Asa Adgate
Encyclopedia
Asa Adgate was an iron manufacturer, farmer, and local government official who was selected to fill the vacancy in the United States House of Representatives
caused by the death of Benjamin Pond
.
He was born in Canaan, New York
in 1767. In 1793, he moved to what became known as Adgates Falls (now Ausable Chasm
) in New York. He engaged in the manufacture of iron and agricultural pursuits there. In 1793, the town of Peru, New York
, was reorganized. Adgate was elected to the office of town clerk, and reelected to the same office in 1794. He continued to serve in a number of positions, including supervisor in 1795, assessor from 1796 to 1797, and commissioner of schools in 1798.
That same year, he was elected to the New York State Assembly
. He also served as a lieutenant of infantry
in the New York State Militia in 1798 and 1799. In 1799, he was appointed by New York Governor John Jay
to the first commission of the peace for Essex County, New York
, to be one of the judges of the court of common pleas. He remained in that position for several years.
In 1815, he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the United States Congress
and served in that body for the remainder of the term, choosing not to run for reelection. Upon leaving the Congress, he resumed his earlier occupations, including another term in the New York State Assembly in 1823. He died at Ausable Chasm, in 1832, and is buried in Ausable Chasm Cemetery in Clinton County, New York
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
caused by the death of Benjamin Pond
Benjamin Pond
Benjamin Pond was a United States Representative from New York.-Early life:He was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in 1768. He attended the common schools and in 1800 moved to Poultney, Vermont, and still later to the town of Crown Point , which is now comprised in the town of North Hudson, New...
.
He was born in Canaan, New York
Canaan, 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....
in 1767. In 1793, he moved to what became known as Adgates Falls (now Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm is a sandstone gorge tourist attraction located near Keeseville, New York. The Ausable River runs through it, which then empties into Lake Champlain....
) in New York. He engaged in the manufacture of iron and agricultural pursuits there. In 1793, the town of Peru, New York
Peru, New York
Peru is a town in Clinton County in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 6,998 at the 2010 census. The town was named Peru because its mountainous nature suggested that country....
, was reorganized. Adgate was elected to the office of town clerk, and reelected to the same office in 1794. He continued to serve in a number of positions, including supervisor in 1795, assessor from 1796 to 1797, and commissioner of schools in 1798.
That same year, he was elected to 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...
. He also served as a lieutenant of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
in the New York State Militia in 1798 and 1799. In 1799, he was appointed by New York Governor John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
to the first commission of the peace for Essex County, New York
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, to be one of the judges of the court of common pleas. He remained in that position for several years.
In 1815, he was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and served in that body for the remainder of the term, choosing not to run for reelection. Upon leaving the Congress, he resumed his earlier occupations, including another term in the New York State Assembly in 1823. He died at Ausable Chasm, in 1832, and is buried in Ausable Chasm Cemetery in Clinton County, New York
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
.