Hon. Danforth E. Ainsworth, a well known and highly respected citizen, of Albany, died at 4:10 Tuesday afternoon at 710 Madison Avenue, where he had resided for many years. He was a leading lawyer in the State and his firm of Ainsworth, Sullivan & Archibald handled a large volume of litigation representing insurance companies, as well as other important interests. While he had not been well for some years, suffering from a weak heart, he had been confined to the bed only since Sunday, October 16, when he suffered from a sinking spell.
Mr. Ainsworth was born in Clayton in Jefferson County on November 29, 1848, the son of Henry Ainsworth and Philomena Allen, and most of his earlier years were spent on his father's farm. He was born in the second story of one of the blocks in Clayton adjacent to and overlooking the St. Lawrence and ever had a passionate fondness for that stream. At the head of Thousand Island Park, he erected a cottage in the early days of the Park, where he passed a portion of every summer until the past few years. Then, having sold the property, he became a well known visitor each season at the resort. He delighted, in his active years, to spend the summer on this beautiful water not far distant from the spot where he was born. His father, soon after his birth, moved onto a farm near Clayton, and later came to Sandy Creek, where he owned the farm now the property of George Rounds located on south Main street. The younger Ainsworth attended the local schools, Pulaski Academy and Falley Seminary in Fulton. In 1873, when 25 years of age, he was admitted to the bar, having studied law with Henry L. Howe, who later became surrogate leaving Mr. Ainsworth the business. Their offices were over those now occupied by Sargent & Sargent, then in the Sandy Creek News building and still later in the suite now occupied by H. Louis Wallace.
In 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie P. Porter of Pulaski, in Waterloo, Iowa, where she was teaching. These marriage ties were broken on April 14 last, when Mrs. Ainsworth died at Southern Pines, N. C., where Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth were for a time guests at Hollywood hotel. Here Mrs. Ainsworth suffered an attack of pneumonia.
Mr. Ainsworth served as trustee of the village of Sandy Creek In 1881, '82, '83. He was elected to the Assembly in 1885 and served as a member of that body in 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1895. He was ever a ready and forceful debater as well as a public speaker of rare ability, so that he quickly became recognized as the Republican leader on the floor of the Assembly and was in demand throughout the State in campaigns and on other occasions as well. In 1894, Mr. Ainsworth was chairman of the leading Assembly committee, that on ways and means, and as such directed the policy of his party. In that session, he Introduced upwards of ninety measures nearly all of which were enacted into laws. The legislature, under Mr. Ainsworth's leadership, appropriated $1,497,034, a reduction of $1,299,660 over the preceeding year. In 1896, he was again the Republican leader, being chairman of the committee on ways and means and a member of the committee upon rules and codes.
On June 1, 1895, he was appointed deputy superintendent of Public Instruction, under Charles R. Skinner, and continued in that position until 1904, when the Commissioner of Education became the head of the school system of the State of New York. Mr. Ainsworth was an important factor at that time in remodeling the school laws of the Empire State; and in seeing that they were enacted by the State legislature. He later served as first deputy attorney general of the State of New York in 1905-1907. Afterwards in May 1907 he entered into the practice of his profession at 93 State Street, Albany, where he maintained offices until his death. In that year the firm was Ainsworth & Steele. Steele left the firm in 1908 when the firm became Ainsworth & Sullivan. In 1915 after John N. Carlisle left the Highway Department, the firm became Ainsworth, Carlisle & Sullivan, and in 1920 the firm was Ainsworth, Sullivan & Archibald. Mr. Carlisle retiring to head the Northern New York Utilities.
He received the Master of Arts degree from Union University, Schenectady. He served the city of Albany as President of the Board of Education, 1908-'13; Vice-President and member of the trustees of Albany Law School, member of Albany Historical and Art Society; member Fort Orange Club, Albany. In state and national campaigns and in state conventions he gave utterance to strong and forensic speeches on frequent occasion
He last appeared before his townspeople last Memorial Day when he spoke briefly at the Memorial Day exercises in the First Methodist Episcopal Church. His remarks evidenced the old time fire and oratorical ability in a remarkable degree. In his home town he was ever warmly received as a speaker and orator and could fill the largest auditorium on every occasion that he appeared.
Following the death of Mrs. Ainsworth, he unfolded to our townspeople the project to erect the Annie P. Ainsworth memorial library where he proposed to transfer his own library of some two thousand choice volumes. This project Is now well underway and but for the interference of rainy weather would now be well inclosed as only about four feet of facing brick remain to be laid before the structure is ready for the roof.
