USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 57
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In the life of a man of Mr. Vanderbilt's prominence, im- portant events follow each other rapidly. No sooner had the last mentioned trouble been obviated than an attempt was made by one or two of the commodore's heirs to break his will. The interests which he had at stake compelled Mr. Vanderbilt to defend himself to the extent of convincing aspiring contestants that his position was entirely tenable. When he had gained this point, however, he brought the suit to a peaceable termina- tion by compromise. To his epileptic brother, Cornelins JJ., he gave $1,000,000, and to each of his sisters $500,000, in addition to the amounts already given them by the will of their father.
After the commodore's death, Mr. Vanderbilt completed the purchase of the Canada Southern Railroad. This, together with other acquisitions which he made, added considerably to his already immense income; and he soon began at Fifth avenue and Fifty-first street the construction of the elegant residence
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in which he died, and descriptions of which have been plenti- fully circulated in the newspapers ever since its completion. Work was begun on the building in 1879, and was pushed with such energy that the structure was completed in two years. Six hundred workmen were employed upon it and sixty sculp- tors, brought especially from Europe, were kept busy during the same length of time. The cost of the double home was $2,000,000, and the art gallery was furnished at an additional expense of $1,500,000. The collection of paintings, two hun- dred in number, representing the best modern artists of France, is said to be the most complete in the world. Mr. Vander- bilt gave much attention to its construction, as a result of which he probably secured for himself the finest private residence in America.
The love of Mr. Vanderbilt for out door exercises, and especi- ally for fast driving, was a theme of conversation in sporting circles, not only throughout this country but also in Europe. After the decease of his father he essayed to take his place upon the road. He bought Lady Mac to match with Small Hopes, and astonished the public by driving the team to a top road wagon over the Fleetwood park course in 2.23}. This was the beginning of the rage for fast teams. Others competed with Mr. Vanderbilt, and the excitement on the boulevards and avenues above Central Park was unprecedented. Discovering that Small Hopes and Lady Mac would not be able to main- tain his prestige, he secured Aldine and Early Rose, which were driven together at Hartford in 2.163. Shortly afterward Frank Work's team beat the record, and on June 14th, 1883, Mr. Vanderbilt took his fastest ride behind his team, Maud S. and Aldine, in 2.15}, the wagon together with himself weighing four hundred pounds. This time has never been beaten. Among other fast horses which Mr. Vanderbilt owned were Leander and Lysander, and Bay Dick and Charles Dickens.
It is not nor will it ever be known how much Mr. Vanderbilt gave to charities. His method of doing this was so secretive that his contributions seldom reached the public ear. His hand was constantly in his pocket. Realizing the fact that he had duties toward those who were less fortunate than himself, he performed them without hesitation. Old friends of his father who were needy, employees of the Central suddenly afflicted or disabled, he helped without stint. He added $200,000 to the
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endowment of the Vanderbilt University, and gave $100,000 for the Theological school. The latter went to build a hall which was dedicated on the donor's birthday, May 8, 1881. Two weeks before his death he gave $10,000 for the formation of a library for use at the university. No one was more sensitive to public opinion than was he. He studiously avoided public honors, and always gave, where he could, to already established institutions. In pursuance of this custom he gave to the "College of Physicians and Surgeons " $500,000, to which his daughter, Mrs. Sloan, and her husband, William J. Sloan, one year later added $250,000. At the time of the Grant-Ward failure, he made strenuous efforts, without avail, to induce Gen- eral Grant to accept as a gift $150,000 previously loaned him, but which obligation the general through unforseen difficulties had been unable to meet. Among his minor gifts were $50,000 to remove the debt of the church of St. Bartholomew and $10,000 to the Deem's fund for the education of poor young men at the University of North Carolina. He also con- tributed to the University of Virginia, and made innumerable private donations of which the public has no knowledge. In his will he left 8900,000 to charity, and it is said that the last check signed by him, within three hours of his death, was for a charitable object. When spoken to in regard to the re- moval of the obelisk to this country from Egypt, he immedi- ately agreed to bear the expense, amounting to more than $100,000.
