USA > New York > Comley's history of the state of New York, embracing a general review of her agricultural and mineralogical resources, her manufacturing industries, trade and commerce, together with a description of her great metropolis, from its settlement by the Dutch, in 1609 > Part 21
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ing in mental exercise previous to commencing the study of the law; and when he had mas- tered his profession, he possessed an untold advantage over those who had been deprived of a suitable preparatory education.
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In 1858, he was appointed by Governor King district-attorney of Herkimer County, elected the same year, and filled the position until January ist, 1862; when, having been elected by the Union Republican party, he took his position and entered the State Senate, representing the Twentieth district, Herkimer and Otsego counties. At the close of the ses- sion in 1863, he returned to the practice of the law, which he continued until 1871, when he was, by both Republican and Democratic par- ties, nominated and elected Justice of the Su- preme Court for the Fifth Judicial District for the term of fourteen years. The nomination by both political parties was a marked testimonial to his standing, and he has ever endeavored to discharge the judicial duties so as to merit the partiality and kindness shown him by the people and the very able bar of his district .* He has been a stirring, practical man both in his public and his private life. He has done much, and all honorably, and studiously en- deavored to discharge the duties imposed on him in every public position he has held. In the community in which he lives, he enjoys : him. the entire confidence of all who know him, regardless of party or condition, as one of the purest of men, reliable in every respect, though modest and retiring, passing for less than his real worth. A man of good attainments, which are sound and substantial.
Harper, Fletcher, senior member of the firm of Harper & Brothers, publishers, died May 29th, 1877. He was the youngest of the four
* In 1876, Hamilton College conferred on him the degree of LL. D.
brothers who founded and brought to great and deserved eminence the publishing house of Harper & Brothers, and was the last survivor of the four. James, the oldest of the four, was born in 1795; John, in 1797; Wesley, in 1801; and Fletcher, in 1806. Wesley Harper was apprenticed to his brothers after they had set up in business ; and some years later, Fletcher also became an apprentice. When the two younger brothers had " worked out their time," they purchased a share in the business, Wesley in 1823, and Fletcher in 1826. There- upon the firm became Harper & Brothers. For some years, and while the business was growing, Wesley, who had a cultivated litera- ry taste and wrote all his life remarkably pure and vigorous English, was the proof-reader of the firm, and Fletcher was foreman of the composing-room; and tradition relates that he was a very energetic and driving foreman.
The four brothers worked together all their lives with singular unanimity. They adopted a rule early in life never to enter on any enter- prise unless all four were agreed to it, and to this they adhered constantly, and to it they doubtless owed their safety in many instances as business men. It is related that the cstab- lishment of Harper's Magasine was due to
The success of the MMagasine, which is one . of the greatest known in literary annals, so completely justified his judgment that his predominant influence in the firm was estab- lished from that time. This was in IS50. In 1853, the great fire consumed, in a day, their whole stock, and inflicted on them a loss of over a million of dollars. Then the energy of these printers was shown. They held, on the evening of the fire, a family council, to decide whether or not they should rebuild their business. They had already so great
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wealth that their loss, so far from crippling them, left them with a competence for them- selves and their children. But the claims of authors, of workmen who had been long with them, and the desire to leave a well-establish- ed business to their children, induced them to determine to go on. An order on Adams, of South Boston, for twenty of his new power presses, to replace those destroyed by the fire, was telegraphed the same day, thus antici- pating by a few hours applications by mail from other enterprising printers for a similar number of presses. By this prompt and characteristic action the Harpers were enabled to furnish their new office with presses several months sooner than they could have done had they sent their order by mail instead of telegraph. It is said that the whole question was discussed and decided at this family council the evening after the fire, and the next week already plans began to be considered by the firm for a new building. Of course, the busi- ness was temporarily carried on in another place. The new building, it was determined, should be fireproof, as it is.