Mr. Ainsworth's remains arrived in Sandy Creek at 8:05 Wednesday evening, accompanied by Attorney and Mrs. Charles B. Sullivan, of Albany, and Miss Seymour, a niece of Mrs. Ainsworth, from Beatrice, Neb., and Mr. Ainsworth's secretary, Miss Stella F. Lane of Albany.
Horace H. Esselstyne, of Detroit, Mich., a cousin of Mr. Ainsworth, reached here during Wednesday night.
The funeral was largely attended from the Congregational Church on Thursday afternoon at 2, Rev. T. T Davies officiating. Among those present were Attorney and Mrs. John N. Carlisle, of Watertown; Attorney and Mrs. Walter S. Archibald, of Albany, and Attorney and Mrs. Nelson R. Pirnie, of Albany, and Attorney John J. Conners of Albany; together with all the members of Mr. Ainsworth's office staff.
The burial was in the family plot in Woodlawn cemetery in Sandy Creek. Here lie Mr. Ainsworth's father, Henry Ainsworth; his mother Philomena Allen; his sister Mary; his wife Annie, and his interment completes the circle.
The floral tributes were beautiful and spoke of the esteem and friendships of the eighty years that spanned this life. Among these was a large wreath from the town Mr. Ainsworth called home. The day was perfect, replete with autumnal sunshine.
The bearers were from among those associated with Mr. Ainsworth in his offices at Albany.
At the close of Mr. Ainsworth's public career in the legislature and while he was in the department of education the following summary was published in The New York Education.
The characteristic of the typical American is the readiness with which he adapts himself to new conditions and responsibilities; and the satisfactory manner in which he requites himself under all circumstances, however difficult, so we are not surprised to find the efficient and interested school trustee of Oswego County of the seventies, the brilliant young lawyer and most ready and effective of parliamentary speakers of the eighties and nineties. Danforth E. Ainsworth, took up the work of assisting in the educational supervision of the Empire State, as if he were to the manor born.
Mr. Ainsworth, like Supt. Skinner and Dr. Dewey, is a Jefferson County boy by birth, having been born at Clayton, Nov. 29, 1848. He was educated at Pulaski Academy and at Falley Seminary, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He was a school trustee from 1881-'83 In Sandy Creek, Oswego and a member of the board of education. In 1885 he was elected to the New York State Assembly where for ten years he was easily the Rupert of debate. No more clear, concise and effective speaker has graced legislative halls within recent years. For several years he was Republican leader on the floor of the house and never were the state's as well as party's interests better looked after. He fathered among many others the bill providing for equal inspectors of election for each political party; for home rule in matters of taxation; prohibiting the sale of tobaccoes to minors; providing for the election of commissioners of juries; for the preservation of the Adirondack forests; to regulate the sale of cocaine and opium; creating commission to investigate tenement houses in New York City; compel monthly payment of teachers' wages; health and decency laws relating to school out-buildings; the tenement house building of New York City, the small farms bill of New York City, first introduced the bill providing a township system of schools throughout the state and in '93 a supply bill which reduced the state expenditures by nearly one-half as compared with the preceding year. In 1895 declining any further legislative honors, he accepted the position of deputy state superintendent of public instruction of the state of New York. In his new field of activity his early experience as school trustee and member of the school board, together with his great natural intelligence have been most helpful, and his work and his devotion to all the true interests of education, but particularly to those of the little red school house, have already won for him a name among the educational forces of this state and added no little to the pronounced success of Supt. Skinner's administration.
__________________________________________________________
Resolutions - Whereas, Providence having removed one who has ever evidenced the highest interest in the affairs of the township of Sandy Creek and in everything pertaining thereto; one who, whether at home or abroad never ceased to keep in touch with the home people and their interests and; Whereas, he was active in the establishment of our High School and led this community furthering its educational interests through this crucial period; and whereas he has planned and brought to fruition a town library to which he has given years of thought and crowned these efforts with the gift of a beautiful and substantial building as well as the gift of his extensive library.
Therefore, while we bow in humble submission to an all-wise Providence in removing one so useful in all walks of life and while we regret that he could not have lived to see the full fruition of the project, so dear to his heart, the completion of the Annie P. Ainsworth Library.
We are truly thankful that the lives of both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth mingled with those of our own and that in the lives of our people as well as in the establishment of our schools and in the library about to be opened, we have great cause to revere the life and works of both Danforth E. Ainsworth and Annie P. Ainsworth.
