Richard Athil Udall


Richard Athil Udall was an American politician from New York.

Early life

Richard Athil Udall was born on May 11, 1811, in Islip, Long Island, New York, to Prudence and Dr. Richard Udall. He graduated from Yale College in 1830. He then studied law with his brother-in-law Judge Selah B. Strong of Setauket. Due to needing to support his father, he was unable to practice law.

Career

Strong spent his life in Islip. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly, representing Suffolk County in 1842, 1846 and 1866.

Personal life

Strong married Hannah Willets, daughter of Daniel Willets. His wife died in 1843. He later married Marie Antoinette Carll, daughter of Timothy P. Carll, of Babylon on February 5, 1845. He had one son and one daughter.
In 1875, Udall went blind. In January 1876 he had a cataract operation on both eyes and his sight was restored. He had a stroke of paralysis and apoplexy on March 29, 1883. He died on March 31 in Babylon.

Legacy

Udall Road in Suffolk County, which extends from central Baywood to the middle of West Islip, is named after Udall. On it is two middle schools, Udall Road Middle School of the West Islip Union Free School District in West Islip, and Brentwood West Middle School of the Brentwood Union [Free School District] in Baywood.