Profile of James D. Feeter New York State Senator in 1899 Herkimer County, NY
Source: "The New York Red Book, containing the portraits and biographies of its governors, State officers,
and members of the Legislature, with the portraits of Congressmen, judges and mayors, the new constitution of
the State, election and population statistics, and general facts of interest," by Edgar L. Murlin. Albany: James B.
Lyon, Publisher. 1899. pp. 137-38.
James D. Feeter
New York State Senator, 33rd Senate District
James D. Feeter, Republican, of Little Falls, who represents the Thirty-third Senate district, was
born in the village of Little Falls, in 1840. He is descended from one of the oldest and most historical
families in the Mohawk Valley. His ancestors Lucas and Annis Feeter came to this country from
Wittenberg, Germany, early in the eighteenth century. Their son William Feeter, conspicuous in the
Revolutionary War, was born in 1756.
James D. Feeter received a common school education and then aided his father in the grocery business.
The Little Falls National Bank was organized in 1879, and in 1880 James D. Feeter commenced his career
as a banker as assistant cashier. Amos A. Bradley was then acting as cashier, and Seth M. Richmond president.
On the death of Mr. Bradley, Mr. Feeter was advanced to the responsible position of cashier, and on the death
of Mr. Richmond, he was made president. Largely through the superior qualifications of Mr. Feeter as a financier
this banking institution is one of the solid concerns of the Mohawk Valley.
In politics Mr. Feeter is a stalwart Republican, and one of the leaders of his party. He has never asked for
any office, but at one time in his early career he was elected Collector of the village, and was also elected
Village Treasurer. For years he served as a member of the Police and Fire Board, and is now a member of the Board
of Public Works. The office he now holds is an important one, and he fills it with credit. He was a delegate to
the Cincinnati National Convention in 1876, and voted for Roscoe Conkling as long as he was a candidate. He was one
of the eleven delegates from New York that voted for Blaine instead of Hayes, when Conkling's name was withdrawn.
For many years Mr. Feeter served on the Republican County Committee. He is identified with the organization wing of
the Republican party, and his extended influence throughout the county contributed largely to its success.
As a citizen Mr. Feeter is public spirited and enterprising, and many young men have started in a successful
business career through financial aid furnished by James D. Feeter. His career as a banker is marked by success and
honesty. Integrity and fair dealing are his business characteristics.
Mr. Feeter, as the Republican candidate for Senator from his district in the fall of 1898, received 13,933 votes to
10,874 cast for George M. Bristol, Democrat.
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 also of the following committees: Commerce and Navigation, Revision, Banks,
Public Health and Cities.
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