Obadiah German
Encyclopedia
Obadiah German was an American lawyer and politician.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1798-99, from 1804 to 1805, from 1807 to 1809.
In 1809
, he was elected a U.S. Senator from New York, and served from March 4, 1809, to March 4, 1815. German was known as a critic of the lack of military preparations made in advance of the War of 1812
, and voted against the declaration of war. In 1812, German was one of the founding trustees of Hamilton College. He was First Judge of the Chenango County Court from 1814 to 1819. He was also a State militia officer, eventually becoming a major general.
Supporting DeWitt Clinton
's canal project, German also took part in the construction of the Erie Canal
after being appointed State Commissioner of Public Works in 1817. German returned to the Assembly in 1819 and, as a member of the Clintonian
faction of the Democratic-Republican Party, was chosen Speaker
. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law. German became a Whig when that party was organized.
He was buried at the Riverside Cemetery in North Norwich, New York
.
Obadiah German's widow, Mary Ann, claimed to have been defrauded of an estate worth more than $70,000 by a brother of Obadiah German. She took up residence in Syracuse
, and became a public charge, her efforts at earning at living through painting and "fancy work" having failed. Her claim to be the widow of Sen. German was not believed in Syracuse until it was confirmed after her death "in a state of great destitution," according to the Syracuse Journal.
The town of German, New York
is named after him.
Life
He was admitted to the bar in 1792, and commenced practice in Norwich.He was a member 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...
in 1798-99, from 1804 to 1805, from 1807 to 1809.
In 1809
United States Senate election in New York, 1809
The 1809 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 7, 1809, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:...
, he was elected a U.S. Senator from New York, and served from March 4, 1809, to March 4, 1815. German was known as a critic of the lack of military preparations made in advance of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and voted against the declaration of war. In 1812, German was one of the founding trustees of Hamilton College. He was First Judge of the Chenango County Court from 1814 to 1819. He was also a State militia officer, eventually becoming a major general.
Supporting DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
's canal project, German also took part in the construction of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
after being appointed State Commissioner of Public Works in 1817. German returned to the Assembly in 1819 and, as a member of the Clintonian
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
faction of the Democratic-Republican Party, was chosen 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....
. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law. German became a Whig when that party was organized.
He was buried at the Riverside Cemetery in North Norwich, New York
North Norwich, New York
North Norwich is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 1,966 at the 2000 census.The Town of North Norwich, which is directly north of the City of Norwich, is in the eastern half of the county.- History :...
.
Obadiah German's widow, Mary Ann, claimed to have been defrauded of an estate worth more than $70,000 by a brother of Obadiah German. She took up residence in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, and became a public charge, her efforts at earning at living through painting and "fancy work" having failed. Her claim to be the widow of Sen. German was not believed in Syracuse until it was confirmed after her death "in a state of great destitution," according to the Syracuse Journal.
The town of German, New York
German, New York
German is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 378 at the 2000 census. The town is named after General Obediah German, the original land owner....
is named after him.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/gerard-gerrity.html Political Graveyard
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 63, 172, 177f, 180ff, 194, 275 and 359; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)