aided by the vigorous thought and industry of 
his brother, which gave outline to their estate* 
and System to their agriculture. Great herds of 
cattle fattened in their meadows, numerous 
flocks of sheep tanged their pastures: and over 
their wide uplands, t he richest wheat ripened 
for the sickle ami the reaper. Even in those 
early years they sought improved varieties of 
horses, cattle, sheep and swine, and introduced 
them to their farms, and by their example gave 
tone and Impulse to a style of husbandry among 
the farmers around them which has been con¬ 
tinued to the present day. 
Time wore on. Tho pioneers of the Genesee 
country, one after another were gathered to their 
fathers, and William Wadsworth, a bach¬ 
elor, In the year 1833, at tho :ige of 71 years, 
bearing an honorable record as a General officer 
in the militia of his county, at the memorable 
battle of Queenstown on the Niagara frontier in 
the war of 1812, and of a life marked by useful 
labors at home, went down to his grave, be¬ 
queathing his shave of the Wadsworth estates 
to his brother and his children. 
James Wadsworth had married at midtile 
age, ami established his family home on the spot 
of his first settlement, then called Geneseo. 
Here were born and reared his children, two 
sons and two daughters—not one of whom Is 
now living. Thriving in his fortunes, cultiva¬ 
ted in his tastes, and accomplished with tho ad¬ 
vantages of foreign travel during some years 
residence in Europe, where the business of bis 
agencies hail early called him, he became wide¬ 
ly known for his genial hospitality, his dignified 
manners, and his elevated intercourse with so¬ 
ciety. Few country gentlemen in the United 
States—none, 
manhood they went into a wild country and 
grappled with all the hardships and diseases in¬ 
cident to a reduction of the broad wilderness to 
life and civilization. Improving theirfort.un ne 
advantage, they won their possessions faiily. 
God had made the land beautiful in its undulat¬ 
ing surface, and blessed It, with surpassing fertil¬ 
ity, Magnificent landscapes of wood, and mea¬ 
dow. and swelling upland: of crystal lakes, and 
leaping streams, and flowing river stretched far 
and wide around them—a land most goodly to 
behold—and with ready eye and sagacious plan 
they saw, possessed, and enjoyed it. An d they 
used it well. 
Tu the year 1841, by an act of our Legislature, 
the State Agricultural Society was re-organized. 
Through an appropriation from the State Treas¬ 
ury its funds were augmented, and an Exhibi¬ 
tion of farm products and mechanical imple¬ 
ments was ventured. Under the new adminis¬ 
tration of Its affair*. the first exhibition wa-. held 
at Syracuse in September of that year, and with 
such degree of success that its annual repetition 
was demanded. In January, 1842, James S. 
Wadsworth of Geneseo, was unanimously elected 
President of the Society. For several years he 
had pursued the business of a farmer on his 
own account, as well as supervised the chief ag¬ 
ricultural affairs of his father’s estate, ami in his 
own vicinity was known and esteemed as a 
thrifty, intelligent husbandman, 
It was in trying to hold this Tine, with his own 
gallant division, theu reduced to about sixteen 
hundred men, that he fell. His third horse 
was killed that morning, about the time he 
was wounded. The enemy was charging at 
the time, and got possession of the ground 
before my father could be removed. He was 
carried back to one of the rebel hospitals that 
Friday afternoon and lived until Sunday morn¬ 
ing.” 
To illustrate somewhat the carnage of war, 
and its uncertainties, I may relate the where¬ 
abouts of the son, Capt. Craig Wadsworth, at 
“The Wilderness" battle:—“During the 5th 
and 8th of May, the division of cavalry to 
which I was attached was guarding the wagon 
train. On the morning of the Gth^ I obtained 
permission from my General to go up to the 
front and remain two or three hours with my 
father. I reached him between eight and nine 
o'clock, and remained with him until he re¬ 
ceived the orders from Gen. Hancock not to 
make any further attempts to dislodge the 
enemy, I got word about this time that my 
General was moving, so I rejoined my com¬ 
mand. We started out with Gen. Sheridan on 
his raid, the next morning, and I never knew 
positively of my father's death until we reached 
the White House." 
