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 pre?minent in their own and many other states. V.6 > Part 50
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In 1899, he was appointed a conductor of teachers' institutes, and, for the ensu- ing decade, was thus engaged. As a con- ductor he was eminently successful. With competent teachers and instructive lecturers scheduled upon his programs, himself indulged in little theorizing, in his periods, but drew for his points mainly upon his experience as a teacher, dealing with reading and the creating of a taste for good reading, arithmetic and the development of the habit of accuracy ; English and the ability to speak briefly, logically and forcefully ; history and how it should be taught and for what pur- pose ; and school management. It may be added pertinently that his stately pres- ence and authoritative mien were not without influence in the conduct and con- trol of his audiences. Since January I, 1912, Dr. Williams has been chief of the Division of School Libraries, an impor- tant position, congenial to his taste. Dr. Williams's favorite study, as already inti- mated, has been that of history-particu- larly that of his own State-and in this line he has published a number of books, primarily intended for supplementary reading in the schools, but, precise in in- formation and couched in a perspicuous and pleasing style, they have attracted
the attention of students and readers gen- erally and have wide and remunerative circulation. Among these are "Selections for Memorizing," with L. C. Foster (1890) and "Choice Literature" (1906), both in- telligent compilations; and he is the author of "Some Successful Americans" (1904), "Stories from Early New York History" (Colonial, 1912), and "New York's Part in History" (1915), his most ambitious production. Dr. Williams is a charter member of the New York State Historical Society, and to him its remark- able growth and abundant activities are largely due. He has been a trustee from the start; was for a number of years a vice-president and is now (1916) serving his second term as president efficiently and acceptably.
In each community, in which he has re- sided-notably in Glens Falls, his long- est habitation-he has been a public- spirited citizen, identified with its social, literary and religious life, its institutions and its well-being. He has been, among other things, trustee of the Crandall estate, and of the Crandall Free Library, and he organized the Building and Loan Association, being a director thereof so long as he remained in Glens Falls. In religion he is of the Methodist Episcopal communion. In politics he has ever been an earnest Republican, not hesitating, however, to combat all wrong-doing which has been perpetrated in its name, and independent in his action when in- dependence was demanded, candid in his speech and bold, even severe, in his criti- cism of evil policies and corrupt leader- ship. He now resides at 290 West Law- rence street, Albany.
SYMONDS, Charles S., Banker.
Charles Stanley Symonds, prominent as financier, State and city official and littera-
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teur, was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, the eldest son of Charles Fitch, manufacturer, and Sarah Louise (Grannis) Symonds. In the pa- ternal line he is in descent from the Rev. James Fitch, closely identified with the work of the "Apostle," John Eliot, and the principal founder of Norwich, Con- necticut.
Charles Stanley Symonds was educated at the grammar schools and Jefferson County Institute of his native city, and at Charles Bartlett's High School at Poughkeepsie, a famous institution in its day. Although prepared for, he did not enter college, but read law, for a time, in the office of Brown & Beach, but did not complete his legal studies. He found employment in Wooster Sher- man's Bank and the Watertown Bank, thus beginning the business in which he has been engaged continuously for over fifty years. Removing to Utica, he en- tered the Bank of Central New York as a clerk, and later the Utica City, which was subsequently made the Utica City National Bank, of which, rising through various grades, he became cashier March 6, 1868, and president April 17, 1885, the position he still retains. He married, Jan- uary 18, 1876, Mary Ella, second daugh- ter of Thomas Brockway and Ursula Ann (Elliott) Fitch, of Syracuse-an espe- cially happy union, sadly ended by her death on her thirty-fifth birthday, May 23, 1885, two sons, Charles Fitch and Harold Wilson Symonds, both now busi- ness men in Utica, surviving. Mr. Symonds has not again married.
