Hon. Alanson Borden

Alanson Borden was born in the town of Tiverton, Rhode Island, near to the Massachusetts line (now in the latter state), on January 7, 1823. His father was Isaac Borden, who was a farmer, as were his grandfather and earlier ancestors, all being of English descent. His mother was Abby Borden, a member of a different, unrelated Borden family. When he was nine years old his family, including his grandfather, moved to Venice, in Cayuga County, New York, where they lived many years. His father and mother eventually returned to Massachusetts and both died in New Bedford.

Before the move to New York State, Alanson attended the school near his home and after the move he attended the district schools until he was seventeen years old, when he entered the academy at Groton, New York. A few months later he changed to the Aurora (Cayuga county) Academy, where he studied for about two years. It had been his cherished intention to go through college, and during a period of teaching after leaving the Aurora Academy, he began preparation for his college course; but a combination of circumstances rendered it impracticable for him to carry out his plans, and his further educational advantages were restricted to one year in an academy at Ithaca, N. Y., which he left with an excellent academic education that was much enhanced by subsequent private study.

Following his term at the last named academy he taught in district and private schools, closing this kind of labor with one year in Fall River, Massachusetts. In 1846 Mr. Borden went to live in New Bedford, resolved to enter the legal profession. He began his studies in the office of Elliot & Kasson and remained there two and one-half years, when he was admitted to the bar and at once opened an office. He has ever since practiced in New Bedford, though very much of his time and talent has been given to the duties of public office. In this respect Judge Borden has been highly honored by his fellow citizens. He was appointed Special Justice of the Police Court in 1856, and resigned the office in 1859; then he was elected to the State Legislature, serving in that body two years, with the approval of his constituents. Following this he accepted the office of trial justice for juvenile offenders, which was established in New Bedford by special statute. In 1864 he was appointed judge of the City Police Court and held the office until 1874, when all of the police courts of the county were abolished and the county was divided into three districts with a judge for each. Judge Borden received the appointment for the Third District, embracing the city of New Bedford and the towns of Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, Acushnet and Freetown.

In 1876 Judge Borden was honored with an election to the mayoralty of the city and gave his constituents an excellent administration. He has been a member of the School Board for many years and was its chairman three years.

While Judge Borden's legal practice has been of a general character, he has given most of his attention, outside of his official life, to office practice. The confidence reposed in him has led to his frequent appointment as administrator of estates, as trustee of private property, and executor of wills, in which capacities he had exercised prudent management and followed the high ideal of integrity which has governed his life. No views of Judge Borden's active career would be at all complete which did not allude to the fact that he has always been prominently connected with the temperance cause, and both by words and deeds has rendered that cause most efficient services.

Judge Borden was married and widowed three times. He married his first wife, Mary Caroline Topham, of New Bedford, on January 27, 1852. She was the daughter of William H. Topham and Abbey I. Bush. They had two children together, a son, William Alanson Borden, 1853 – 1931, and a daughter, Laura E., 1857 – 1901, who married Charles H. Lobdell, of New Bedford. Sometime after the death of his first wife on August 22, 1876, he married his second wife, Mary Kent, daughter of George Kent, of Washington. She died January 9, 1885, and on January 16, 1886, he married Anna R. Comerford, of New Bedford.

Taken from the "History of New Bedford and its Vicinity, 1602 - 1892" by Leonard Bolles Ellis, published in 1892.