| Notes |
- Niagara Gazette - 12/29/1956
Funeral services for Judge Fred M. Ackerson, retired
chief judge of the New York State Court of Claims who died
yesterday (Dec. 28, 1956), will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at
First Congregational Church.
The distinguished jurist died at
the age of 90 at Memorial Hospital
after suffering a heart attack
at his home, 4207 McKoon
Ave., early in the afternoon. He
died 75 minutes later.
Friends may call at the Cornell
and Daggett Funeral Chapel after
7 o'clock tonight.
The Rev. John W. Douglas,
minister of First Congregational
Church, will conduct thc funeral
services. Burial will be private.
Wife Survives
Surviving are his wife, the former
Elizabeth Vogt; a son, Charles
F. Ackerson, Cuba, N. Y., and
a daughter, Mrs. Frederick Handle,
Locust Valley, L. I.
Judge Ackerson, a Republican,
held the triple distinction of having
served on the Court of Claims
lkonger than anyone else, of being
the only man appointed to the
court by both Democratic and Re-
publican governors and of being
the only person ever to serve as
an official referee of the court.
He was appointed a judge on
the Court of claims by Gov.
Charles s. Whitman on Feb. 16,
1915. He was reappointed to the
court by Govs. Nathan L. Miller,
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Herbert
H. Lehman. He was presiding
judge of the court for 14 years
during the terms of Govs. Whit-
man and Miller.
On Dec. 31. 1936. he retired
from the court, having reached
the retirement age of 70 the previous
June. He was appointed an
official referee of the court on
Feb. 16, 1937, whereupon Judge
James J. Barrett, then the court's
presiding judge, designated him
an acting judge on the court.
Attended UB Law School
He continued to serve on the
court until Sept. 30. 1940, when
his health compelled him to retire.
He attended Yates Academy,
Yates, in 1883 and 1884 and was
graduated from Brockport State
Normal School, Brockport, in
1889.
He commenced his study of the
law in the offices of John E. and
Cuthbert W. Pound,. Lockport, in
September 1889. In November
1890 he entered the University of
Buffalo Law School and' was
graduated in May 1892'with the
degree of bachelor of laws.
After two years of law practice
in Buffalo, he moved to Niagara
Falls in 1894. From 1900 until
his appointment to the Court of
Claims in 1915. he practiced law
here in partnership with Judge
John O. Chapin.
Judge Ackcrson's work in public
affairs had begun long before his
court appointment. He was elected
justice of- the peace in this city
in 1896 and was appointed to the
Board of education in 1899. He
was appointed assistant district
attorney of Niagara County on
Jan. I,. 1902, and held the position
until Dec. 31, 1907. In November
1907. he was elected county district
attorney and was subsequently
twite re-elected. He resigned that
position 'to accept his court appointment.
Forceful Speaker
A Niagara^ Falls Gazette article
announcing his candidacy for
county district attorney in 1907
said qf him: "He has become
^ell known, not only throughout
trie county,-but also throughout
Western New York as an able
and forceful speaker, and in the
last few years has at different
times demonstrated that he
possesses oratorical powers of a
high order."
In addition to his public life,
Judge Ackerson was active in
many societies and fraternal or-
ganizations and in church affairs.
He was a member of the Niagara
Falls Lodge No. 81, IOOF, since
1897, a member of the Niagara
River Lodge No. 785, F&AM,
since 1899 and an honorary member
of the Supreme Council of the
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry with the 33rd Degree
since 1922.
He was also a member of the
First Congregational Church, the
Niagara Falls Rotary Club, the
Sons of the American Revolution,
the Niagara Falls and state historical
societies and the Niagara
Falls and New York. State bar
associations.
Kept Extensive Diary
After his retirement from public
life in 1940, Judge Ackerson
pursued many interests and hobbies.
He -was an ardent gardener,
reader and diarist. He began his
diary in 1878 and continued
throughout__his life to make extensive
entries. In 1946 Judge Ackerson
told a Gazette reporter that a
re-reading of his diary had led to
the discovery of two things. He
said, 'The first is,that weather 7
out of 10 years is identical and the
second that a person forgets threefourths
of everything that happens
in his l i f e -
He also in retirement catalogued
his 3,500-volume library, which he
willed to the Niagara Falls Public
Library, according to reports.
Lists of pall bearers and honorary
bearers are being prepared
from the legal profession and civic
and fraternal leaders.
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Abt 1867 - 1956 (~ 89 years)