Sandy Creek Chamber of Commerce. F. Dudley Corse, O. D. Wart. H. Louis Wallace, Committee
Sandy Creek News, Sandy Creek, N.Y., October 27, 1927
Mr. Ainsworth was born in Clayton in Jefferson County on November 29, 1848, the son of Henry Ainsworth and Philomena Allen, and most of his earlier years were spent on his father's farm. He was born in the second story of one of the blocks in Clayton adjacent to and overlooking the St. Lawrence and ever had a passionate fondness for that stream. At the head of Thousand Island Park, he erected a cottage in the early days of the Park, where he passed a portion of every summer until the past few years. Then, having sold the property, he became a well known visitor each season at the resort. He delighted, in his active years, to spend the summer on this beautiful water not far distant from the spot where he was born. His father, soon after his birth, moved onto a farm near Clayton, and later came to Sandy Creek, where he owned the farm now the property of George Rounds located on south Main street. The younger Ainsworth attended the local schools, Pulaski Academy and Falley Seminary in Fulton. In 1873, when 25 years of age, he was admitted to the bar, having studied law with Henry L. Howe, who later became surrogate leaving Mr. Ainsworth the business. Their offices were over those now occupied by Sargent & Sargent, then in the Sandy Creek News building and still later in the suite now occupied by H. Louis Wallace.
In 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie P. Porter of Pulaski, in Waterloo, Iowa, where she was teaching. These marriage ties were broken on April 14 last, when Mrs. Ainsworth died at Southern Pines, N. C., where Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth were for a time guests at Hollywood hotel. Here Mrs. Ainsworth suffered an attack of pneumonia.
Mr. Ainsworth served as trustee of the village of Sandy Creek In 1881, '82, '83. He was elected to the Assembly in 1885 and served as a member of that body in 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1895. He was ever a ready and forceful debater as well as a public speaker of rare ability, so that he quickly became recognized as the Republican leader on the floor of the Assembly and was in demand throughout the State in campaigns and on other occasions as well. In 1894, Mr. Ainsworth was chairman of the leading Assembly committee, that on ways and means, and as such directed the policy of his party. In that session, he Introduced upwards of ninety measures nearly all of which were enacted into laws. The legislature, under Mr. Ainsworth's leadership, appropriated $1,497,034, a reduction of $1,299,660 over the preceeding year. In 1896, he was again the Republican leader, being chairman of the committee on ways and means and a member of the committee upon rules and codes.
On June 1, 1895, he was appointed deputy superintendent of Public Instruction, under Charles R. Skinner, and continued in that position until 1904, when the Commissioner of Education became the head of the school system of the State of New York. Mr. Ainsworth was an important factor at that time in remodeling the school laws of the Empire State; and in seeing that they were enacted by the State legislature. He later served as first deputy attorney general of the State of New York in 1905-1907. Afterwards in May 1907 he entered into the practice of his profession at 93 State Street, Albany, where he maintained offices until his death. In that year the firm was Ainsworth & Steele. Steele left the firm in 1908 when the firm became Ainsworth & Sullivan. In 1915 after John N. Carlisle left the Highway Department, the firm became Ainsworth, Carlisle & Sullivan, and in 1920 the firm was Ainsworth, Sullivan & Archibald. Mr. Carlisle retiring to head the Northern New York Utilities.
He received the Master of Arts degree from Union University, Schenectady. He served the city of Albany as President of the Board of Education, 1908-'13; Vice-President and member of the trustees of Albany Law School, member of Albany Historical and Art Society; member Fort Orange Club, Albany. In state and national campaigns and in state conventions he gave utterance to strong and forensic speeches on frequent occasion
He last appeared before his townspeople last Memorial Day when he spoke briefly at the Memorial Day exercises in the First Methodist Episcopal Church. His remarks evidenced the old time fire and oratorical ability in a remarkable degree. In his home town he was ever warmly received as a speaker and orator and could fill the largest auditorium on every occasion that he appeared.
Following the death of Mrs. Ainsworth, he unfolded to our townspeople the project to erect the Annie P. Ainsworth memorial library where he proposed to transfer his own library of some two thousand choice volumes. This project Is now well underway and but for the interference of rainy weather would now be well inclosed as only about four feet of facing brick remain to be laid before the structure is ready for the roof.
