USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them preeminent in their own and many other states, Vol. 3 > Part 41
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Mr. Belden is a member of the First
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Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, and liberal in his support thereof; in fact is the donor of many more contributions to religious and charitable institutions than appear on the public records, a large pro- portion of his benefactions remaining un- announced in accordance with his wish. He holds membership in the Citizen's Club, the Century Club, the Onondaga Club, and the Country Club, all of Syra- cuse. He also belongs to the Transporta- tion Club of New York, and to the New York City Branch of the Automobile Club of America. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party.
On September 10, 1862, Mr. Belden was married to Augusta, daughter of Isaac R. and Susan (Case) Pharis, of Syracuse.
Now, having retired from active par- ticipation in matters of business, outside those bearing direct relation to his con- siderable vested interests, Mr. Belden is able to, and does, give much time to the enjoyment of a pleasure in which he could not indulge during the busy periods of his life-he is an enthusiastic sports- man and is often seen in the north woods of the Adirondacks.
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DENISON, Howard P., M. A., LL. D., Lawyer, Professional Instructor.
No class of citizens should be so well prepared for public life as the lawyers, their training for the bar fitting them for framing or executing the laws, and in these lie the principles of government. The work of the legal profession is to formulate, to harmonize, to regulate, to adjust, to administer those rules and prin- ciples that underlie and permeate all government and society and control the varied relations of man. As thus viewed there attaches to the legal profession a nobleness that cannot but be reflected in the life of the true lawyer who, conscious
of the greatness of his profession and honest in the pursuit of his purpose, em- braces the richness of learning, the pro- foundness of wisdom, the firmness of in- tegrity and the purity of morals, together with the graces of modesty, courtesy and the general amenities of life.
Howard P. Denison, of Syracuse, New York, whose reputation as a patent lawyer is world wide, is certainly a type of this class of lawyers, and as such he stands among the most eminent members of his profession. In every department of the law he is well versed, having a very ac- curate and comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, but he has made a specialty of patent law, and in this line has won a most desirable and en- viable position. Cases of great importance have been entrusted to his care and he has shown that he is fully conpetent to handle the intricate problems of jurispru- dence involved in their solution. His keenly analytical mind enables him to apply to the point in litigation the prin- ciples of jurisprudence bearing most closely upon it, citing authority and pre- cedents until the strength of his case is clearly seen. He is a scion of several old families. His paternal grandmother was a member of the Klock family of Holland descent, the original representative of the name in America building the Klock fort at St. Johnsville, New York, in 1750. In the maternal line he is descended from the Bensons, who sailed from England in 1692 and became residents of Newport, Rhode Island, Where the family and its descendants resided for several genera- tions. His great-great-grandfather, Wil- liam Benson, was a Baptist clergyman, holding many important pulpits in New England ; he died in 1818 and is buried at Pomfret, Connecticut. His great-uncle, John Benson, a pronounced abolitionist and intimately associated with his cousin,
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William Lloyd Garrison, and Wendell Phillips, was the first manufacturer of silk at Paterson, New Jersey, establish- ing that industry in the year 1844. Mr. Denison resided with Mr. Benson in 1868.
Howard P. Denison, son of Le Roy W. Denison, was born in Parish, Oswego county, New York, May 28, 1859. His childhood and earlier youthful years were spent in Euclid, New York, where he acquired his elementary education. He continued his studies at Cazenovia Acad- emy, which he entered in 1876, remained there two years, then entered Greenwich Academy, at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and there prepared for college during the next two years. After his graduation from Greenwich Academy in 1880, he was for a period of two years engaged in filling the position of principal of a grammar school at Portland, Con- necticut, and, having matriculated at Wesleyan University in 1881, with the class of 1885, he there completed his classical education. Following this he traveled abroad for a time, taking up his residence in Syracuse, New York, upon his return, and has been closely identified with the interests of that city since that time. After a thorough and comprehen- sive preparation, he was admitted to the bar at Syracuse in 1887. His studies in this direction were partly pursued in the office of the Hon. Charles H. Duell, later Commissioner of Patents, and judge of United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, with whom he formed a connection in 1886 as manag- ing clerk. A partnership was entered into with the late Cornelius W. Smith in 1888, this association being continued with the greatest harmony and success until the death of Mr. Smith in 1899, since which time Mr. Denison has practiced alone. Patent law is one of the most
difficult branches of the legal profession, requiring a most extended general knowl- edge along all lines of enterprise and progress in the business and scientific lines. No man was better qualified for the conduct of this important branch of litigation than Mr. Denison. The number of patents he has taken out runs into the thousands, these including some of the largest patent and trade-mark cases ever brought before the United States courts. At Detroit he argued the famous Harrow cases before the United States courts for the defendants, the Eureka Mower Com- pany, in an action brought by the Na- tional Harrow Trust. The case involved the question of infringement in over seventy cases brought upon the same patent in New York, West Virginia and Michigan. So thoroughly was the court convinced at the close of his argument that there was no infringement that the cases were all decided for the defendants and the bill-of-complaint dismissed.
