WARE, Frederick Alonzo,
Lawyer, Legislator.
The Ware family home in Thirty-sixth street, New York, was occupied by ancestors of Frederick A. Ware when that part of New York was divided into farms. The family is an ancient one, and the foundation of their fortune was laid in Colonial days. Mr. Ware entered politics in 1895, during the “good government” movement, was elected alderman on an anti-Tammany ticket, and was always esteemed a reform leader. He was well. known in his city through his practice in the criminal courts, his prominence in political and Bohemian club life bringing him frequently into the public eye. He served with credit in both New York, as an alderman and in Albany as representative from a New York City ‘district. He was an able criminal lawyer, finely educated and always commanded a good practice.
Frederick A. Ware, son of Richard F. and Amelia F. (Klauberg) Ware, was born in New York, in 1864, died in Freeport, Long Island, May 29, 1921. He began his education in the public schools, and completed the courses of public school No. 26 with the graduating class of 1881. In later years he was president of the Alumni Association of that school, and always felt for it a real interest and regard. He then entered the College of the City of New York, and prepared for the profession of law at Columbia Law School, whence he was graduated LL.B., class of 1887. During his college days and for a few years prior to that, Mr. Ware won high reputation in athletics. His entrance into athletics was in 1878, and he continued until the World’s Fair games in Chicago in 1893, in which he took part. Within that period he won more than one hundred trophies in walking, running, swimming, rowing and even in cycling, being second in the one mile race at the game of the College of the University of New York, the race being ridden on “an ordinary” or high wheel. It was at walking that he hid his best work in athletics. In 1885, he won the inter-collegiate championship from Bemis and Wright, of Harvard, Meredith, of Yale, and Biddle, of the University of Pennsylvania, all of whom, at various times, were inter-collegiate champions. For many years he was one of the most active members of the Manhattan Athletic Club, serving as a member of the board of governors, and for several years was lieutenant of the club. In 1885-86, he was president of the National Cross Country Association, and secretary of the Inter-collegiate Association. In 1886-87, ne was an enthusiastic supporter of the “Cherry Diamond,” (Manhattan Athletic Club) in the fight between the National Amateur Association of America, and the Amateur Athletic Union, organizing the Crescent Athletic Club which supported the Manhattan Athletic Club. On the occasion of the visit of the Salford Harriers to this country, he had charge of the team in Chicago and Detroit.
After graduation, Mr. Ware began practice and became well known as a learned and able lawyer, his specialty being criminal law. He was counsel for the Hep Sing Tong during the War of the Tongs in Chinatown, New York City, in 1907, and was connected with many notable cases. He was elected a member of the New York Board of Aldermen from the eleventh district, serving from 1895 to 1897. He was chairman of the committee on Revision of City Ordinances, and became very popular in his district. Mr. Ware will always be remembered for his splendid service rendered while alderman in behalf of the erection of the public library building at the corner of Fifth avenue between Forty-first and Forty-second streets, New York. He represented the Twenty-fifth Assembly District of New York City, elected in 1895, and made a creditable record as a legislator. He was a member of the Seventh Regiment, New York National Guard, and in 1898 established the first recruiting office in his private office in New York, Lafayette Post, No. 140, Grand Army of the Republic, using it as their headquarters in recruiting volunteers for the War with Spain. He recruited personally a company which he hoped to command, but his men were assigned to other regiments, and he enlisted in the 102nd Regiment. In 1900, Mr. Ware was appointed deputy attorney-general and served as such for a time. He was an ardent Republican, and supporter of Theodore Roosevelt, and among his papers are many autograph letters including one from Colonel Roosevelt. He was a member of Lafayette Camp No. 10, Sons of Veterans, and several professional organizations. Most of his life was passed at the old Ware home, No. 138 West Thirty-sixth street, New York, but later in life he maintained a country residence at Freeport, Long Island, where he died. He was a member of several clubs: The Republican, Madison Square Republican, Freeport and Edenia, and was a one time president of the Blaine Club. In religious preferance he was an Episcopalian. He was a member of the New York Society, Sons of the Revolution. For six years after the Spanish-American War, he was a member of the Second Company of the Seventh Regiment, New York National Guard.
Mr. Ware married, in 1897, in New York City, Evelyn Cervantes, a well known favorite of the studios and galleries, born in England, of the Spanish family Cervantes, which produced the author of “Don Quixote.” Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Ware: Frederick K. C, born in 1900; Florence, born in 1901 ; and Richard Carroll, born in 1906. Mrs. Ware survives her husband, and resides with her children in New York and Freeport.
Source: American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, Vol. 12, by American Historical Company, published by the American Historical Society, Inc. New York, 1922, pages 336-9
