Frank A. Dudley

Frank Alonzo Dudley (January 30, 1864 – September 21, 1945)[1] was an American lawyer, politician, hotelier and business owner associated with Niagara Falls, New York. Dudley established the United Hotels Company of America and the "Lewiston Heights" neighborhood in Lewiston, New York.

Early life

Frank Alonzo Dudley was born in the Town of Wilson, New York on January 30, 1864. He was the third of five children to John Alexander Dudley (b. 1829), born in Guilford, Connecticut, and Henrietta Wright (1832–1887), born in Lockport, New York.[2] His father was the son of Phineas Dudley Jr. (son of Phineas Dudley (1752–1793)[3]) and Elizabeth Graves, who was a great-granddaughter of Colonial Connecticut Governor John Webster (1590–1661). His maternal grandparents were lthureal Wright and Candace Gaskill.[2]

Career

In 1882, he returned to New York, relocating to Lockport, where he read law with Joshua Gaskill. He was admitted to the bar in June 1886, at the same time as Cuthbert W. Pound.[5] In 1887, he settled permanently in Niagara Falls, New York, where in 1888, he formed a co-partnership with W. Caryl Ely, under the firm name of "Ely & Dudley", which later became "Ely, Dudley & Cohn."[2]

Dudley was also a partner, until his death in 1945, with "Dudley, Gray, Phelps, & Gray" with Alfred W. Gray, Alpheus R. Phelps, and Newman Gray, a law firm based out of the NRHP listed United Office Building in Niagara Falls, New York he had built in 1929 by James A. Johnson of Esenwein & Johnson.[7]

Political career

In politics, he was an active and prominent Republican,[2] and in 1895 and 1896, was elected to the 119th and 120th New York State Legislature. As a candidate for the Assembly, Dudley received 3,556 votes; to 2,226 for Edward T. Williams, Democrat; 200 for Elmer B. Townsend, Prohibitionist; and 53 for B. Burt Hayes, Populist.[5] In the Assembly of 1896, Dudley was a member of the "Judiciary Claims" and "Federal Relations" committees[5] and in the 120th Legislature, he was the "Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment." Dudley introduced and championed several bills which became laws including: (1) a law giving the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Manufacturing Company (owned by Jacob F. Schoellkopf) the permanent right to use the waters of the Niagara River, sufficient to develop 100,000 horsepower;[2] and (2) a graduated inheritance tax bill designed to equalize the burden of taxation throughout the State. The bill was known as the "Dudley tax bill," and was vetoed by Governor Frank S. Black.[2]

During the 1932 Presidential Election campaign, Dudley served as president of the "Republican Hotel Men's Association."

Business career

Dudley was early connected with the power development at Niagara Falls and was one of the incorporators and organizers of many different companies.[2] He was one of the incorporators and organizers of the Buffalo and Niagara Falls Electric Railway,[5] later part of International Railway System. Dudley was also one of the originators of the Whirlpool and Northern Electric Railway, which extended into the Town of Lewiston.[5] He was one of the organizers of the 1898 Lewiston Connecting Bridge between Lewiston, New York and Queenston, Ontario in Canada.

Dudley organized the "North Coast Railway of State of Washington," of which he was the first president. The railway was later taken over by the Harriman Interests, and became part of the Southern and Union Pacific Systems. He was a stockholder and a vice-president in a number of business and commercial enterprises of Niagara Falls, including the "Electric City Bank," (established December 1, 1894).[2]

Real estate and hotels

In 1901, Dudley organized the Niagara Falls Country Club, of which he was President for 4 terms.[8] In 1916, the Club moved from Niagara Falls to Lewiston. A.W. Tillinghast was engaged to design the course in Lewiston, completed in 1919. The former site in Niagara Falls became the Hyde Park Golf Club.[11]

Dudley, along with Paul A. Schoellkopf, a son of Arthur Schoellkopf, and Afred W. Gray, financed the "Lewiston Heights" neighborhood, part of which was transferred to the Niagara Falls Country Club for their move to Lewiston.[8] At one time Dudley, Schoellkopf, and Gray owned all the land at Lewiston Heights. Both Dudley and Schoellkopf built mansions on the escarpment (Dudley at 551 Mountain View[12]

office	Member of the New York State Assembly from the 45th District
term start	January 1, 1896
term end	December 31, 1897
preceded	Inaugural holder
succeeded	Henry S. Tompkins
birth name	Frank Alonzo Dudley
birth date	January 30, 1864
birth place	Wilson, New York, U.S.
death date	September 21, 1945
death place	Lewiston, New York, U.S.
party	Republican
alma mater	Wisconsin State College of Milwaukee
parents	Phineas Dudley Elizabeth Graves
spouse	Etta Brown Payne
profession	Lawyer, businessman, hotelier

Early life

Career

Political career

Business career

Real estate and hotels

Personal life

Clubs and organizations

See also

References

Legacy