Isaac H. Maynard
Encyclopedia
Isaac Horton Maynard was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
in 1862. Then he studied law at Delhi, New York
, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. About that time, he entered politics and was a Town Supervisor and then President of the Board of Supervisors of Delaware County.
He was a member from Delaware County of the New York State Assembly
in 1876 and 1877. He was First Judge and Surrogate of the Delaware County Court from 1878 to 1885.
In 1883
he ran for Secretary of State of New York
but was the only candidate defeated on the Democratic ticket. In 1886, he was appointed First Deputy New York State Attorney General
. Later that year, he was appointed Second Comptroller of the Treasury
. In 1887, he was appointed by Charles S. Fairchild
Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and remained in office until the end of the First Cleveland
administration.
Afterwards he was appointed Deputy New York Attorney General again. As such, in November 1891, he was counsel to the State Board of Canvassers (made up by the Secretary of State
, Treasurer
, Comptroller
, Attorney General
and State Engineer
), when the electoral fraud
in the Dutchess County
senatorial election happened by which Governor David B. Hill
gained control of the New York State Senate
. The Republican candidate Gilbert A. Deane had received more votes than the Democratic candidate Edward B. Osborne, but the County Board of Canvassers did not allow 31 votes which had ink marks on the edge (which could have been made by printers' quads), and declared Osborne elected. The Republicans questioned the County Board's decision in court and, on December 5, Judge Barnard ordered the votes to be counted, and instructed the County Clerk to inform the corrected result to the State Board. Judge Fursman ordered a stay
of Barnard's decision. On December 19, Justice Edgar M. Cullen
, of the New York Supreme Court
, vacated Fursman's stay, and in the evening of December 21, County Clerk Emans mailed the corrected result to Albany
. On the same day however, Justice Ingraham had stayed Cullen's decision and Emans was accused of contempt of court. Emans traveled to Albany himself, and appeared at Maynard's home at half past 8 a.m. next morning demanding to have the corrected result returned to him. Maynard and Emans went to the New York State Comptroller
's office, and Maynard subtracted the letter from the incoming-mail pile and handed it over to Emans, explaining to the office employees that the letter had been misdirected. Subsequently, the original result was canvassed by the State Board, and the Democratic candidate was declared elected, giving the Democrats a majority in the New York State Senate
.
In January 1892, he was appointed a judge of the New York Court of Appeals
to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Robert Earl as Chief Judge after the death of William C. Ruger
. Two weeks later, his connexion with the Emans letter became known to the public during Emans's trial for contempt. The Bar Association inquired, and Maynard had a lot of explaining to do. The New York State Legislature, having a Democratic majority, hurriedly looked at the case and found nothing to say. After some legal pettyfogging, the Democratic politicians continued to support Maynard, as reward for his service to the Party, but public indignation never subsided.
In January 1893, Maynard was re-appointed to the Court of Appeals, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Charles Andrews
as Chief Judge, although the Bar Association had urged the Governor against it.
In 1893
, he was nominated by the Democrats for a full term on the Court of Appeals, but not only was defeated by Republican Edward T. Bartlett
, but weighed down the ticket so heavily that, although even the Republican New York Times predicted a Democratic victory, the whole Republican ticket of political amateurs (for example, the new Secretary of State was a house-painter) was elected.
In 1896, he died suddenly of a heart attack in his room at the Kenmore Hotel in Albany, NY. Maynard was buried in Woodland Cemetery, Delhi, NY.
as a major in the 6th United States Infantry.
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 Isaac Maynard and Jane (Falconer) Maynard. He graduated from Amherst CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1862. Then he studied law at Delhi, New York
Delhi, New York
Delhi, New York may refer to:* Delhi , New York, county seat of Delaware County, New York, USA* Delhi , New York, in which the village of Delhi is located...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. About that time, he entered politics and was a Town Supervisor and then President of the Board of Supervisors of Delaware County.
He was a member from Delaware County 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 1876 and 1877. He was First Judge and Surrogate of the Delaware County Court from 1878 to 1885.
In 1883
New York state election, 1883
The 1883 New York state election was held on November 6, 1883, 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...
he ran for Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
but was the only candidate defeated on the Democratic ticket. In 1886, he was appointed First Deputy New York State Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
. Later that year, he was appointed Second Comptroller of the Treasury
Comptroller of the Treasury
The Comptroller of the Treasury was an official of the United States Department of the Treasury from 1789 to 1817. According to section III of the Act of Congress establishing the Treasury Department, it is the comptroller's duty to...
. In 1887, he was appointed by Charles S. Fairchild
Charles S. Fairchild
Charles Stebbins Fairchild was a New York businessman and politician.-Biography:Born in Cazenovia, New York, to Sidney and Helen Fairchild, he graduated from Harvard College in 1863 and Harvard Law School in 1865. He was married to Helen Lincklaen in 1871...
Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and remained in office until the end of the First Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
administration.
Afterwards he was appointed Deputy New York Attorney General again. As such, in November 1891, he was counsel to the State Board of Canvassers (made up by the Secretary of State
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
, Treasurer
New York State Treasurer
The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed by the...
, Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
, Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
and State Engineer
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
), when the electoral fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
in the Dutchess County
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
senatorial election happened by which Governor David B. Hill
David B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
gained control of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
. The Republican candidate Gilbert A. Deane had received more votes than the Democratic candidate Edward B. Osborne, but the County Board of Canvassers did not allow 31 votes which had ink marks on the edge (which could have been made by printers' quads), and declared Osborne elected. The Republicans questioned the County Board's decision in court and, on December 5, Judge Barnard ordered the votes to be counted, and instructed the County Clerk to inform the corrected result to the State Board. Judge Fursman ordered a stay
Stay of execution
A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order. The word "execution" does not necessarily mean the death penalty; it refers to the imposition of whatever judgment is being stayed....
of Barnard's decision. On December 19, Justice Edgar M. Cullen
Edgar M. Cullen
Edgar Montgomery Cullen was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1904 to 1913.-Biography:...
, of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, vacated Fursman's stay, and in the evening of December 21, County Clerk Emans mailed the corrected result to Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. On the same day however, Justice Ingraham had stayed Cullen's decision and Emans was accused of contempt of court. Emans traveled to Albany himself, and appeared at Maynard's home at half past 8 a.m. next morning demanding to have the corrected result returned to him. Maynard and Emans went to the New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
's office, and Maynard subtracted the letter from the incoming-mail pile and handed it over to Emans, explaining to the office employees that the letter had been misdirected. Subsequently, the original result was canvassed by the State Board, and the Democratic candidate was declared elected, giving the Democrats a majority in the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
.
In January 1892, he was appointed a judge of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Robert Earl as Chief Judge after the death of William C. Ruger
William C. Ruger
William Crawford Ruger was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1883 until his death.-Life:He was the son of Sophia Ruger and John Ruger William Crawford Ruger (January 30, 1824 Bridgewater, Oneida County, New York - January 14,...
. Two weeks later, his connexion with the Emans letter became known to the public during Emans's trial for contempt. The Bar Association inquired, and Maynard had a lot of explaining to do. The New York State Legislature, having a Democratic majority, hurriedly looked at the case and found nothing to say. After some legal pettyfogging, the Democratic politicians continued to support Maynard, as reward for his service to the Party, but public indignation never subsided.
In January 1893, Maynard was re-appointed to the Court of Appeals, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Charles Andrews
Charles Andrews (judge)
Charles Andrews was an American Lawyer and politician. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1881 to 1882 and from 1892 to 1897....
as Chief Judge, although the Bar Association had urged the Governor against it.
In 1893
New York state election, 1893
The 1893 New York state election was held on November 7, 1893, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer and a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York...
, he was nominated by the Democrats for a full term on the Court of Appeals, but not only was defeated by Republican Edward T. Bartlett
Edward T. Bartlett
Edward Theodore Bartlett was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Biography:He was born on June 14, 1841 in Skaneateles, New York to Levi Bartlett. His father moved in 1831 from Haverhill, New Hampshire, to Skaneateles, and practiced medicine there.Edward T...
, but weighed down the ticket so heavily that, although even the Republican New York Times predicted a Democratic victory, the whole Republican ticket of political amateurs (for example, the new Secretary of State was a house-painter) was elected.
In 1896, he died suddenly of a heart attack in his room at the Kenmore Hotel in Albany, NY. Maynard was buried in Woodland Cemetery, Delhi, NY.
Marriage and Family
Isaac Horton Maynard married on June 28, 1871, Margaret Maxwell Marvin, daughter of Charles Marvin and Frances (Foote) Marvin, of Delhi, NY. Maynard may have owed at least some of his political appointments to his wife. Margaret Marvin came from a fairly prominent New York political family: her mother Frances was the daughter of Congressman Charles A. Foote, and Margaret's uncle Rensselaer William Foote died during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as a major in the 6th United States Infantry.
Sources
- Court of Appeals judges at New York Court History
- Portrait at the Court of Appeals
- Isaac Horton Maynard in NYT on October 7, 1893
- EX-JUDGE MAYNARD DEAD in NYT on June 13, 1896
- David Murray, LL. D., Delaware County, New York, Centennial History, Delhi, 1898.
- W..H. Munsell & Co. [publishers], History of Delaware County, N.Y., With Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents /1797–1880/, N.Y.C., 1880.