USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them preeminent in their own and many other states, Vol. 3 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
Gc 974.7 F55e v.3 1233356
M.
GENEALOCY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 6238
Joseph .V. Choate
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
OF
NEW YORK 13
A Life Record of Men and Women of the Past
Whose Sterling Character and Energy and Industry Have Made Them Preeminent in Their Own and Many Other States
BY
CHARLES ELLIOTT FITCH, L. H. D.
Lawyer, Journalist, Educator; Editor and Contributor to Many Newspapers and Magazines; ex-Regent New York University; Supervisor Federal Census (N. Y.) 1880; Secretary New York Constitutional Convention, 1894
ILLUSTRATED
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BOSTON
INCORPORATED NEW YORK 1916
CHICAGO
Both justice and decency require that we should bestow on our forefathers an honorable remembrance-Thucydides
1233356
BIOGRAPHICAL
-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ROOSEVELT, Theodore,
Soldier, Statesman, Author.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, twenty- sixth President of the United States, was born in New York City, October 27, 1858, eldest son of Theodore and Martha (Bul- loch) Roosevelt. He was of Holland ancestry, and his father was a man of sterling qualities, a prominent merchant and banker, and a philanthropist.
Colonel Roosevelt was educated at Harvard University, from which he was graduated in 1880 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was early asso- ciated with his father in business, but made an almost immediate entrance into public life. He was elected to the State Assembly of New York in 1882, became leader of the minority in that body, and was active in behalf of reform measures. He was reëlected in 1883, and was largely instrumental in carrying out the State civil service reform law, an act for regu- lating primary elections; and legislation of vast benefit, particularly to the city of New York, in centering in the mayor the responsibility of administering municipal affairs. He was chairman of the New York delegation to the Republican Na- tional Convention in 1884, and an unsuc- cessful candidate for the mayoralty of New York City in 1886, having been nom- inated as an Independent, with Repub- lican endorsement. In May, 1889, Presi- dent Harrison appointed him Civil Serv- ice Commissioner, and he was president of the board until May, 1895. During this official term he succeeded in changing the entire system of public appointments, and in inaugurating important reforms. He resigned on the latter date to accept ap-
pointment as president of the New York Board of Police Commissioners, and with characteristic energy and vigor entered upon the work of reform by the applica- tion of civil service principles in appoint- ments to the force, and promotions. He rigidly enforced the excise law, and suc- ceeded in closing the saloons on the Sab- bath, and in purifying the city of many corrupting influences.
In 1897 Colonel Roosevelt entered upon his career as a character of national im- portance. In that year he became Assist- ant Secretary of the Navy, under Presi- dent Mckinley. Soon after entering upon his new duties, realizing the probabilities of a foreign war, he procured appropri- ations for ammunition for navy target practice, and the results at Manila and Santiago justified what was considered at the time reckless extravagance. When war with Spain became imminent, he re- signed his secretaryship, and with Sur- geon (now Major-General) Leonard Wood, organized the First Regiment United States Cavalry Volunteers, popu- larly known as "Roosevelt's Rough Riders," which distinguished itself in Cuba. At the outset he was commis- sioned lieutenant-colonel of his regiment, and was promoted to colonel for gallantry at the battle of Las Guasimas, and was mustered out of service at the end of the war. In 1898 he was elected Governor of New York, and in that position gave vigorous encouragement to salutary legis- lation, and carried through every reform measure to which he had pledged himself, despite great political pressure. Above all, he placed in office as high-minded and able a set of public officials as the State ever had from the day of its foundation.
3
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
He had looked forward to a second term in order to further forward certain reform innovations, but circumstances defeated this purpose and led to his higher advancement. He was a delegate in the Republican National Convention of 1900. The renomination of President Mckinley was a foregone conclusion. Much against his desire, the Vice-Presidential nomina- tion was practically forced upon him. The ensuing campaign was the most re- markable in the history of the nation. Colonel Roosevelt traveled over the whole country, defending the Mckinley admin- istration, and contending for honest money as against the "16 to I" silver policy as advocated by the Democratic presidential candidate, Mr. William J. Bryan. As soon as he was advised of the assassination of President Mckinley, he, as Vice-President, was requested by the cabinet of the deceased executive to im- mediately take the presidential oath of office. This he declined to do, saying, "I intend to pay my respects at William Mckinley's bier as a private citizen, and offer my condolence to the members of his family as such. Then I will return and take the oath," which he did. In 1904 he was elected to the presidency by the largest popular majority ever accorded a candidate. Perhaps the most notable of his achievements as President was that unofficial one, the bringing to an end of the war between Japan and Russia.
