworths are as fertile in
this year 1906 as was the virgin soil when
the first furroW was turned in 1870.
Line of Descent
William Wadsworth died a bachelor, and
it was through his brother James that
the present line descended. James was a
studious man, devoted TO public affairs
He was graduate of Yale and believer
In education for the people He was an
early advocate of the public school system
and long ago 1911 he urged the crea-
ton of a normal system for the education
of teachers. He established high school
III the village of Geneseo. as we'll as a pub
lie library. and that high school. under the
name of the Temple Hill Academy, became
famous throughout the world. Even far off
Japan sent students there. including Field
Marshal Oyama, whose photograph and
autograph adorn the walls of several of his
old schoolmates in the village of Geneseo
today.
James Wadsworth's son, James s., de-
voted himself to the cultivation and man
agement of the estate of his ia ther and his
uncle. But he found time also to take an
active interest In public affairs He was
deeply interested in the anti-slavery move
ment and was chosen an elecrpr on the re-
publican ticket in 1856 and again in 1850.
He was candidate for governor in 1852
but defeated by Horatio Seymour In
the meantime he had served on the peace
commission in 1861. in vain effort to settle
the controversy between the states. When
the war broke out he volunteered his sery-
Ices to the Union and gave up his life for
his country In 1864. when he was killed at
the battle of the Wilderness while COM
handing the fourth division of the 5th
Army Corps. James S. Wadsworth had
three sons, all of whom served in the Union
army. as well as one son-in-law.
Entered Union Army.
The youngest son of James s. was James
Wolcott Wadsworth. who. as boy of six
teen, in the fall of 1864 entered the Union
army and served until the close of the
strife. Then he returned to New Haven,
and following the footsteps of his father
and his grandfather before him he also
graduated from Yale.
After that he took up the management of
t,;s- -
to follow agriculture as his principal bust
ness In life. When very young man he
was chosen supervisor OF the town OF Gene
SEQ, and afterward successfully he was sent
to the assembly. made controller of the
state then to Congress. and with the ex-
ception of two terms, he has continued to
represent his district in the lower house for
the past twentyfour years.
His son, James w. Wadsworth. jr.,
scarcely waited for the commencement ex-
ercises at Yale in 1898. in which class he
was a graduate, when he enlisted for the
war with Spain. He served in a battery of
artillery in Porto Rico. and aftefward al
though he had been discharged from the
army, he acted as a volunteer orderly In the
Philippines to Col. Page of the Sd United
States Infantry.
Service in Philippines.
And In the Philippines. In company with
three other young men, sons of Secretary
Hay. Senator Hale and Congressman Dali
zell he helped to add another page to the
glory OF the American volunteer.
Upon his return from the orient young
James Wadsworth took up the manage
ment OF large farm. and not only the
management Of It, but it's actual cultiva-
ton, for he Is as active In the hay field as
any Of his hired men.
He is an excellent example of what a
weIl-bred. weli-edueated. well-to-do young
man can accomplish in American life.
year ago last November he was first elected
10 the legislature as the representative
from Livingston county. Last fall he was
renominated without opposition. and again