USA > New York > New York State's prominent and progressive men : an encyclopaedia of contemporaneous biography, Volume I > Part 16
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His official duties, of course, took him abroad. So have his professional duties, more than once. Either on business or on pleasure, he has crossed the Atlantic Ocean no less than forty times, and has traveled extensively in Europe.
Mr. Hyde is a member of the Union League, Republican, Metropolitan, Lawyers', and Down-Town clubs, the Military Order of Foreign Wars, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the New York Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Hyde was married, in this city, in 1891, to Miss Lillia Babbitt, youngest daughter of the late B. T. Babbitt, and has one daughter, Clara Babbitt Hyde. His home is in this city, and he has a fine summer residence at Greenwich, Connecticut.
Judenche Atyde
FREDERICK ERASTUS HYDE
D R. HYDE is one of seven brothers, descended from early New England ancestry. The Hydes came from England to Boston in 1633, a year or two later moved to Hartford, then to Saybrook, Connecticut, and, finally, with some thirty other families, settled on the Thames River where the city of Norwich now stands. There Edwin Hyde, Dr. Hyde's father, was born. Dr. Hyde's paternal grandfather was Lieutenant James Hyde, who served in the Revolutionary army, and was with Washing- ton at Valley Forge and Yorktown. Another ancestor was Lieutenant-Colonel Simon Lathrop, who was put in command of the fort after the taking of Louisburg, Cape Breton, in 1745. Dr. Hyde's mother was formerly Miss Elizabeth Alvina Mead, a descendant of the Meads who settled at Greenwich, Connecticut, about 1640. The original farm of John Mead, with a house built in 1793, is now in Dr. Hyde's possession.
Frederick Erastus Hyde, a descendant in the seventh genera- tion from the founder of the family in America, was born in the city of New York on February 25, 1844. He entered the Col- lege of the City of New York, intending to pursue its full course. His studies were interrupted by illness, however, and he was reluctantly obliged to leave college.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 he enlisted in the organization known as the Union Grays; but in 1862 it was mustered into the Twenty-second Regiment of New York Volun- teers and sent to the front. Service on the field of battle did not come until the next year, 1863, but there was plenty of it then, for he went with the regiment all through the Gettysburg campaign. His desire was to serve all through the war, but the exposures incidental to a soldier's life told severely upon his not
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rugged constitution, his health failed again, and he was obliged to give up army life and go abroad for recuperation.
Returning to this country, he became interested in mining enterprises, and in 1866 went out to Denver, Colorado, making the trip by stage-coach from Leavenworth, Kansas, along the Kansas River and Smoky Hill Branch. At that time danger from hostile Indians was still acute, and all such travelers had to go armed in self-defense. The next year, as the representa- tive of a Baltimore mining company, he crossed the Isthmus of Panama and went to Arizona to examine various mining proper- ties. On this trip his party, consisting of nine men, was at- tacked by Walapai Indians, and four of them were killed.
After these and other similar enterprises, Mr. Hyde returned to New York and again became a student, in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which institution he was graduated, with the degree of M. D., in 1874. Since that time he has led a quiet and somewhat retired life. He has held no public office, and has taken small part in political affairs aside from discharging the duties of a citizen. He has, however, interested himself much in some church and philanthropic enterprises. He has also trav- eled extensively with his family in almost all accessible parts of the world.
He was recently elected a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History. He is associated with many clubs and other bodies, including the Union League, Metropolitan, Church, Rid- ing, and American Yacht clubs, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the Revolution, the New York Genealogical Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Academy of Sciences, the Order of Foreign Wars, the New England Society, the New York Historical Society, the Linnæan Society, the New York Academy of Medicine, the County Medical Society, and the Musical Art Society, of which last he is president.
Dr. Hyde was married, on March 27, 1869, to Miss Ida Jo- sephine Babbitt, daughter of the late B. T. Babbitt. She died on January 22, 1890, having borne him seven children. Of these, two died in infancy. The others are Elizabeth Alvina, Benjamin Talbot Babbitt, Frederick Erastus, Ida Josephine, and Mabel Lillia.
