A Biography of Samuel H. Northrop

From the Livonia Gazette, 1 December 1893

The Late Samuel H. Northrop, by H. D. Kingsbury.

Samuel H. Northrop, who died at his home in Hemlock Lake village Sunday, the 19th inst., was one of Livonia’s most distinguish citizens. His funeral was held Wednesday afternoon following, in charge of the Masonic lodge of Livonia, of which he was a charter member.

He was the third of twelve children of Daniel and Sophia (Williams) Northrop, and was born Oct. 21, 1811, in New Hartford, Oneida county, N.Y., which was his mother’s native town. His father was born in Hartford, Conn., where he lived till he was twenty four years old, and his grandfather, Ezekiel Hoogings Northrop, was a Frenchman and a native of Paris.

After a liberal education, including several terms at the Canandaigua academy, Samuel chose the legal profession, and his preparation was with some of the ablest lawyers of his times, beginning first about 1832 with Wentworth & Boyington of Rochester, then with the eminent J. V. Pruyn of Albany, and finishing with the noted Canandaigua lawyers, Sibley and Howell. He was admitted to the bar in 1838, in Albany. He first practiced in Hammondsport for about two years with a lawyer of wide reputation named Franklin. At the earnest solicitation of George Smith, one of the noted pioneers of this town, and the father of the Hon. Lewis E. Smith, now of Rochester, and Dr. George Smith, now of Livonia, settled at Livonia Center in 1838 — the earliest lawyer in town. His first students were Lewis E. Smith, and his brother, William Northrop, who became a noted lawyer, in New York city and died there in 1891. For the next twenty-five years Mr. Northrop was one of the most respected members of the bar in Western New York.

Some of his contemporaries were Judge Martin Grover of Allegany, Judge Endess and Benjamin F. Garwood of Dansville, Judge Hastings and Reuben P. Wiener of Mount Morris, ex. Governor John Young, Amos A. Hendee and the Hon. William H. Kelsey of Genesee, Amos Dann of Avon, Harvey Wood of Lima and Thomas and Orlando Hastings, Judge Samuel Selden and his brother, Henry R. Selden of Rochester, a race of legal giants.

The often expressed opinion of these men was that Samuel H. Northrop was remarkable for clear conception, common sense and sound judgment, coupled with a rare memory that brought the treasures of extensive research instantly to his aid - in short, that he was born for the profession. He had a reputation for great honesty, always refusing a case that he did not believe ought to win. He was retiring and never ambitious, repeatedly refusing to be a candidate for county or supreme court judge.

For the past twenty-five years his health had been delicate, and he lived quietly on his farm at Hemlock Lake, doing legal work for a few old friends only.

Of this gifted family, but two members are left, the Rev. Henry D. Northrop, who was raised in Livonia, and is now a distinguished divine of Philadelphia, and is also an author of high repute, and Geo. C. Northrop of Lakeville.

Mr. Northrop married Sarah M., daughter of Walter Masten, the old time tavern keeper at Livonia Center. His widow and one daughter, Mrs. Niles Norton of Geneseo, survive him.

After close observation in preparing the sketches of many scores of noted men, the writer believes they were indebted for their general ability and special talents, largely to their mothers. The sons of able men seldom rise to their father’s level in mentality or vitality, but the sons of able women are almost always distinguished by the qualities for which their mothers were noted. Mr. Northrop’s parents were both noted for intellectual gifts and acquirements.

His mother, the daughter of the Rev. William Williams, belonged to a remarkable family. A printed genealogical record of its different branches gives the almost incredible number of 576 ministers in its direct lineage, all Presbyterians, a church always conspicuous for gifts and attainments of its clergy. Mr. Northrop inherited his mother’s studious nature and her marvelous memory, the wonder of all who knew her. Before her marriage she was a school teacher of high repute.

The family lived for many years in what is now known as the Keep house, on Big Tree Street in this village. Mr. Northrop died there in 1844 and Mrs. Northrop at the home of her son, George C. Northrop, in Lakeville, at the age of 79 years.

Since writing the foregoing, I have learned from sources I believe to be accurate, that although Mr. Northrop lost a few cases in the lower courts, he never failed in a single instance to win a case that he carried to the court of appeals.

In religious belief he was very liberal, inclining strongly to the spirited philosophy and faith, and in political matters he was a staunch Republican from, the foundation of that party.

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