USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 40
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Reuben H. Walworth, who served as chan- cellor of New York from 1828 to 1848, when the office was abolished, was born October 26, 1788, at Bozrah, Connecticut. He was a son of Benjamin Walworth, whose father, William Walworth, came to Connecticut in 1671, and was a lineal descendant of Lord Mayor Wal-
Charles Mr Daviso
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worth of London, who slew the rebel, Watt Tyler, in the reign of Richard II. Reuben H. Walworth became a lawyer, was appointed a county judge in 1811, served as an officer in the war of 1812, was a member of Congress from 1821 to 1823, and in 1828 was appointed chancellor of New York. As chancellor he greatly distinguished himself, and is justly re- garded as "the great artisan of our equity laws." He renovated and simplified the equity laws of the United States, and made his court of chancery a tribunal of well de- fined powers and certain jurisdiction. He died at Saratoga Springs, on November 28, 1867, and his remains are entombed in Green- wich cemetery in that place. He was twice married. He married Maria K. Averill, a woman of gentleness and benevolence, and after her death in 1841, wedded Mrs. Sarah E. (Hardin) Smith. Chancellor Walworth was extensively known throughout the country, and his name became "like a household word on the lips of every lawyer in the land."
Charles M. Davison, the subject of this sketch, was reared at Saratoga, and received his education at Union university, from which he was graduated in 1874, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. While attending the university he read law with the Hon. John R. Putnam, and was admitted to the bar at the November term of court, in 1874. After admission to the bar he opened an office at Saratoga Springs, where he has been engaged in practice ever since.
On June 21, 1883, Mr. Davison was united in marriage with Jeannie McDougall, daughter of Col. A. L. McDougall, of Salem, Wash- ington county, who commanded the 123d New York Infantry during the late civil war.
Mr. Davison is a democrat in politics and is affiliated with the leading fraternal organ- izations of the place. His political career commenced in 1877, when he was elected jus- tice of the peace. He held that office for four years, and in 1887 was elected a member of the board of education, and was its presi-
dent in 1891. In 1884 he was appointed a commissioner of the United States circuit court in and for the northern district of New York. His first case of importance was that of Pomfrey against the village of Saratoga Springs (104 New York Reports, 459), which settled the duties of municipalities to the traveling public. Since then he has been con- nected with many important cases, and in his connection with them he has appeared to the best advantage and rendered efficient services. Mr. Davison is a courteous gentleman, and a popular citizen. As a lawyer he studies care- fully his case, and when necessary to carry it to the bar, he there advocates or defends it with ability and zeal. He has attained, for one of his age, a high eminence in those qual- ities that confer dignity and honor on his pro- fession.
H ON. HARVEY J. DONALDSON,
one of the most active public men of Sar- atoga county, and a successful and leading politician of his congressional district, is a son of Samuel and Jane (Barkley) Donaldson, and was born at the village of Argyle, in the town of Argyle, Washington county, New York, September 15, 1848. He was reared princi- pally at Fultonville, Montgomery county, and received his education in the common schools, several select schools and a private boarding school of Albany, this State. Leaving school he was engaged in general contracting on the construction of canals, railroads and water- works until 1880. In that year he came to Ballston Spa, where he embarked in the man- ufacture of news paper with John McLean, under the firm name of McLean & Donaldson. This firm continued until January, 1882, when Mr. McLean died, and was succeeded by H. M. Geer, the firm title changing from McLean & Donaldson to that of Donaldson & Geer. The new firm existed until the spring of 1887, when Mr. Donaldson disposed of his interest in the business to his partner, in order to give
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his time more fully to political affairs, in which he has been active and prominent ever since.
On November 17, 1874, Mr. Donaldson married Mary L. Zieley, who was a daughter of David Zieley, and died in June, 1883, when in the twenty-eighth year of her age. Six years after her death, on July 16, 1889, Mr. Donaldson wedded Martha V. Beatty, daughter of George Beatty, of the city of Albany.
