. The story of Cooperstown . Coopers-town, as the county seat, was the chief battleground of an endless warfare among the lawyersof the region, and the forensic struggles of thefirst twenty years of the century developed anarray of legal talent in Otsego county whichgained the reputation of being the ablest in theState west of the Hudson. In those days the bestlawyers were orators, and some were actors whowould have done credit to the dramatic profes-sion. The public had its favorites among them,and their names were known in every trial practice of that day was a keen en-counter
. The story of Cooperstown . Coopers-town, as the county seat, was the chief battleground of an endless warfare among the lawyersof the region, and the forensic struggles of thefirst twenty years of the century developed anarray of legal talent in Otsego county whichgained the reputation of being the ablest in theState west of the Hudson. In those days the bestlawyers were orators, and some were actors whowould have done credit to the dramatic profes-sion. The public had its favorites among them,and their names were known in every trial practice of that day was a keen en-counter of wits between men of high native talentwho perfectly understood each others motives, 150 THE PIONEER COURT ROOM 151 and showed infinite dexterity in twisting facts andarguments to serve their purposes.^ The ablest lawyer in the county from 1813 to1820, when he removed to Hudson, was Am-brose L. Jordan, who began his career in Coop-erstown in partnership with Col. Farrand Strana-han. Jordan was a commanding figure, six feet. Ambrose L. Jordan tall, slim and graceful in figure; blue eyes thatwere at once keen and kindly added lustre to the ^ Noted Men of Otsego during the Early Years, Walter , Address at the Cooperstown Centennial. 152 THE STORY OF COOPERSTOWN impression produced by the sensitive features ofhis countenance. He had a profusion of browncurls and a complexion as fine as a womans. Dig-nified and courtly in manner, he was as brilliantin conversation as he was impressive and power-ful as an orator. In natural eloquence Jordanwas a man of the first rank. Added to this hewas a close student, and prepared his cases withgreat care. He had great powers of endurance,and in long trials always appeared fresh andstrong after other advocates were exhausted. Inhis pleadings before a jury he used every resourceat his command, indulging in flights of oratorythat kindled the imagination, dazzling his hear-ers with rhetorical tropes and figures, at timeshumorous and playful,
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