USA > New York > Genealogical and family history of western New York; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation, Volume III > Part 17
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ing the poets, conversing in Spanish and French, or playing the flute. The evenings were spent in solitary communion with his books. He reviewed his English studies, stud- ied closely history, logic, philosophy, litera- ture and the sciences, and studied them so thoroughly that his knowledge seemed to be- come a part of him. The writings of Jeremy Bentham, Jefferson, Mil and Comte were his especial pleasure. He became an accomplished scholar and a deep thinker. The most learned men sought his society. In his favorite sum- mer resort, Schooley's Mountain, he was a choice spirit and an authority among the group of statesmen, scientists and men of letters who discussed serious questions all day long under the tall trees. During this same period of fifteen years the commercial ability of this many-sided man made him a million- aire.
It was during this period that he wrote his work on "Political Economy," published in 1851. This work found great favor among the most profound students of the subject, even with John Stuart Mill, but it was in ad- vance of the times and too terse to be gener- ally appreciated. In it he discussed the theory of wages. the value of land and other ques- tions, advancing many theories that have since become accepted doctrines. Among these was his views on an "Inconvertible Pa- per Money," wherein he advanced, recom- mended and described our present national currency fourteen years in advance, although his plan made the issue proportional to popu- lation and by constitutional amendment guard- ed against an increased ratio. In the same work, thirteen years before the war, he dis- cussed the question of slavery, with which his southern residence had rendered him fa- miliar and to which he was unalterably op- posed. His chapter on free trade is a logical argument as close and strong as a demonstra- tion in Euclid and one that has never been refuted, but his views were then and still are in advance of our country. In 1854 he moved his residence back to New York City, which was ever afterward his home. His time was thereafter more and more devoted to the public good, although he often regretted abandoning his studies.
He became president of one of the largest New York banks and director of several in- surance companies, where he was always a watchful, often a controlling power. For
twenty-two years ( 1858-80) he was a mem- ber, and for eight years ( 1867-75) vice-presi- dent of the chamber of commerce, where he was often the first to call attention to matters of public interest and was usually selected to memorialize congress or to visit Washington in person. At the time of the financial panic of 1857 he exerted himself to bring about a concerted movement of the banks of New York City to restore confidence. As a result a board of currency was organized and an investigation made by the leading bankers into economic questions, suggesting action that still influences the administration of the banks of the country. Although a Democrat he was opposed to the extension of slavery, but he took no active part in politics until 1848, when he was a delegate from New Jer- sey to the convention in Buffalo, New York, which organized the Free Soil party. He served with Salmon P. Chase on the famous committee on resolutions. To strengthen the cause in New Jersey he allowed his name to be used as a candidate for congress on the Free Soil ticket. He was thus one of the earliest and most active pioneers of the Re- publican party. In 1856 he supported Gen- eral Fremont for the presidency and was de- feated for the assembly from the Murray Hill district. Two years later he was elected from the same district to the assembly, where he was prominent in the opposition to schemes of plunder attempted to be forced through the legislature. In 1859 he was defeated for mayor of New York City by the Democratic candidate, Fernando Wood. In 1860 he was one of the delegates to the Republican na- tional convention at Chicago and one of the most effective workers for the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for president. He and Da- vid Dudley Field cooperated with Horace Greeley to defeat the nomination of William H. Seward and finally effected the combina- tion that nominated Lincoln. Mr. Opdyke contributed twenty thousand dollars to help defray the expenses of Mr. Lincoln's cam- paign, and after the inauguration the presi- dent offered him the position of collector of the port of New York, which was declined. The first public action taken at New York City in support of the national government upon the outbreak of the civil war was that of the chamber of commerce upon the reso- lutions proposed by Mr. Opdyke at its meet- ing held April 19, 1861. That was the begin-
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ning of his untiring patriotic labor which continued throughout the war, during which he gave freely of his time and means.