63Corde
HENRY BALDWIN HYDE
W HEN the Rev. Thomas Hooker emigrated from England in 1633, he took with him, among other sons of worthy families, William Hyde. The latter settled first in Newton, Mas- sachusetts, but in 1636 followed the Rev. Mr. Hooker in his migra- tion to Connecticut, where they established Hartford Colony. William Hyde became one of the principal landholders in the colony, and was active in all civic and religious affairs. His name is on the monument to the original settlers, in the old cemetery at Hartford, and several generations of his descendants are buried there. He appears to have possessed the restless spirit of the true pioneer, for he removed to Saybrook when it was first established, and afterward to Norwich, where he died in 1681. His son Samuel, who accompanied him to Norwich, became one of the selectmen of the town. He married a daugh- ter of Thomas Lee of Lynn, England, who sailed with his fam- ily for the colonies in 1641, but died on the voyage. His wife and children settled in Saybrook, Connecticut.
To Samuel Hyde and his wife, Jane Lee, were born a large family of sturdy sons and daughters. The fourth son, Thomas Hyde, was born in 1673. He was a prosperous farmer, and lived to see the eighteenth century more than half completed. He married Mary Backus, a daughter of one of the original settlers of Norwich. Abner Hyde, their third son, was born in 1706. In the next generation was Asa Hyde, born in Norwich in 1742 and died in 1812. He married Lucy Rowland, and their son, Wilkes Hyde of Catskill, New York, was the grandfather of the subject of this biography. He married Sarah Hazen, daughter of Jacob Hazen of Franklin, Connecticut. In 1805 was born Henry Hazen Hyde, who married Lucy Baldwin Beach, a daugh-
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ter of the Rev. James Beach of Winsted, Connecticut. Mr. Hyde was one of the most successful insurance men of his day, and for many years represented the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York as its general manager in New England.
Henry Baldwin Hyde, the second son of the foregoing, was born in Catskill, February 5, 1834. At the age of sixteen he came to New York city, and was employed as a clerk by Mer- ritt, Ely & Co., merchants, for two years. In 1852 he entered the office of the Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he remained seven years, first as a clerk and latterly as cashier of the company. In March, 1859, Mr. Hyde announced to the president, Frederick S. Winston, that he had concluded that there was need of a new life-insurance company, organized along new lines, and that he had decided to organize such a company. He thereupon tendered his resignation, to take effect immediately. The Equitable Life Assurance Company was incorporated on July 26 of the same year, and the rest of Mr. Hyde's active business life was spent in its development and interests. Elected at its incorporation vice-president and man- ager, he became president in 1874, and so continued until his death.
Mr. Hyde's death, which occurred on May 2, 1899, was from heart trouble resulting from inflammatory rheumatism.
He was a lifelong Republican, and a member of the Union, Union League, Lawyers', South Side Sportsmen's, Jekyll Island, and Press clubs, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His wife, who was Miss Fitch, survives him; also his son, James H. Hyde, who is vice-president of the Equi- table, and a daughter, who is the wife of Sidney D. Ripley, trea- surer of the Equitable.
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Darwin Races.
DARWIN R. JAMES
D ARWIN R. JAMES comes of Puritan stock on both paternal and maternal sides. His ancestors were settled at Hingham, Massachusetts, as early as 1638, and later genera- tions gave members to serve in the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars. His father was Lewis Lyman James, a manufacturer and merchant of woolen goods, and his mother's maiden name was Cerintha Wells. He was born at Williams- burg, Massachusetts, on May 14, 1834, and was educated at Mount Pleasant Boarding-school, Amherst, Massachusetts.
In January, 1850, Mr. James began work for a wholesale silk and dress-goods firm on Nassau Street, New York, for fifty dollars a year. For eight years he was in that business, with three different firms. Then he formed a partnership with M. N. Packard, and entered the trade in indigo, spices, and East India goods. For forty-one years that firm, with one change of name, has pursued its honorable and profitable way, a fine example of American commercial probity and success. In the interest of his firm Mr. James has traveled extensively in the Philippines, India, and other remote lands, as well as in all parts of the United States.
Early in life Mr. James became interested in politics. His first vote was cast for Frémont and Dayton, and he has ever since been a conspicuous member of the Republican party. In the part of Brooklyn where he has made his home for many years, he has been an important factor in the councils of the party, and for six years was president of his ward association. He has, however, held no public office, though often urged to do so, save those of Park Commissioner in Brooklyn for six years, Representative in Congress for four years, and member
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and chairman of the United States Board of Indian Commis- sioners. He was appointed, also, a member of the commission named by Governor Black, in 1898, for the investigation of the canal administration of this State.
Mr. James's career in Congress was conspicuous and impor- tant. He was the recognized leader of the forces of honest money, and succeeded in defeating the Bland Free-coinage Bill, and in securing the redemption and retirement of the "trade dollars." He also organized a great literary bureau, with head- quarters in New York, which sent out vast quantities of sound- money literature to voters throughout the country. He effected the transfer of public land in Brooklyn for the establishment of the Wallabout Market, and was one of the organizers of the anti-monopoly movement in this State, as a result of which the Board of Railroad Commissioners was established.