The press at that time said: "It is quite unusual for a court to dismiss a bill in a patent case at the close of the argu- ment. It is only done in rare cases where the court is convinced that it is absolutely right in the decision." Perhaps no better indication of the ability and well de- veloped talents of Mr. Denison can be given than by quoting from one of the Supreme Court justices of the state, who, in writing to President Roosevelt recom- mending the appointment of Mr. Denison for the position of judge of the United States District Court, said : "He posseses splendid abilities, great legal learning, especially in the law patents, and in patent litigation ; he is a man of integrity, is the soul of honor, is an ardent and in- fluential Republican, is always loyal to his friends, possesses a judicial tempera- ment and is a man of untiring industry and energy. I believe that he is in every
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essential remarkably qualified for the dis- charge of the duties of that office." The "Mercantile and Financial Times," in com- menting upon his candidacy said: "Mr. Denison has successfully practiced this branch of his profession for fifteen years and is the lecturer on patent law in the Law College of the Syracuse University. Of this qualification, therefore, for the position with which his name is men- tioned there can be no question, and in the event of his appointment he would acquit himself in a manner to justify his high reputation for ability and the confi- dence reposed in him. In view of these facts and others which we could mention were it necessary to know we are but echoing popular sentiment when we say it is sincerely hoped Mr. Denison will receive the appointment."
As a lecturer on Patent Law in the Law College of Syracuse University, Mr. Denison has earned well merited com- mendation for many years, and he is the founder of and maintains the Denison Declamation prizes in that institution. The degree of Master of Arts was con- ferred in 1905 upon him by Wesleyan University, of Middletown, Connecticut, and also by Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1900, and Syracuse University conferred upon him in 1915 the degree of LL. D. This latter degree affords him great gratification for the reason that it was conferred by the university of his home city, under whose shadows he has lived for twenty-five years.
Mr. Denison has a beautiful country estate at Skaneateles, New York, where he spends with his family a large portion of each year. He is a member of the "Tri- lon Fish and Game Club" of Canada. He was elected a trustee of Cazenovia Semi- nary in October, 1900. His fraternal affili- ation is not an extensive one, the demands
of his professional work precluding this, and is limited to membership in the Alpha Delta Phi college fraternity. His pro- fessional membership is with the Ameri- can Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.
Mr. Denison married, October 14, 1886, Bessie E. Hildreth, of Herkimer, New York, a daughter of the late Henan J. Hildreth, and a descendant of one of the oldest families of Herkimer county. Three children have blessed this union, one daughter, Marian H., and two sons, H. Hildreth and Winthrop W. The daugh- ter (recently deceased) became the wife of Eugene A. Thompson, who is associated with Mr. Denison in his law practice. He has two granddaughters: Mary Jane Thompson and Marian Denison Thomp- san. The son, H. Hildreth, died in 1908. Winthrop Will is a student at Lawrence- ville School, New Jersey.
HOBART, Henry Lee, Merchant and Churchman.
For thirty-four years Mr. Hobart was successfully engaged in business in New York City, as head of Henry L. Hobart & Company, but on January 1, 1914, he retired from active business pursuits and has since devoted himself to those insti- tutions of philanthropy and the church with which he had long taken more than a passive interest. Those thirty-four years do not cover entirely the period of his business activity, since prior to 1880 he had been variously connected with the business world. He is a son of James Thomas and Anne (Newell) Hobart, who were prominent in the State of Massa- chusetts, where they resided. They trace their line of descent from Edmund Ho- . bart, who settled in Hingham, Massa- chusetts, in 1633. Another descendant of this ancestor was John Henry Hobart,
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rector of Trinity Church and bishop of New York.