In the fall of 1861 he was elected mayor of New York City, holding through the event- ful years, 1861-63. As mayor he was active in raising and forwarding troops to the seat of war. When the "Merrimac" threatened the cities of the north with destruction he called a meeting of prominent merchants at his residence and made plans for the defense of the city, but the victory of the "Monitor" over his dreaded antagonist removed that dan- ger. It was during his administration as mayor that the draft riots occurred in New York City. He had protested to Secretary Stanton against removing every regiment of National Guard from the city, but in vain. He was advised by friends to leave the city until the excitement should subside, but he refused. He called to his aid the heads of the police and militia, the governor of the state and General Wood, with his few soldiers in the harbor and the marines in the navy yard. With this small force used to good advantage a bold front was constantly main- tained, while the mayor telegraphed to Sec- retary Stanton, demanding the return of some of the city regiments. Three days of terror passed, during which the streets of New York were as silent as though the city were struck by a plague, except where the mob raged. plundered, burned and murdered. Mr. Op- dyke's factory at Second avenue and Twenty- first street was destroyed. His residence at 79 Fifth avenue was twice attacked. Mrs. Opdyke escaped only through the next house to a carriage which the driver ran at full gallop to evade the howling mob. On the evening of the third day three regiments ar- rived from the seat of war, four more came the following day and the city was saved. During four days the mayor labored twenty hours out of each twenty-four, directing or advising every movement of his forces and assuming all responsibility. At the height of the riot, to appease the mob, the board of al- dermen unanimously voted $2,500,000 for the relief of those drafted. As mayor he refused to approve the ordinance, declaring the riot- ers should be conquered, not conciliated. This action excited alarm at the time, but later was unanimously approved. In 1867-68 he was a delegate to the constitutional convention that revised the constitution of New York
state. Here he found work congenial to his tastes and he rendered valuable service, par- ticularly on the articles relating to canals, the public schools and to the government of cities.
In 1867 he retired from the dry goods busi- ness and established a banking house with his sons as partners. The firm advanced funds to build more than one thousand miles of railroad in different parts of the country. When the panic of 1873 occurred most of the banking houses that had made such ad- vances went under. A morning paper an- nounced the failure of George Opdyke & Sons, which caused a run of one day, dur- ing which he paid out half a million dollars. But he weathered the storm as he had those of 1837 and 1857. It was one of his proudest boasts that he had never suspended payment during his business career of half a century, although he had seen most of his competitors do so. His wonderful foresight enabled him to see and prepare for a financial storm in advance. He, however, deliberately sacri- ficed a large part of his fortune to sustain the railroads, whose bonds had been sold through him to the public, also making fur- ther large loans, not as a safe financial trans- action, but from a high sense of business hon- or. The last few years of his life he retired from public activity, but continued his fre- quent contributions to the public press on im- portant public questions and still devoted him- self to the private interests of his less fortu- nate friends. He worked until the last, al- though weakened by an attack of pneumonia, dying June 12, 1880, at the age of seventy- five years.
He was by conviction a Unitarian, but at- tended the Reformed Dutch church, of which his wife was a member. He never attacked or defended a church creed, but he always rebuked those who scoffed at the Bible. "Be it inspired or not," he would reply, "you and I can do no better than follow the teachings of Christ." He was tolerant of all things but intolerance. He was perhaps most widely known as the only Republican mayor New York City had ever had and as so loyally exe- cuting this important trust during the most exciting period of that city's history. Yet to himself and his friends this period of his career was not of overshadowing importance. He only did his duty, as he always did, but he disliked public life because " it showed him the worst side of men." He impressed all
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who met him, so thorough yet so simple, so stern yet so gentle, so keen yet so honest, so burdened with cares yet so open to enjoy- ment. Even the common council liked him though he scourged them with his repeated vetoes. Modest in manner and gentle in voice, he had the courage of his convictions. Profound and abstruse he had yet an incisive wit which once floored even Horace Greeley and always discomfitted lawyers in cross ex- aminations. He was a student of finance, yet an ardent lover of poets. Fatigued with great public questions he would seek rest in chess and whist. In politics he believed in parties but his party must adhere to the right. Violently opposed to human slavery and one of the founders of the Republican party, yet he made the longest speech of his career at a meeting of the Union League Club, of New York, against a recommendation to congress to give the ballot to the freedman. Greeted at first by groans he soon gained respectful hearing and demonstrated from history and physiology the . utter unfitness of the freed- man for present citizenship. To those who came to him after the meeting and said he was right but the excitement of the meeting prevented their supporting his solitary dis- senting vote, he said: "You are a pack of cowards." He was devoted to justice and right and blazed in indignation at the wrong- doer. Yet he was the best and often the last friend of the weak and erring. He was proud of his Dutch ancestry. "The Dutch," he de- clared, "have been the bravest and the most honest of all nations." "Self-made men" are not rare in our time and country. Among merchants, scholars or statesmen George Op- dyke was a notable instance of eminence in all three of these classes at once. That at the same time he excelled also in simplicity, in purity and in humanity was a marvel to all who knew him. In person he was five feet eleven inches in height, spare and graceful, with strong but handsome features. In all his habits he was as moderate and regular as though in training.