In 1910 Colonel Roosevelt made a hunt- ing trip through Africa, and afterward went to Europe, by way of Egypt. After his return home there was much discus- sion concerning his intentions as to the presidential campaign of 1912. Many held that he had declared that he would not be a candidate, but he remained quiet upon the subject until February 21, 1912, when he spoke the now well-known words, "My hat is in the ring." Some ten days previous, the governors of West Vir-
ginia, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Wyom- ing, Michigan, Kansas, and Missouri, had written him a letter urging him to accept a nomination by the Progressive Repub- licans. On February 24th he stated defi- nitely that he would accept a nomination if tendered. Before the Republican Na- tional Convention in June that year there was bitter conflict between the Roosevelt and Taft forces. Mr. Taft was finally declared the nominee, and the Roosevelt men decided upon an independent con- vention of Progressives, which met Au- gust 6th and nominated him. As a result of the division of the Republicans between Roosevelt and Taft, Woodrow Wilson was elected to the presidency. On Octo- ber 14, 1912, Colonel Roosevelt was shot by a would-be assassin, but made rapid recovery, and a week later was able to be out. In 1913-14 he visited the prin- cipal countries in South America, and after his return devoted himself to liter- ary work.
It is difficult to conceive how anyone so thoroughly devoted to public affairs could find time for literary work, and yet Colonel Roosevelt has achieved a world- wide reputation as an author, and his works have become standards on the sub- jects he has treated. They comprise : "Winning of the West" (1889-96) ; "His- tory of the Naval War of 1812" (1882); "Hunting Trips of a Ranchman" (1885); "Life of Thomas Hart Benton" (1886); "Life of Gouverneur Morris" (1887); "Ranch Life and Hunting Trail" (1888); "History of New York" (1890); "The Wilderness Hunter" (1893); "American Ideals and Other Essays" (1897); "The Rough Riders" (1899); "Life of Oliver Cromwell" (1900); "The Strenuous Life" (1900); "Works" (eight vols., 1902); "American Ideals and Other Essays"; "Good Hunting" (1907); "True Ameri- canism ;" "African and European Ad- dresses" (1910) ; "Realizable Ideals" (The
4
Presedent Shaders Cheese roll
Ceptor Bay 1. 4.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Earl Lectures) (1912); "Conservation of Womanhood and Childhood" (1912) ; "History as Literature, and Other Essays" (1913); "Theodore Roosevelt, an Autobiography" (1913). Part author of : "Hero Tales from American History" (1895); "The Deer Family" (1902); "Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter" (1906); "African Game Trails" (1910); "The New Nationalism" (1910); "Life Histories of African Game Animals" (two volumes, 1914). The most impor- tant of his works, however, are the four volumes bearing the collective title, "The Winning of the West." These have for their subject the acquisition by the United States of the territory west of the Alle- ghenies, and in their intrinsic merit and their importance as contributions to his- tory they rank with the works of Park- man. His books have been characterized as "marked by felicity, vigor and clear- ness of expression, with descriptive power;" his historical writings have been further praised for their "accuracy, breadth and fairness." "The Rough Riders" is a volume which will keep its place among the authoritative records of the Spanish War. "It will be generally conceded," says a reviewer, "that it forms one of the most thrilling pieces of military history in recent years."
Colonel Roosevelt has received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the following institutions : Columbia University, 1899; Hope College, 1901 ; Yale University, 1901 ; Harvard Univer- sity, 1902; Northwestern University, 1903; University of Chicago, 1903; University of California, 1903; Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, 1905; Clark Uni- versity, 1905 ; George Washington Univer- sity, 1909; Cambridge University, 1910. In the latter year he also received the Doctor of Civil Law degree from Oxford University, and that of Doctor of Phi- losophy from the University of Berlin. In
1906 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ($40,000), with which he endowed the Foundation for the Promotion of Universal Peace. He has long been a contributor to leading magazines and re- views, and was on the staff of "The Out- look" from 1909 until 1914.
