Background
German, Obadiah was born on April 22, 1766 in Amenia, New York, United States.
lawyer politician United States senator
German, Obadiah was born on April 22, 1766 in Amenia, New York, United States.
Studied law.
He was admitted to the bar in 1792, and commenced practice in Norwich. In 1809, he was elected a United States. Senator from New York, and served from March 4, 1809, to March 4, 1815. German was known as a critic of the lack of military preparations made in advance of the War of 1812, and voted against the declaration of war.
In 1812, German was one of the founding trustees of Hamilton College.
He was First Judge of the Chenango County Court from 1814 to 1819. He was also a State militia officer, eventually becoming a major general.
Supporting DeWitt Clinton"s Erie Canal project, German took part in planning and overseeing its construction after being appointed State Commissioner of Public Works in 1817. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law.
German became a Whig when that party was organized.
He died on September 24, 1842 in Norwich, New New York He was buried at the Riverside Cemetery in North Norwich, New New York Obadiah German was married twice.
She took up residence in Syracuse, and became a public charge, her efforts at earning at living through painting and "fancy work" having failed.
Her claim to be the widow of Senator. German was not believed in Syracuse until it was confirmed after her death "in a state of great destitution," according to the Syracuse Journal.
The town of German, New York is named after him.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1798-1799, from 1804 to 1805, from 1807 to 1809. German returned to the Assembly in 1819 and, as a member of the Clintonian faction of the Democratic-Republican Party was chosen Speaker.