Thomas M. Costello, Republican, who represents the Second Assembly District of Oswego County, was born on Prince Edwards Island June 1, 1845 and was educated in the public schools. He is a tanner and currier by trade, of which he is justly proud. He came to Woburn, Massachusetts in 1864, and to New York State in 1869. Settling at Sand Bank, Oswego County, in 1870, he worked at his trade ten years. He has been engaged in mercantile business and manufacturing lumber for many years, and is now engaged in the real estate business.

In 1899 he introduced and passed the sweatshop bill, and also the bill putting all the labor laws of the State under the Factory Inspector's care, making him responsible for enforcing the same. This bill obliges manufactories to guard all machinery and elevators in new buildings, thereby protecting human life. The sweatshop bill is one of the best sanitary measures placed on the statute books of this State.

He has held many offices, viz.: School Trustee, Village Clerk, Trustee three years, and President for nine years of the village of Sand Bank, now Altmar; Supervisor of the town of Albion in the years 1887 and 1888, and County Clerk of Oswego county, 1889, 1890, 1891. As a candidate for County Clerk he received a majority of 4,012 votes.

He was nominated for the Assembly in 1895 by acclamation, and was elected over Sylvester Potter, who received 935 votes, by 3,605 majority; Timothy D. Stow, Prohibitionist, received 228 votes.

In the Assembly of 1896 Mr. Costello was a member of the following Committees: Railroads, Commerce and Navigation, and Soldiers' Home.

Mr. Costello was re-elected to the Assembly in 1896 by receiving 5,656 votes to 2,936 for Albert S. Barker, Democrat; and 125 for Henry G. Tyler, Prohibitionist.

Mr. Costello, in 1897, was a member of the Committees on Revision, Ways and Means, and Commerce and Navigation.

At the election of 1897 Mr. Costello, as a candidate for re-election, received 3,738 votes to 1,883 for B. J. Morgan, Democrat; 159 for Azro B. Bond, Prohibition; and 1 for Thomas C. Platt, Republican.

Mr. Costello was, in the Assembly of 1898, a member of the Committees on Ways and Means, Commerce and Navigation, and Chairman of the Committee on Public Institutions.

At the election of 1898 Mr. Costello received 4,026 Votes to 3,077 cast for Gilbert X. Harding, Democrat.

In the Assembly of 1899 Mr. Costello was Chairman of the Committee on Labor and Industries, and a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, and on Railroads.

At the election of 1899 Mr. Costello received 4,778 votes to 2,788 cast for D. C. Bishop, Democrat.

Mr. Costello, in 1900, was appointed Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Labor and Industries, and a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, and of the Commit-tee on Railroads.

Nominated a sixth time for Assemblyman in 1900, Mr. Costello received 5.226 votes.

In 1901 Mr. Costello was appointed a member of the following Commit-tees: Chairman of Labor and Indus-tries, member of Ways and Means, Railroads.

Once more nominated in 1901 Mr. Costello received 4,355 votes; Albert S. Barker, Democrat. 2,378.

Speaker Nixon, in 1902, appointed Mr. Costello a member of the following Assembly Committees: Chairman of Labor and Industries; member of Ways and Means, and Railroads.

As a candidate for Assemblyman again in 1903 Mr. Costello received 4,584 votes; Edward C. McCarthy, Democrat, 2,645 votes.

In 1903 Speaker Nixon appointed Mr. Costello a member of the following Assembly Committees: Chairman of Labor and Industries; member of Ways and Means, and Railroads.

New York State Red Book 1903 Pages 121- 122.