Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Gould, John Stanton

GOULD, John Stanton, philanthropist, b. in 1810; d. in Hudson, N. Y., 8 Aug., 1874. He was a member of the Society of Friends, had received a thorough education, especially in physical science, and was well known as an industrious student and a popular essayist and lecturer on scientific subjects. He had an admirably conducted farm in Columbia county, N. Y., and took an active part in agricultural improvement. He was for several years president of the State agricultural society, and did much to advance its interests. He was also an earnest temperance advocate, and though in earlier years a Whig, and a member of the assembly from that party in 1846, and subsequently acting generally with the Republicans, he held his temperance principles above party allegiance, and was recognized as a Prohibitionist. He was much interested in the subject of prison reform, and was for many years one of the directors and executive officers of the New York prison association.