For twenty-four years Mr. James has been connected with the Board of Trade and Transportation of New York, being its secretary eighteen years and president nearly six years. He is officially connected with numerous financial concerns, such as the East Brooklyn Savings Bank, of which he has been fif- teen years secretary and fifteen years president, without salary, the Nassau Trust Company, the Franklin Trust Company, the Franklin Safe Deposit Company, the Brooklyn Real Estate Exchange, the Brooklyn Edison Electric Illuminating Com- pany, etc. He is also identified with the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities, the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, the Church Extension Committee of the Brooklyn Presbytery, and numerous other religious, educational, and benevolent enter- prises. For forty-six years he has been actively interested in a mission Sunday-school, most of the time as superintendent. He is a large owner of real estate in Brooklyn, and has devoted much attention to the sanitary and other interests of that city.
Mr. James was married, in 1858, to Miss Mary Ellen Fairchild of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, a woman of marked ability and force of character, who has been and is prominent in the work of the Presbyterian Church, the Woman's National Sabbath League, and the Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society. Mr. James is a member of the Union League Club of Brooklyn, and was formerly a member of the Oxford and Brooklyn clubs.
WALTER S. JOHNSTON
W ILLIAM JOHNSTON, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ireland, in the early part of the cen- tury, and while a very young child came with his parents to the western continent. They settled first in St. John's, Newfound- land, where William received his education and began the study of his profession, which was that of an architect. Removing to Philadelphia, he completed his studies and established himself in his profession. He became an American citizen, and married an American wife, Miss Mary Tyndal. She was a native of Delaware, and came of a good family, dating back to ante-Revo- lutionary days.
Their son, Walter S. Johnston, was born in Philadelphia, on January 13, 1843. The circumstances of his parents were ample enough to admit of a thorough education, and, after a course in a private school, he entered college, was graduated therefrom, and took up the study of law. When he was eighteen years of age, however, the Civil War was declared, and, like so many other youthful patriots, he threw down his books to obey the first call to arms. He enlisted on April 18, 1861, less than a week after Fort Sumter was fired upon, and served until the troops were mustered out in July, 1865. He enlisted as a private, but was promoted rapidly, and was a captain of infantry before he was twenty-two. He took part in the battles of Antietam, Chicka- mauga, Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, and the numerous battles thereabout, in one of which he was wounded, and wit- nessed the surrender of General Lee.
Mr. Johnston returned to Philadelphia soon after the muster- ing out of the troops, and applied himself to the study of law again, being still intent upon making that his profession. After
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pursuing his studies to some extent, he removed to the West and settled in Missouri. There he completed his studies and was admitted to the bar. He entered upon the general practice of his profession, and met with a gratifying degree of success. His law partner, it is of interest to note, was the colonel of his old regiment in the Federal Army.
In the course of his practice Mr. Johnston had frequently to do with the affairs of financial institutions and large business corporations, and to these he paid increasing attention. Within a few years he became an authority upon matters of finance, and thus, when, in 1877, the National Bank of the State of Missouri fell into straits, he was appointed receiver of it. That bank was one of the largest financial institutions in the West, and the task of straightening out its affairs was no light one. But he did it so successfully that when the Marine National Bank of New York went down in the crash of 1884, he was sent for and ap- pointed its receiver, and thereafter resided in New York. In January, 1898, he was elected president of the American Surety Company, a position which he occupied for over a year. In February, 1899, he resigned this office, remaining as first vice- president, and accepted the presidency of the State Trust Com- pany. He has unofficial connections with other large financial companies.
Mr. Johnston has never aspired to any public offices, and, beyond the interest felt by every patriotic citizen, has taken no active part in political affairs, his tastes not inclining in that direction. His business interests occupy the most of his time, and to them he devotes his best energies.
His favorite diversion is yachting, and he is a member of the New York and Larchmont Yacht clubs. He is also a member of the Union, the Union League, the Army and Navy, and the Metropolitan clubs. Mr. Johnston is an unmarried man.
IR Neue
JAMES ROBERT KEENE
W ALL STREET takes unto itself with equal welcome men from all lands and all walks of life. Some are foreign, some native-born ; some have inherited fortune, some have fought their way up from poverty. And no man can tell until the event is seen who shall prosper, this one or that. Among the great and successful speculators of the Street few, if any, have been better known than the subject of this sketch, nor have any had more marked fluctuations of fortune, nor have there been many whose antecedents pointed less toward such a career than did his. The son of a cautious and conservative English merchant, he became one of the most daring of American speculators. Once a poor man earning meager daily wages by menial work, he became one of the money kings of the richest city in the Western world. It is a partly typical and partly unique career.