In his latter days Mr. Vanderbilt's health became much im- paired, and he was disposed to lean upon his sons for counsel and advice. He also took frequent and more extended vaca- tions, sometimes going to Europe and returning on the same steanier. It was partly for this reason, and partly to silence the senseless clamor of the socialistic elements of society, that he sold 835,000,000 of the New York Central stock, which he ac- complished at one time without weakening its value or depress- ing the money market. This immense number of shares was purchased by a syndicate composed of the following: J. S. Morgan & Co., of London, Drexel, Morgan & Co., August Belmont & Co., L. Van Hoffman & Co., Morton, Bliss & Co., Winslow, Lanier & Co., Edwin D. Morgan, Cyrus W. Field, Jay Gould, Russell Sage and others. They took 250,000 shares at $120, ten points below the market price, on condition that
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the syndicate should have a corresponding representation in the directory of the Central, and that Mr. Vanderbilt should not place any of the stock of the road upon the market for one year. The $35,000,000 thus withdrawn was promptly reinvested in government bonds, which, together with moneys already placed in the same manner made a total of $53,000,000 in gov- ernment bonds, of which Mr. Vanderbilt was the possessor.
During the construction of the " Nickel Plate" railroad, Mr. Vanderbilt's interests compelled him to make every effort to prevent its completion. Finally, when these failed, he purchased the road. His second son, William K., carried on the negotia- tions, and was shortly afterward elected its president. After this transaction, on May 3d, 1883, Mr. Vanderbilt resigned the presidencies of the various railroads of which for more than six years he had been the honored head. The event was heralded by the press in all parts of the world, and various reasons were assigned for the action. The truth of the matter was simply that he was overworked and his health fatally impaired. De- cember 8, 1885, three years after his resignation, he died at his home in New York city, of paralysis, a second attack.
His latest operations were made in Chicago & Northwest- ern, Omaha and Philadelphia & Reading. He also arranged the details of the purchase of the bankrupt West Shore rail- road.
Mr. Vanderbilt left behind him his wife, four sons and four daughters. He had more than doubled the fortune left him by his father, and was reputed at the time of his death to be worth in the neighborhood of 8200,000,000. The manner in which this was invested admitted of a more equal distribution than his father had been enabled to make of his estate ten years before. and of the eight children surviving him, not one received less than $10,000,000. The two eldest sons, Cornelius and William K., however, inherited the bulk of the fortune, amounting to nearly $120,000,000. Of the two, the oldest, Cornelius, now in his forty-second year and worth probably $80,000,000, is prop- erly recognized as his father's chief successor. He has long been looked upon in the financial world as a young man of far- seeing and correct judgment, and he has already evinced great skill and ability in his management of his immense estate.
In concluding this sketch of two individuals whose names during the last half century of the country's history have at-
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tracted so much attention and inquiry, it is perhaps proper for us to glance a moment at the qualities which succeeded in gat h- ering, and those which retained this greatest of all the vast estates of which the world has any knowledge.
Commodore Vanderbilt, the founder, was a poor farmer's son, He inherited a strong physique, indomitable energy and an earnestness of purpose which is noticable through his whole business career. To these he added ambition: one which en- abled him to laugh at obstacles and even at defeat, and carried for him many points which, had they gone adversely, might have ruined his prospects forever. Armed thus, and with an intelligence capable of grasping with ease problems which had been the bane of financiers and statesmen for years, he stepped upon the field of action at a time when the present all-pervad- ing spirit of mercantileism was in its infancy. The first issue which stared him squarely in the face was the necessity for hard work and earnest endeavor in his own behalf. Where others might have bemoaned the ill fortune which compelled the ac- tion, he accepted the world for just what it was, strove vigor- ously, and, seizing the tide of fortune at the ebb, marched on to usefulness and to success, No man ever exercised a more im- portant influence on the times in which he lived than did he. Many passages of his life read like romances and suggest the providence of the Almighty in placing such a man in such a position. For many years he busied himself in providing ways and means for the transportation of population and commerce to and from his native land, and finally, when he found the in- ternal highways of his country blocked and in the hands of wreckers, he made his entry upon the scene, and like the hero in the play, struck boldly at the evil, and provided a sure remedy. He and such as he are in the highest sense useful. They may acquire fortunes which are looked upon by large numbers with envions eyes, but they give to the state what they can never take away, far- reaching prosperity resting on a basis sound as their own judgment.