Henry Lee Hobart was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, July 26, 1845, and is now (1916) approaching the seventy-first anni- versary of his birth. His early youth was spent in this city, but in 1857 he came to New York City and there completed his studies at the "Free Academy," now known as the College of the City of New York, a member of the class of 1866, but not a graduate. Upon leaving college he engaged in business, and became one of the solid, conservative merchants of New York City. In 1880 he founded the firm of Henry L. Hobart & Company, dealers in sugar, molasses and rice, and until his retirement, January 1, 1914, was the hon- ored head of that well known house. Al- though yielding to no citizen in loyalty or interest, Mr. Hobart has taken no part in public affairs beyond the per- formance of the duties devolving upon all alike, never accepting nor desiring public office. His chief interest has been in Trinity Church and her activities and in the various philanthropies particularly appealing to his generous, sympathetic nature, and in these he bears a promi- nent part.
He became a member of Trinity parish in 1895 and has since been one of her faithful, useful sons. He is also a mem- ber of The Trinity Church Association, and the Diocesan Missionary Committee ; a vice-president of the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society ; trus- tee of the Seaman's Church Institute, of the Sheltering Arms, and of the New York Training School for Deaconesses; secretary of the Cathedral League, and a vestryman of St. Luke's Church at East- hampton, Long Island, his summer home. He holds membership in The Pilgrims', the Union League, Church and Independ- ent clubs of New York, the Maidstone
Club of Easthampton, the Down Town Association, and the New York Cham- ber of Commerce. These affiliations show Mr. Hobart to be a man of broad-minded nature, diligent in his business prusuits, strong in his church activity, and enjoy- ing social fellowship through his club memberships. Mr. Hobart has his sum- mer home at Easthampton, Long Island, known as "Sommarina," where he spends seven months of the year.
Mr. Hobart married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1888, Marie Elizabeth Jefferys, a sketch of whom fol- lows, born in Liege, Belgium, February 16, 1860, a daughter of Charles Peter Beauchamp and Elizabeth (Miller) Jef- ferys. Mrs. Hobart is the author of The St. Agnes Mystery Plays. Children : Margaret Jefferys, a sketch of whom fol- lows; Rosamond, born August 9, 1892, died July 16, 1908; Charles Jefferys, born December 30, 1894, died June 14, 1910; Elizabeth Miller, born August 10, 1896, died October 17, 1896.
HOBART, Marie Elizabeth (Jefferys), Authoress.
Of social prominence in New York, the city which claims her as a resident, and equally so in Philadelphia, the city of her kith and kin, Mrs. Hobart has through her published volumes won further dis- tinction as an authoress. She is a daugh- ter of Charles Peter Beauchamp Jefferys, a civil engineer of Philadelphia, and his wife, Elizabeth (Miller ) Jefferys.
Marie Elizabeth Jefferys was born in Liege, Belgium, February 16, 1860, her American parents returning to the United States with their infant daughter the fol- lowing June. Her maidenhood was passed in Philadelphia, her education carefully guided by private tutors in her own home. Her tastes, strongly literary,
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were given full rein, her environment, family tradition and station favoring a literary career did she choose to pursue it. Although she wrote and published sev- eral years before, it was not until 1904 that her first published volume, "Lady Catechism and the Child," appeared, fol- lowed in 1905 by "The Little Pilgrims of the Book Beloved." She published the "Vision of St. Agnes Eve," in 1906; "Athanasius" in 1909; "The Sunset Hour" in 1911; and "The Great Trail" in 1913. The critics have dealt most kindly with these books and assigned Mrs. Hobart's writings an honored place in the litera- ture of her country. She is a member of Trinity Parish, New York City. She was married in St. Peter's Church, Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1888, to Henry Lee Hobart, of previous men- tion.
HOBART, Margaret Jefferys, Authoress.
The eldest daughter of Henry Lee and Marie Elizabeth (Jefferys) Hobart, whose useful lives have ever been her inspira- tion and her guide, Miss Hobart in her own right has won an assured position in church and literary circles.
She was born in New York City, De- cember 1, 1889. After preparation at the Brearley School, New York City, and graduation in 1907, she entered Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, whence she was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree, class of 1911. From the year of her graduation until the present (1916), Miss Hobart has been assistant to the educational secretary, Church Missions House, New York, and during 1912-14 was librarian of the Church Missions House. She is a member of Trinity Par- ish, The Bryn Mawr Club of New York City, and various church and social or- ganizations.