He married (first) Alice Hathaway, who died February 14, 1884, daughter of George Cabot Lee; (second) at London, England, Edith Kermit, daughter of Charles Carow, of New York. The family home is in Oyster Bay, Long Island.
HUGHES, Charles E., Jurist, Governor.
Charles Evans Hughes, who as these pages go to press is the regular candidate of the Republican party for the presidency of the United States, is a native of the State of New York, born in Glen Falls, April 11, 1862, son of the Rev. David Charles and Mary Catherine (Connelly) Hughes. His father was of Welsh and his mother of Scotch-Irish and Dutch extraction.
He began his education in the public schools of New York City, and was fitted for college by his father. At the age of fourteen he entered Madison (now Col- gate) University, transferring two years later to Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1881, taking the Bachelor of Arts degree with honors- winning the prize in English literature and that for general attainment during his course, and delivering the class oration ; in 1884 he received from his alma mater the Master of Arts degree. During 1881- 82 he taught Greek and mathematics in the Delaware Academy at Delhi, New York, and in the latter year entered the Columbia Law School, and also studying in the offices of the United States District Attorney in New York, and in those of
5
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Chamberlain, Carter & Hornblower. He received his diploma from the Law School in 1884, and was admitted at once to the bar. From 1884 until 1887 he held a prize fellowship at Columbia University. On being admitted to the bar, he became a clerk in the office of his former preceptors, Chamberlain, Carter & Hornblower, re- maining as such until 1888, when he be- came a member of the firm of Carter, Hughes & Cravath, afterward Carter, Hughes & Dwight. He served Cornell University as Professor of Law, 1891-93, and as special lecturer, 1893-95; and the New York Law School as special lecturer on general assignments and bankruptcy, 1893-1900. In 1905-06 he was counsel for the Armstrong Insurance Commission of the New York Legislature; and special assistant to the United States Attorney General in the coal investigations.
The public career of Judge Hughes may be dated from 1905, when he received the Republican nomination for the mayoralty of New York City, but which he declined. In 1906 he was elected Governor of the State, and was reëlected in 1908, resign- ing in September of 1910 to take his seat as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, under appointment by President Taft. As Governor he stead- fastly adhered to "the highest administra- tive standards," and effected many salu- tary changes in relation to railroads, street railways, gas and electrical com- panies. He made strenuous efforts to procure legislation providing for a system of direct nominations for elective offices, in which he was several times defeated. He succeeded, however, in securing the passage of an act for the enforcement of the constitutional prohibition of race- track gambling, but only after long delay and in the face of bitter opposition. In his last appeal to the Legislature, at the session in which the measure was passed, he said: "The issue has been clearly pre-
sented whether the interests of those who wish to maintain gambling privileges at race tracks shall be considered paramount to the constitution of the State. It is an issue which has been clearly defined and is fully appreciated by the people. It cannot be obscured by a discussion of the propensities of human nature. Race-track gambling exists, not because it is hidden or elusive, but as an organized business shielded by legislative discrimination. The law which professes to prohibit it, in fact protects it." Early in his administra- tion he undertook certain reforms in the management and affairs of the Insurance Department, and in which he persisted until he left his high office. He brought about the creation of a State Commission to which was specially committed the construction and maintenance of public roads, and which took this labor away from the State Engineer, who was over- employed in the engineering operations on the great barge canal, and he subse- quently procured the establishment of a Department of Highways. He also took a persistent and determined interest in the preservation of forest tracts and un- developed waterpower streams, and great- ly increased the State's forest domain, and which included a one thousand acre tract given by Hon. William P. Letch- worth, in Wyoming and Livingston counties; a twenty-five acre tract at Crown Point, containing the ruins of Fort Frederic and Fort Amherst, from Witherbee Sherman & Company : and a ten thousand acre tract in Orange and Rockland counties, given by Mary W. Harriman, in accordance with the wishes of her deceased husband, Edward H. Har- riman. Until he left his chair, Governor Hughes industriously and persistently followed up a policy of improvement and retrenchment ; also steadily insisting upon honesty and efficiency in all of the various departments of the State government.