Fletcher Harper was for many years the most active of the four brothers. He bore the heaviest burdens, and bore them easily. He possessed a cheerful and buoyant temper, unfailing courage, and was always an admir- able administrator. It was his thought which. in 1856, established Harper's Weekly, and in 1867, the Basar, both which he made emi- nently successful. Though he had, of course, proper assistants, and trained one of his sons and one of his nephews in this department, he was for many years the active and chief editor of these publications, and especially of the Magazine. He always, with characteris- tic modesty, asserted himself to be without the qualifications necessary to enable him to judge of the literary merits of a book or an
article, but his taste and judgment, and the quick tact with which he saw what would take with the public, were unerring.
In person Mr. Harper was tall, well formed, of light complexion, with blue eyes, and with a very noble head, full of intelligence and power. He was always, in business and socially, easily accessible to the humblest people, and his kind and winning manners set people quickly at ease. Like all the brothers, he took a kindly and affectionate interest in those who served him, and he will be missed and mourned by very many who have grown gray in the service of the house, and who always found in him a considerate friend ready to be helpful to them in distress and to show himself their friend as well as employer. In all the relations of life he was an eminently benevolent and humane man, whose pleasure was to make others happy, and who sought out by preference the friend- less and lowly. His love of retirement and a modesty which amounted almost to shyness led him to keep himself from all public or conspicuous positions and to conceal his many deeds of charity from the world. He was most happy in his home, where he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren, and latterly his great grandchildren, and where his chosen friends were always wel- come.
Mr. Harper's health began to fail several years ago. The death of his brother Wesley, to whom he was very fondly attached, was a great shock to hint. As the brothers one after another died, he seemed to feel the growing loneliness of his position, and while he remained always cheerful, his health was evidently shaken. . \ great fondness for country life grew upon him in his later years, and he prolonged his stay at his country place on the Hudson each year, with greater
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satisfaction to himself and with evident bene- fit to.his health. (New York Herald.)
Harper, James, was born at Newtown, Long Island, in this State, during the year 1795. His father being a respectable farmer of that place, he received as good an educa- tion as the locality afforded, remaining at the paternal home until he had reached his six- teenth year, when he, together with his brother John, was sent to this city and ap- prenticed to a printer. The trade was learned with great rapidity, the lad not being engaged many months in the business before he had become an excellent compositor. Sober, steady. economical, and hard-working, he con- trived during his apprenticeship, by means principally of over-work, to save some few hundred dollars, as was also done by his brother John, who possessed all the excellent qualifications so marked in the deceased, and whose life has been so bound up with that of his brother that we can scarcely write an obitu- ary of the one without giving a biographical sketch of the other. At about the same date, their obligations as apprentices ceased, and they became free to select their future life. With the money saved, to which we have al- ready made reference, they opened a printing establishment in New York. Soon after, Wes- ley and Fletcher Harper, younger brothers of the deceased, were apprenticed to the firm, which was then and for some years after known by the name of J. & J. Harper. The business prospered exceedingly, and in a short time the proprietors began publishing books on their own account. In 1822, Wesley Har- per was admitted to partnership, and from thenceforward to the present writing the firm has been known as that of Harper & Brothers. It is unnecessary to go into particulars of the high position which Mr. James Harper attained
as the senior proprietor of one of the largest publishing houses in the world. The wide- spread reputation of the Harpers, the count- less books they have published, and their pecuniary wealth, are subjects of common knowledge to the reader.
The deceased gentleman at one time took an active part in politics, and in 1844 was elected Mayor of the city of New York, but was defeated for the same position at the election held the year following. His admin- istration, though devoid of any remarkable events, was, nevertheless, successful, and in- creased the respect and estimation in which he was held by the citizens generally. After 1845, he sought no political office, his exten- sive and constantly increasing business re- quiring his undivided care and attention. As a publisher, he was noted for the earnestness with which he endeavored to elevate the stand- ard of American literature, and the encour- agement he ever gave to native talent.