He married, September 26, 1829, Elizabeth H. Strycker, a descendant of Jan Strycker who was born in Holland in 1615, emigrated from Ruinen, province of Drenthe, to New Amsterdam, in 1652, with his wife, Lambertje Leubring, and six children ; settled at Flat- bush, Long Island, in 1654; was representa- tive in 1664 from Midwout to the Landtag
at New Amsterdam; was chief magistrate of Flatbush nearly twenty years, and in 1675 paid the heaviest taxes in the place. His son, Pieter Strycker, was high sheriff of King's county, New York, 1683; judge in 1720-22; militia captain at Flatbush ; bought four thou- sand acres on Millstone river, New Jersey, in 1710, and married Annetje Barends. His son, Jan Strycker, was a sachem of Tammany So- ciety of New York, and married Margaret Schenck. His son, Jacobus, moved from Flat- bush to Franklin township, Somerset county, New Jersey, about 1762, and lost much prop- erty by the depreciation of continental money. He married Jannette His son, Peter Strycker, was a farmer of Hunterdon county, New Jersey. His wife was Keziah Davis. His daughter, Elizabeth Hall Strycker, mar- ried George Opdyke. She had twice refused the handsome, but awkward country clerk and the Cleveland storekeeper, but the per- sistence of the New Orleans merchant won her consent. His after success was perhaps in a large measure due to her loving helpful- ness. Her portrait, as painted in 1834, shows the quaint costume of that day. Children :
I. Emmeline, born in 1833, died August 18, 1908; married Edward C. Strobell, a merchant of New York City.
2. Mary E., born in 1834, died August 14, 1907 ; married George W. Farlee, a lawyer and banker, of New York City ; child, Lily, married Dr. Charles L. Dana, of New York City ; children: Bessie, married Edward A. Sheppard, and Ella C., both living in New York City.
3. William S., born in New York City in 1836; was graduated in 1856 from the Col- lege of the City of New York, as valedic- torian ; spent two years in Europe and at- tended law lectures at Heidelberg University ; studied at the law schools of Albany and New York City and was admitted to the New York bar in 1860, and has since that time been an active, prominent member in continuous prac- tice. He was a member of the New York City common council in 1864: one of the state assembly, 1875, and a member of the council of New York University. He married, in 1863, Margaret E., daughter of Dr. Alfred C. Post, LL.D., president of the faculty of the New York University Medical College. Son, Alfred C. P. Opdyke.
4. Charles Wilson, born in New York City, 1838; was graduated from the University of
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the City of New York, at the age of eighteen years, delivering the Latin oration. He spent two years in Europe and devoted much time to the study of the continental languages ; studied at the law schools of Albany and New York City University. Broken health com- pelled him to abandon study in 1861. He purchased a farm at Asbury, in the Musconel- cong Valley, New Jersey, and made himself a practical farmer for three years, thus recover- ing his health sufficiently to enter the dry goods importing house of his father, in 1865. His health again compelled him to give up business. in 1867, when he again visited Eu- rope. From 1869 to 1879 he was actuary and secretary of the Standard Life Insurance Company. From 1872 to 1878, member of the New York banking house of George Op- dyke & Company (or Sons ) : spent 1878-80 at St. Louis, Missouri, in the interest of in- vestments in railroads, mines and lands in the west; returned in 1880 to the banking house in New York City, which he relin- quished in 1881. After that date, he was en- gaged in the reorganization of several rail- roads and as joint executor of his father's estate. He was greatly interested in his fam- ily history and while in Europe made exhaus- tive research to establish the early German and Dutch lines of Op Den Dyck and the Den Dycks, of Holland. In 1889 he published the Opdyke Genealogy from which this record has been compiled. He married (first), in 1862 Jane W. Creveling, of Asbury, New Jersey, a descendant of Johannes, born 1706, died 1782, and Catherine Creveling, both of Woverlingen, Holland, who were married in 1737 and were among the earliest settlers of the Musconelcong valley, in New Jersey. Their son, Jacob Creveling, born 1755. died 1820, married Christina Hidely, born 1762, died 1833. Their son, Samuel Creveling. born 1796. died 1880, married Abigail Warne, born 1800, died 1863 (daughter of John Warne, a revolutionary soldier). Their daughter, Jane W. Creveling, married Charles Wilson Opdyke, who married (second) Percy S., daughter of John N. Wheeler, of Chicago, and Louisa Smith. a descendant of Henry Bartle from Holland and Elizabeth White from England. Children of first marriage: Annie, born 1862; Edwin. 1866: Ralph, 1869. Child of second marriage : Ethel, 1879. Charles W. Opdyke died March 9, 1907.