Mr. Ainsworth's remains arrived in Sandy Creek at 8:05 Wednesday evening, accompanied by Attorney and Mrs. Charles B. Sullivan, of Albany, and Miss Seymour, a niece of Mrs. Ainsworth, from Beatrice, Neb., and Mr. Ainsworth's secretary, Miss Stella F. Lane of Albany.
Horace H. Esselstyne, of Detroit, Mich., a cousin of Mr. Ainsworth, reached here during Wednesday night.
The funeral was largely attended from the Congregational Church on Thursday afternoon at 2, Rev. T. T Davies officiating. Among those present were Attorney and Mrs. John N. Carlisle, of Watertown; Attorney and Mrs. Walter S. Archibald, of Albany, and Attorney and Mrs. Nelson R. Pirnie, of Albany, and Attorney John J. Conners of Albany; together with all the members of Mr. Ainsworth's office staff.
The burial was in the family plot in Woodlawn cemetery in Sandy Creek. Here lie Mr. Ainsworth's father, Henry Ainsworth; his mother Philomena Allen; his sister Mary; his wife Annie, and his interment completes the circle.
The floral tributes were beautiful and spoke of the esteem and friendships of the eighty years that spanned this life. Among these was a large wreath from the town Mr. Ainsworth called home. The day was perfect, replete with autumnal sunshine.
The bearers were from among those associated with Mr. Ainsworth in his offices at Albany.
At the close of Mr. Ainsworth's public career in the legislature and while he was in the department of education the following summary was published in The New York Education.
The characteristic of the typical American is the readiness with which he adapts himself to new conditions and responsibilities; and the satisfactory manner in which he requites himself under all circumstances, however difficult, so we are not surprised to find the efficient and interested school trustee of Oswego County of the seventies, the brilliant young lawyer and most ready and effective of parliamentary speakers of the eighties and nineties. Danforth E. Ainsworth, took up the work of assisting in the educational supervision of the Empire State, as if he were to the manor born.
Mr. Ainsworth, like Supt. Skinner and Dr. Dewey, is a Jefferson County boy by birth, having been born at Clayton, Nov. 29, 1848. He was educated at Pulaski Academy and at Falley Seminary, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He was a school trustee from 1881-'83 In Sandy Creek, Oswego and a member of the board of education. In 1885 he was elected to the New York State Assembly where for ten years he was easily the Rupert of debate. No more clear, concise and effective speaker has graced legislative halls within recent years. For several years he was Republican leader on the floor of the house and never were the state's as well as party's interests better looked after. He fathered among many others the bill providing for equal inspectors of election for each political party; for home rule in matters of taxation; prohibiting the sale of tobaccoes to minors; providing for the election of commissioners of juries; for the preservation of the Adirondack forests; to regulate the sale of cocaine and opium; creating commission to investigate tenement houses in New York City; compel monthly payment of teachers' wages; health and decency laws relating to school out-buildings; the tenement house building of New York City, the small farms bill of New York City, first introduced the bill providing a township system of schools throughout the state and in '93 a supply bill which reduced the state expenditures by nearly one-half as compared with the preceding year. In 1895 declining any further legislative honors, he accepted the position of deputy state superintendent of public instruction of the state of New York. In his new field of activity his early experience as school trustee and member of the school board, together with his great natural intelligence have been most helpful, and his work and his devotion to all the true interests of education, but particularly to those of the little red school house, have already won for him a name among the educational forces of this state and added no little to the pronounced success of Supt. Skinner's administration.
__________________________________________________________
Resolutions - Whereas, Providence having removed one who has ever evidenced the highest interest in the affairs of the township of Sandy Creek and in everything pertaining thereto; one who, whether at home or abroad never ceased to keep in touch with the home people and their interests and; Whereas, he was active in the establishment of our High School and led this community furthering its educational interests through this crucial period; and whereas he has planned and brought to fruition a town library to which he has given years of thought and crowned these efforts with the gift of a beautiful and substantial building as well as the gift of his extensive library.
Therefore, while we bow in humble submission to an all-wise Providence in removing one so useful in all walks of life and while we regret that he could not have lived to see the full fruition of the project, so dear to his heart, the completion of the Annie P. Ainsworth Library.
We are truly thankful that the lives of both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth mingled with those of our own and that in the lives of our people as well as in the establishment of our schools and in the library about to be opened, we have great cause to revere the life and works of both Danforth E. Ainsworth and Annie P. Ainsworth.
