Willard Ives

Who was Willard Ives?

Willard Ives was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Born in Watertown, New York, Ives attended the common schools, also Belleville Academy, and Lowville Academy. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and was also interested in banking. He served as a delegate to the world convention of Methodists held in London, England, in 1846. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Thirtieth Congress in 1848.

Ives was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second Congress. He served as president of Ives Seminary, Antwerp, New York, which he endowed. He was one of the originators and organizers of Syracuse University and served on the board of trustees 1870-1886. He resumed agricultural pursuits. He died in Watertown, New York, April 19, 1896. He was interred in Brookside Cemetery.