William Feeter History and Genealogy
Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys
William Feeter History and Genealogy
Book loaned by Nancy Cioch. Many thanks Nancy!
This
History of William Feeter, A Soldier in the War of American Independence
and of His Father, Lucas Vetter, the ancestor of the Feeter-Feder-Feader-Fader
families
IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, with genealogy of the family compiled at
the request of
JAMES D. FEETER, by John B. Koetteritz, MEMBER HERKIMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Little Falls, N.Y. Press of Stebbins & Burney, 1901
Copyright by James D. Feeter, 1901
HON. JAMES D. FEETER.
The following is a recently published biographical sketch of Senator James D. Feeter of Little Falls:
James D. Feeter, descended from one of the oldest and most historical families in the Mohawk Valley, was born in Little Falls June 26, 1840, and is the only surviving son of the late James Feeter. He received a common school education and for many years was associated with his father in the grocery business.
In 1879, the Little Falls National Bank was organized, and in 1880 James D. Feeter commenced his career as a banker as assistant cashier of that institution. Amos A. Bradley was the cashier and Seth M. Richmond president. On the death of Mr. Bradley in 1889, Mr. Feeter was advanced to the responsible position of cashier, and on the death of Mr. Richmond in 1895 he was made president, a position he has honorably and efficiently filled since that time. Largely through the superior qualifications of Mr. Feeter as a financier this banking house is one of the solid financial institutions of the Mohawk Valley. It is said of Senator Feeter that during business hours and then behind the counter or seated in the counting room of the Little Falls National Bank he demands all that is the bank's due; but on the outside, after banking hours are over, he is the most liberal, genial and affable of men. He is a member of Little Falls Lodge, No. 181, F. & A.M., Astorogan Chapter, No. 161, R. A.M., and Little Falls Commandery, No. 26, K. T., past Exalted Ruler of Little Falls Lodge, No. 42. B. P. O. Elks, member of the Fort Orange and Albany City clubs, of Albany, N. Y. and other social and fraternal organizations.
He is a large realty owner in Little Falls and his private business is an extensive one. He is a good judge of human nature and is freely consulted by his friends on business matters, who place great reliance upon his judgment. His career as a banker, business man and citizen is marked with success and characterized by honesty, integrity and fair dealing.
In politics, Senator Feeter inherited stalwart Republicanism from his father. Since boyhood days he has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of his party and for many years has occupied a prominent position in the councils and conferences of party managers. For several years he served as acting chairman of the Republican County committee, and under his careful management the party was united,harmonious and always victorious.
He has represented his town in county conventions and his county in State conventions many times. In 1876 he was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Cincinnati and voted for Conkling for President as long as he was a candidate. He was one of the eleven delegates from New York who voted for Blaine instead of Hayes, when Conkling's name was withdrawn.
Herkimer County's political history has been marked by most vigorous and long- continued factional contests, one of the most notable of which culminated in 1896, when the Republican County Convention split in twain and sent tow sets of delegates to the State Convention. But so free from partisan bias, and so eminently fair had been the course of Senator Feeter through it all, that his name appeared in both sets of delegates and at the State Convention he occupied the unique position of being a recognized regular delegate and at the same time a contesting delegate for the position he already held.
Many time senator Feeter has been urged to accept nominations at the hands of his party and refused, being always content to fight in the ranks. In 1898, at the urgent solicitation of his personal friends he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination of Senator in and for the 33d Senatorial district, composed of the counties of Herkimer and Otsego.
At this time the Republican organization in Herkimer County was divided into factions, and partisan feeling ran so high that a good portion of the Republican County ticket had been defeated in the fall of 1897, but the candidacy of Senator Feeter in 1898 saved the party in Herkimer County; for the leaders of all factions untied in his support and in the convention that followed, he was the unanimous choice of all the delegates and was accorded the privilege of selecting the delegates to the Senatorial Convention. At the Senatorial Convention held in Richfield Spring Senator Feeter was nominated by acclamation and without opposition, a distinction that had not previously been accorded to any man in the district in a great many years.
In the election that followed Senator Feeter received 13,933 votes and his Democratic opponent, Geo. M. Bristol of Otsego County, received 10, 874, making his majority 3,059 in the district. Senator Fetter's majority in Herkimer County that year was 2,131, while the majority for Governor Theodore Roosevelt was 1,170. He carried his home city by 654 majority, the largest majority ever given a Republican candidate in Little Falls.
Entering the Senate at the beginning of 1899 Mr. Feeter was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Internal Affairs of Towns and Counties, and a member of the following committees: Cities, Revision, Banks, Public Health, Commerce and Navigation. Senator Feeter is not an orator, but he has a plain, straightforward way of expressing his opinions and conclusions that immediately won for him the respect and esteem of all his associates around the Senate circle. While he is a strong partisan and an ardent and faithful organization Republican, he maintained an independent attitude in the consideration of important legislative measures. Personally he was on most pleasant terms with the Democratic Senators as well as the Republican members, and when he asked a personal favor in the consideration of a local bill he received favors from the opposition without question.
In 1900 Senator Feeter went before his constituents and asked for a renomination. He had no opposition in Herkimer County and was the unanimous choice at the Senatorial Convention. At the election that followed he received 16,052 votes in the district and his Democratic opponent, Andrew Murphy, Jr., of Mohawk, 11,538 votes, making his majority in the district 4,513.
In Herkimer County Senator Feeter's majority was 2,828, while the majority that President McKinley received was 2,709.
In matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of his native city Senator Feeter has always taken a very deep interest and contributes liberally to industrial, charitable and religious projects. Many years ago he was elected village treasurer. He also served a few years as a member of the Board of Fire and Police of the village of Little Falls, and the first Mayor of Little Falls, Charles King, appointed a member of the Board of Public Works when this municipal board was organized under the city charter. He continued a member of the Board of Public Works until he resigned in 1898 to accept the nomination for Senator.
In 1881 Senator Feeter was united in marriage to Miss Ella Craig, daughter of the late Alexander Craig. He is very fond of home associations, and most of his time after business hours is spent at his pleasant home on Ann Street.
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