No less useful, but far different in his characteristics, was the commodore's favored son and heir. The father was cold, gruff and inclined to argument; the son the direct opposite in every respect. Each seems to have been made for a special sphere in life, and each to have occupied it. It is doubtful whether or not, had the commodore lived till now, his naturally uncom-
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promising disposition would have been able to deal as success- fully with the railroad strikes, the Nickel Plate and West Shore difficulties, or even the cutting of west-bound freight rates, as did his son, That he would have met these troubles there is no doubt, but his disposition would probably have led him to tight them all to the bitter end, a course which, in the present state of the country and of the transportation system, would have proved a mistake. William H. Vanderbilt left behind him the record of a life well led, a course well run. His lat- ter days were not his happiest. The great fortune in his hands was not a means of comfort. It weighed heavily upon him as a public trust, and not as a source of pri- vate gratification. He finally sank with a sigh of relief, wearied beneath its weight. How appropriate that he should be buried on Staten Island in sight of the very home in which he spent so many happy hours with his loving wife and children by his side. The same breezes which, as they pass the vaults and headstones of gamblers and railroad wreck- ers, shriek and groan disapprobation, smile as they take from the costly mausoleum at New Dorp the clear records of Com- modore Vanderbilt and his son and hurry them on to their de- scendants in the metropolis beyond. A heritage of usefulness such as they left to their children is of more value, and will be justly considered so by thoughtful and conscientious people, than all the dollars which Providence has placed in their hands.
CAPTAIN JACOB HAND VANDERBILT was born on the eastern shore of Staten Island, on September 2, 1807. His ancestors were of Dutch origin, and had resided on the island from the earliest times. A few years before his birth, his father, Cor- nelius Vanderbilt, had removed from the north shore, where he had lived on the site of the present residence of Read Bene- dict, Esq., and where the captain's brother, Cornelius, had been born in 1794. The homestead on the eastern shore was located on the west side of the shore road, in the settlement now known Stapleton, and adjoined, on the south, the site upon which Com- modore Cornelins Vanderbilt subsequently built a residence for himself. Connected with it was a farm of about forty acres, extending to the south and west,
In those early days of Staten Island neighbors were few, and life quiet and simple.
Between Duxbury's Point. a short distance north of the
Jacobb Vandisbilly
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United States Lighthouse grounds, and the Narrows there were but twelve houses, and these were occupied by farmers, who also took no small interest in the neighboring fisheries.
The meal and flour for family use were ground at the Clove mill or by the tide mill on the South beach, and each farmer supplied his family with meat from his own cattle,
Doctors and lawyers were very few and rarely employed ; there were no shops on the island, and the pedlar with his pack, or the merchants of the neighboring city, who were visited once or twice a year, supplied the various necessary articles which a farming and fishing community could not produce.
A conch shell, sounded in the morning toward the hills front the little wharf in front of the Vanderbilt homestead, hastened the pace of the farm horse or the feet of the laggard that bore to the ferry the traveller to the city.
The undecked periauger of farmer Vanderbilt, Senior, with its two lug sails, would at last draw out from the shore, perhaps have a brush with the rival boat of his near neighbor, Van Duzer, and then settle down with a steady favoring breeze for a six mile run to Whitehall slip in the city, or, perhaps, a slow trip in a calm over the Jersey shallows where oars and poles furnished the motive power.
Mrs. Phebe Vanderbilt, the mother, was a woman of ability, force of character and piety. In her co-operation her husband always felt that he had a powerful resource, and to the quali- ties which she transmitted to her two sons they have been largely indebted for the prominence and influence which they subsequently attained.
Under these influences of surrounding nature and domestic life young Captain Vanderbilt grew up, acquiring the common school education of the times, and at an early age began to "follow the water."
At the age of eighteen he had risen to the command of a steamboat, and from that time onward he rose steadily in the importance of his business engagements and adventures, which were chiefly connected with the conduct of steamboat lines on Long Island sound, the Connecticut and Hudson rivers.
In 1834 he married Euphemia Maria Banta, a descendant of General Israel Putnam, whose personal and mental charms, joined with her widespread benevolence, made her a leader in society and, at the same time, beloved of the poor and dis-
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tressed, from an early age until her death which occurred in 1877.
Three of Captain Vanderbilt's children are living : a son. bearing his own name; Ellen, widow of Herman D. Cæsar, son of Senator Cæsar, of Bremen, and Clara, wife of James Mc- Namee, of the bar of New York.