In the business affairs of his village and county Mr. Donaldson has always taken an active interest, and his identification with any enterprise is accepted as an evidence of its successful prosecution. He is now a director of the First National bank of Ballston Spa, and also of the Citizens' National bank of Saratoga Springs. He is an unswerving re- publican in political faith, and has ever been active in the support of the fundamental prin- ciples of the Republican party. His politi- cal career commenced in the autumn of 1887, when he was elected upon the republican ticket by a majority of two hundred and eighty-six to represent the First assembly district of Saratoga county in the legislature of New York. His legislative services in 1888 were of such an efficient and satisfactory character that he was re-nominated by his party and re- elected in the First assembly district by a majority of over seven hundred votes. Dur- ing his second term in the State legislature Mr. Donaldson served as a member of the committees of excise and claims, and was chairman of the committee of trades and man- ufactures. His faithful services in the house gave him additional popularity in his party, and led to his immediate nomination as the republican candidate for the State senate in the Eighteenth senatorial district, composed of the counties of Fulton, Hamilton, Montgom- ery, Saratoga and Schenectady. At the en- suing election the democrats had no senatorial nominee in the field, and he was elected over the prohibition candidate by twelve thousand majority. His course of action in the senate
was as honest, disinterested and as fearless as it had been in the assembly, and gave him in- creased power, influence and following within the ranks of his own party, while it won him the respect of the opposing parties. At the close of his first senatorial term he was re- nominated, and the Democratic and Prohi- bition parties each placed a candidate in the field, but he was elected by a plurality of three hundred and nine votes. During the last ses- sion of the senate he served on the canal, mis- cellaneous, corporations and other important committees. Senator Donaldson, as a poli- tician, has the manhood to sustain, amidst any or all opposition, those measures calculated for the best interests of all classes. When his judgment has discerned the justice or neces- sity of a measure he has the resolute will to carry out his conscientious convictions by sup- porting it, regardless of all consequences to himself. He is a man of strong intellect, of earnestness and force, and of sound, practical judgment.
Senator Donaldson is of Scotch and Scotch-Irish lineage, and has inherited many of the strong and estimable qualities of those two characteristic races. His paternal grand- father, James Donaldson, was a native of Scotland, and when a young man came to Washington county, where he spent the re- mainder of his life as a farmer. His son, Samuel Donaldson (father), was born in Wash- ington county, and in 1854 removed to Fulton- ville, Montgomery county, where he died April 22, 1890, at seventy-eight years of age. He was a general contractor on the construction of canals and railroads. He was an active republican in politics, and ranked high in Montgomery county as a reliable and success- ful business man, having prospered in the various enterprises in which he has been en- engaged, in both his native and his adopted county. Mr. Donaldson married Jane Bark- ley, of Washington county, and to their union were born two sons. Mrs. Donalson was born in April, 1814, and still resides at Fultonville.
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She is of Scotch-Irish descent, and her fam- ily was noted for possessing most of the dis- tinguishing traits for which their wonderful iron-willed, self-reliant race is celebrated.
C APT.EDWARD PORTER HOWE,
editor and proprietor of the Saratoga Sun, who for a number of years has been a prominent leader in the Democratic party of Saratoga county, is a veteran of the civil war and a gentleman of wide business experience who served for a number of years as assistant adjutant general of the State of Indiana. Captain Howe is a son of Elbridge H. and Laura (Porter) Howe, and was born at West- field, Massachusetts, February 15, 1842. The Howe family, of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy representative, is descended directly from the old English family of that name, and was planted in the colony of Mas- sachusetts as early as 1635. Between 1630 and 1640 four brothers of the name came over from England and settled in that colony, and from them came nearly all the now numerous and influential Howe family of the United States. Peter Howe, paternal grandfather of Captain Howe, was born and reared in New Hampshire, but removed to Massachusetts a few years after his marriage and became a manufacturer of whips at Westfield, that State. His son, Elbridge H. Howe (father), was born in New Hampshire in 1813, but while yet a boy was taken by his father to Westfield, Massachusetts, where he grew to manhood and was educated. In 1837 he married Laura Porter, a daughter of Hezekiah Porter, of Vermont, and in the summer of 1842 removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he at once engaged in the mercantile business with his brother, Ed- ward IIowe, who had preceded him to that State. Some years later he went to Wayne county, Indiana, where he continued general merchandising until 1853, when he removed to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and embarked in the wholesale fancy dry goods business.
