Ansley Wilcox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ansley Wilcox
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| Born | January 27, 1856 |
| Died | January 26, 1930 (aged 73) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Cemetery |
| Education | Hopkins School |
| Alma mater | Yale University Oxford University |
| Occupation | Lawyer, scholar, civil service reform commissioner |
| Spouse(s) |
Cornelia Rumsey
(m. 1878; w. 1880)Mary Grace Rumsey
(m. 1883; d. 1930) |
| Children | Nina Wilcox Frances Wilcox |
Ansley Wilcox (born January 27, 1856 – died January 26, 1930) was an important American lawyer and scholar. He was a good friend of Theodore Roosevelt, who later became president. Something very special happened at Wilcox's home in Buffalo, New York. After President William McKinley was sadly assassinated on September 14, 1901, Vice President Roosevelt took the oath to become the 26th President of the United States right there in Wilcox's library.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ansley Wilcox was born in Augusta, Georgia, on January 27, 1856. His mother was from the South and his father was from the North. This was similar to Theodore Roosevelt's family. During the American Civil War, his family moved to Connecticut.
Wilcox went to a special school called Hopkins School. After that, he studied law at Yale University. He then traveled to London, England, to study at Oxford University.
Ansley Wilcox's Career
Becoming a Lawyer
After finishing his studies at Oxford, Wilcox moved to Buffalo, New York. He started working as a lawyer there. Buffalo was a quickly growing city at that time. Even though he was young, he became well-known for his legal skills. He also did a lot of charity work and loved to play golf.
Wilcox was an expert in corporate law, which deals with businesses. He also taught a class about medical law at the University at Buffalo.
In 1890, Wilcox was part of an important court case. It helped make sure that the civil service law was legal. This law helps make sure government jobs are given based on skill, not just connections.
In 1891, Wilcox took another big case to the Supreme Court of the United States. This case, called Briggs v. Spaulding, set a rule. It said that directors of national banks could be held responsible if they were careless.
Roosevelt Becomes President
Ansley Wilcox first met Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1880s. They were both chosen by the governor of New York, Grover Cleveland, to work on a special group. This group was focused on making government jobs fair.
Both men also helped create the Niagara Falls State Park. This park protects the area around Niagara Falls. Wilcox worked as a lawyer for this group from 1883 to 1885.
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shot while visiting Buffalo. This happened during the Pan-American Exposition. At first, doctors thought he would get better. Vice President Roosevelt believed McKinley would recover. He went on a planned trip to the Adirondack Mountains.
However, McKinley's condition got much worse. A messenger found Roosevelt and told him the President was dying. Roosevelt quickly rushed back to Buffalo by train. He learned that President McKinley had died at 2:30 AM on September 14th.
Roosevelt arrived in Buffalo later that day. He accepted an invitation to stay at Ansley Wilcox's home. Wilcox said that his family was away, but he offered Roosevelt a quiet place to stay.
The Wilcox home was chosen as the best place for Roosevelt to become president. About 50 important people, including family members and cabinet members, gathered in the front library. Federal Judge John R. Hazel gave Roosevelt the oath of office. He even borrowed Wilcox's coat for the ceremony!
There are no photos of the actual ceremony. But the room was photographed a lot after Roosevelt became president. Today, this home is known as the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. It's a special place in history. Roosevelt did not use a Bible when he took his oath. This makes him unique among presidents.
Wilcox and Politics
Ansley Wilcox never ran for public office himself. But he was very interested in politics. He was friends with at least three presidents: Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft.
In the early 1890s, Wilcox suggested a new idea for elections. He thought local elections should happen in odd-numbered years. This would avoid clashing with state and national elections in even-numbered years. This idea was later adopted in New York State.
Wilcox was a Republican, but he sometimes voted for Democrats. In 1884, he supported Democrat Grover Cleveland for president. In 1904, he supported his friend Theodore Roosevelt. But in the 1912 election, he supported Republican Taft. He did not support Roosevelt, who had left the Republican party.
Personal Life
While studying in England, Ansley Wilcox met Cornelia Rumsey (1854-1880). She was from Buffalo and was on holiday with her family. After Oxford, he moved to Buffalo and married Cornelia in 1878. Cornelia's father gave them a house as a wedding gift.
Sadly, Cornelia died in 1880, just six weeks after giving birth to their daughter:
- Cornelia "Nina" Rumsey Wilcox (1880-1968)
In 1883, Ansley Wilcox married Cornelia’s younger sister, Mary Grace Rumsey (1855-1933). Again, Mary Grace's father gave them a house as a wedding present. They had one daughter:
- Frances Wilcox (born 1884)
Ansley Wilcox passed away from throat cancer on January 26, 1930. This was one day before his 74th birthday. He is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Community Involvement
Wilcox was also known for starting important groups. He helped create the Charity Organization Society. He also founded the Fitch Crèche, which was the first day care center for working mothers in the United States. Many of these groups held meetings at the Wilcox home.
He was a founding member of the Wanakah Country Club. He loved riding his horses in Delaware Park. The garden at his home was also a big passion for him. Even though he had a professional gardener, Wilcox often took care of the flowers himself.
He spent his time helping others, playing golf, riding horses, and gardening. He was also very interested in how hydro-electric power plants were built in Niagara Falls in the 1920s.
Wilcox House Legacy
Today, the Wilcox house is part of a National Historic Site. It is the oldest part of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. The site also includes a building from the old Buffalo Barracks. This military post was built in 1839 to protect the border. The building that became part of the historic site was originally officer's quarters in 1840.
See Also
Images for kids
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Ansley Wilcox
