Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames H

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames H, extracted from the Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century by Stone, William Leete, 1835-1908.

HIGLEY, Brodie G. Biography

Brodie G. Higley, one of the rising young lawyers of Washington County, was born in the town of Hartford, this County, October 9, 1872, and received his early education in the district school of his native town. At the early age of seventeen he was teaching school, which vocation he pursued for three years, when he entered the Sandy Hill High school. He studied law in the office of Charles P. Coyle of Chestertown, N. Y., for three years and was admitted to the bar at the General Term at Albany, in April 1896, and to practice in the United States courts in 1900. He then taught school for another year after his admission to the bar, for although his aim had always been to enter the legal profession, he was desirous of equipping himself with a finished literary education, so at the end of his year of teaching he entered Stanford University, California, in September, 1896, and graduated with the degree of A. B. on January 13, 1899, after a highly creditable course. He then returned East and in March, 1899, began the practice of his profession in the office of Hon. Charles R. Paris, with whom he is now associated.

Mr. Higley has already attained a recognized standing in the bar of Washington County, and has been entrusted with the legal business of prominent people and business concerns; he does considerable business for banks and corporations, and recently represented the executors of the Charles Stone estate, amounting to eight hundred thousand dollars, which was in litigation.

Mr. Higley is well versed in the law, has an admirably trained and well stored mind and is scrupulous, conscientious and careful in forming opinions and giving advice to clients. He is an able public speaker and holds the office of Orator in the order of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is a member. He is also a member of Sandy Hill Lodge No. 372, F. & A. M.

While a student in Stanford University Mr. Higley was president of his class and a member of the executive committee of the student body. He also took an active part in all debates and was connected with the debating societies.

While residing in Chestertown he held the position of Town Clerk for two years and has taken an active part in politics ever since He is an unswerving Republican and was an officer of the Republican Club of Stanford University in 1898. While attending the University he produced some highly creditable literary work, among which might be mentioned "History of Distress and Replevin," "History of the Star Chamber," and "Public Services of Thomas Paine."

Mr. Higley's parents were Capt. Julius H. and Lydia M. (Duel) Higley.

[For genealogy see article on Capt. Julius H. Higley].

HILL, Alfred G. Biography

Alfred G. Hill, a lawyer of Cambridge, N. Y., was born in South Easton, Washington County, N. Y., in 1867. He was prepared for college at the Greenwich Union school and in 1885, at the age of eighteen, he entered Williams College, where, after a highly creditable course, he was graduated in the class of 1889.

After leaving college he secured a position in the Census Office, Interior Department at Washington, D. C, and while there improved his evenings by attending the Columbian University Law School, from which he was graduated in the class of '92. He remained in the Census Department until the death of his father. May 5, 1893, when he returned home.

After serving one year as clerk and student in the office of Hon. D. M. Westfall at Cambridge, N. Y., he was admitted to the bar in December, 1894. His connection as managing clerk for Hon. D. M. Westfall soon resulted in a partnership, under the firm name of Westfall & Hill. This partnership was formed in October, 1895, and still continues.

During his residence in Cambridge he has been Clerk of the Board of Trustees for three years and Treasurer of the Board of Education for four years. He is a prominent Mason and is Master of Cambridge Valley Lodge No. 481, having occupied that chair since 1898.

On August 30, 1899, Mr. Hill married Fannie Robertson, daughter of the late James E. Robertson of Coila, N. Y.

Mr. Hill's father, James Hill, was a prominent man in Washington County. He resided in Easton and was a successful business man and farmer. He served three years as Sheriff of Washington County, and was many times elected Supervisor of the town of Easton.

At the sessions of the County Legislature he distinguished himself for his executive ability and was for years a strong factor in county politics.

Alfred G. Hill is one of the best known young lawyers of Washington County. He has always been a student and makes a thorough and systematic study of all his cases.

HOPKINS, James C. Biography

James C. Hopkins, removed from Sandy Hill to Granville, about 1840, where he formed a co-partnership with Isaac W. Bishop, under the firm name of Bishop & Hopkins. He was State Senator in 1854 and 1855. Afterward he went to Wisconsin, where he became United States District Judge.

HUGHES, Charles Biography

Charles Hughes was born February 27, 1822. In 1837 he began the study of law in the office of H. B. Northup, at Sandy Hill, N. Y. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1845. In 1852 he was elected to Congress. In 1857 he was elected Clerk of the Court of Appeals. In 1862 he took an active part in organizing the Washington County Regiment, 123d New York Volunteers. In 1877 he was elected Senator of the State of New York. On April 26, 1850, the law firm of Hughes & Northup was formed, which existed until the death of Mr. Hughes, August 10, 1887, a period of more than thirty-seven years.

HULL, Edgar Biography

Edgar Hull was born in Berne, Albany County, January 16, 1840. He began business as a "printer's devil" in the office of the Berkshire Courier in Great Barrington, Mass. He was ediicated in the Great Barrington Academy, and at the Jonesville (N. Y.) Academy. He commenced the study of law in the office of Clement C. Hill at Ballston Spa, N. Y., in 1859, and located in Fort Edward in the fall of 1860, earning a livlihood by practice in the Justice Court until 1864 when he was admitted to the bar as attorney and counselor.

In politics he was an ardent admirer of Stephen A. Douglass, and although not old enough to vote, yet made many speeches at the public meetings of the Douglass Democracy, during the campaign of 1860. Subsequently he advocated the election of General Grant as President, and has acted with the Republican party ever since. During the years 1875, 1876 and 1877 he was Supervisor of the town of Fort Edward. In 1883 the Republican party nominated him for District Attorney; he was duly elected and discharged the duties of the office for fifteen years from 1884 to 1898 inclusive. At the expiration of his term the bar of Washington County at a Term of Court held at Sandy Hill, N. Y., presented him with a diamond pin and adopted resolutions highly commendatory of his official career. In 1899 he ran as an Independent candidate for County Judge, polling a remarkably large vote, and although carrying six of the seventeen towns of the county was defeated by a small majority. He is a member of the Masonic and Royal Arcanum societies.

He married Amelia E. Possons and they have had three children, namely: Frank, Nellie and Jennie. His, parents were Erastus Hull and Eliza (Race) Hull, and he is a descendant of the Hulls who figured so prominently on land and sea in the war of 1812.

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