John W Suggett

“Services Saturday for J.W. Suggett- Noted patent attorney dies at home in Cortland-

John W. Suggett, 74, one of the fore-most patent attorneys of the country, died at 12:30 Thursday morning at his home, 25 Homer avenue. He had been in failing health in recent years, and the past few months was confined to his home. The funeral il be held at the Suggett residence at 2:30 Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Suggett was born in Corland, June 19, 1853. His parents were James Suggett and Jane Prentice Suggett, natives of Yorkshire, England. He graduated at the Cortland Normal school in 1871, where his classmates were Judge Alton B. Parker, Judge Joseph E. Eggleston, and Judge Randolph Horton. After completing his course in mathematics and engineering at Cornell university he began the study of law, first in the office of M.M. Waters and then with Judge Hiram Crandall.
The nation-wide litigation of the driven well patents made Mr. Suggett famous in patent law. The bitter controversy began nearly fifty years ago when William B. Andrews & Co. of New York demanded royalties of every user of the simple device, which was an iron pipe welded to a point and bored with holes to admit water.
Mr. Suggett took the cases of the defendants and was victorious thruout[sic] the country. His father had used the device years before an on that account Mr. Suggett was interested to aid those who were unable to defend themselves. It is said that as early as 1861 when Colonel Green desired a water supply for the 76th regiments camp at the fair grounds that the elder Suggett drove wells, using the pointed pipe.

An attorney for Smith Brothers of Syracuse and after for the L.C. Smith Typewriter company, Mr. Suggett was successful in typewriter patent litigation on this country and in England. After long search he found an original patent on a typewriter in a small village in Illinois, which he purchased for his clients. It was this basic patent on which he won their cases.
He was one of a very few Americans ever heard in the House of Lords in the British Parliament, where his activity in the typewriter actions took him after his success in the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Suggett often delighted his associates with his stories of his practice in England. The array of legal talent he assembled in the higher courts of England to represent him paid him scant attention in court. When the presiding judge was at a loss to understand some of their arguments and looked about for some one to explain, Mr. Suggett, outside the bar, stood up, stating that if permitted he could make it all clear. “I will hear you, sir,” the judge said, and Mr. Suggett gave the lucid explanation of one thoroly[sic] familiar with both the patented device and the patent laws.
Elmer A. Sperry, beginning his career in the field of electrical engineering when a young man in Cortland, found a good friend and sound adviser in Mr. Suggett, who later became his attorney and managed his patent litigations successfully.

Mr. Suggett was a member of Cortlandville lodge, F. and A.M., from 1879 to the day of his death. He joined Cortland chapter, R.A.M., and Cortland commandery, Knights Templar in 1890, and was a member of Central City consistory, 32d degree. He was master of the lodge in 1881-2 and in 1891-2.
A thoro[sic] believer in the principle that it is the internal and not the external qualification that makes the man, Mr. Suggett had little patience with the formalities of society. It is related that he presented himself at the communication of an aristocratic lodge of Masons in London and was refused admission because he was not in evening dress. He demanded and secured audience with the master and vigorously insisted upon his right to visit his brethren regardless of the external qualification and he was admitted.
Mr. Suggett was long associated with Hon. O.U. Kellogg and the late Hon. William H. Clark and others of the old local board of the Cortland Normal school, and continued as a member of the board of visitors when the local board was abolished. He was one of those to whom Franklin Hatch entrusted the Franklin Hatch library and continued as a director and vice-president when the change was made to the Free library.

Surviving Mr. Suggett are his sisters, Mrs. Rosanna Peckham of 81 Homer avenue, and the Misses Flora and Cora Suggett and their adopted sister, Miss Jennie Suggett, who resided with him,” (Cortland Democrat, June 1, 1928).

"Tribute from Normal School Board of Visitors: In the death of John W. Suggett, the Board of Visitors of the Cortland Normal School has lost one of its most faithful and distinguished members. During the 38 years of his service his fine legal mind and practical knowledge have been of inestimable value not only in the many details of management, but especially during the period when the new school was under construction. It was due to his foresight in having the city maintain the insurance on the school that the rebuilding of the Cortland Normal was assured after the fire.
Mr. Suggett served many years most efficiently as chairman of the Library Committee. He was especially interested in the building up of the library, giving a great deal of his time and attention to the selection of books and making it one of the best in the state.
Even in recent years when ill health kept him from attending the meetings of the Board, his mind was keen and alert regarding all things pertaining to the welfare of the school, and his counsel and advice were helpful when he could not actively carry on his duties on the Board.
In his death Cortland has lost one of its leading citizens and a man whose integrity of character and legal knowledge have been most helpful in building up our local institutions. -Local Board of Visitors of the Normal School," (Cortland Standard; June 1, 1928).