He is, to-day, among the oldest, as well as one of the most prominent and suc- cessful, bankers in the State, outside of the metropolis. The soul of integrity, sagacious in thought and conservative in his administration, courteous in address and helpful in all his ways, he has brought
the bank of which he has so long been the head, to a high standard of efficiency and usefulness, with abundant resources, a splendid building, hosts of depositors and the entire confidence of the community-a marked trust also in him personally, as evidenced in the large number of estates committed to his charge either as execu- tor or administrator. He has also been engaged in many business activities, in- dependent of the bank, and an officer in many corporations. He is a director in the International Heater Company of Utica; the Utica Gas and Electric Com- pany; the Consolidated Water Company and the Robert Wicks Company. He is secretary, treasurer and director in the Utica, Clinton & Binghamton Railroad Company ; director and treasurer in the Utica Canning Company and director and vice-president of the Utica Trust and De- posit Company; trustee of the Savings Bank of Utica; has been director in the Northern New York Trust Company and Binghamton Trust Company ; was a trus- tee for many years of the Utica Ceme- tery Association, also of the Utica Art Association. He has also been identi- fied notably with city and State philan- thropics. In religion he is of the Protes- tant Episcopal communion and vestry- man of Grace Church and trustee of the House of the Good Shepherd. He was trustee of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation (1887-89). He was appointed manager of the State Lunatic Asylum by Governor Hill, April 13, 1890, and of the Utica State Hospital by Governor Flower, November 30, 1894, reappointed by Gov- ernor Morton, May 16, 1895, to fill a vacancy and again by Morton, December 2, 1896, for the term of five years to Janu- ary 1, 1902; and to the board of visitation by Governor Odell-these successive des- ignations by executives of the two great parties showing that Mr. Symonds' pref-
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erment was quite independent of any a linguistic student, versed in German political considerations.
Mr. Symonds has always been an earn- est Republican and has received much consideration from his party, such offices, however, as he has held, in all instances have been without emolument, voluntary service on his part, although he has been repeatedly pressed to become a candidate for legislative and executive positions. The only elective office he has filled, and that without fees attaching to it, is that of school commissioner for seven years. He was commissioned by Governor Mor- gan first lieutenant in the Forty-fifth Regiment, Twenty-first Brigade, Sixth Division New York State Militia, August 3, 1861. He was elected a member of the Republican Congressional Committee of his district in 1886, serving thirty years, twenty of which he was chairman. He was a member of the Republican State Committee for six years. He had the honor of nominating James S. Sherman for Representative in Congress each time he ran, save twice. The relations, per- sonal, political and business, between Mr. Symonds and Mr. Sherman were of the most intimate character; and the last office which Mr. Symonds performed for his friend was as chairman of the Citi- zens' Reception Committee on both occa- sions when the latter was notified of his nomination for Vice-President of the United States.
Mr. Symonds is a lover of music, versed in its literature and practiced in its art, especially skilled as a player upon the piano. He was president of the Utica Mendelssohn Club for ten years, of the St. Cecilia Musical Club for a long period, is a member of the Maennerchor Club and is also honorary president of the Utica Philharmonic Society. He is a man of scholarly tastes, a lover of books,
literature and singularly well informed on the German drama. He possesses a splendid library, intelligently selected and his house is adorned with many works of art. He was elected a member of the Oneida Historical Society, 1886, made a life member, January 9, 1900, and served two terms-1902 until 1904-as its presi- dent. He was a member of the literary club, distinctively known as "The Club," for many years, composed of the leading professional and lettered men of the city, before which he read a number of scholarly papers, among them, "Henry Clay," "John C. Calhoun," "Mohammed and the Koran," "Music," "Gotthold Eph- raim Lessing," "Usury," "The Drama from Athens to the Press Writers of Eng- land," "Daniel Webster" and "Eduard Leopold Van Bismarck." He also pre- sided, October 5, 1903, at the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of Jon- athan Edwards in the Munson-Williams building of Utica and delivered an ad- dress upon his life and work. Other ad- dresses might be cited, but sufficient has been given to reveal the scope of his thought and the felicity of his utterance. He is a member of the societies of Colo- nial Governors, Colonial Wars, May- flower Descendants, Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution and Sons of Oneida.
He is passing his declining years among his books, and his children -- a grandfather now-in his elegant residence on Genesee street, and at his bank, still vigorous in his faculties and receiving the fullest measure of public esteem, with intervals of travel, and the enjoyments of the Maganassippi Fish and Game Club, Can- ada ; the Yohnundasis Golf Club of Utica. He is a member also of the Fort Schuyler Club of Utica, the Rome Club and the local Republican Club.
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WEBSTER, Roy C., V Lawyer.