The fact, too, that his firm was the first in the United States that published a periodical composed almost entirely of American com- position, and which has won a world reputa. tion, is to no small extent attributable to his keen business sagacity and literary talent.
Although he had reached the ripe age of seventy-three, Mr. Harper remained in a disc business life until the day of the fat ! ... dent which has ended his earthly career. !: was remarked not long ago, thit metwiths. standing his age there was " no youth in the establishment more active than he."
He was always in hale, robust health. his mental faculties were as bright as those of a younger man, and it was often observed the !. if personal appearances were to be judged by . he was likely to outlive his brothers who were younger than he. Personally he was a High toned gentleman, generous, charitable, a firma
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friend and a warm-hearted, sociable man. He delighted in the society of the vivacious and entertaining, loved a good story and a good joke, and was as clever at relating as he was attentive in hearing. Whether as a public character, as a friend and patron of literature, or as a man of high social standing and domestic virtues, he was such a citizen as would necessarily and naturally gather around him the friendship and esteem of all. He died March 17th, 1869.
Harper, John, of the well-known pub- lishing firm of Harper & Brothers, was a son of Joseph ITarper, whose occupation was that of a builder, and was born and reared on a farm in the vicinity of what is now known as Newtown, Long Island. His father was a man of sound common sense, a pious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to which the son has always adhered. John Harper was indentured ap- ' prentice to the printing business by his father when he was of proper age. Early in the summer of 1817, having just finished his term of apprenticeship at the printing trade, he, together with his brother, opened a modest printing-office in the second story of a small wooden house on the corner of Front and Dover streets, in New York City. When this little establishment was announced to the public, the business of printing books was in its infancy in this country, and the venture of these young men was looked upon as almost desperate. By great energy and industry, how- ever, the firm prospered from the first. In a few years, they found their quarters too limit- ed, and removed to another building in Ful- ton street, near Broadway. In 1923, a younger brother, Mr. Joseph Wesley Harper, who had learned his trade of them, was given an interest in the house. In 1825, they
removed again to Pearl street, near Franklin Square, and shortly after to Cliff street, where they purchased two small buildings and ma- terially extended their business. In 1826, another brother, Mr. Fletcher Harper, was admitted to partnership, and the style of the firm was changed from J. & J. Harper to Harper & Brothers. This was the origin of what is now the largest book publish- ing firm in the world. On the ioth of December, 1853, a fire occurred in the buildings occupied by Harper & Brothers, through the carelessness of a plumber, and property to the amount of $1,000,000 was destroyed. With their characteristic energy, they immediately determined upon rebuilding their establishment upon a scale which would have staggered the most prosperous commer- cial house. The new buildings were finished in 1855, and are the same which are now oc- cupied by the firm. On the 25th of March, 1869, Mr. James Harper visited the store for the last time. On this occasion he was in his usual health and appeared to be possessed of unusually good spirits; he left the establish- ment at an early hour, and, as was his usual custom, went to ride in Central Park. By an accident he was thrown from his carriage, and received injuries from which he died two days afterward. His brother, Joseph Wesley Harper, became so afflicted at the demise of his elder brother, that he took sick and rap- idly failed in health, and died on the 14th of February, 1870. After the death of his two brothers, John Harper withdrew from active business, and the firm was reorganized by the admission of several sons of the original part- ners. These, after receiving a careful educa- tion, several of them at Columbia College, entered the house, each serving a regular ap- prenticeship in some branch of the busi- ness. Mr. John Harper had been in very
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delicate health for upward of a year before his death, which occurred April 22d, 1875. The last occasion of his being seen in public was during the latter part of the month of May, 1874, when he indulged, at the advice of his physician, in a ride through Central Park.