Sandy Creek Chamber of Commerce. F. Dudley Corse, O. D. Wart. H. Louis Wallace, Committee
Sandy Creek News, Sandy Creek, N.Y., October 27, 1927
Hon. Danforth E. Ainsworth, a well known and highly respected citizen, of Albany, died at 4:10 Tuesday afternoon at 710 Madison Avenue, where he had resided for many years. He was a leading lawyer in the State and his firm of Ainsworth, Sullivan & Archibald handled a large volume of litigation representing insurance companies, as well as other important interests. While he had not been well for some years, suffering from a weak heart, he had been confined to the bed only since Sunday, October 16, when he suffered from a sinking spell.
Mr. Ainsworth was born in Clayton in Jefferson County on November 29, 1848, the son of Henry Ainsworth and Philomena Allen, and most of his earlier years were spent on his father's farm. He was born in the second story of one of the blocks in Clayton adjacent to and overlooking the St. Lawrence and ever had a passionate fondness for that stream. At the head of Thousand Island Park, he erected a cottage in the early days of the Park, where he passed a portion of every summer until the past few years. Then, having sold the property, he became a well known visitor each season at the resort. He delighted, in his active years, to spend the summer on this beautiful water not far distant from the spot where he was born. His father, soon after his birth, moved onto a farm near Clayton, and later came to Sandy Creek, where he owned the farm now the property of George Rounds located on south Main street. The younger Ainsworth attended the local schools, Pulaski Academy and Falley Seminary in Fulton. In 1873, when 25 years of age, he was admitted to the bar, having studied law with Henry L. Howe, who later became surrogate leaving Mr. Ainsworth the business. Their offices were over those now occupied by Sargent & Sargent, then in the Sandy Creek News building and still later in the suite now occupied by H. Louis Wallace.
In 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie P. Porter of Pulaski, in Waterloo, Iowa, where she was teaching. These marriage ties were broken on April 14 last, when Mrs. Ainsworth died at Southern Pines, N. C., where Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth were for a time guests at Hollywood hotel. Here Mrs. Ainsworth suffered an attack of pneumonia.
Mr. Ainsworth served as trustee of the village of Sandy Creek In 1881, '82, '83. He was elected to the Assembly in 1885 and served as a member of that body in 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1895. He was ever a ready and forceful debater as well as a public speaker of rare ability, so that he quickly became recognized as the Republican leader on the floor of the Assembly and was in demand throughout the State in campaigns and on other occasions as well. In 1894, Mr. Ainsworth was chairman of the leading Assembly committee, that on ways and means, and as such directed the policy of his party. In that session, he Introduced upwards of ninety measures nearly all of which were enacted into laws. The legislature, under Mr. Ainsworth's leadership, appropriated $1,497,034, a reduction of $1,299,660 over the preceeding year. In 1896, he was again the Republican leader, being chairman of the committee on ways and means and a member of the committee upon rules and codes.
On June 1, 1895, he was appointed deputy superintendent of Public Instruction, under Charles R. Skinner, and continued in that position until 1904, when the Commissioner of Education became the head of the school system of the State of New York. Mr. Ainsworth was an important factor at that time in remodeling the school laws of the Empire State; and in seeing that they were enacted by the State legislature. He later served as first deputy attorney general of the State of New York in 1905-1907. Afterwards in May 1907 he entered into the practice of his profession at 93 State Street, Albany, where he maintained offices until his death. In that year the firm was Ainsworth & Steele. Steele left the firm in 1908 when the firm became Ainsworth & Sullivan. In 1915 after John N. Carlisle left the Highway Department, the firm became Ainsworth, Carlisle & Sullivan, and in 1920 the firm was Ainsworth, Sullivan & Archibald. Mr. Carlisle retiring to head the Northern New York Utilities.
He received the Master of Arts degree from Union University, Schenectady. He served the city of Albany as President of the Board of Education, 1908-'13; Vice-President and member of the trustees of Albany Law School, member of Albany Historical and Art Society; member Fort Orange Club, Albany. In state and national campaigns and in state conventions he gave utterance to strong and forensic speeches on frequent occasion
He last appeared before his townspeople last Memorial Day when he spoke briefly at the Memorial Day exercises in the First Methodist Episcopal Church. His remarks evidenced the old time fire and oratorical ability in a remarkable degree. In his home town he was ever warmly received as a speaker and orator and could fill the largest auditorium on every occasion that he appeared.
Following the death of Mrs. Ainsworth, he unfolded to our townspeople the project to erect the Annie P. Ainsworth memorial library where he proposed to transfer his own library of some two thousand choice volumes. This project Is now well underway and but for the interference of rainy weather would now be well inclosed as only about four feet of facing brick remain to be laid before the structure is ready for the roof.