Honored is the name of Webster wher- ever Americans are found, not only in New England, where John Webster, the founder, first settled on coming from Eng- land in the earliest Colonial days, but wherever the English language is spoken, the names of the lexicographer, Noah Webster, and the statesman, Daniel Web- ster, are spoken with the deepest respect and admiration. In Rochester, where a descendant of John Webster, the founder, settled about the middle of the nineteenth century, the name is an equally honored one, borne by Edward Webster, a gradu- ate of Dartmouth College, editor and lawyer, and his son, Roy C. Webster, who since 1880 has been a member of the Rochester bar. The founder of this branch of the descendants of John Web- ster in the State of New York was Uri Webster, a second cousin of Noah Web- ster, the lexicographer, who like his cous- in was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. Uri Webster came to West Bloomfield, New York, about one hundred years ago, and conducted his own woolen mill at Factory Hollow for several years.
There his son, Edward Webster, was born, who after a brilliant career died at his home in Rochester, May 27, 1900, leaving a son, Roy C. Webster, to con- tinue the law business the father had founded and both had aided in upbuild- ing. Edward Webster aspired to higher educational attainment, and after com- pleting the public school courses in West Bloomfield schools he entered Dartmouth College. His means were limited, but by economy and industry he made the money he had with what he earned finance his college course to graduation. He had bountiful capital, however, but it consisted of courage, energy and deter- mination, these overcoming the lack of
cash and enabling him to complete a course in law study in Boston, where he was admitted to the Massachusetts bar. In looking about for a location he decided upon Rochester, but he did not at once begin law practice. For two years he taught in old public school No. 6, then accepted a position as assistant editor of a Boston, Massachusetts, newspaper Later he became chief editor and while in that position wrote an editorial upon his kinsman, Daniel Webster, the states- man, whose death had just occurred. Rochester soon after again called him and for several years in that city he edited the "Rural New Yorker." With the estab- lishment of the Rochester Free Academy he became assistant principal of that in- stitution and in 1857 was chosen princi- pal, serving until 1863, his connection with the academy greatly increasing the reputation of the school and establishing Mr. Webster among the able educators of his day.
In 1863 he resigned his position as prin- cipal of the academy and henceforth his connection was with the law, the profes- sion for which he had prepared but had not hitherto followed, circumstances lead- ing him into journalism and pedagogy. He won instant recognition at the Mon- roe county bar, for he was thoroughly equipped for the practice of his profes- sion, and during his years as editor of the "Rural New Yorker" and as principal of the Free Academy he had made a large acquaintance and many close friends. In 1871 he rented offices in the Powers Building, the same yet being occupied by his son, Roy C. Webster, forty-five years later, a record in the city for continuous occupancy of offices. After a long and honorable career as journalist, educator and lawyer, Edward Webster, "joined the innumerable caravan."
Roy C. Webster, son of Edward and Polly A. (Andrews) Webster, was born
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in Rochester, New York, April 16, 1858. After completing the work of the grades in public school No. 6, he completed college preparation in Rochester Free Academy, graduating with the class of 1874. The next four years were spent as a student in the University of Rochester, receiving his degree A. B. from that insti- tution, class of 1878. He then studied law for two years, and in October, 1880, was admitted to the Monroe county bar. He at once began practice in Rochester, his honored father admitting him to part- nership and together they practiced until death dissolved the bond. Since that time he has practiced alone retaining the offices 303 Powers Building, which since 1871 has borne the name of Webster upon the door. He is not only learned in the law but is a man of broad culture and re- finement, interested in all good works and true to the best traditions of the honored family name he bears. He has a large practice in the State and Federal courts of the district and has been connected with a great many of the more important cases brought before those courts. He is a member of the various law associations and is highly esteemed by his profes- sional brethren of the bench and bar.
The following case excited deep in- terest and is one of the many of note which Mr. Webster has brought to suc- cessful issue. In the cause quoted he was counsel for the respondent.
SUPREME COURT. MONROE COUNTY.
The People of the State of New York, on the Relation of DANIEL W. POWERS, Respondent,
against
EDWIN A. KALBFLEISCH, HENRY C. MUNN and EDWARD B. BURGESS, Assessors of The City of Rochester, Monroe County, New York,
Appellants.