Since the close of the rebellion Captain Vanderbilt has lived in a beautiful home, known as "Clove Hill, " on the heights of Staten Island, in retirement from business, excepting that. in- stead of completely ceasing from the activity of a long and busy life, he filled for nearly twenty years before 1884 the posi- tion of president of the Staten Island East Shore railroad and ferry.
Many of his contemporaries have passed away and men of different training and stamp have come and are coming upon the scene of business life, but to his many friends and acquain- tances, who yet survive out of the multitude that have known him, Captain Vanderbilt will always be known as a man of ac- tion, sturdy integrity, modest disposition, yet great force of character, kind heart, notwithstanding a certain direct and sometimes brusque address, and always a comforter of the desponding.
His love of horses is well known, and the furious speeding of his favorite trotters over the " Lane," in New York city, and on the roads of Staten Island will long be remembered.
The old-fashioned race of native Americans, to whose labor, energy, disdain of ease and hatred of underhand business methods this country is indebted for its foundations, has nearly passed away.
To this class of men Captain Vanderbilt belongs, and to those who know him and the history of his life, he is to-day the most picturesque and interesting figure among all the residents of his native island.
THE VAN NAME FAMILY .*- The family of Van Names, from tradition, originally came from Holland, and the exact time they came to Staten Island seems to be unknown, as it appears no record can be produced to establish their authenticity of set- tlement. This much we must rely upon from a church record produced from Mr. John J. Clute's statement, which, however, is incomplete in many instances.
* By David M. Van Name.
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The earliest mentioned, according to the records, is Evert, who married Wintje (Wilhelmina) Benham. The number of children by the union is not known, unless the subsequent names taken from the records are his, which seems quite proba- ble. These were : a son Joseph, baptized April 22, 1709; a daughter August 31, 1718: Simon, born October 29, 1713: Sarah, born Angust 15, 1717 (this was probably the daughter above baptized); Aaron, August 11. 1718; and Moses, February 8, 1725. There also appear under the same, other members. For instance, Simon and Sarah Prall had a daughter baptized Octo- ber 30, 1716, which might possibly have been brother to Evert; also an Englebert married to Maria DeCamp; son John baptized April 12, 1719: twin daughters, October 15. 1721; and a Johan- . nes had a son Peter, baptized May 18, 1718. According to dates, Aaron and Simon must have been brothers, there being abont five years difference between their ages.
Aaron and Mary McLean had the following children : Aaron, Catharine, Simon, William, Ann, Moses and Charles.
Moses (the son of Aaron) married Mary La Grange, and they had the following children : John, Mary, Moses, Elizabeth, Catharine, Michael, Sophia, Rachel, Aaron and Charles. Charles (the son of Moses), married Elizabeth Mersereau, only daughter of Judge Paul Mersereau, by whom he had the following child- ren : Joseph H., Paul M., David M., Nancy M. and George W. David M. (son of Charles) married Sarah M. Wyckoff, of New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Charles, son of Aaron (who was a son of Simon), made his will April 8, 1805, which was probated May 21, 1805, in which he mentions his sons Anthony and Aaron, both minors.
Aaron, last named (son of Charles), had a son Cornelius, who married Rebecca Corson ; the last named were the parents of William Henry Van Name (now deceased), who married Eliza- beth Ann, only daughter of Benjamin Decker, of Mariners' Harbor, and had one child, Counselor Calvin D. Van Name, of Mariners' Harbor.
Moses (son of Aaron) was born February 23, 1760, married June 9, 1782, died October 16, 1811 ; Mary La Grange (wife of Moses) was born September 8, 1763, married June 9, 1782, died February 3, 1846; John (son), was born June 18, 1783, married Elizabeth Wright, died April 1, 1853; Mary was born July 19, 1785, married April 15, 1803, to Edward De Hart, died
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January 13, 1870 ; Moses was born April 9, 1788, married Janu- ary 28, 1811, to Mary Pierson, died July 28, 1871 ; Elizabeth was born June 30, 1790, married to Matthius De Hart, died July 25, 1873 ; Catharine was born February 16, 1793, married De- cember 1, 1811, to Henry Simonson, died July 27, 1869; Michael was born November 14, 1795, married April 20, 1817, to Ger- trude Cortelyou, died June 5, 1883 ; Sophia was born August 29, 1798, married October, 1816, to William Lake; Rachel was born March 10, 1801, married September 4, 1821, to Peter Thatch- er, died 1885; Aaron was born October 1, 1803, married January 24, 1827, to Mary Mersereau, died July, 1882 ; Charles was born August 25, 1806, married November, 1832, to Elizabeth Merse- reau (cousin to Mary), and died July 15, 1883. This generation have all died, excepting Mary (wife of Aaron) and Elizabeth (wife of Charles).
