New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-08
MR.. DAVENPORT AT HOME.
JUSTLY HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM.
HIS GOOD WORKS FOR ORPHAN GIRLS FOR HELP
LESS VETERANS, AND FOR HIS TowNsFoLK

sturdy rival in another backwoods settlement near by
known as Canisteo. Thther came in 1915 In the
twentieth year of his age sturdy looking and able
young by the name Of Ira Davenport lie had been
born at spencertown. near the Hudson River III
Columbia County, had been educated to business In
his fathers store in that place. The Davenports nave
been in tns country about $50 years-the nrst OF te
line being an English Puritan who settled In Massachu
sets. He became the progcnitor OF numerous Descent
ants who still chn be found in New England and In the
counties OF New York bordering the NeW-Ehghhu
States Ira Davenport upon settling in Canstoo opene
a small country store II the first store Opeheu III
the place aud 1t had for its proprietor man OF tteiesS
industry and business talent For thlr y-'"o !es
he remained In the place. prospecting constantly 'i ITO
had accumulated q fortune Ho had branch stores ~
Angelica HammondspOrt, Dansville Burns b"Acr
Bridge and North Amund. and he was apartner III
business house I'm York and large shareholder IN
coal company IIo was also largely Interested IN inc
sending OF lumber and grain arks down the southWhu
running rivers In 1s47 he removed his household goous
TO this place aud henceorward made 1t his hoInc HIS
wife was Miss yda Cameron. daughter OF DuRh"
Cameron, an able and cultivated scotchman lhreo
SONS and three daughters rn to Mr. and Mira Ira
Davenport John Davenport Ira Davenport DOM 'inb'
DugalG c. Davenport, who died in lS12; ChrlStih' ~
Davenport who married sherman =. Rogers OF B'iao'
Eliza d. Davenport, who married J. W. Waterman. OF
Detroit Mich, and died there In 1868; aud Fanny d.
Davenport who also married Mr. Waterman ana inca IN
1851.
Ira Davenport senior died in 1865 age seventy
three Seven years before his death without tcihg any
one of his plans, he began building massive Wmte
limestone structure little elevation on his farm
which commanded view OF tie beautiful valley III
which Bath is situated. When tho building was CON-
pctcd he opened q girls orphan asy lun inc hr5t
orphan received on July ~, 1851 The budlhs hau
cost $4,000; Mr. Davenport also conveyed to the
trustees Of the Institution 100000 for It's maintenance
and hi, brphcr Charles Davenport added 10000 Ire
-gtI, n,sg al
farming land which Ira Davenport also gave to H.
reducing by that much Dugad CamcrOns farm which ne
had bought The orphan Sylun' has Lccn hhcb con
Quoted No better testimony can bd gwen ot tho care
taken OF the children than the fact that there Lave poen
o&ly two deaths in twenty years. all! that sixty children
the year ronnd are protected from want hy the n'th
ton Perhaps Of It's success Is tho constant
supcryl,ipn receives the chdr Of irs FOUNDER
Mrs Rogers. John Davenport and Ira Davenport, aud
the financial aid they give It, There Il not room III the
asylum but bears the tokens M their care. Ihe
walls are covered with nnp photographs of noted build
ugs churches aud cities In Europe brought nome ~ Ira
Davenport from Continental tonr. Mrs. Rogers has
taken keen interest in the teaching OF tEo children to
sew. u cook AMI 10 do hou,cHork. All tho domestic
work OF the -yum done by the chrcn; there arc ho
servants. They cook th.ir own food, make their o"n
clothing aud keep their roam, IN order. There ar
teachers Including teacher of drawing EId inusi"
Jew years ago OF the girls showing muin talent IN
music In Davenport jhc younger sent them to con
,cryat0res Of music in Boston aud at a. expense Of
- 900 had them educated M music. Back Oi the AS ltm
there Is a caIdrn. every girl has plot Of ground
In which she cultivate, hDwcr Two acres Of laud have
also been set apart playground where there are
swings, croIUct sets and other apparatus Tor Their
Amusement The cllIdrcn individually dressed aud
have been taught to- excel in ncellcwork one Of them
took the prIkc .ncst -nccimcn 0 nccdcw)rk at
the county fair hGrc Another girl OF twelve years
OF ags took the prize for tho hos, LAT Of bread II will
s be seen that 1t Il The design 81 the Davenport family
mako them all capable o. clrLns their own livelihood
But he orphan asylum not the only charitable iuru-
tuition tn which the member, 81 the family are c'od
40 help notcin; abont tho streets an unn'nHJ
large number OF men wearing te well known uniform uf
the Union soldier, Ia tho Of the re Jclioa Inquiry
reveal, that tho outskirts Of the Village tho static
soldiers Homo situated which founded largely
through ri DIgonporis All In 1876. The buildings Of
the Homo ro- beautiful green meadow t. th" west
ward of the village There aro $50 acres of lud within
,n. Homo pa.lnss Tho buildings consist 81 four hu.