Miss Hobart published in 1912 (with
Arthur R. Gray) "Japan Advancing- Whither?" and the same year under her own name, "Institutions Connected with the Japan Mission of the American Church ;" "Voices from Everywhere" was published in 1914; "Then and Now" the same year.
ABBOTT, John Beach,
Lawyer, Editor.
Of distinguished American ancestry and son of a cultured, scholarly father, John B. Abbott, after exhaustive prepara- tion in private school, academy and uni- versity embraced his honored father's profession and was admitted to the bar in 1880. Since that time he has con- tinuously practiced at the New York bar, a member of both the Livingston and Monroe county bars, his residence at Geneseo, his offices No. 814 Powers building, Rochester. Eminent as a lawyer he has won further distinction as a jour- nalist and for thirty years has been the spokesman of the Democracy of Living- ston county, as editor of the "Living- ston Democrat." Public honors have been bestowed upon him including the offices of judge and surrogate of Living- ston county, and postmaster of Geneseo. He is a son of Adoniram J. and Mary (Beach) Abbott, his father born in 1819, died at Geneseo, New York, in 1898, a leading lawyer of the Livingston county bar for half a century, 1848-1898.
John Beach Abbott was born at Dans- ville, Livingston county, New York, De- cember 31, 1854. He was educated in public school, Geneseo Union Free School, Geneseo Academy, Le Roy Aca- demic Institute, Geneseo State Normal School and the University of Rochester. After completing his university course he studied law, being admitted to the New York State bar in 1880, coming to the Monroe bar in 1901. Six years after his admission he became editor of the
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"Livingston Democrat," published at Geneseo, New York, and from that date (1886) has continued its editorial head, also maintaining Geneseo as his legal residence. He is a learned and able lawyer, has an extensive practice at both bars and is highly regarded as a man of honor as well as of professional strength. He served as county judge and surrogate of Livingston county from August 27 to December 31, 1914, having been ap- pointed by Governor Martin H. McGlynn, county judge and surrogate of the county to fill a vacancy. Since 1903 he has been president of the Livingston County Bar Association ; is a member of the Roches- ter Bar and New York State Bar asso- ciations.
A Democrat in politics he has made the "Livingston Democrat" a powerful party organ and is recognized as a party leader. He has represented his district in many conventions and is one of that inner circle which dominates district and State conventions, and has made the Democracy of Western New York a power which the Eastern State leaders must reckon with. He was postmaster of Geneseo, 1888-1890, but with that exception he has held only the offices named, those being of a purely legal nature. He is a strong and effective orator before court, jury or audience and has made frequent platform appearances. As an editorial writer he has gained State fame and is a powerful advocate for any cause he espouses. His clubs are the Geneseo and Rifle of Geneseo, his college fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian.
Mr. Abbott married, August 29, 1878, at LeRoy, New York, Louise M., daugh- ter of Aloysius and Catherine Schmit, her father a lawyer of Barmen, Rhenish Prussia, Germany. The family home is at Geneseo, New York.
JOHNSON, Frank Verner, Lawyer.
Frank Verner Johnson, a successful attorney of New York City, was born at Bradford, Vermont, March 12, 1863. His ancestor, William Johnson, was born in Kent, England, according to tradition, and was an early settler of Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was a planter, was admitted a freeman, March 4, 1635, and was with his wife Elizabeth received into the Charlestown church, February 13, 1635. He made a deposition, now on file, December 29, 1657, stating his age as fifty-four years, from which we learn that he was born in 1603. In early family records it is stated that "he was a Puritan of good parts and education, and brought with him from England a wife and child and means." He died December 9, 1677, his widow in 1685, leaving six sons and a daughter.
Joseph Johnson, son of William and Elizabeth Johnson, was born in Charles- town, and baptized there by Rev. Thomas James, February 12, 1637. He was one of the founders and proprietors of Haver- hill, Massachusetts, whither he and his brother John removed from Charlestown. He held various town offices. He mar- ried (first) Mary Soatlie, and (second) in 1666, Hannah, daughter of Ensign Thomas Tenney, of Rowley, England.
Thomas Johnson, son of Joseph and Hannah (Tenney) Johnson, was born December 11, 1670, in Haverhill, and died February 18, 1742. He was a town officer, one of the founders of the Haver- hill North Parish Church, of which he was elected deacon, March 23, 1732, and of which his own family at its foundation constituted a fifth of the membership. He married, May 1, 1700, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Cornelius and Martha (Clough) Page, granddaughter of John
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Clough, of Salisbury, Massachusetts, who came from London in 1635 in the ship "Elizabeth." She died June 12, 1752.
