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 byJohn Arnot Jr.
Succeeded byJohn Raines
New York State Comptroller
In office
1882–1883
GovernorAlonzo B. Cornell
Grover Cleveland
Preceded byJames Wolcott Wadsworth
Succeeded byAlfred C. Chapin
New York State Senate (27th Dist.)
In office
1878–1881
Preceded byGeorge B. Bradley
Succeeded bySumner Baldwin
Personal details
Born(1841-06-28)June 28, 1841
Hornellsville, New York
DiedOctober 6, 1904(1904-10-06) (aged 63)
Bath, New York
Resting placeDavenport Family Cemetery, Bath, New York
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKatherine L. Sharpe (m. 1887-1904, his death)
RelationsGeorge H. Sharpe (father in law)
EducationRussell Collegiate School
OccupationBusinessman

Early life

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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

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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

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Davenport died in Bath on October 6, 1904.[4] He was buried at the Davenport Family Cemetery in Bath.[5]

Family

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f America's Successful Men of Affairs, p. 227.
  2. ^ "Ira Davenport A Candidate", p. 6.
  3. ^ a b c d America's Successful Men of Affairs, p. 228.
  4. ^ a b "Ira Davenport Is Dead", p. 8.
  5. ^ Where They're Buried, p. 236.
  6. ^ "1851: Severyn TenHout Bruyn to George Henry Sharpe". Spared & Shared 2. Batavia, IL: William J. Griffing. November 30, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "His Philanthropy in 1863 Provides Modern Hospital Today", p. 6.
  8. ^ America's Successful Men of Affairs, pp. 227–228.
  9. ^ House, Kirk, "Steuben County People on the Maps of Two Worlds, Steuben Echoes 44:4, November 2018

Sources

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Books

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Newspapers

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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of New York
1885
Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate
27th District

1878–1881
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by New York State Comptroller
1882–1883
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 29th congressional district

1885–1889
Succeeded by