This narrative will scarcely be complete with¬ 
out the letter of Patrick McCracken to the 
widow of Gen. Wadsworth, a copy of which 
has been kindly furnished me. It reads as fol¬ 
lows: 
Spotsylvania Court House, Va , nbab New i 
Hope Wheeling House on Plank Road go- I 
ing pk ox Fred etc ck s b oho to Orange Court i 
Eousb, May 9th, im . j 
Mrs. Genejral Wadsworth, New York. 
Dear Madam:— You have’heard before this 
reaches you. of the death of vour brave hus¬ 
band, Gen. Wadsworth, I "saw b, m in the 
hospital, near the bartie-fiek;. ou S itu -day last, 
about 10 o’clock: he could not speak o* Lake anv 
notice of any thing: he heid a paper in his hand 
with hi- name and address written on it: he was 
surrounded with the most eminent surgeon* in 
the Confederacy, who done everyth Lug for him 
that couLd be done; one of them took the naper 
out of his hand, and when he laid the naper 
back against his hand, he opened his hand and 
took it back again; he did not seem to suffer 
much, the ball had entered the toy. or rather 
back of his head. I saw him again on Sunday, 
about!) o’clock. I had carried some sweet miiv 
to the hcs;..-ml, and wet his lips -everal times, 
tod let a little go down his mouth. But when 
the surgeon rai.-ed him up, he could not get him 
to let any go down. When I returned to the 
hospital, about 3 o’clock, he was de-ad and in a 
box, ready -or interment. I told the surgeon 
in charge that I was a prisoner nine weeks in 
the Old Capitol while the General was Military 
Governor of Washington, ami that I would have 
a coffin made for him, and bury him in a familv 
bury in g ground; he cheerfully consented. After 
much t rouble I had a coffin, made for him as 
good as any could be made in the country. 
When I went for hi-, remains with the coffin. 
Gen. Lek had given special orders, mot know¬ 
ing I was going to take charge of his remains, : 
that he should be buried by a large tree, the 
tree to be cut low and his name marxed on it. 
I had given the surgeon satisfactory evidence 
that I would take care of the body, and with the 
advice of CaptiZ. B. Adams, Co. F, 56th Mass. 
Kegt.. they gave me the body. I removed it 
from the box to the coffin and brought it home 
last night, and buried it tills momini iu the fam¬ 
ily burying ground at my house: he is buried 
with all his clothing as he fell on tne battlefield. 
The grave :s dug with a vault or chamber, the 
coffin covered with plank ami then dirt. When 
arrangements are made by oar government for 
hi* removal I will take pleasure^in having him 
moved through our tines to his friends. I live 
about a miie to Iheleftof the Plank road, as you 
go from Fredericksburg to Orange Court House, 
near New Hope Meeting House, on the Piank 
road twenty miles from Fredericksburg and 
eighteen from Orange Court House. 
* * * * * * 
I had a large plank planed and n arked for a 
head stone, ami placed it at the aead of the 
grave. He received all the attention and kind¬ 
ness at the hands of the Confederate authorities 
that could be bestowed upon him. as will be at¬ 
tested by Capt. Z. B. Adams, Co. F. 56th Mass 
Regt. 
With great respect. I remain yours. 
Patrick McCracken. 
Thus on the soil of his country's foe. far from 
the soothing hand of sympathy, or the lovadf 
embraces of those he held most dear—his brain 
It was flt and 
proper that such an oue as he should receive the 
honor and take the responsibility of the office. 