6
Levi P. Martin
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Early in the year 1916 it became evident that a very large element in the Repub- lican party looked upon him as its most desirable candidate for the presidential nomination. Seated as he was, upon the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, his position was most delicate. He maintained a most dignified silence, and even the close friends who presented his name in the convention, could give no assurance that he would accept, and he only broke silence when his nomination was actually made, when he at once for- warded to President Wilson his resigna- tion as an Associate Justice of the Su- preme Court, and which was instantly accepted.
Judge Hughes is a fellow of Brown University ; a trustee of the University of Chicago ; and a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York; and of the following clubs: The University, Union League, Lawyers, Brown, Nassau Coun- try ; and of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Brown University in 1906, from Co- lumbia, Knox and Lafayette in 1907, from Union and Colgate in 1908, from George Washington in 1909, and from Williams, Harvard and the University of Pennsyl- vania in 1910. He married, December 5, 1888, Antoinette Carter.
MORTON, Levi Parsons,
Financier, Statesman, Diplomatist.
Levi Parsons Morton was born at Shoreham, Vermont, May 16, 1824. He is a descendant of George Morton, of York, England, who was the financial agent of the Mayflower Puritans in Lon- don, and came over in the ship "Ann" (arriving at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1623), and settled at Middleboro, Plym- outh county, Massachusetts, where his
descendants have resided until the pres- ent time. John, the son of George, was the first delegate to represent Middleboro in the General Court at Plymouth in 1670, and he was again chosen in 1672. Levi Parsons Morton is the son of Rev. Daniel Oliver Morton and Lucretia (Par- sons) Morton. His mother was a descend- ant of Cornet Joseph Parsons, the father of the first child born at Northampton, Massachusetts (May 2, 1655), his title of cornet indicating his position in a cavalry troop (the third officer in rank) and the bearer of the colors.
Mr. Morton received a public school education and graduated from Shoreham Academy. He entered a country store at Enfield, Massachusetts, at fifteen years, commenced mercantile business at Han- over, New Hampshire, in 1843, removed to Boston in 1850 and to New York in 1854, and was extensively engaged in mercantile business in both cities until 1863 when he entered upon his career as a banker in New York City under the name of L. P. Morton & Company. Soon after this time a foreign branch was estab- lished under the firm name of L. P. Mor- ton, Burns & Co. In 1869 the firm was dissolved and reorganized under the names of Morton, Bliss & Co., New York, and Morton, Rose & Co., London, Mr. George Bliss entering the New York firm, and Sir John Rose, then finance minister of Canada, going to London to join the English house. The London firm of Mor- ton. Rose & Co. was appointed financial agent of the United States government in 1873. Later the Morton Trust Co. of New York, of which he was president, was established with offices at 140 Broad- way. Mr. Morton was appointed by the President honorary commissioner to the Paris Exposition.
He began his political career by the election to Congress as a Republican from the Eleventh District of New York
7
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(which had been Democratic previously), receiving 14,078 votes against 7,060 votes for Benjamin A. Willis, and was reëlected to the Forty-seventh Congress in 1880 by an increased vote over James W. Gerard, Jr. He was nominated as Minister to France by President Garfield in March, 1881, and resigned his seat in the Forty- seventh Congress to accept the appoint- ment. He presented his credentials as Minister to France to President Grévy on August Ist, 1881, and resigned his office after the inauguration of President Cleveland in 1885, returning to New York in July of that year. During his residence in France he secured from the French government the official decree which was published November 27, 1883, revoking the prohibition of American pork prod- ucts, but the prohibitory decree was subsequently renewed. He also secured the recognition of American financial and commercial corporations in France. He drove the first rivet in the Bar- tholdi statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World," and on July 4th, 1884, he accepted the completed statue on behalf of his government. He was a prominent candidate for United States Senate in the Republican legislative caucuses of 1885 and 1887, but after spirited canvasses in each case the great political prize fell into other hands. He was nominated for Vice-President of the United States by the Republican National Convention, in 1888, receiving 591 votes as against 234 for all other candidates. He proved a model presiding officer of the Senate, filling the position with a dignity and fairness that gained for him the esteem of all, without regard to party distinctions, even at a time when questions of party politics were most earnestly discussed.
