Elias W. Leavenworth
Encyclopedia
Elias Warner Leavenworth (December 20, 1803 Canaan
, Columbia County, New York
- November 25, 1887 Syracuse
, Onondaga County, New York
) was an American lawyer and politician.
in 1824. He studied law in Great Barrington and in the Litchfield
Law School from 1825 to 1827.
in 1827 and practiced law in Syracuse, New York
for 20 years until 1850, when he abandoned the practice because of ill health.
of militia in 1836.
His principal home, a mansion at 607 James Street in Syracuse, New York
, was a significant Greek Revival style structure where he received visitors of national and international stature. The home was built on the first lot sold on James Street and completed in 1842. It was designed by renowned Syracuse architect, Deacon Elijah Hayden who was assisted by William B. Cogswell, a draftsman. Unfortunately, the Leavenworth Mansion was demolished in 1950 to make way for an office building.
, the first election at which the Democrats had been beaten for 15 years.
He was president of Syracuse village from 1839 to 1841 and in 1846 and 1847, and was mayor of the town in 1849, 1850, 1859, and 1860.
Leavenworth was a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1850 and 1857, and was Secretary of State of New York
in 1854 and 1855. He was president of the Republican State convention in 1860.
In 1861 President Abraham Lincoln
appointed Leavenworth commissioner for the United States
under the convention with Granadine Confederation
in Washington, D.C.
in 1861 and 1862.
He was appointed president of the board of commissioners to locate the State asylum for the blind and a trustee of the State asylum for the insane in 1865, and was a member of the New York and New Jersey Boundary Line Commission in 1875.
Leavenworth was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fourth United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1877. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1876 and resumed business activities in Syracuse.
He was considered father of the park system of the city. Fayette Park was obtained through his efforts. About 1860, Leavenworth Park was named after him.
and was buried at the Oakwood Cemetery.
Canaan, New York
Canaan is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,820 at the 2000 census.The Town of Canaan is in the northeast part of the county.- History :The first settlers arrived around 1759....
, Columbia County, New York
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
- November 25, 1887 Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
) was an American lawyer and politician.
Education
He attended the Hudson Academy and graduated from Yale CollegeYale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1824. He studied law in Great Barrington and in the Litchfield
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
Law School from 1825 to 1827.
Law practice
He was admitted to the barBar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1827 and practiced law in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
for 20 years until 1850, when he abandoned the practice because of ill health.
Militia
He passed through the various grades and was appointed brigadier generalBrigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of militia in 1836.
Personal life
Leavenworth was married to the daughter of Judge Joshua Forman, the founder of Syracuse.His principal home, a mansion at 607 James Street in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, was a significant Greek Revival style structure where he received visitors of national and international stature. The home was built on the first lot sold on James Street and completed in 1842. It was designed by renowned Syracuse architect, Deacon Elijah Hayden who was assisted by William B. Cogswell, a draftsman. Unfortunately, the Leavenworth Mansion was demolished in 1950 to make way for an office building.
Political life
In 1839, he was named supervisor of the old town of SalinaSalina, New York
Salina is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 33,290 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from the Latin word for "salt."...
, the first election at which the Democrats had been beaten for 15 years.
He was president of Syracuse village from 1839 to 1841 and in 1846 and 1847, and was mayor of the town in 1849, 1850, 1859, and 1860.
Leavenworth was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1850 and 1857, and was Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
in 1854 and 1855. He was president of the Republican State convention in 1860.
In 1861 President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed Leavenworth commissioner for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
under the convention with Granadine Confederation
Granadine Confederation
The Granadine Confederation was a short-lived federal republic established in 1858 as a result of a constitutional change replacing the Republic of New Granada. It comprised the present day nations of Colombia and Panama...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1861 and 1862.
He was appointed president of the board of commissioners to locate the State asylum for the blind and a trustee of the State asylum for the insane in 1865, and was a member of the New York and New Jersey Boundary Line Commission in 1875.
Leavenworth was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fourth United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1877. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1876 and resumed business activities in Syracuse.
Syracuse parks
A resolution he introduced in 1888 procured Vanderbilt Square for the city of Syracuse. Additionally he persuaded the railroad to plant rows of trees on each side of the railroad from Beech Street to the heart of the city and install the first public sewer.He was considered father of the park system of the city. Fayette Park was obtained through his efforts. About 1860, Leavenworth Park was named after him.
Later life
He died on November 25, 1887 in Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and was buried at the Oakwood Cemetery.