The Society, although successful, so far a* its 
imperfect organization in a new field of exertion 
had proved, was yet to be further systematized, 
and put in working order. With characteristic 
energy, Mr. Wadsworth entered upon the dis¬ 
charge of his duties, and the good conduct and 
well doing of the Society enlisted his heartiest 
attention. He became, at the same time with 
his father aud brother, a life member, and with 
the aid of his spirited associates in office, placed 
it on a sure basis of success. The next Exhibi¬ 
tion was at Albany, and a most gratifying dis¬ 
play of improved husbandry, household art, aud 
mechanical skill was offered to the congregated 
and expectant friends of our agricultural ad¬ 
vancement. The degree of tact, aptitude, and 
readiness in tin* discharge of hi, duties evinced 
by the young President, determined the Society 
to re-elect 1dm, and appoint the exhibition for 
the year 1843 in- the city of Rochester, the 
vicinity of hi- home, where Ills attention could 
An<l most 
ward voyage. The vessel did not arrive in New 
York at the expected time. Some days after¬ 
wards a report came that she had met with an 
accident at sea which might prove fatai to her 
safety, and so long wa* further intelligence de¬ 
layed, that by many the ship was given up for 
lost. It was known he was on board, and 
during twenty-eight days of weary suspense, 
thousands of subdued voices and anxious hearts, 
outside the agouized circle of his own fireside, 
testified their sorrow at his probable fate. His 
loss would have been felt as a public calamity. 
But a joyous day ere long shone out on both 
kindred and friends. Intelligence of bis arrival 
I In New York was speeded over the wires, and a 
day or two later he was welcomed to his home 
in Geneseo by the sound of bells and the con¬ 
gratulations of his assembled friends and neigh¬ 
bors. 
In public affairs the opinions and action of 
Mr. Wadsworth were decided. He took a 
lively interest in the leading questions of the 
day—not the lower issues affecting mere party 
politics—but questions involving grave princi¬ 
ples and policies worthy the attention of states¬ 
men and philanthropist*, in which his views 
were thoroughly defined and inflexibly deter¬ 
mined. Had he sought civil promotion, it was 
always open to his acceptance; but the tranquil 
paths of private life were more congenial to his 
tastes and feelings. 
But a new and untried field of action was sud¬ 
denly destined to open before him. Early in 
the year 1861, the atrocious rebellion in the 
Slave States of the Union against the General 
Government found him at his temporary resi¬ 
dence in the city of New York. The President 
of the United States had called for troops to de¬ 
fend the Seat of Government from spoliation 
and possible capture at the hands ni the rebels. 
Tho national treasury robbed; tin. navy sent 
abroad and scattered in distiint seas; the army’— 
what there was of it—dispersed along our wide¬ 
spread frontier, and the material cf defense 
squandered or carried away by the parricidal 
hands of an administration who had sworn in all 
solemnity to support the Constitution of their 
country; in this hour of its extremity, Mr. 
Wadsworth, in the impulsive patriot: *m of his 
nature, rushed to that country’s rescue. With 
his own parse and credit he furnished a vessel 
with a cargo of army supplies, went with it to 
Annapolis, and gave his personal attention to its 
distribution among the troops which had been 
hastily called to protect the city of Washington. 
