In 1812 or 1813, Mr. Flagg established the Plattsburgh "Republican," of which he was for many years the editor and owner. In 1823'4 he represented Clinton County in the assembly, and in 1826 was appointed by Governor De Witt Clinton secretary of state, which office he held until 1833. He was comptroller of the state in 1834'9, and again in 1842'6.

During almost his entire public life, and especially after his removal to the City of New York, in 1846, Mr. Flagg was one of the leaders of the Democratic Party in the state, and also bore the reputation of being one of its ablest financiers. For many years he discussed the political questions of the day in the columns of the Albany "Argus."

He was one of the most determined opponents of the U. S. bank, rendered efficient aid to De Witt Clinton in molding public opinion with regard to his canal policy, and later was outspoken in his opposition to the proslavery tendencies of the Democratic Party . He was elected comptroller of the City of New York in 1852, and reelected in 1855. Soon after leaving office, in 1859, he became blind, but never lost his interest in current political events.

--His nephew, Willard Cutting Flagg, agriculturist, born in Moro, Madison County, Illinois, 16 September 1829; died there, 30 March 1878, was graduated at Yale in 1854, and then took charge of his father's extensive farm. He soon became prominent in local politics, was collector of internal revenue for the 12th district of Illinois in 1862'9, and a member of the state senate in 1869'73. He wrote frequently for the press on agricultural and political subjects, was one of the originators of the "farmers' movement" in the west, and was chosen, in 1873, first president of the Illinois state farmers' association.

He served, in addition, as trustee of the Industrial University, Champaign, Illinois, president of the National agricultural congress, and secretary of the American pomological society. He was for many years horticultural editor of the "Prairie Farmer," and for a few months before his death was editor-in-chief of the "American Encyclopaedia of Agriculture," for which he had collected much valuable material. He was considered one of the best pomologists of the day.

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 StanKlos.com^TM

FLAGG, Azariah Cutting, politician, born in Clinton County, New York, in 1790; died in New York City, 24 November 1873. When he was nine years old his father removed to Richmond, Vermont, and at the age of eleven he was apprenticed to a printer in Burlington. Here he remained until about 1811, when he removed to Plattsburg, New York, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812, participating in several engagements. In 1812 or 1813, Mr. Flagg established the Plattsburg "Republican," of which he was for many years the editor and owner. In 1823'4 he represented Clinton County in the assembly, and in 1826 was appointed by Governor De Witt Clinton secretary of state, which office he held until 1833. He was comptroller of the state in 1834'9, and again in 1842'6.

During almost his entire public life, and especially after his removal to the City of New York, in 1846, Mr. Flagg was one of the leaders of the Democratic Party in the state, and also bore the reputation of being one of its ablest financiers. For many years he discussed the political questions of the day in the columns of the Albany "Argus." He was one of the most determined opponents of the U. S. bank, rendered efficient aid to De Witt Clinton in molding public opinion with regard to his canal policy, and later was outspoken in his opposition to the proslavery tendencies of the Democratic Party . He was elected comptroller of the City of New York in 1852, and reelected in 1855. Soon after leaving office, in 1859, he became blind, but never lost his interest in current political events.

His nephew, Willard Cutting Flagg, agriculturist, born in Moro. Madison County, Illinois, 16 September 1829; died there, 30 March 1878, was graduated at Yale in 1854, and then took charge of his father's extensive farm. He soon became prominent in local politics, was collector of internal revenue for the 12th district of Illinois in 1862'9, and a member of the state senate in 1869'73. He wrote frequently for the press on agricultural and political subjects, was one of the originators of the " farmers' movement" in the west, and was chosen, in 1873, first president of the Illinois state farmers' association. He served, in addition, as trustee of the Industrial University, Champaign, Illinois, president of the National agricultural congress, and secretary of the American pomological society. He was for many years horticultural editor of the " Prairie Farmer," and for a few months before his death was editor-in-chief of the "American Encyclopaedia of Agriculture," for which he had collected much valuable material. He was considered one of the best pomologists of the day.