The family of Charles Van Name .- Charles (son of Moses) and Elizabeth, his wife, had the following children : Joseph H., born March 27, 1835, married December 31, 1856, to Caroline Gibson ; Paul M., born June 12, 1837, married July 3, 1860, to Elizabeth Scott, of New Jersey ; she departed this life March 4, 1872.
Family of John Van Name .- John Van Name (son of Moses), born June 18, 1783, married January 8, 1809, to Elizabeth Wright, died April 1, 1853; Elizabeth, his wife, born July 2, 1792, died May 22, 1875. Their children were: Mary La Grange, born October 12, 1809 ; Caleb Halsey, born February 7, 1813 ; Judy Johnson, born September 2, 1815 (now dead) ; Moses J., born March 9, 1818 ; Catherine, born October 27, 1820 ; Sophia Lake, born May 9, 1823 ; Jolin Poiner, born February 2, 1826 ; Andrew Wright, born July 11, 1828; Elizabeth Jane, born April 28, 1831, died May 23, 1855 ; Charles Joseph, born January 28, 1834.
David M. (son of Charles), born January 1, 1840, married November 18, 1869, to Sarah M. Wyckoff, of New Brunswick, N. J .; Nancy M., born November 24, 1842, married May 10, 1865, to John Todd Crittenden, of Virginia ; George W., born October 20, 1845, married April 10, 1870, to Kate A. Van Name. She departed this life April 10, 1881.
The family of David M. Van Name .- David M. and Sarah M., his wife, had the following children : Travilla, born October 1, 1870 ; Lizzie Irene, born April 3, 1872 ; Ada D., born February
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11, 1876; Florence Adelaide, born September 20, 1879 ; Sara Vida, born June 14, 1882.
Family of Joseph H. Van Name .- Joseph H. and wife had one child, a son George, who married Lonisa Ricard.
Family of Paul M. Van Name .- Paul M. and wife had the following children: Alice Jane, married to Thomas Simonson; Charles Winfield (dead); Edward Everett; Zenetta, married to A. Luske; Frances Marion; Paul M. (dead), and Charlotte (dead). The last two were twins.
Family of Nancy M. Crittenden .- Nancy M. and husband had the following children: Pauline, born July 28, 1866; J. Howard, born November 7, 1871.
Family of George W. Van Name .- George W. and wife had the following children: Edgar, Irving and Pearly Louise.
The family of Van Names have ranked as a very prominent class of people from the ancient name in Holland down to the present day, and have lived and labored mostly during all these years at their island home of nativity. Charles was a merchant for forty years, and educated his sons in the same line. Joseph H. and George W. are pursning the course of their father, Paul M. may be found at Jewett's white lead factory, and David M. is a commission merchant in New York city. Charles was supervisor of the town of Northfield during the late civil war. He was always active, and discharging his duties in the most honorable manner, was beloved by his towns-people and re- marked for his courteousness with all.
VAN PELT .- We read of individuals of this name in New Utrecht several years before we meet the name in connection with Staten Island. Thus, Wouter (Walter), Anthony and Aert Van Pelt are mentioned as early as 1687, living on Long Island. The first Van Pelt we meet in the Staten Island records is Hen- drick, who had seven children born between 1696 and 1701. He was probably connected with the Long Island families, as we find their names perpetuated on Staten Island. At or about the same time there was a Peter Van Pelt, who had a son Jan bap- tized October 21, 1707, and a son Samuel July 25, 1710. This John and Jannetje (Janet) Adams had: A daughter, baptized March 28, 1736; a son William, April 13, 1742, and a daughter, April, 1744. Jacob and Aaltje (Alida) Hanghwout, his wife, had a son John, baptized October 15, 1727, and a daughter Cat- alyntje, September 27, 1724. John and Susanna Latourette,
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