Tho assistance on the part of Mr. Wadsworth so 
timely rendered in the impoverished condition 
of the public treasury, although afterwards 
repaid to him, was none the loss creditable to 
both his patriotism and liberality. He then 
offered his services to the Government in any 
capacity 7 where they could become useful or im¬ 
portant, and from that time forward abandoned 
his private affairs to the care of his agents, and 
devoted his entire energies to his country. As a 
Volunteer Aid to Gen. McDowell he engaged 
in the first battle of Bull Run, and by his cour¬ 
age and energy retrieved much of the disasters 
of that ill-fated engagement. In July, 1861, ap¬ 
pointed as Brigadier-General, he was assigned to 
a eoinmmand in the Army of the Potomac. In 
the succeeding month of March ho was ordered 
to Washington as Military Governor of the city, 
and for nine mouths discharged with distin¬ 
guished ability the duties of that diffi-ult and 
important post. In December, 1862, at his own 
request, he was ordered to the field. He re¬ 
ported to Maj. General Reynolds commanding 
the 1st corps, and was assigned by that distin¬ 
guished officer to the command of hiajlirst divis¬ 
ion, and afterwards led that dlvisionjiffthc battles 
of Fredericksburg, aud Chancellorsville, At the 
battle Of Gettysburg his was the first division en¬ 
gaged, going into action at i) o’clock in the morn¬ 
ing and tightiug until four in tho afternoon, 
encountering the severest part of the action, and 
suffering the heaviest loss of any portion of the 
army. Our troops winning the battle, and rout¬ 
ing the enemy from tho field, Gen. Wadsworth 
comprehending the vast consequences depend¬ 
ing on tho immediate subjugation or capture of 
the rebel forces, urged the commanding General, 
Meade, to their pursuit. But in vain. Other 
and more timid counsels prevailed, and that in¬ 
vading host of rebels was suffered to escape with 
certainly, in the State of New 
York—through their wide business correspon¬ 
dence abroad, and at home, were better or more 
favorably known. His plans of improvement, 
were broad, comprehensive and t horoughly prac¬ 
tical. Much of the grand beauty and park-like 
scenery of the Genesee Valley owe their effect 
to his refined taste and aesthetic judgment. He 
patronized education by his efforts for the Im¬ 
provement of our Common Schools, and gave 
liberal donations for school and town libraries 
in liis county. He maintained the systematic 
plans of agricultural routine adopted by bis 
brother and himself at an early day, and a* cir¬ 
cumstances required, improved them. After a 
life or temperance, frugality and usefulness, in 
the yea: 1844, he died at the age of seventy-six 
years, leaving his family probably the choicest 
agricultural estate in the country. 
James Samvel Wadsworth, whose recent 
sudden and melancholy death we now mourn, 
was the eldest son of James Wadsworth, and 
born in the town of Geneseo, in the county of 
Livingston, in the year 1807. Endowed with a 
robust physical constitution, coupled with a 
bright and vigorous Intellect, he wa* educated, 
not in the pent up schools of a crowded city, 
but as all country boys should be, iu the best 
schools of a country village. His collegiate 
course was completed at Harvard University. 
He afterwards acquired the profession of the 
law, partially iffthe office of Daniei. Webster, 
in Boston, and finished his course of law read¬ 
ing in Albany. Born to the inheritance of great 
wealth, accomplished in education, professional 
knowledge, and the advantages of elevated socle 
ty, on arriving at his majority the most flatter¬ 
ing allurements to personal ambition, to luxury 
and worldly enjoyment so dazzling to the imag¬ 
ination of a spirited young man were spread be¬ 
fore him. But young Wadsworth was both 
thoughtful and considerate. Though loving, aud 
reasonably indulging in the pleasures of society 
he calmly surveyed his position at the outset of 
what might become an important life. His un¬ 
cle William, the out-door manager of the 
landed property of tbe family, was in the sere 
and yellow leaf of declining age. His lather, 
bowed down with forty years of toil and res¬ 
ponsibility, had looked hopefully to a time of re¬ 
pose, and James, with a manly resolution, and 
thorough appreciation of his duty, threw aside 
the blandishments of fortune, turned his atten¬ 
tion to business, aud gradually assumed the chief 
supervision of the family estates. 
Probably no agricultural property in the 
country, so extensive iu domain, had been ar¬ 
ranged into a better division of individual farms, 
aud their husbandry directed with more sys¬ 
tematic economy on the part of the landlords, 
than those of the Wadsworths. The soils 
were applied to those crops most congenial to 
their natures, and which yielded the most profit 
on their outlay; aud a- a proof that the mutual 
interest of landlord and tenant were thoroughly 
studied, 1 understand that quite three-fourths 
in number of the tenants on the farms are those 
and the descendants of those who occupied them 
ui the life-time of the elder Wadsworths. 
