The Book of Soden

Harold Robert Soden (11/17/08 - 3/23/98) was the only child of Emma Yetto and 

John Henry Joseph Soden (son of John and Anne Soden of County Letrim) was 

born in Cohoes, New York. Harold was educated at Cohoes High School; The 

Manlius School; Colgate University and Albany Law School. In 1936, he and 

his wife, Eunice E. Gilbert Soden, moved to Lake Placid, New York. His son, 

Bruce G. Soden, and daughter Marcia E. Soden Kola, were born there. Two 

of his grandsons, Matthew and Mark, are attending the Soden Family Reunion.

Harold R. Soden became a pre-eminent trial attorney in Northern New York. 

At the urging of local friends, he entered politics. He served as District 

Attorney for Essex County then as Supervisor for the Town of North Elba 

(Village of Lake Placid is encompassed by the Town) and was elected to two 

14-year terms as New York State Supreme Court Justice starting in 1960. 

He served as Justice with distinction becoming the Administrative Judge 

for his district while discharging his duties as Trial Judge on the circuit, which 

extended from Saratoga Springs and historic Johnstown, New York on the 

south to Plattsburgh and St. Lawrence, New York on the north. Harold served 

as the head of Law Enforcement for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, 

New York and was active in many civic affairs.

Upon his retirement from the Bench, Harold resumed trial practice and was 

an active trial practitioner once again. He ended his days as a respected senior 

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