5. George Francis, of whom further.
6. Henry B., born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1841 ; was graduated from the University of the City of New York, in 1860; entered his father's dry goods importing house, and in 1864 became a member of the dry goods commission house of Kendall, Cleveland & Opdyke, and in 1867 of Kendall, Opdyke & Company. From 1870 to 1877 he was a mem- ber of the banking firm of George Opdyke & Company, when he retired from business. He married, in 1868, Miriam B. Whiton, of Wor- cester, Massachusetts. Children : Henry, born 1870; Howard, 1872: Agnes, 1876.
(VIII) George Francis, third son of George (2) and Elizabeth H. (Strycker) Op- dyke, was born at Newark, New Jersey, ( Clinton Place), March 22, 1840. He was educated in the Newark schools, which he at- tended until he was fourteen years of age, thien his father moved to New York City, where he completed his studies. At the age of seventeen years he entered the dry goods importing house of his father and in 1869 became a member of the banking house of George Opdyke & Company at its organiza- tion, continuing until its dissolution by the death of George Opdyke, senior, in 1880. In 1873 Mr. Opdyke went abroad, spending a year in European countries. On his return he again joined his father in business. In 1881 he established the banking house of Op- dyke & Company, continuing until 1885, when he retired. He had a natural aptitude for the banking business and established an envi- able reputation as a wise, conservative finan- cier and a safe guide in matters pertaining to finance. Schooled in the methods that made his father's name a synonym for security, he established for himself a name scarcely ex- celled in his day in banking circles. In 1881 he moved his residence from New York City to Plainfield, New Jersey, where he lived after his retirement until 1909, when climatic con- ditions induced him to come to Western New York. He selected a location on Lakeview avenue. Jamestown, where he purchased a residence and now resides ( 191I ). He pos- sesses many of the characteristics of his hon- ored father, one of which is his quality of making and retaining friends. His delight is in his friends, and his books, of which he has a choice collection. He is a man of wide reading and study, proud of his ancestry, and has built a character consistent with the high ideals of his sire. He is a member of the
JE. F. Opadyke
١٠١
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Hillun Bludylie
Lowthey Van Leuven (pdyle.
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Baptist church with which he has been con- nected since 1884. He is an advocate of Pro- hibition and acts with the party politically.
He married, in New York City, March 1, 1881, Ida Reed, born in that city (7 West Twenty-second street ), November 20, 1852, daughter of Almet and Lena (Van Deusen ) Reed. Children: 1. Wilbur Francis, born in Plainfield, Union county. New Jersey. No- vember 20, 1881 : his early studies at Plain- field and in the Moravian Boys' School at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, showed an aptitude along the lines of chemistry and the natural sciences. He later took special courses at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colo- rado, and at Nevada State University, Reno. Nevada. After extensive travel he married, at Jamestown, New York, December 26, 1907, Lulu Estella, daughter of Frank W. Cheney, whose family has been identified with the de- velopment of Chautauqua county since pioneer days. After a year spent in the South, they returned to Jamestown, where they now re- side. Children: George Francis, born in Ly- ons, Georgia, November 21, 1908: Frank Wilbur, born in Jamestown, New York, Jan- uary 7, 1911. 2. Dorothea Van Deusen, born in Plainfield. Union county, New Jersey, March 31, 1889. Throughout her school life she was a conscientious student and usually stood on the honor line. Beloved by her teachers and companions she finished her stud- ies in the Moravian College, Salem, North Carolina. Always guided by high ideals, loy- ally devoted to her family and church, look- ing eagerly forward to a life of consecrated usefulness. lovely and accomplished, she was called higher, April 20, 1910.
