Philo Orton (New York politician) explained

Philo Orton
Birth Date:September 9, 1778
Birth Place:Tyringham, Massachusetts
Death Place:Pomfret, New York
Resting Place:West Main Street Cemetery
West Pomfret, New York
Office1:Member of the New York State Assembly
Term Start1:July 1, 1818
Term End1:July 1, 1819
Predecessor1:Robert Fleming
Successor1:Elial T. Foote
Oliver Forward
Office2:Pomfret Town Supervisor
Term Start2:1811
Term End2:1817
Predecessor2:Position Established
Successor2:Leverett Barker
Nationality:American
Occupation:Politician, judge
Parents:Dr. Thomas Orton
Sarah Atwood

Philo Orton (September 9, 1778 – August 12, 1856) was an American politician and judge. He served as Supervisor of the Town of Pomfret (1809—1818), an associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Chautauqua County, New York (1811), and a member of the New York State Assembly (1818—1819).

Biography

Orton was born on September 9, 1778, in Tyringham, Massachusetts, a son of Dr. Thomas and Sarah (Atwood) Orton. He lived in Augusta, New York before moving to Canadaway in Chautauqua County (now the Town of Pomfret), purchasing land there 1806 and had a farm and also worked as a surveyor.[1] [2]

In 1809, Orton was elected the first Supervisor of the Town of Pomfret, in which he also served on the Board of Supervisors for Niagara County at first, when Chautauqua County was governed by Niagara County, and then as a member of the Board of Supervisors for Chautauqua County once Chautauqua County was founded in 1811.[3] Orton was also one of the first associate judges of Chautauqua County, along with Matthew Prendergast, Jonathan Thompson, and William Alexander, who were elected in April 1811.[2] [4] In 1813, he served as Chairman of the Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors.[5]

Orton was elected to the New York State Assembly, serving in the 42nd New York State Legislature from July 1, 1818, to July 1, 1819, and representating Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Niagara Counties, succeeding Robert Fleming. He served alongside Isaac Phelps, as the district had 2 seats. In 1832 and 1840, he was a Presidential elector, and when William Henry Harrison was elected, Orton was one of the 42 electors.[1]

Orton was married to Irene Hurd in 1802 and had three sons: Thomas, Abiram, and Charles. After Irene's death, Orton married Clarissa Sage in 1818. His brother, Thomas, is the grandfather of Philo A. Orton, a Wisconsin politician.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: An Account of the Descendants of Thomas Orton of Windsor, Connecticut, 1641. Orton, Edward. 1896. Nitschke brothers. 9780598651969 . April 15, 2023 .
  2. Book: Abstract of the Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Chautauqua. Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors. 1868. The Board.. April 15, 2023 .
  3. Web site: A Historical Vignette of Chautauqua County Politics. Sampson, Caryl. 2010 . April 15, 2023 .
  4. Web site: Gazetteer of New York, 1860 & 1861. J H Franch and R P Smith. 1861. April 15, 2023 .
  5. Web site: The Centennial History of Chautauqua County A Detailed and Entertaining Story of One Hundred Years of Development Volume 1. The Chautauqua History Company. 1904. The Chautauqua History Company . April 15, 2023 .