Mr. Ainsworth's remains arrived in Sandy Creek at 8:05 Wednesday evening, accompanied by Attorney and Mrs. Charles B. Sullivan, of Albany, and Miss Seymour, a niece of Mrs. Ainsworth, from Beatrice, Neb., and Mr. Ainsworth's secretary, Miss Stella F. Lane of Albany.
Horace H. Esselstyne, of Detroit, Mich., a cousin of Mr. Ainsworth, reached here during Wednesday night.
The funeral was largely attended from the Congregational Church on Thursday afternoon at 2, Rev. T. T Davies officiating. Among those present were Attorney and Mrs. John N. Carlisle, of Watertown; Attorney and Mrs. Walter S. Archibald, of Albany, and Attorney and Mrs. Nelson R. Pirnie, of Albany, and Attorney John J. Conners of Albany; together with all the members of Mr. Ainsworth's office staff.
The burial was in the family plot in Woodlawn cemetery in Sandy Creek. Here lie Mr. Ainsworth's father, Henry Ainsworth; his mother Philomena Allen; his sister Mary; his wife Annie, and his interment completes the circle.
The floral tributes were beautiful and spoke of the esteem and friendships of the eighty years that spanned this life. Among these was a large wreath from the town Mr. Ainsworth called home. The day was perfect, replete with autumnal sunshine.
The bearers were from among those associated with Mr. Ainsworth in his offices at Albany.
At the close of Mr. Ainsworth's public career in the legislature and while he was in the department of education the following summary was published in The New York Education.
The characteristic of the typical American is the readiness with which he adapts himself to new conditions and responsibilities; and the satisfactory manner in which he requites himself under all circumstances, however difficult, so we are not surprised to find the efficient and interested school trustee of Oswego County of the seventies, the brilliant young lawyer and most ready and effective of parliamentary speakers of the eighties and nineties. Danforth E. Ainsworth, took up the work of assisting in the educational supervision of the Empire State, as if he were to the manor born.
Mr. Ainsworth, like Supt. Skinner and Dr. Dewey, is a Jefferson County boy by birth, having been born at Clayton, Nov. 29, 1848. He was educated at Pulaski Academy and at Falley Seminary, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He was a school trustee from 1881-'83 In Sandy Creek, Oswego and a member of the board of education. In 1885 he was elected to the New York State Assembly where for ten years he was easily the Rupert of debate. No more clear, concise and effective speaker has graced legislative halls within recent years. For several years he was Republican leader on the floor of the house and never were the state's as well as party's interests better looked after. He fathered among many others the bill providing for equal inspectors of election for each political party; for home rule in matters of taxation; prohibiting the sale of tobaccoes to minors; providing for the election of commissioners of juries; for the preservation of the Adirondack forests; to regulate the sale of cocaine and opium; creating commission to investigate tenement houses in New York City; compel monthly payment of teachers' wages; health and decency laws relating to school out-buildings; the tenement house building of New York City, the small farms bill of New York City, first introduced the bill providing a township system of schools throughout the state and in '93 a supply bill which reduced the state expenditures by nearly one-half as compared with the preceding year. In 1895 declining any further legislative honors, he accepted the position of deputy state superintendent of public instruction of the state of New York. In his new field of activity his early experience as school trustee and member of the school board, together with his great natural intelligence have been most helpful, and his work and his devotion to all the true interests of education, but particularly to those of the little red school house, have already won for him a name among the educational forces of this state and added no little to the pronounced success of Supt. Skinner's administration.
__________________________________________________________
Resolutions - Whereas, Providence having removed one who has ever evidenced the highest interest in the affairs of the township of Sandy Creek and in everything pertaining thereto; one who, whether at home or abroad never ceased to keep in touch with the home people and their interests and; Whereas, he was active in the establishment of our High School and led this community furthering its educational interests through this crucial period; and whereas he has planned and brought to fruition a town library to which he has given years of thought and crowned these efforts with the gift of a beautiful and substantial building as well as the gift of his extensive library.
Therefore, while we bow in humble submission to an all-wise Providence in removing one so useful in all walks of life and while we regret that he could not have lived to see the full fruition of the project, so dear to his heart, the completion of the Annie P. Ainsworth Library.
We are truly thankful that the lives of both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth mingled with those of our own and that in the lives of our people as well as in the establishment of our schools and in the library about to be opened, we have great cause to revere the life and works of both Danforth E. Ainsworth and Annie P. Ainsworth.