\ In noticing the management of an ovor-sha- 
\owing agricultural estate like this, a remark 
uigU be expected upon the tendency of such 
extraonlInary holdings, and their influence upon 
the wdfaro of those who rely ou them for sup¬ 
port. Such discussion is hardly germaiu to this 
occasion, yot, I frankly admit, that the system 
ol aggregating land In largo bodies by individ¬ 
ual proprietors, and holding it under a tenant 
cultivation tias not generally proved favorable 
to the highsst prosperity of the communities 
ounce tod with them. The system is scarcely 
1 accordance with the spirit of our Republieau 
htitutions. It this instance, however, it Is a 
Stiifying fact that the moral aud pecuniary 
co tiitlou of the Inhabitants dwelling on the 
M A>s worth farms i* as high, aud tho Hue of 
huslindry has been as good, in the average, as 
amour the smaller farmers who hold their lands 
in fe and the general agriculture of Living- 
tou ciunty is of no mean order. Nor can any 
sonsibe man throw merited censure upon the 
comiu't of tho older Wadsworths iu thus 
amassing, aud holding, with tenacious grip, such 
a noble domain. In the vigor of their young 
tion to the public service. Two sons followed 
him into the army. The eider one, Charles, 
was attached to the Department of the Gulf- 
served as Captain in all the battles of Louisi¬ 
ana, and under Gen. Banks participated in the 
attack and capture of Port Hudson. With a 
year of active service and impaired health he 
wa* compelled to resign his command. The 
younger son, Craig, was attached to Gen. Wads¬ 
worth’s Staff for a time, and afterwards held 
responsible and hazardous positions with other 
Genera] officer* in various department* until 
May last, when important domestic duties called 
him home. The son-in-law of Gen. Wadsworth, 
Capt. Ritchie, also joined the army early in the 
war. He was engaged in Gen. Burnside's first 
expedition, afterwards served in the several 
battles at Port Hudson, and continued in active 
service until the melancholy event of the Wilder¬ 
ness compelled his resignation. If, in the an¬ 
nals of all time, an instance of higher patriot¬ 
ism and intenser devotion to the honor of their 
country has been shown by a father and three 
sons, possessing millions of wealth, and beck¬ 
oned by all the allurements of rase and luxury 
trom personal danger, that instance has yet to be 
written; and would that the narrative of hand 
fought battle.* and bloody sacrifice could stop 
here. 
Genera. Wails worth took an active part in 
the arrangements and preparations of the cam¬ 
paign of Gen. Grant in the spring of IS64, 
against the rebel army in Virginia. His judg¬ 
ment in council and energy in action had placed 
him in such estimation with the millitary au¬ 
thorities that at the outset of the campaign he 
was charged with a leading command. A deci¬ 
sive work wa* before the Army of the Potomac. 
The country had become impatient of delay (u 
its long anticipated advance, and anxiously ex¬ 
pectant of better results than had, in the "past, 
marked its checkered fortunes. This feeling 
was known to no oue better thau to Wadsworth, 
lie responded to it with all the fervor of his 
unfaltering nature, and with a determination, 
on his own part, that it should not be disap¬ 
pointed. The incidents attending the opening 
of the campaign and its first battle of the Wil¬ 
derness, so melancholy in its results, are of 
such interest that I shad be excused for laying 
some of them before you. which I obtained from 
Capt. Craig W. Wadsworth, a son of the Gen¬ 
eral, who was in a part of the battle 
“ When the army of the Potomac was re¬ 
organized last spring, my father was placed in 
command of the 4th Division, 5th Corps. This 
Division was made up of his old Division of 
the 1st Corps, with the addition of another, the 
3d Brigade. He crossed the Rapidan on the 
4th of May. On the evening of the 5th his 
command was engaged several hours, and 
lost heavily. Ou the morning of the 6th 
he was ordered to report to General Han¬ 
cock. commanding the id Corps, and by him 
was ordered into action on the right of that 
Corps. My father made several charges with 
his division, and finally carried quite an im¬ 
portant position, but was unable to hold it, the 
enemy coming down in superior numbers. 
