Adin Thayer
Encyclopedia
Adin Thayer was an American politician from New York
.
He lived at Hoosick Falls, New York
.
In 1874, he was elected a Canal Commissioner
on the Democratic ticket, and was in office from 1875 to 1877. The office of Canal Commissioner had been abolished by an amendment to the New York State Constitution in 1876, pending the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works
. The Canal Commissioners remained in office in 1877. Due to the erroneous belief that, with the office having been abolished, no provisions for the election of a successor existed, no successor was elected in November 1877
, and Thayer tried to hold over in office until the eventual appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works. Attorney General Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr.
explained that that was not correct. He held that, since the Canal Commissioners should discharge their duties as before until the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works, and none had been appointed by November 1877, a successor should have been elected to take office on January 1, 1878, that Thayer's term had expired on December 31 and he could not hold over in office, and that in fact a vacancy existed that could be filled according to the State Constitution (in this case by the election of a Canal Commissioner by joint ballot of the State Legislature). Thayer contested Schoonmaker's decision, and threatened to go to court. David Dudley Field, as Thayer's attorney gave the opinion that if no successor has been elected, the incumbent should hold over. On the other side, Assemblyman Skinner offered a resolution to elect a successor by joint ballot of the State Legislature on January 17, 1878. The vacancy was not filled, and on February 8, 1878, the first Superintendent of Public Works, Benjamin S. W. Clark
, qualified to take over the duties from the remaining two Canal Commissioners Christopher A. Walrath
and Darius A. Ogden
.
He was a delegate to the 1880 Democratic National Convention
.
He died from "paralysis" while staying at the home of his son in Akron, Ohio, and was buried at the Old Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick, NY.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Adin Thayer (1785-1858) and Mary (Ball) Thayer. He married first Eliza D. (1821-1843). He married second Fanny A. Crawford (1820-1875).He lived at Hoosick Falls, New York
Hoosick Falls, New York
Hoosick Falls is a village in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 3,182 at the 2010 census, a decline of 254 since 2000. During its peak around 1900, the village had a population of about 7,000...
.
In 1874, he was elected a Canal Commissioner
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
on the Democratic ticket, and was in office from 1875 to 1877. The office of Canal Commissioner had been abolished by an amendment to the New York State Constitution in 1876, pending the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works
New York State Department of Public Works
The office of Superintendent of Public Works was created by an 1876 amendment to the New York State Constitution. It abolished the canal commissioners and established that the Department of Public Works execute all laws relating to canal maintenance and navigation except for those functions...
. The Canal Commissioners remained in office in 1877. Due to the erroneous belief that, with the office having been abolished, no provisions for the election of a successor existed, no successor was elected in November 1877
New York state election, 1877
The 1877 New York state election was held on November 6, 1877, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer and the State Engineer, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.-History:The Republican state...
, and Thayer tried to hold over in office until the eventual appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works. Attorney General Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr.
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr.
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr. was an American lawyer and Democratic politician.-Life:...
explained that that was not correct. He held that, since the Canal Commissioners should discharge their duties as before until the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Works, and none had been appointed by November 1877, a successor should have been elected to take office on January 1, 1878, that Thayer's term had expired on December 31 and he could not hold over in office, and that in fact a vacancy existed that could be filled according to the State Constitution (in this case by the election of a Canal Commissioner by joint ballot of the State Legislature). Thayer contested Schoonmaker's decision, and threatened to go to court. David Dudley Field, as Thayer's attorney gave the opinion that if no successor has been elected, the incumbent should hold over. On the other side, Assemblyman Skinner offered a resolution to elect a successor by joint ballot of the State Legislature on January 17, 1878. The vacancy was not filled, and on February 8, 1878, the first Superintendent of Public Works, Benjamin S. W. Clark
Benjamin S. W. Clark
Benjamin S. W. Clark was an American merchant and politician from New York. He was the first New York State Superintendent of Public Works.-Biography:...
, qualified to take over the duties from the remaining two Canal Commissioners Christopher A. Walrath
Christopher A. Walrath
Christopher A. Walrath was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:He lived in Oneida, Madison County, New York.He was a director of the First National Bank of Oneida when it was first organized in 1864....
and Darius A. Ogden
Darius A. Ogden
Darius Adams Ogden was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
.
He was a delegate to the 1880 Democratic National Convention
1880 Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention of 1880 met June 22 to 24 of that year, at the Cincinnati Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio. George Hoadly served as temporary chairman and John W. Stevenson served as permanent president. Delegates nominated Winfield S. Hancock of Pennsylvania for President of the...
.
He died from "paralysis" while staying at the home of his son in Akron, Ohio, and was buried at the Old Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick, NY.
Sources
- The Democratic state convention in NYT on September 17, 1874
- Schoonmaker's expertise in NYT on January 7, 1878
- THE CANAL COMMISSIONERSHIP in NYT on January 10, 1878
- Starting for Cincinnati in NYT on June 18, 1880
- Obit in NYT on December 9, 1890
- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrensse/cemt2.txt Burial records from Rensselaer County, at RootsWeb