He was a man of excellent character and fine executive ability, and became very successful in business. He was a democrat in politics, liberal and broad in his views, and died in Louisiana in 1891, at the home of his daugh- ter, Mrs. J. H. Clarke, aged seventy-eight years. His wife passed away in 1875, in the fifty-ninth year of her age. Six children were born to them, four sons and two daughters, of whom three survive: Captain Edward P. Howe, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. J. H. Clarke and William D. Howe.
Edward Porter Howe was principally reared and educated in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from the Hughes high school of that city, in the spring of 1860. He spent a few months teaching in eastern Indiana, after which he entered the office of Hon. Jacob B. Julian, of Centreville, Indiana, then the county seat of Wayne county, and began the study of law. While still a law student he accepted the ap- pointment of deputy clerk of the Wayne county courts, under Hon. Solomon Meredith, at that time clerk of the courts of Wayne county, and a noted politician of Indiana, who afterward became known to the country as the stalwart commander of the famous iron brig- ade of the army of the Potomac. Early in 1861, Mr. Howe resigned the position of deputy clerk to enlist as a private in Co. C, 57th Indiana infantry, and upon the organ- ization of the regiment was promoted to be regimental quartermaster-sergeant. His regi- ment was attached to the army of the Ohio, then commanded by General Buell, which was afterward known as the army of the Cumberland, under command respectively of Major-General W. S. Rosecrans and Major- General George H. Thomas. In November, 1862, Sergeant Howe was made second lieutenant of Co. A, and in February following was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He seemed to have a natural aptitude for military tactics, and soon became one of the best and most efficient drill officers in the regiment. In April, 1863, he became captain
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of the company, and served as such until De- cember, 1864, when he resigned on account of disability and returned to Indiana. Having in a measure regained his health, he soon afterward accepted an appointment as assist- ant adjutant-general of the State of Indiana, and as such had charge of the compilation and publication of the war records of that State. After this work was completed, in 1867, Captain Howe accepted a position as secretary of the Franklin Life Insurance Com- pany, whose headquarters were at Indian- apolis, Indiana, and continued to discharge the duties of that office until 1873, when on account of his private business he declined a re-election, but served a year as vice president of the company and member of the executive committee. In 1872, at the earnest solicitation of the late Thomas A. Hendricks and other leading democrats and liberal republicans, he accepted the democratic nomination for State senator from Marion county, at that time en- titled to two senators, but although running largely ahead of his ticket was defeated by a few hundred votes.
In April, 1876, Captain Howe came to Saratoga Springs for medical treatment, his health having again broken down under the strain of constant overwork, and took a course at the sanatarium now owned by Dr. S. E. Strong, who had married a sister to the wife of Mr. Howe. From 1877 to 1882, Captain Howe was connected in various editorial capacities with the Daily Saratogian of this city, and in December of the latter year he purchased the business and plant of the Sara- toga Sun, of which he has been the owner and publisher ever since. It is a four page, nine column weekly newspaper, democratic in politics, and was for many years the only dem- ocratic paper printed in Saratoga Springs. It is ably edited, has a wide circulation, and is one of the best advertising mediums in this part of the State.
In 1867 Captain Howe united with the Presbyterian church, and soon became actively
engaged in the interests of his church as a member of the official board, and as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent. In 1872, in connection with Benjamin Harrison, since president of the United States, and other ac- tive Presbyterians, he organized a mission Sunday-school in the northeastern part of the city of Indianapolis, being elected its first superintendent. Out of that school has grown the Ninth Presbyterian church of Indianapolis, now one of the most successful and flourishing churches of that city. Captain Howe is now a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Saratoga Springs, and has lost none of his early enthusiasm and interest in the good cause.
