Ira Davenport (politician)
Ira Davenport (June 28, 1841 – October 6, 1904) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist. He was most notable for his service in the New York State Senate (1878-1881), as New York State Comptroller (1882-1883), and a member of Congress from New York's 29th congressional district (1885-1889).
Ira Davenport | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 29th district | |
| In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 | |
| Preceded by | John Arnot Jr. |
| Succeeded by | John Raines |
| New York State Comptroller | |
| In office 1882–1883 | |
| Governor | Alonzo B. Cornell Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | James Wolcott Wadsworth |
| Succeeded by | Alfred C. Chapin |
| New York State Senate (27th Dist.) | |
| In office 1878–1881 | |
| Preceded by | George B. Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Sumner Baldwin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 28, 1841 Hornellsville, New York |
| Died | October 6, 1904 (aged 63) Bath, New York |
| Resting place | Davenport Family Cemetery, Bath, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Katherine L. Sharpe (m. 1887-1904, his death) |
| Relations | George H. Sharpe (father in law) |
| Education | Russell Collegiate School |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Early life
Davenport was born in Hornellsville, New York, the son of Ira Davenport (1795-1868) and Lydia Cameron (1800-1842).[1] His family moved to Bath in 1847,[1] and Davenport attended Bath's Haverling Academy and the Russell Collegiate School in New Haven, Connecticut.[2]
Davenport's father owned and operated a large estate and was active in numerous business ventures including stores, farms, lumber, freight transportation, and real estate speculation.[1] After his father's death, Davenport took over management of these enterprises.[1]
Political career
He was a member of the New York State Senate (27th D.) from 1878 to 1881, sitting in the 101st, 102nd, 103rd and 104th New York State Legislatures.[3] He was New York State Comptroller from 1882 to 1883, elected in 1881, but defeated for re-election in 1883 by Democrat Alfred C. Chapin.[3]
Davenport was a member of the 49th and 50th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889.[3] He was the Republican candidate for Governor of New York in the 1885 election, and was defeated by Democrat David B. Hill.[3]
Death and burial
Davenport died in Bath on October 6, 1904.[4] He was buried at the Davenport Family Cemetery in Bath.[5]
Family
On April 27, 1887 in Kingston, New York, Davenport married Katherine Lawrence Sharpe (1860-1945), the daughter of George H. Sharpe.[1] She was the granddaughter of Abraham Bruyn Hasbrouck, great-granddaughter of Abraham J. Hasbrouck and a descendant of Louis DuBois.[6] They had no children.[4]
Legacy
The Davenport family's charitable donations included founding a home for orphaned girls, which was financed by the senior Ira Davenport and his brother Charles, and supported by Ira Davenport Jr.[1] Once closed after 94 years of operation, the orphanage's assets endowed Bath's Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital, which was named after the senior Ira Davenport.[7] The younger Ira Davenport was a founder of the Bath Soldiers' and Sailors' Home and the town's public library.[8] From 1906 to 1999 (when a new facility opened), the library was named for Ira Junior. The Davenports also made substantial contributions to fund Bath's monumental First Presbyterian Church, with its Tiffany sanctuary. A small Davenport Park in Bath is named for the family, and a squash court at Amherst College is named for Ira Junior's brother John.[9]
References
- America's Successful Men of Affairs, p. 227.
- "Ira Davenport A Candidate", p. 6.
- America's Successful Men of Affairs, p. 228.
- "Ira Davenport Is Dead", p. 8.
- Where They're Buried, p. 236.
- "1851: Severyn TenHout Bruyn to George Henry Sharpe". Spared & Shared 2. Batavia, IL: William J. Griffing. November 30, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- "His Philanthropy in 1863 Provides Modern Hospital Today", p. 6.
- America's Successful Men of Affairs, pp. 227–228.
- House, Kirk, "Steuben County People on the Maps of Two Worlds, Steuben Echoes 44:4, November 2018'
Sources
Books
- Hall, Henry (1896). America's Successful Men of Affairs. Vol. 2. New York, NY: New York Tribune.
- Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0.
Newspapers
- "Ira Davenport A Candidate". Buffalo Express. Buffalo, NY. September 5, 1885 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Ira Davenport Is Dead". Buffalo Express. Buffalo, NY. October 7, 1904 – via Newspapers.com.
- Beeney, Bill (October 5, 1959). "His Philanthropy in 1863 Provides Modern Hospital Today". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- United States Congress. "Ira Davenport (id: D000072)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Ira Davenport at The Political Graveyard
- Ira Davenport at Find a Grave