Sandy Creek Chamber of Commerce. F. Dudley Corse, O. D. Wart. H. Louis Wallace, Committee
Sandy Creek News, Sandy Creek, N.Y., October 27, 1927
Mr. Ainsworth was born in Clayton in Jefferson County on November 29, 1848, the son of Henry Ainsworth and Philomena Allen, and most of his earlier years were spent on his father's farm. He was born in the second story of one of the blocks in Clayton adjacent to and overlooking the St. Lawrence and ever had a passionate fondness for that stream. At the head of Thousand Island Park, he erected a cottage in the early days of the Park, where he passed a portion of every summer until the past few years. Then, having sold the property, he became a well known visitor each season at the resort. He delighted, in his active years, to spend the summer on this beautiful water not far distant from the spot where he was born. His father, soon after his birth, moved onto a farm near Clayton, and later came to Sandy Creek, where he owned the farm now the property of George Rounds located on south Main street. The younger Ainsworth attended the local schools, Pulaski Academy and Falley Seminary in Fulton. In 1873, when 25 years of age, he was admitted to the bar, having studied law with Henry L. Howe, who later became surrogate leaving Mr. Ainsworth the business. Their offices were over those now occupied by Sargent & Sargent, then in the Sandy Creek News building and still later in the suite now occupied by H. Louis Wallace.
In 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie P. Porter of Pulaski, in Waterloo, Iowa, where she was teaching. These marriage ties were broken on April 14 last, when Mrs. Ainsworth died at Southern Pines, N. C., where Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth were for a time guests at Hollywood hotel. Here Mrs. Ainsworth suffered an attack of pneumonia.
Mr. Ainsworth served as trustee of the village of Sandy Creek In 1881, '82, '83. He was elected to the Assembly in 1885 and served as a member of that body in 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1895. He was ever a ready and forceful debater as well as a public speaker of rare ability, so that he quickly became recognized as the Republican leader on the floor of the Assembly and was in demand throughout the State in campaigns and on other occasions as well. In 1894, Mr. Ainsworth was chairman of the leading Assembly committee, that on ways and means, and as such directed the policy of his party. In that session, he Introduced upwards of ninety measures nearly all of which were enacted into laws. The legislature, under Mr. Ainsworth's leadership, appropriated $1,497,034, a reduction of $1,299,660 over the preceeding year. In 1896, he was again the Republican leader, being chairman of the committee on ways and means and a member of the committee upon rules and codes.
On June 1, 1895, he was appointed deputy superintendent of Public Instruction, under Charles R. Skinner, and continued in that position until 1904, when the Commissioner of Education became the head of the school system of the State of New York. Mr. Ainsworth was an important factor at that time in remodeling the school laws of the Empire State; and in seeing that they were enacted by the State legislature. He later served as first deputy attorney general of the State of New York in 1905-1907. Afterwards in May 1907 he entered into the practice of his profession at 93 State Street, Albany, where he maintained offices until his death. In that year the firm was Ainsworth & Steele. Steele left the firm in 1908 when the firm became Ainsworth & Sullivan. In 1915 after John N. Carlisle left the Highway Department, the firm became Ainsworth, Carlisle & Sullivan, and in 1920 the firm was Ainsworth, Sullivan & Archibald. Mr. Carlisle retiring to head the Northern New York Utilities.
He received the Master of Arts degree from Union University, Schenectady. He served the city of Albany as President of the Board of Education, 1908-'13; Vice-President and member of the trustees of Albany Law School, member of Albany Historical and Art Society; member Fort Orange Club, Albany. In state and national campaigns and in state conventions he gave utterance to strong and forensic speeches on frequent occasion
He last appeared before his townspeople last Memorial Day when he spoke briefly at the Memorial Day exercises in the First Methodist Episcopal Church. His remarks evidenced the old time fire and oratorical ability in a remarkable degree. In his home town he was ever warmly received as a speaker and orator and could fill the largest auditorium on every occasion that he appeared.
Following the death of Mrs. Ainsworth, he unfolded to our townspeople the project to erect the Annie P. Ainsworth memorial library where he proposed to transfer his own library of some two thousand choice volumes. This project Is now well underway and but for the interference of rainy weather would now be well inclosed as only about four feet of facing brick remain to be laid before the structure is ready for the roof.
