Daniel G. Garnsey
Encyclopedia
Daniel Greene Garnsey was an American politician from New York
, Michigan
and Illinois
.
which was separated in 1818 as New Lebanon
. On April 26, 1803, he married Lucy Hudson (1779-1870) in Troy
, and they had eight children. Later he removed to Half Moon
. He joined the New York State Militia in 1805, was Brigade Inspector of Saratoga County
from 1810 to 1811, fought as major
in the War of 1812
, and was Brigade Inspector of Chautauqua County
in 1817.
He studied law in Norwich
, was admitted to the bar in 1811 and practiced in Rensselaer
and Saratoga counties. In 1816, he removed to the area in the Town of Pomfret
which became later the Village of Dunkirk. He was Surrogate of Chautauqua County from 1819 to 1821, and District Attorney from 1818 to 1826.
Garnsey was elected as a Jacksonian
to the 19th
and 20th United States Congress
es, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1829.
In 1831, he removed to Battle Creek, Michigan
. He was Postmaster, and Government Superintendent of Public Works near Detroit and Ypsilanti
. He served with Gen. Winfield Scott
in the Black Hawk War
in 1832.
He removed to Rock Island, Illinois
. On March 22, 1841, he was appointed by President William Henry Harrison
as Receiver of Public Moneys at the Land Office in Dixon, Illinois
, and served until removed by President John Tyler
on August 25, 1843.
Garnsey died suddenly in Gowanda while traveling from Philadelphia, where he had visited his daughter, to attend at Dunkirk the celebration of the completion of the Erie Railroad
, and was buried at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Gowanda.
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...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Life
He was the son of Isaac B. Garnsey (1758-1824) and Elizabeth (Spier) Garnsey (1754-1838), born in that part of the Town of CanaanCanaan, New York
Canaan is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,820 at the 2000 census.The Town of Canaan is in the northeast part of the county.- History :The first settlers arrived around 1759....
which was separated in 1818 as New Lebanon
New Lebanon, New York
New Lebanon is a town in Columbia County, New York, U.S., southeast of Albany. In 1910, 1,378 people lived in New Lebanon, New York. The population was 2,454 at the 2000 census.The town of New Lebanon is in the northeast part of Columbia County...
. On April 26, 1803, he married Lucy Hudson (1779-1870) in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, and they had eight children. Later he removed to Half Moon
Halfmoon, New York
Halfmoon is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 18,474 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the crescent shape of the land between the Hudson River and Mohawk River....
. He joined the New York State Militia in 1805, was Brigade Inspector of Saratoga County
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
from 1810 to 1811, fought as major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 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 was Brigade Inspector of Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
in 1817.
He studied law in Norwich
Norwich (city), New York
Norwich is a city in Chenango County, New York, United States. Surrounded on all sides by the Town of Norwich, the city is the county seat of Chenango County. The name is taken from Norwich, Connecticut. Its population was 7,355 at the 2000 census.Lt...
, was admitted to the bar in 1811 and practiced in Rensselaer
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
and Saratoga counties. In 1816, he removed to the area in the Town of Pomfret
Pomfret, New York
Pomfret is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 14,703 at the 2000 census.The Town of Pomfret lies in the north-central part of the county, south of Dunkirk, New York.- History :...
which became later the Village of Dunkirk. He was Surrogate of Chautauqua County from 1819 to 1821, and District Attorney from 1818 to 1826.
Garnsey was elected as a Jacksonian
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
to the 19th
19th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: John Gaillard , until December 4, 1825** Nathaniel Macon , from May 20, 1826- House of Representatives :* Speaker: John W. Taylor -Members:...
and 20th United States Congress
20th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
es, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1829.
In 1831, he removed to Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
. He was Postmaster, and Government Superintendent of Public Works near Detroit and Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
. He served with Gen. Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
in the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
in 1832.
He removed to Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
. On March 22, 1841, he was appointed by President William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
as Receiver of Public Moneys at the Land Office in Dixon, Illinois
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
, and served until removed by President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
on August 25, 1843.
Garnsey died suddenly in Gowanda while traveling from Philadelphia, where he had visited his daughter, to attend at Dunkirk the celebration of the completion of the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
, and was buried at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Gowanda.
Sources
[gives "Adams cnadidate", but it is unclear why this was changed]- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 71f, 371 and 412; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- The Garnsey-Guernsey Genealogy by Eva Louise Garnsey Card, Howard Abram Guernsey & Judith L. Young-Thayer (page 299)
- Garnsey genealogy at Family Tree Maker [gives Congress Bio pre-1949 with "Jackson Democrat"]
- New York History: Quarterly Journal of the New York State Historical Association (1950, Volume 48; page 165) [gives "Jackson Democrat"]