The above proceeding was brought for the purpose of reviewing the action of the assessors in assessing the building known as "Powers Block" at the sum of $1,000,- 000 for the purposes of general taxation. For more than ten years prior to the com- mencement of this proceeding the build- ing and land were assessed at $1,035,000. Each year Mr. Powers had protested against this assessment, claiming that the valuation was excessive, but to no pur- pose. In the year 1896 Mr. Powers again appeared before the assessors and filed a protest against the valuation placed on the property (building and premises) and the amount was reduced to $1,000,000. Still feeling an injustice had been done, he commenced the proceeding. It was tried before Hon. George W. Cowles, of Clyde, New York, as referee, who re- ported that the property was over as- sessed $175,000, placing its value at $825,- 000. The referee's report was affirmed by the Supreme Court at special term ; Jus- tice Edwin A. Nash presiding. An appeal was then taken from the judgment and order entered to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Fourth Depart- ment, and the judgment and order sus- tained by an unanimous decision. De- fendants then appealed to the Court of Appeals. The appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeals, June 7, 1898.
The proceeding is in many respects novel and interesting on account of the value and reputation of the subject-mat- ter involved and the fact that this is the first time the judgment of the assessors was called in question and reviewed on the determination of a general city tax. It is of the utmost importance as it forms a precedent and establishes the rule gov- erning and controlling assessors in esti- mating the value of commercial property in the State of New York.
Mr. Webster is attorney for the Ameri- can Express Company, the Westcott Ex-
N Y-4-23
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press Company and numerous other cor- porations in addition to the large private interests he serves. He is a Republican in politics, and thoroughly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen. From 1890 until 1892 he was a member of the school board and from 1892 until 1898 was civil service commissioner. He served with admirable zeal in both positions and in many ways has attested his loyalty and his public-spirited interest in the city of his birth. He is a member of the Brick Presbyterian Church which for many years his father served as elder, and is con- nected with the Masonic order, affiliating with Corinthian Lodge.
Mr. Webster married, March 20, 1901, Florence A. Kerwin, of Rochester. They are the parents of a daughter, Marian Florence. The family home is at No. 1115 Lake avenue.
JUDSON, John Brown, Printer, Public Official.
John Brown Judson is a member of one of the old New York families, a family representative of the best type which came from the "Mother Country" and established English blood and English in- stitutions as the foundation of the social structure in the United States. Domi- nant and persistent in character, it has given its prevailing traits to the popula- tion of this country, which no subsequent inroads of foreign races have sufficed to submerge, and has formed a base for our citizenship upon which the whole vast and composite fabric of this growing people is being erected in safety. It was sometime prior to the last decade of the eighteenth century that Deacon Daniel Judson, the progenitor of the Judsons in Fulton county, New York, settled in what was then the little village of Kingsboro, New York, which has since grown to be the flourishing city of Gloversville. With
this progress the descendants of Deacon Judson have been most intimately identi- fied, especially with the upbuilding of the great glove industry which has given the place its name and put it among the in- dustrial centers of the country. Deacon Judson's descendants are very numerous in the region of the city and all the lines of descent have carried on the worthy traditions bequeathed them by their foun- der. It is from the second son, Elisha, that the branch of the family with which we are concerned is derived, the members thereof having continued to make their home in Kingsboro or Gloversville down to the present day. This Elisha Judson was born in 1765, and followed the occu- pation of farming all his life with the ex- ception of the Revolutionary period dur- ing which he distinguished himself as a soldier in the Continental army. His wife, who was Lucy Case before her mar- riage, was born in 1766, and they were the parents of six children: Sylvester, Sylvanus, Gurdon, Elisha, Lucy and Alan- son. The son Elisha was the grandfather of the Mr. Judson of this sketch. Like his father he was a farmer, but he was also engaged in the making of gloves, being the first member of the family to enter this business. He may, therefore, properly be called one of the founders of the immense business which in the next generation grew to such large propor- tions. He and his wife, who was Rachel B. Brown before her marriage, were the parents of three children : Daniel Brown, John Wesley and Elisha, of whom the eldest was our Mr. Judson's father.