Mr. Ainsworth's remains arrived in Sandy Creek at 8:05 Wednesday evening, accompanied by Attorney and Mrs. Charles B. Sullivan, of Albany, and Miss Seymour, a niece of Mrs. Ainsworth, from Beatrice, Neb., and Mr. Ainsworth's secretary, Miss Stella F. Lane of Albany.
Horace H. Esselstyne, of Detroit, Mich., a cousin of Mr. Ainsworth, reached here during Wednesday night.
The funeral was largely attended from the Congregational Church on Thursday afternoon at 2, Rev. T. T Davies officiating. Among those present were Attorney and Mrs. John N. Carlisle, of Watertown; Attorney and Mrs. Walter S. Archibald, of Albany, and Attorney and Mrs. Nelson R. Pirnie, of Albany, and Attorney John J. Conners of Albany; together with all the members of Mr. Ainsworth's office staff.
The burial was in the family plot in Woodlawn cemetery in Sandy Creek. Here lie Mr. Ainsworth's father, Henry Ainsworth; his mother Philomena Allen; his sister Mary; his wife Annie, and his interment completes the circle.
The floral tributes were beautiful and spoke of the esteem and friendships of the eighty years that spanned this life. Among these was a large wreath from the town Mr. Ainsworth called home. The day was perfect, replete with autumnal sunshine.
The bearers were from among those associated with Mr. Ainsworth in his offices at Albany.
At the close of Mr. Ainsworth's public career in the legislature and while he was in the department of education the following summary was published in The New York Education.
The characteristic of the typical American is the readiness with which he adapts himself to new conditions and responsibilities; and the satisfactory manner in which he requites himself under all circumstances, however difficult, so we are not surprised to find the efficient and interested school trustee of Oswego County of the seventies, the brilliant young lawyer and most ready and effective of parliamentary speakers of the eighties and nineties. Danforth E. Ainsworth, took up the work of assisting in the educational supervision of the Empire State, as if he were to the manor born.
Mr. Ainsworth, like Supt. Skinner and Dr. Dewey, is a Jefferson County boy by birth, having been born at Clayton, Nov. 29, 1848. He was educated at Pulaski Academy and at Falley Seminary, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He was a school trustee from 1881-'83 In Sandy Creek, Oswego and a member of the board of education. In 1885 he was elected to the New York State Assembly where for ten years he was easily the Rupert of debate. No more clear, concise and effective speaker has graced legislative halls within recent years. For several years he was Republican leader on the floor of the house and never were the state's as well as party's interests better looked after. He fathered among many others the bill providing for equal inspectors of election for each political party; for home rule in matters of taxation; prohibiting the sale of tobaccoes to minors; providing for the election of commissioners of juries; for the preservation of the Adirondack forests; to regulate the sale of cocaine and opium; creating commission to investigate tenement houses in New York City; compel monthly payment of teachers' wages; health and decency laws relating to school out-buildings; the tenement house building of New York City, the small farms bill of New York City, first introduced the bill providing a township system of schools throughout the state and in '93 a supply bill which reduced the state expenditures by nearly one-half as compared with the preceding year. In 1895 declining any further legislative honors, he accepted the position of deputy state superintendent of public instruction of the state of New York. In his new field of activity his early experience as school trustee and member of the school board, together with his great natural intelligence have been most helpful, and his work and his devotion to all the true interests of education, but particularly to those of the little red school house, have already won for him a name among the educational forces of this state and added no little to the pronounced success of Supt. Skinner's administration.
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Resolutions - Whereas, Providence having removed one who has ever evidenced the highest interest in the affairs of the township of Sandy Creek and in everything pertaining thereto; one who, whether at home or abroad never ceased to keep in touch with the home people and their interests and; Whereas, he was active in the establishment of our High School and led this community furthering its educational interests through this crucial period; and whereas he has planned and brought to fruition a town library to which he has given years of thought and crowned these efforts with the gift of a beautiful and substantial building as well as the gift of his extensive library.
Therefore, while we bow in humble submission to an all-wise Providence in removing one so useful in all walks of life and while we regret that he could not have lived to see the full fruition of the project, so dear to his heart, the completion of the Annie P. Ainsworth Library.
We are truly thankful that the lives of both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth mingled with those of our own and that in the lives of our people as well as in the establishment of our schools and in the library about to be opened, we have great cause to revere the life and works of both Danforth E. Ainsworth and Annie P. Ainsworth.
Sandy Creek Chamber of Commerce. F. Dudley Corse, O. D. Wart. H. Louis Wallace, Committee
Sandy Creek News, Sandy Creek, N.Y., October 27, 1927
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