Harper, Joseph Wesley, was born in Newtown, L. I., in iSor. Early in the cen- tury the firm, which now stands second to none in the United States, was founded. In 1822, the subject of this sketch was admitted to partnership. From the start he displayed great business capacity. His literary taste was pure and elevated; all the books select- ed by him for publication meeting. it is said, with marked success. And not only in choice of literature did he contribute to the advance- ment of hisfirm. When he became a partner, the establishment was by no means what it now is. At one time he performed the duties of foreman of the composing-room. In his intercourse with printers he met some disreputable characters on whom kindness would have been utterly lost. But excepting these, he always referred to his career as head of the composing-room, as being most pleas- ant. While maintaining strictest discipline, he succeeded in winning the friendship of all whose good opinion was worth having. At a later period than that referred to above, he took the position of proof-reader, but did not hold it a very long while. The firm had by this time increased its business greatly, and had already achieved an enviable repu- tation throughout the United States. On Mr. Wesley Harper devolved all the literary work of the establishment. Although he had not enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate education, his reading was extensive and varied He had cultivated a close acquaint- ance with English literature, and was conver-
sant with all of continental literature that was of service to his business. His style of writ- ing was finished though simple and unaffect- ed; many of the prefaces in the works com- prising the old Family Library were written by him, and are noteworthy for their compact- ness of expression. Mr. Harper, however, did not write much at any time, and as years passed on, he wrote less and less. A large number of the works submitted to the firm for publication were read by him, and his critical judgment was always found correct. To his credit be it said, neither prejudice for or against an author determined his decision. Every manuscript read by him was weighed according to its merits, and the rigid impar- tiality with which he acted, added to the soundness of his judgment, naturally enabled him to exercise a preponderating influence in the choice of books published by his house. For many years he was the real conductor of Harper's Magasine, but few articles appear- ing that had not been examined and approved by him. Mr. Harper also conducted the lit- erary correspondence of the firm until his eld- est son was admitted to the business, when he transferred this arduous duty to him. His letters to authors were always worded in a spirit of kindness that charmed the reader. To the unfortunate writer whose book had been declined, he even extended hearty sympathy, and did not fail, if the production exhibited marks of ability, to encourage him to persevere. Except as a publisher and literary gentleman, Mr. Wesley Harper was not known to the public. Indeed, his elder brother, the late James Harper, was and has been the only member of the firm that ever received the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, and even then the office was not sought after. Aside from his business character, there was much in Mr. Harper's private life to adinire.
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Personally he was modest to shyness. Quiet, unassuming, a model of gentlemanly courte- sy, and ever mindful of the feelings of others, he was never known to utter language to others that could aggrieve or wound. He belonged to what is called the " old schoo!" of gentlemen. His suavity of manners and thoughtful consideration for others, endeared him to all the employés of Harper & Bro- thers, as well as to his immediate relatives. To those in trouble he ever lent a ready ear, and was willing to aid the poor and unfortu- nate with his money and with personal at- tention, if this last was needed. He took a warm interest in the welfare and comfort of his subordinates, to whom he was always ac- cessible, and who found in him a ready friend and adviser. For some years Mr. Harper had been suffering from the disease which ended his earthly career of usefulness. The physical sufferings that embitter some men's temper were endured by him with a calm and serene resignation. He had been, during the greater part of his life, a prominent member and officer of the Sands street Methodist church in Brooklyn, and was noted for his sincere devotion to the tenets of Christianity. Strong in his faith of a future full of light and love in a better world above, he met death undismayed.
Hart, Elizur, was born in Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., May 220, 1803. His father, Deacon Joseph Hart, removed to Seneca County, N. Y., in 1806, and to Barre, Orleans Co., in October, 1812. It was several years after he removed to Barre, before any school was opened in his father's neighbor- hood, and he never had the benefit of much instruction in school. During his early life, he was employed mainly in clearing up land and in labor on the farm. About the year
1827, he was elected constable, an office he held two years. His business now called him to spend much of his time in Albion. He had some money, and his brother William had a like sum, which he put into Elizur's hands for their joint benefit. He then commenced a small brokerage business. About this time, his father deeded to his sons, William and Elizur, each 100 acres of land, for which they paid him $500. After some time, Elizur sold his interest to his brother William. As Mr. Hart found his means increasing, he began to invest in bonds and mortgages and in articles for land issued by the Holland Company.