barracks - hospital. headquarters. ga house. commit
s,ry depart ncnt. laundry suffers. unufy c,c. There
are $50 ODD solder, IN tc Home aui $50 more viii
shortly he added It Is pathetic sight At n'htiHi 10 srr
the la- review Of the d.. Tho dfuH o'H 49, at West
Point the so troopng Forth from - bl'i-ck'
and form III long battle liuc-1nt without tH-h't- AT
are dc ,ed m thr old inrh navy blue army blouse with
nr,-. buitos anI rxy blue troI-rr-. Tuofc 1, major
facing thea cat on tue green meadow aHl captain ~
advance Of him Two soldiers stand at thr hJJarl'
ready To lower the United -iAcs Tag from tnc r"e-'n
Tne sergeant, advance und can ihI roll lhli cnui-
prisd the band micnt- from the bead I" tc foot 81 The
column and tAcn back a. an laying martial ar ne
Oh soldiers stand ionie iherc l. no sound c'c'i ~,
band music. Ihoh ioIlo" inc o"'IInS ~ 70. ul7 an"
he marching back - the barracks Tor the night r"7t
Ihc thought u erecting hnwr ior inc Oh '"d.i' 81
.l- state ur7t 20 members ut IN" Grand army "l
tj'c Republic ia 1876. they maIr sabscuptilr1 aud
-ul -crPlion- "ero ago in'le w. IAN. ~ '"n fa",J
couirihutcd by residents "i ihi, place ia D1Nch"lt
contributed 5000. Generous rui -rrptuus wore dl'n
md, ~ jonathan l,bir, Jnl-c l;um,cy, " T. Howell
and others. Of Hdh. The Land Was bought the ioundA
non. lad and VAL. were partly c"mlrrl al the various
H. Hmm. I4fft TtF
dollar Meanwhile the Institution hal DARK financial
hour. Tho mouhrrs Of the Grand Array oi iAc Republic
were securing tIc state for subscriptions. Tut these
Jagged There came tine when tho snm "f $500"
wa. inuratiycy needed The managers Of Tho Home ~
this nomcut ~ trial came To Ira Davenport Tor al.
lhoy said that they needed - 900 % complete the
blilIing- ami shelter The sudlcr,. Perhaps Ac state
womb rrimhlr,c MIN uud pcrh y, II ,uld not lie
would have t. take the risk ~ take tho risk sui
Mr. Davenport. and hlrnoi check for S2J,oJO ihis
cualcl the managers To complete the buldins, nul
open ut the tmo they hm set Tor their occupation
taken a Keen interest ~ tho institution and Edt cKcttcl
himself 10 better the condition ot II. inmates. When
state Senator lac lab ued To urrcIs tho appropriation.
oI llc IiN'llull"H' ''.' "'''''''' '"" ~
fiscal year Will receive 9lpooOO Upto tho present tno
IL ma, sheltered 2.37U soldiers from want.
Upon Of tho VILLAGE squares % Bath one secs ine
Sniirrs Mouuu cut This erected ri cost Of
300 cica The Bath Library has received a lcnry
support from Ira Davenport Ia bis traNcl'in Europe
through tho library and Opening the books constantly
finds hi nnmc Inscribed within by the librarian ~ tue
to several thousands of dollars There are two
handsome stone churches the village Presbyterian
anl Protestant Episcopal, which owe hcir beautiful nnd
costly architecture 10 the contribution OF Thousands Of
| dollar, by Mr,. Rogers and John and ira Davenport.
Gifts OF such nature q, those described, OF course
were not made for political chrct. Al, Indeed were
made before Mr. Davenport cplcrod political Ic or hnd
a thought OF seeking Olico fhby were The nets OF a
generous and Kindly heart. Yet when hc received the
Republican nomination for state Senator FROM thls
district ~ 1877 naturally had larger vote IA lau
from the men who had Witnessed his kindness, than II he
| had been stranger 20 theta. Mr. Davenport ran 10
votes ahead OF III" t,pnh!lchn Siac ticket ia EAh tho
ur.t no for senator. Dul OF q total VuC OF
5Gt Ec had majority ~ BAG Tho second tIlc be ran
for In 1872 EC 2s6 votes ahead Ul the state
ticket. Ito CONSTANTLY rose IN favor among hi4 holr
friends: for nc Tor stale Controller H. l-4l 80
ran 3G7 nicaI o Li4 tcbOl and had majority Ot JJb III
a total Of 1857. II also shown by the srNcra
nuLILlA Inc