On September 4, 1867, Captain Howe was wedded to Mrs. Eliza B. Sharpe, second daughter of Hon. John M. Ray, president of the bank of the State of Indiana. To the Captain and Mrs. Howe has been given one son, Louis McHenry, who was born January 14, 1871, and was educated at the Yates in- stitute, Saratoga Springs. He is now a part- ner of his father in his extensive printing and publishing business, and is a young man of rare intellectual and artistic gifts.
A LEXANDER A. PATTERSON, of
the Patterson mineral spring, is one of the most active and successful men of Sara- toga Springs, always cheerful and good natured, and seems inclined to look on the world from the standpoint of the optimist. He is a worthy representative of an old Scotch-Irish family, and he has demonstrated that conspicuous success can be won in the new world by individual effort, well directed. He is a son of John L. and Mary (Austin) Patterson, and was born in the city of Belfast, Ireland, December 9, 1827. His education was received partly in Belfast and partly in New York city and Saratoga Springs, this State. In fact, it may be said that his educa- tion is not yet completed, for he has always
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been, and still is, a deep student of human affairs, making a specialty of the allied arts of architecture and building. He engaged in the business of architect and builder at Sara- toga Springs, and has designed and erected many houses in that village, among which are several of the handsomest structures to be seen on the broad streets of this "Queen of the Spas," notably the First Presbyterian church, some hotels and banking houses, a number of school houses, and the academic building for the board of education. He has also done considerable work in this line in northern and central New York, Connecticut and as far south as Florida. He was the de- signer of Glen Island, which owes its archi- tectural features to his genius, and he served as general manager during its construction.
In 1888 Mr. Patterson and his son, A. A. Patterson, jr., conceived the idea of adding another to the numerous mineral wells of Sar- atoga Springs, and after considerable expense and scientific investigation succeeded in tap- ping an entirely new stream of mineral water, which, upon analysis, proves to contain several new medicinal qualities in addition to the saline and pungent combinations of water, gas and salts found in other famous springs of this world-renowed region. This is the popu- lar mineral spring, now so widely known as the Patterson spring, and furnishes a mineral water of great merit, unsurpassed for its high medicinal qualities, its perfect purity and its natural carbonation. This water was found at a depth of two hundred and fifty feet, one hundred and ninety of which was drilled through solid rock, and the vein was so struck as to obtain its entire force, thus securing an uninterrupted flow and preventing the possi- bility of adulteration by other veins that might weaken or change the perfect combina- tion of minerals now existing. The greatest care is taken in bottling this water to preserve all its natural gases and thus place it in the hands of consumers exactly as it comes from the great laboratory of nature. These ad-
vantages cannot be overestimated, and are so easily perceived that they must attract the attention of all consumers of mineral waters. Mr. Patterson has thoroughly developed this spring, and, under the style of the Patterson Mineral Spring Company, is now doing an immense business, both at his spring and in shipping the water to different points in this and other countries. During the last four years the development and management of this business has occupied most of his time and attention.
Mr. Patterson was married to Louisa A. Hobby, a granddaughter of Col. David Hob- by, of North Castle, Westchester county, New York, who served in the revolutionary war, and her father, David R. Hobby, served with distinction as an officer in the war of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Patterson was born a family of five children, three sons and two daughters : William, Alexander A., jr., David H., Louisa H. and Mary A., all of whom are still living.
In his political affiliations Mr. Patterson was first a whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party in New York he attached himself to that body, and has ever since ad- hered to its principles, taking an active part in local affairs and holding a number of official positions. He was the first republican to hold office in Saratoga Springs, being elected trustee of the village on the Republican ticket in 1862, which office he filled seven years. He held several other village offices and served as a member of the board of education for a number of years, having always taken a deep interest in the cause of education. In 1861 he took a prominent part in mustering men for service in the army, was commissioned captain of artillery in 1852, in the 29th regi- ment, by the State authorities of New York. At the breaking out of the rebellion he had charge of camp Schuyler, appointed by Gen- eral Rathbone, in June, 1861, and in Decem- ber of that year delivered a portion of the 77th regiment in Washington, where he was
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at once commissioned general recruiting officer by the war department, the duties of which position he faithfully discharged for some time. Mr. Patterson has traveled extensively, both in Europe and this country. Indeed, there is hardly any European country which he has not visited, and he is familiar with all the chief capitals and art centers of the old world. He still preserves the Patterson coat- of-arms among the heirlooms of his family.
