George Z. Erwin
Encyclopedia
George Zalmon Erwin was an American politician.
. He graduated from Middlebury College
in August, 1865. He studied law with the then United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York
William A. Dart and Charles O. Tappan, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He commenced practice in Potsdam, N.Y., and entered into partnership with Samuel B. Gordon in 1868. The same year he married Dart's daughter Caroline (b. 1842), but they had no children. A year later, he succeeded his father-in-law as partner in the law firm of Dart & Tappan, and practiced for ten years under the firm name of Tappan & Erwin. In 1878, Tappan was elected to the New York Supreme Court
, and William A. Dart returned to Potsdam, N.Y., and resumed practice in partnership with Erwin under the name of Dart & Erwin.
Erwin was a member from St. Lawrence County of the New York State Assembly
from 1882 to 1887. In 1884, allied with Thomas C. Platt
, he was a strong candidate for Speaker, but was defeated by Titus Sheard
, the candidate of the Warner Miller
faction. The following year, the Platt faction was victorious, and Erwin was elected Speaker
.
He was a member of the New York State Senate
(20th D.) from 1888 to 1893. In 1892-93 he was the Republican minority leader of the State Senate. To him is due the credit of organizing the dairy department for suppressing the sale and manufacture of oleomargarine. He secured the enactment of the bill preventing the sale of liquor in quantities of five gallons or more in towns having no license. In 1891, he was Chairman of the Committee on General Laws and made interesting investigations into the subject of electricity for lighting and power. In the session of 1892, when Republican leader, he made a strong but unsuccessful fight against the reapportionment of the state, and for his refusal to vote on an enumeration bill he and two other senators were declared guilty of contempt by Lt. Gov. William F. Sheehan
and their names taken from the roll. But they were supported by the judiciary committee in their position, were purged of contempt and their names restored.
He was interested in various local industries. He was one of the proprietors and organizers of the Thatcher Manufacturing Company, and up to the time of his death was its vice-president. He helped to organize the High Falls Sulphite Pulp and Mining Co., and was its president.
Life
He was educated at St. Lawrence Academy at Potsdam, New YorkPotsdam (village), New York
Potsdam is a village located in the Town of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 9,425 at the 2000 census.The Village of Potsdam is in the eastern part of the town and is northeast of Canton, the county seat....
. He graduated from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in August, 1865. He studied law with the then United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York
United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York
The United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York is the chief federal law enforcement officer in 32 counties in the northern part of the State of New York. The current U.S. Attorney is Richard S. Hartunian who was nominated on December 23, 2009, by President Barack Obama, confirmed...
William A. Dart and Charles O. Tappan, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He commenced practice in Potsdam, N.Y., and entered into partnership with Samuel B. Gordon in 1868. The same year he married Dart's daughter Caroline (b. 1842), but they had no children. A year later, he succeeded his father-in-law as partner in the law firm of Dart & Tappan, and practiced for ten years under the firm name of Tappan & Erwin. In 1878, Tappan was elected to the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, and William A. Dart returned to Potsdam, N.Y., and resumed practice in partnership with Erwin under the name of Dart & Erwin.
Erwin was a member from St. Lawrence County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1882 to 1887. In 1884, allied with Thomas C. Platt
Thomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century...
, he was a strong candidate for Speaker, but was defeated by Titus Sheard
Titus Sheard
Titus Sheard was an American businessman and politician.-Life:...
, the candidate of the Warner Miller
Warner Miller
Warner Miller was a Representative and a United States Senator from New York.-Birth and early life:Miller was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York on August 12, 1838. He attended the common schools and the Charlottesville Academy...
faction. The following year, the Platt faction was victorious, and Erwin was elected Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
.
He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
(20th D.) from 1888 to 1893. In 1892-93 he was the Republican minority leader of the State Senate. To him is due the credit of organizing the dairy department for suppressing the sale and manufacture of oleomargarine. He secured the enactment of the bill preventing the sale of liquor in quantities of five gallons or more in towns having no license. In 1891, he was Chairman of the Committee on General Laws and made interesting investigations into the subject of electricity for lighting and power. In the session of 1892, when Republican leader, he made a strong but unsuccessful fight against the reapportionment of the state, and for his refusal to vote on an enumeration bill he and two other senators were declared guilty of contempt by Lt. Gov. William F. Sheehan
William F. Sheehan
William Francis Sheehan was an American lawyer and politician. During his political career he became known as Blue-Eyed Billy.-Biography:He was born on November 6, 1859 in Buffalo, New York....
and their names taken from the roll. But they were supported by the judiciary committee in their position, were purged of contempt and their names restored.
He was interested in various local industries. He was one of the proprietors and organizers of the Thatcher Manufacturing Company, and up to the time of his death was its vice-president. He helped to organize the High Falls Sulphite Pulp and Mining Co., and was its president.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/erwin.html Political Graveyard
- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hubbard/NNY_index/dart.html Dart ancestry, at Rootsweb
- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hubbard/NNY_index/erwin.html Erwin ancestry, at Rootsweb
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9804E3D91338E233A25754C1A9679C94659ED7CF Obit in NYT on January 17, 1894
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9507E6D7123EEE34BC4B52DFBE66838E679FDE His graduation from Middlebury, in NYT on August 13, 1865