Alba Honeywell

Alba Honeywell (December 15, 1821 – February 4, 1916) was an American politician, editor, and landowner. He served as the second mayor of Hoopeston from 1879 to 1880.

Born in New York to abolitionist parents, he was educated at Oneida Institute under the preceptorship of Beriah Green. Afterwards, he teached from multiple academic institutions within the community before being appointed delegate for the Buffalo convention. Afterwards, he was employed as editor of many publications, including the National Anti-Slavery Standard before moving to Iroquois County in Illinois, where he then worked as a landowner. He became the mayor of Hoopeston from 1879 to 1880 and finally continued working as a landowner during his final years.

Early life and education Honeywell was born on December 15, 1821, in Cayuga County, New York, to Enoch Honeywell and Eliza Dye. He was the eldest son out of three children.

His father, Enoch, was a noted anti-slavery activist. Born in Westchester County in 1787, he was mostly educated in the county. When he was an adult, he started engaging in the manufacturing business. He continued engaging in the business until 1816, when he moved to Indiana and bought 160 acres of land in what is now Terre Haute. He worked on his land as a farmer and pork shipper until malaria drove him away and he settled in Cayuga County.

When Honeywell was 12 years old, he and his family moved to a portion of Steuben County which is now incorporated into Schuyler County.

Career Upon graduating from the Institute, Honeywell became a teacher at several educational institutions within the area. From the beginning of his life, he was noted to be opposed of slavery because of the belief and teachings of his father, and was among the first to actively engage in abolitionism. Subsequently, Honeywell read law in the office of Gilbert & Osborne in Rochester, meeting other abolitionists like Gerrit Smith, William Goodell, and Alvan Stewart. During this time, he had acquainted with more notable anti-slavery activists like Wendell Phillips and Frederick Douglass.

Honeywell was then elected mayor of Hoopeston in 1879. During his tenure, he served an active role in the improvement of the city. He was interested in the movement for general welfare and the introduction of many business interests which contributed to the development of the city.

Later life and death

After his tenure as mayor, Honeywell continued working as a farmer on another 1000 acre farm near Hoopeston for cultivation purposes. Because of his efforts, his community saw the benefits as the material increase in land values.

Honeywell died on February 4, 1916, due to a stroke in his residence at Honeywell Avenue. He was then interred and buried by the side of his wife at Floral Hill Cemetery in Lovejoy Township. Many avenues in Hoopeston were named after Honeywell.

At the drinking fountain of the Hoopeston Carnegie Public Library, a bronze tablet bears the inscription of people who helped with the foundation of the library, which included Honeywell, the Mary Hartwell Catherwood Club, and Andrew Carnegie.

Personal life Since the formation of the Republican Party until 1884, Honeywell was one of its staunch advocates. He later became identified with the Prohibition Party. He is said to have commanded respect and confidence whenever he was known. He was also said to be courteous and kind, with people surrounding him having high regard for the man. He was said to have been greatly interested in the Pitman shorthand at one point in his life.

On April 8, 1851, Honeywell married Cornelia Andrews of Sodus Bay, and they had 4 children together. Andrews died in 1904, and Honeywell never remarried.