This was about 8 o'clock A.’M.. the fighting 
having commenced at daylight. About this 
time Gen. Hancock sent for my father, ami 
told him he had ordered three Brigades. Gens. 
Ward’s, Webb’s and one from Gen. Burnside’s 
eorp, to report to him, and he wished him, if 
possible, with the six Brigades under his com¬ 
mand. to carry 7 a certain position. Three or four 
assaults were made without success, the fight¬ 
ing beiug terrific. My father had two horses 
be readily given to its preparation, 
amply was that preparation made. His per¬ 
sonal services and ready purse were both yielded 
for the occasion. The Genesee Valley poured 
forth the choicest of its agricultural abundance, 
and the skill and handicraft of the young and 
active city joined in their rival display, while 
tho more distant country, east and west met 
each other with their mutual offerings. This, 
the third exhibition of the Society, larger in 
material, and more numerous in attendance than 
either of the two which preceded it, was but 
the growth of well directed effort on the part of 
its managers, and the increasing spirit of the 
people. The career of the Society was no longer 
a probation; aud assured of its success, Mr. 
Wadsworth, at the close of his official term, 
with well won honors, gracefully retired to 
give room to his successor. 
The death of his father during the succeeding 
year threw the management of three-fourths of 
the Wadsworth estates—that portion belonging 
to himself and sisters—upon James, the other 
fourth being owned and managed by his younger 
brother, William. Not only the lands iu the 
Genesee Valley, but other extensive real and 
personal properties had come to his charge, and 
he addressed himself to their care with an 
industry, an ability, and a knowledge of their 
multifarious interests quite equal to the ne¬ 
cessity. He maintained the system of man¬ 
agement which had been long adopted, aud had 
only to extend it over such routine and details 
as became necessary by changes or aggregations 
incident to such ex tended affai rs. He continued 
his labors, both in the councils and at the An¬ 
nual exhibitions of the Society, aud for many 
years his farm stock formed a prominent feature 
in the prize lists. On all occasions he evinced 
the liveliest interest in its welfare, and as soon 
as he had a son old enough—and his second one 
he trained to be a farmer—tho stripling appeared 
among us with his fatted bullocks aud blooded 
horses in honest competition with the hardest 
handed farmer in the show grounds. 
Nor wore the agricultural efforts of Mr. 
Wadsworth confined to the State Society. He 
took an active interest in his own County Asso¬ 
ciation, and vigorously assisted its efforts in 
improving the husbandry of his vicinity. Ho 
imported from abroad choice breeds of farm- 
stock, and in various manner promoted the wel¬ 
fare of the farmers of Livingston by his own j 
examples as well as by hi 
s aid In the encour¬ 
agement of new 7 and economical inventions in 
labor-saving implements. Ills influence was 
persistent and beneficial throughout. 
More intimate with the varied interests which 
build up tho prosperity of the community out¬ 
side of agriculture than the elder Wadsworth 
had been. James became engaged in several of 
the active enterprises with which the business 
men of Western New \ ork were identified. He 
embarked a share of his capital in them, and 
gave to these different investment* a portion of 
his attention. He was emphatically a man of 
the times—a part and parcel of the entire com¬ 
munity in what concerned their material wel¬ 
fare, and no qpin among them all was more 
alive to the prosperity of the people, aside from 
purely selfish motives, than himself. Enjoying 
tho well-earned returns of intelligent enterprise, 
tod improving by a liberal participation with 
others the fortunes of himself and his family, 
his influence and action redounded largely to 
the public good. 
Au incident may here be recited testifying to 
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