In 1894, Mr. Morton was elected gov- ernor of New York by a phenomenally heavy majority. His long experience as a merchant and banker, his familiarity
with great financial problems, his work in Congress, his successful diplomatic ex- perience and service as vice-president had made him a conspicuous figure in public affairs, and amply qualified him for the gubernatorial office. His election was co- incident with the approval by the people of the fourth constitution, which went into effect on the first of January, 1895, the day of his inauguration. It heralded also executive control of the State by the Republicans for sixteen years, which prior thereto had been in Democratic hands for twelve years. In his inaugural address Governor Morton discussed at length the relations of the executive and legislative departments to each other, de- claring that "the Governor should never interfere with the work of the Legisla- ture beyond the precise line which his constitutional duty and obligation war- ranted. He used the veto prerogative sparingly, vetoing only four bills in 1895, and none in 1896. However, in several instances wherein he disapproved a bill, he would convey his objections to its author, and in such cases the bill was usually withdrawn, and returned in such form as to command his approval. His tasks were arduous. While the new con- stitution was in large degree self-execut- ing, much legislation was necessary with reference to the drainage of agricultural lands, damages for injuries resulting in death, pool selling and book making, prison labor, the civil service, the judici- ary, forest preservation, canal improve- ment, State boards and commissions, charitable institutions, education, the militia, and others. Under the new con- stitution, several new boards were created-of Charities, of State Prison and of Lunacy. Much labor was made neces- sary to provide for the submittal of stat- utes relating to cities, to the cities af- fected thereby, principally with reference to New York City and Brooklyn. Under
8
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the administration of Governor Morton was created Greater New York, by the consolidation of the city of New York, Brooklyn, and Long Island City, and which was attended with much acri- monious discussion. As the result of much executive and legislative considera- tion, a new effect was given to excise legislation, establishing a more system- atic control of the liquor traffic, and a considerable reduction in the number of dram shops. The National Guard was placed upon a more efficient footing as to organization, arming and equipment. These enumerations comprise but a small portion of the accomplishments of this administration.
On his retirement from the guberna- torial office, Governor Morton returned to the conduct of his important business interests which, in addition to his im- mediate financial holdings included di- rectorate duties in the Equitable Life As- surance Company, the Home Insurance Company, the National Bank of Com- merce, the Guaranty Trust Company, the Industrial Trust Company of Providence, and the Newport Trust Company. He is a member of the Sons of the Revolu- tion, the Society of Mayflower Descend- ants, the New England Society, and the following clubs: Metropolitan, Union League, Lawyers, Republican and Down- town. Governor Morton received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Dart- mouth College in 1881 and from Middle- bury in 1882. He retired from active business pursuits some years since and spends the major portion of his time with his family upon his magnificent estate "Ellerslie," (of one thousand acres) at Rhinecliff-on-the-Hudson. He married (first) Lucy Kimball, who died in 1871; and (second) Anna Livingston Street; and of the latter marriage five daughters have been born : Edith Livingston, Lena, Helen, Alice and Mary.
Governor Morton has been a consistent Republican from the first, ardently loyal to the Union in its days of peril; and singularly free from factional entangle- ments which have plagued his party in the State ; and, therefore singularly avail- able for public preferments in its power to bestow. In office he has been distin- guished for executive ability, prudent ad- ministration and courteous demeanor, exceedingly modest in his bearing, yet with self-possession and graciousness combining in a charming personality. He has long been a member of the Protestant Episcopal communion, constant to it alike in his devotion and beneficences, while his many public and private philan- thropies have been as generously as quietly bestowed.
FAIRCHILD, Charles Stebbins, Financier, Cabinet Official.
Charles Stebbins Fairchild, distin- guished lawyer, and Secretary of the Treasury in the cabinet of President Cleveland, was born in Cazenovia, New York, April 30, 1842, son of Sidney T. and Helen (Childs) Fairchild. His father was a lawyer of marked ability, and for many years was attorney for the New York Central railroad.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.