DOROTHEA. (Gift of God)
This is your Birthday, my Darling, The first you have been with God. For you the Peace of the "pure in heart," For me the chastening rod.
Would I call you back, my Daughter. Were it mine to still my pain; Could I let the ceaseless heartache Interfere with your great gain?
Through these dreary months of winter You have walked the streets of gold. Safe guarded from pain and sorrow In the shelter of God's fold.
Last year you had gems and blush roses, Twenty-one of the fairest that grew. Each one for a year, my Precious, All tenderly chosen for you.
The dreams that I dreampt then are broken, Shattered and shivered and dead. Yet you are alive in the summer land. Forever at home with our Lord.
There is many a "box of spikenard" That just lacks the opening key, And it may be this year of anguish Will unlock some sad heart to me.
The heart of somebody's daughter, Just as full of warm trust as your heart. As dainty, as winsome and loving- But stained by a traitor's dart.
There are wee ones, bereft of a mother Neglected and helpless and weak. The babies you yearned for so deeply Are waiting for some love to seek.
I must walk all alone-but upward Mid the flint in the rocky road. Grateful at least in the knowledge You are happily safe with God.
Thank Him! I know you are happy, With a surety not born of earth. You are happy and gently singing With a rippling tilt of mirth.
Yes-your first birthday in Heaven- My Girlie's best gift this first day Is to turn my life grief into service For the weary who stumble and stray.
Your birthday will not be quite happy If "Mother" is not counted a part. God grant me today a comforting ray Of your Paradise Peace in my heart.
(The Van Deusen Line).
This old Dutch name is derived from a hamlet of about five hundred people in Noord Brabant, in the Netherlands, called Deursen. the immigrant ancestor of the family came from Deursen (Van Deursen ) and thus the use of the surname arose, as is the case with a multitude of Dutch families in this country. Previous to arrival in America every Dutch- man was called by the baptismal name of his father with "sen" added and it was a uni- versal custom for one hundred and fifty years to use the father's name as a middle name among the Dutch families. This usage has made it possible to trace many lines that would otherwise be undiscoverable.
(I) Abraham Van Deusen came from Hol- land, probably in his old age, as five of his sons settled in this country about the middle
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of the seventeenth century. They were : Isaac. Melchert, Teunis or Mattheus, Jacob, Peter.
( II ) Teunis or Mattheus, son of Abraham Van Deusen, resided in Beverwyck (Albany ), where he was the owner of a lot from 1656 to 1667. This had a frontage of thirty-five feet on Broadway extending back to James street. At a sale in Albany, July 5, 1664, he purchased a cow for one hundred and eight- een florins. He was still living in Albany in 1700: no record of his death appears. His wife bore the name of Helena and they had children : Lysbet. Robert. Tryntje, Jan, Isaac. LIelena.
( III ) Robert, eldest son of Teunis or Mat- theus and Helena Van Deusen, was a resi- dent of Claverack, Columbia county, New York, in 1720. and probably spent most of his life in that town. He married ( first), about 1689. Cornelia, daughter of Martin Cornelis and Maritie Van Buren, who probably died before 1718. He married (second ) August 21, 1718, Gertruyd Van Benthuysen. Chil- dren : Johannes, Mattheus, Marten, Tobias, Robert.
(IV) Tobias, fourth son of Robert and Cornelia (Van Buren ) Van Deusen, was bap- tized August 16, 1696, and resided in Clave- rack. New York, where his will was made January 15, 1772. . He married, at Johnstown, in the town of Livingston, Columbia county. New York, March 21, 1723, Ariaantie Mul- ler, of Claverack : Children : Robert, Cor- nelis. Johannes Heyltje. Cornelia, Ariaantie. Tobias, Maria.
(\) Robert (2), eldest child of Tobias and Ariaantie ( Muller ) Van Deusen, was baptized February 12, 1726, in Johnstown, New York. He resided in the town of Claverack near Rathborn's wadding factory. He was an offi- cer in the revolutionary war. He married Marytje Ostrander and had children: Adam. Tryntje. Cornelia, Ariaantie. baptized at Claverack: Heyltjen, baptized at Johnstown : Cornelis. at Kinderhook; Johannes, at Clave- rack.
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