In religious faith Mr. Patterson is a Pres- byterian, and for many years has been a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church of Sara- toga Springs. He has also served as super- intendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school, and taken an active part in the Young Men's Christian association, of which he was secre- tary and a director. In his early days he was a leader in the dramatic line-during the life of the " Histrionic Association."
L EVERETT MOORE, M. D., now de-
ceased, who ranked with the foremost physicians of Saratoga county, was a fine ex- ample of the self-made man, who, beginning with nothing but inherited ability and a will- ingness to work, toils upward on the path of life, until in middle age his feet touch heights made luminous by golden rays from the sun of unequivocal success. Dr. Moore was born at Palmer, Massachusetts, December 9, 1805, and was a son of John and Nancy (Gibson) Moore, both descended from fine old New England stock. When only seven years of age Leverett Moore had the misfortune to be left an orphan by the death of his father, and was soon afterward placed with a farmer in that vicinity to be reared and educated. There he worked on the farm during summer and attended school in the winter, until his four- teenth year. He was of an earnest and stud- ious disposition, and made the best possible use of his limited opportunities. At the age of eighteen he began teaching, and with the means thus acquired paid his expenses while
taking a course of training in a classical school at Granville, Massachusetts. He continued teaching and studying until he had reached the age of twenty-one, when he turned his attention to a profession and began reading medicine. He completed his course at Pitts- field, in his native State, being graduated from the medical college of that city in December, 1829. After practicing a short time in Ulster county, New York, he removed to Albany, where he soon had a lucrative practice, and where he remained until September, 1834, when he removed his office to Greenbush, on the opposite side of the Hudson, and prac- ticed there about six years with even greater success.
In 1840 Dr. Moore removed to Ballston Spa, succeeding to the practice of Dr. Samuel Freeman, who had practiced here for a quar- ter of a century. From 1840 to 1876, Dr. Moore was continuously engaged in the duties of his profession at Ballston Spa, becoming widely known and very popular on account of his great skill, professional integrity, and upright character as a man and citizen. In the latter year, at the age of seventy-one, he practically retired from practice, possessed of a handsome competence of this world's goods and the highest esteem of all who knew him. For many years Dr. Moore was a leading member of the Saratoga County Medical so- ciety, which he served as secretary for some time, and was also a member of the Union Medical association of Washington, Warren and Saratoga counties. He was a republican in politics, but on account of his professional duties always declined to permit the use of his name for any office.
About 1850 the Doctor became interested in the manufacture of oil cloth at Ballston Spa, as a member of the firm of Wakeman, Wait & Co., and was connected with that firm for a number of years. For more than twenty years he was a director in the National bank of Ballston Spa, and served as vice-president of that institution for one year. He was also
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connected for a time with the gas works of this village. After giving up his practice he led a retired life, passing the evening of his days in quiet comfort, surrounded by every- thing that could add to his enjoyment. His final summons came July 13, 1892, and he passed from earth in the eighty-seventh year of his age, leaving behind him the record of an earnest, honest and successful life, in which he had well performed all the duties of a trusted physician, an upright citizen, a firm friend, devoted husband and affectionatefather.
Dr. Moore was twice married, his first wife having been Elizabeth G. Allen, daughter of Horace Allen, of the city of Albany. After ten years of wedded life she died in 1843, leav- ing three children, two sons, of whom only one is living ; the daughter, Mary R. In 1844 the Doctor married Mary L. Smith, a daugh- ter of Samuel Smith, of Ballston Spa, and by his second marriage had no children. His daughter, Mary R. Moore, and her stepmother, Mrs. Mary L. Moore, now reside in their beau- tiful home on Milton avenue, in the village of Ballston Spa.
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