BIOGRAPHY: Robert L. Drummond, Auburn, Cayuga co., New York

transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com)

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA
COUNTY NEW YORK
BOSTON
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY
1894

ROBERT L. DRUMMOND, LL.B., a well-known and highly respected attorney of the
city of Auburn, was born in New York City, August 21, 1842, son of James and
Sarah (Loudon) Drummond. His father was born April 11, 1797, in the parish
of Ednam, Jedburghshire, Scotland, at the old family home on the banks of
the Tweed, and came to this country when he was thirty years of age. He
married in August, 1839, Miss Sarah Loudon, of Kortright, Delaware County,
N.Y. She was born December 8, 1811, daughter of Robert Loudon, a member of
one of the old county families. Mr. James Drummond was a successful business
man in New York City, where he resided until the year 1845, when he removed
to Victory, Cayuga County, and there engaged in the pursuit of farming until
the time of his death, March 18, 1873. His wife died March 23, 1871. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Drummond were members and supporters of the Reformed
Presbyterian church.

 Robert L. Drummond received his early education in the common school at
Victory and at the Red Creek Union Academy. In August, 1864, he enlisted in
Company H, One Hundred and Eleventh New York Volunteer Infantry, to defend
the union, and was with the Third Brigade, First Division, Second Corps, at
the fighting before Petersburg, where he was taken prisoner October 30,
1864. He was confined at Petersburg and Libby prisons, afterward being sent
to Salisbury, N.C. He was paroled March 2, 1865, and was sent to Annapolis
Parole Camp, Maryland, and thence home, where after a time he was sent to
St. Mary's Hospital, New York, remaining there until he received his
honorable discharge from the army. After his army experience, Mr. Drummond
took up the profession of teaching, and in 1865 was elected School
Commissioner of the First District, Cayuga County, and continued in that
capacity three years, being afterward a teacher in the public schools of
Auburn. Deciding to take up the study of law, he entered the law department
of the Albany University, where he was graduated with the degree of LL.B.,
in the class of 1871, and was at once admitted to the bar. In the following
winter he was appointed Clerk of the Banking and Insurance Committees, New
York State Assembly, at Albany; and in May, 1873, he began the active
practice of his profession at Auburn, N.Y. His first law partner was the
Hon. E. A. Thomas, who was afterward appointed a United States Judge, upon
which appointment the partnership terminated, and Mr. Drummond continued in
practice alone. In the fall of 1878 he was elected on the Republican ticket
to the position of District Attorney, taking his seat of office January 1,
1879, and was twice reelected, a distinguished honor, being the only
third-term District Attorney ever elected in this county. Upon resuming
active practice, he entered into partnership with George W. Nellis, which
partnership continued for two years under the name of Drummond & Nellis; and
since its termination Mr. Drummond has practised alone.

 Mr. Drummond has a large general law practice, and has conducted several
important criminal cases. During his nine years of service as District
Attorney, no convictions were ever reversed. He always conducted his trials
without notes or minutes of evidence taken. Among the cases prosecuted by
Mr. Drummond as District Attorney were the following: The People v. Daley,
for robbery; v. Naitman, for bigamy and for forgery; v. Alvah H. Green, for
incest; v. David Dunn, for arson; v. Phelps, for arson; v. Robinson, for
poison; v. Petmecky, for murder; v. Moon, for murder; v. Dickerson, for
murder; v. Stahlnecker, for murder: v. Campbell, for abortion; v. French,
for assault, first degree; v. Mrs. Coppernoll, for assault, first degree; v.
The Six Italians, for assault, first degree; v. Friend, for assault, first
degree; v. Knapp, for rape; v. Littleton, for rape; v. Clarence F. Tier, for
burglary and larceny; v. Schewe (lager beer case); v. "Jimmy Hope,"
Manhattan Bank case, extradited from California, Mr. Drummond's papers in
the case having gone through six months' litigation before courts and judges
of California.

 These may be named as among the important cases conducted by Mr. Drummond
for the defence since retiring from the District Attorneyship: People v.
Jerry Monissey, grand larceny; v. William Sherman, sodomy; v. Van Alstine,
"Spurr robbery"; v. Lee Hong, sodomy.

 Mr. Drummond has been a member of the County Committee and an active
worker in the Republican party. In 1892 he became identified with the
Democratic party, supporting Cleveland on account of the tariff issue, and
has since voted with that party. In addition to his law practice, he has
found time to indulge in agricultural pursuits, having a fine farm situated
partially within the city limits. He makes his residence at 144 Franklin
Street, which is on the farm. Mr. Drummond was married October 14, 1872, to
Miss Anna E. Burke, daughter of Nelson P. and Fanny Burke, of Cato, and has
four living children; namely, Richard C. Steele, Nelson Loudon, Alexander
M., and Robert Wilfred Drummond. Mr. Drummond is a member of the Prisoners'
War Association; and both he and Mrs. Drummond are members and supporters of
the Calvary Presbyterian Church, of which he has been one of the Elders for
many years. Mr. Drummond has filled the various public offices to which he
has been elected with tact and discrimination, which has secured him
universal esteem and respect. He is a fluent speaker, and has delivered
several lectures, one of special note being "Personal Reminiscences of
Prison Life during the War of the Rebellion."