Uri Tracy
Encyclopedia
Uri Tracy was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Norwich, Connecticut
to Daniel Tracy and Mary Johnson , he graduated from Yale College
in 1789 and became a Presbyterian clergyman and missionary to Native Americans. He moved to Oxford, New York
in 1791, where he married Ruth Hovey, daughter of General Benjamin Hovey, on August 28th,1793. He would live in Oxford for the rest of his life.
Tracy held a number of prestigious positions during his time in Oxford: He was the first principal of Oxford Academy in 1794, as well as the first sheriff
of Chenango County
, serving from 1798 until his resignation in August 1801. Tracy was elected county clerk and served from 1801 to 1815, becoming a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1803. He was first postmaster
of Oxford, holding that position from 1802 to 1805, and was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Ninth Congress, holding office from March 4, 1805 to March 3, 1807. Two years later, Tracy was elected to the Eleventh and Twelfth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1813. He was appointed first judge of Chenango County on July 8, 1819 and served until February 1823. Tracy died in Oxford, New York in 1838; his interment was in Riverview Cemetery in Oxford .
A tribute song, entitled "Lord Uri Tracy", was sung as the Oxford Academy school song until the 1960s. This song was performed at the Oxford Historical Society on August 11, 2011 and can be viewed on YouTube.
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
to Daniel Tracy and Mary Johnson , he graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1789 and became a Presbyterian clergyman and missionary to Native Americans. He moved to Oxford, New York
Oxford, New York
Oxford is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The town contains a village named Oxford. Oxford is an interior town in the south-central part of the county, southwest of the City of Norwich. At the 2000 census the town population was 3,992...
in 1791, where he married Ruth Hovey, daughter of General Benjamin Hovey, on August 28th,1793. He would live in Oxford for the rest of his life.
Tracy held a number of prestigious positions during his time in Oxford: He was the first principal of Oxford Academy in 1794, as well as the first sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Chenango County
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-History:...
, serving from 1798 until his resignation in August 1801. Tracy was elected county clerk and served from 1801 to 1815, becoming 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 1803. He was first postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Oxford, holding that position from 1802 to 1805, and was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Ninth Congress, holding office from March 4, 1805 to March 3, 1807. Two years later, Tracy was elected to the Eleventh and Twelfth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1813. He was appointed first judge of Chenango County on July 8, 1819 and served until February 1823. Tracy died in Oxford, New York in 1838; his interment was in Riverview Cemetery in Oxford .
A tribute song, entitled "Lord Uri Tracy", was sung as the Oxford Academy school song until the 1960s. This song was performed at the Oxford Historical Society on August 11, 2011 and can be viewed on YouTube.