On February roth, 1860, in company with Mr. Joseph M. Comnell, he established the Or- leans County Bank, at Albion, with a capital of $100,000. Of this bank he was president as long as it existed. It was changed to Orleans County National Bank August 9th, 1865, he being its president the remainder of his life.
Always attentive to business and never dilatory or impulsive, correct and exemplary in all his habits, beginning with comparatively nothing, without the aid or influence of wealthy connections, he became one of the opulent county bankers of the State, and at his death, which occurred August 13th, 1870, was master of a large fortune.
In his will be gave the Presbyterian church in Albion, of which he was a member, fifty thousand dollars to build a house of worship, and an endowment of five thousand dollars to the Sunday-school connected with his church. Mr. Hart married Miss Loraine Field in May, 1835, by whom he had three children. She died February 1th, 1847. He was again married to Miss Cornelia King October 16th, 1849.
Harvey, Charles W .-- The subject of this sketch was born in Albany, N. Y., in
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1810. In early life he received both aca- demic and collegiate education in the Albany Academy, Lafayette and Union Colleges. He studied medicine in the office of the late Dr. Jonathan Eights, of Albany, and gradu- ated in medicine in the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo. Later in life, he received the degree of Master of Arts from Lafayette College, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Balti- more Dental College. He practised both medicine and dentistry in Albany until 1836, when he moved to Buffalo, N. Y., and there devoted himself exclusively to the latter pro- fession until 1872, when he retired to private life. Among the eminent citizens of Buffalo who have for the past forty years been honored and esteemed both at home and abroad, no one is more sincerely beloved and respected in all the relations of life than Dr. C. W. Harvey. He is a man of firmness of character, though modest and unassuming in his manners, enjoying the confidence and respect of all who know him. He is both confiding and generous. One of the effective attributes of his popularity is the purity of his character. It is this which has given him the esteem of all men and the unbounded confi- dence of his patients.
Hayes, George E., D.D.S .- The sub- ject of this sketch has been a practising dentist in the city of Buffalo for the last forty-eight years. When he settled there, it was but a vil- lage of 5000 inhabitants. He has witnessed its continuous growth in population, wealth, and refinement.
He is the son of Simeon Hayes and Betsey Gilbert, of Granby, Ct. ; was born there, No- vember 7th, ISo4, in the family residence built by his great grandfather. The family
trace descent from George Hayes, who emi- grated to this country from Scotland, in 1650, and settled finally in the village of Salmon Brook, Granby, Hartford Co., Ct. In 1805, his parents removed to Prattsburg, N. Y., where they shared the labor of clearing the forests and laying the foundations of an intel- ligent Christian community. In those days it was deemed fortunate if settlers could secure the privilege of district-schools for their children, and with the exception, at a later period, of a few months' attendance at the Canandaigua Academy, they were his early aids in the way of education.
In 1820, he became a student in the office of Dr. Pliny Hayes, of Canandaigua, intend- ing to prepare for the medical profession ; but was induced in 1825 to accept the offer of a partnership with him, in the sale of drugs and medicines. In 1829, this establishment was removed to Buffalo, where, in the fall of that year, it was burned, on the site now occu- pied by Townsend Hall.
While a student with Dr. Hayes, he had learned what little was then known of dentis- try ; and it so happened that when he moved to Buffalo, there was then no one there who answered to that calling ; and it also happened that the ex-sheriff of London, Parkinson, was there, and had the misfortune to break a front tooth. It happened also that a former resi- dent of Canandaigua, who thought the Hayeses could do any thing, sent him over the way for relief. Thus it fell out, that the fire- fiend, aided by the gratitude and good-will of Parkinson, more than the foresight of the subject of this essay, caused a revolution in his business pursuits through life.
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