Hon. John Johnson, son of Deacon Thomas and Elizabeth (Page) Johnson, was born at Haverhill, North Parish, No- vember 15, 17II, and was one of the founders and earliest settlers of Hamp- stead, New Hampshire, formerly a part of Haverhill. He procured the charter for the town and was paid his expense by vote of the town, May 30, 1750. Gov- ernor Benning Wentworth, the royal gov- ernor, appointed him a magistrate, and he was one of the justices of the Court of General Sessions at Portsmouth for the Province of New Hampshire. He died April 1, 1762, leaving five surviving sons, all of whom adhered to the cause of the patriots during the Revolution. He married (first) Sarah Haynes, and (second) Sarah Morse. Haynes John- son, son of Hon. John and Sarah (Haynes) Johnson, was born at Hamp- stead, New Hampshire, August 28, 1749. At an early age he went from Hampstead with his elder brother Thomas as one of the first settlers in that part of the Con- necticut Valley known then as the "Coos" or "Cohass" country, which included the Ox-bow and other rich meadows in the present town of Haverhill, New Hamp- shire, and Newbury and Bradford, Ver- mont. The town of Mooretown, subse- quently Bradford, received its charter in 1770, and at an annual town meeting, May 1, 1775, it was voted to raise a stock of ammunition and Haynes Johnson and Benjamin Jenkins were made "a commit- tee to look out and procure a stock of powder, lead and flints." While actively engaged in his duties on this committee he was taken ill and died at Concord, New Hampshire, September 2, 1775. He married Elizabeth Elliot, and had three children.
Captain Haynes (2) Johnson, son of
Haynes (1) and Elizabeth (Elliot) John- son, was born August 13, 1775, in New- bury, Vermont, and died November I, 1863. He settled on a large farm on the Connecticut river, in the town of Brad- ford, Vermont, was for a long time cap- tain of the Bradford militia company, and was all his life prominent in town and military affairs. He and his wife were members of the Congregational church of Bradford. He married, April 8, 1802, Jane, daughter of Captain Ezekiel Sawyer, who served as an officer in the Revolutionary army.
Thomas Johnson, son of Captain Haynes (2) and Jane (Sawyer) John- son, was born December 13, 1816, at Bradford, and died March 6, 1894. He attended the public schools of his native town, and when a young man left home to work in Boston and Charlestown, Mas- sachusetts. In 1856 he purchased and settled on the large river farm in Brad- ford, adjoining the place on which he was born, and there spent the remainder of his life. The local newspaper, at the time of his death, said: "Mr. Johnson was an upright man in all his dealings, and was one of the most respected and substantial citizens of Bradford. He was one of the best representatives of the old class of citizens who made Vermont what it is." He married, February 12, 1862, Harriet E., daughter of Christopher and Emily (Walker) Avery, of Corinth, Ver- mont, a descendant of Captain James and Joanna (Greenslade) Avery, who were among the first settlers of New London, Connecticut. Her maternal grandfather was a lieutenant in the Revolution. Chil- dren: Frank Verner, mentioned below; Charles Forster, born August 6, 1865; Herbert Thomas, January 27, 1872.
Frank Verner Johnson attended the public schools of his native town and the Bradford Academy, Vermont, graduating in the class of 1882. He then entered 288
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Dartmouth College and was graduated in the class of 1886 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1889 he entered the Law School of Columbia College in New York City, and was admitted to the New York bar in May, 1891. For many years during the earlier period of his profes- sional career he was the New York attor- ney of the Travelers' Insurance Com- pany of Hartford, Connecticut, and de- voted a large part of his time to the defense of negligence actions on behalf of policyholders in that company. He entered upon the general practice of law in New York, and has been especially successful in the field of trial attorney. He is a member of the New York Bar Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the New York County Lawyers' Association, the Man- hattan Club of New York, the Dartmouth College Club of New York, the Founders' and Patriots' Society, and of several col- lege fraternities. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church. He married, April 19, 1893, Evelyn Webber, born August 29, 1866, daughter of Chris- topher and Julia (Cooper) Webber, of Rochester, Vermont, granddaughter of Christopher Webber, Sr., a lawyer of Vermont. Children, born in New York City: Evelyn, April 29, 1894; Frances Virginia, July 3, 1895, died in August, 1896.
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