Daniel Brown Judson was a man of un- usual ability and marked talents for the practical affairs of life. A great organ- izer and manager, he also possessed a wonderfully receptive mind and it has been said of him by Professor Sprague in his "Gloversville History" that "he had less to learn and less to unlearn than com-
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monly befalls when he came to grapple with the duties of active life." His abil- ities quickly made themselves felt even as a school boy nor did they cease to be ap- parent until the time of his death. After the completion of his schooling he taught for a time, but finally turned his attention to the manufacture of gloves in which his father had gained a considerable success. It was his purpose, however, to conduct it upon a much larger scale than any- thing his father had ever contemplated, and this purpose he rapidly carried out in spite of obstacles by no means slight. His great plant included besides the large mills where the gloves themselves were cut and sewed two leather mills where the leather used in their product was dressed. During the seventies, when the industry had reached to its greatest importance, it was the largest in the world at that time and Mr. Judson, Sr., became one of the most prominent figures, not only in the glove trade, but in the commercial and industrial world generally. He was one of the most prominent figures in his own town and county and held many impor- tant positions there. He was among other things vice-president of the Fulton County National Bank for many years, and was conspicuous in the affairs of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches. One of the connections in which he was best known was that of his activities as a member of the Democratic party in New York State. A man of ready intellect, whose thoughts had been turned since childhood to political issues, he was also possessed of that essential to popular leadership, a strong and attrac- tive personality. He was a fluent and forceful speaker, as well, and these quali- ties could not fail to gain a great prestige with his fellow Democrats in Fulton county. He was his party's candidate for a number of important offices, among
others for Congress in the year when the ticket was headed by Horace Greeley. He married, March 10, 1852, Phoebe E. Brown, of Gloversville, a daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Mosher) Brown. Their children, who were six in number, were as follows: I. Edward Wall, born January 30, 1853, at Gloversville ; has had a very successful career as a member of the firm of Baker & Judson, contractors for heavy construction work; married Blanche Cutter, of Cincinnati, Ohio. 2. Daniel Brown, Jr., born February 13, 1855, died February 14, 1857. 3. Mary Louise, born December 3, 1857; married Alvah J. Zimmer, to whom she bore four children: Judson, Ruth, Janet and Hor- ace. 4. John Brown, of whom further. 5. Horace Sprague, born June 10, 1863 ; mar- ried (first) Jessie Belden, (second) Mabel Marstellar. 6. Daniel Bingham, born June 2, 1866, died February 21, 1903; married Nettie Morrison.
John Brown Judson, the fourth child of Daniel Brown and Phoebe E. (Brown) Judson, was born August 20, 1861, at Gloversville, New York. He has inher- ited the talents and abilities of his father and now occupies much the same place as did the elder man in former times in the regard of the community. His education, which has been a very complete one, was begun in the public schools of his native town. A course in the Kingsboro Acad- emy followed and his studies were com- pleted at Williston Seminary, Williston, Massachusetts. Like his father, he showed great aptness as a student and drew upon himself the favorable regard of his mas- ters and instructors. Upon leaving the Williston Seminary, he returned to his native city, which has continued to be his home ever since. He was scarcely more than a boy at the time, but remarkably enterprising and alert, and not only suc- ceeded in mastering the craft of printing
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but by the time he was sixteen years of age had established a job printing office of his own at Gloversville. It is not often the case that the business experiments of such extreme youth are permanently suc- cessful, yet this was so in Mr. Judson's case, and the little printing trade estab- lished by him then has met with un- broken success down to the present time, having developed in the meantime to great proportions. His success has been largely due to the fact that he early mas- tered every detail of his craft and was able to turn out work far superior to that of his competitors, work that bore the stamp of his original personality in a cor- responding originality and an attractive- ness of design of its own. These qualities have not diminished but increased with the passing of the years and the gaining of experience and Mr. Judson's business is now on a more secure basis than ever. His specialty is business stationery, it being his intention from the start to make his product fit the needs of the great manufacturing concerns, especially the glove companies of the city. In this he has succeeded remarkably well and has now a large market for his goods among glove makers, not merely in his own locality, but throughout the United States and Canada. Another matter to which Mr. Judson has directed his attention, in- creasingly so of late years, is the field of real estate in his native city. He has realized with his usual foresight and sagacity that the value of property in a growing community like Gloversville is bound to rise as a general proposition and that it only required judgment in select- ing them to make such properties the best of imaginable investments. He has never lost sight of the general interests of the community, however, in any of the transactions he has entered into and has rather consulted its welfare in everything
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