James Robert Keene was born in London, England, in 1838, the son of a wealthy merchant, and was educated at a private school in Lincolnshire and in a preparatory school of Trinity College, Dublin. Before he could enter the college, however, his father met with serious business reverses, and came to America with his family. The first enthusiasm over the dis- covery of gold in California had not yet begun to wane, and to that State the family proceeded, settling at Shasta in 1852. There the boy of fourteen was compelled to reckon his schooling finished with a good English education and some Latin and French, and to go to work for his own living. His first occupa- tion was to take care of the horses at Fort Reading, and it may well be supposed that he there acquired that love of those ani- mals which has been so marked a characteristic of his later life. But in three months he had earned and saved enough to buy a
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miner's outfit, and with it on his back he set forth to seek "pay dirt."
His success was at first indifferent. He did some mining, milling, freighting, and stock-raising, and then was editor of a newspaper for two years. In none of these pursuits did he find the way to fortune. Then he left California and went to Nevada, soon after the discovery of the famous Comstock lode. There he " struck it rich." He bought and sold mining property until he had money enough to go to San Francisco and begin the career of a stock speculator. In a few months he had more than a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars clear. Then he got married, his wife being Sara Daingerfield, daughter of Colonel Daingerfield of Virginia, and sister of Judge Daingerfield of Cali- fornia. He was now, he thought, on the sure road to fortune. But there was a sharp turn in the road. A crash in mining stocks came, and he was in a day made all but penniless.
With indomitable spirit he began again, dealing in stocks in a small way. After a time he got in with Senator C. N. Felton, and transacted much business for him as his broker. When Mr. Felton became Assistant United States Treasurer he sold his seat in the Stock Exchange to Mr. Keene, although the latter did not have enough money to pay for it in cash. But once in the Ex- change, Mr. Keene rose rapidly to wealth and prominence. He soon became president of the Exchange. By shrewd purchases of stock in the Bonanza mines on the Comstock lode he realized a fortune of at least six million dollars. When the Bank of California failed, he was one of the four contributors of one million dollars cash to the guaranty fund of eight million dol- lars required to secure depositors against loss and to enable the bank to continue business. Through his influence the Stock Exchange was led to contribute five hundred thousand dollars, and individual members of it nearly as much more. Thus the bank was saved, and the whole Pacific coast saved from a disastrous blow.
In the spring of 1877 Mr. Keene set out for Europe for rest and restoration of his health. Reaching New York, he found the stock market depressed and demoralized. Postponing his trip abroad, he entered Wall Street and began buying stocks right and left. The market improved; prices went up; and
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in the autumn of 1879 he was able to sell out his holdings and sail for Europe nine million dollars richer than when he came to New York.
Since his return from that European trip Mr. Keene has made his home in or near New York. He has taken part in many im- portant operations in Wall Street, and has had varied fortunes there. At times he has seemed on the verge of entire disaster; but his steady nerve, his thorough knowledge of the market, and his indomitable will have carried him through and made him in the long run a gainer of great profits.
As one of the founders and steward of the Jockey Club, Mr. Keene has been conspicuously identified with horse-racing, per- haps as conspicuously and intimately as any man of his time. His horse "Foxhall" will be especially remembered as the winner of two or three great races in England and France. He is also a member of the Rockaway Hunt Club, to the interests of which he has paid much attention. In the city he belongs to the Racquet Club. His home is at Cedarhurst, on Long Island. His children are Foxhall Parker Keene, who married Miss Lawrence of Bayside, Long Island, and Jessie Harwar Keene, now the wife of Talbot I. Taylor of Baltimore.
ELIJAH ROBINSON KENNEDY
E LIJAH ROBINSON KENNEDY was born in Hartford, Connecticut. The family had come early to that colony, being among the first settlers of Windham, where the town of Hampton was first called Kennedy. The list of Mr. Kennedy's ancestors includes the names of Governor William Bradford, Lieutenant Jonathan Rudd, Major John Mason, the Reverend James Fitch, Colonel Elijah Robinson of the Revolutionary War, Major Elijah Robinson of the War of 1812 (father and son, lineal descendants of Pastor John Robinson of the Pilgrims), Daniel Cannady of Salem, and Leonard Kennedy of Hartford. When he was but an infant his family moved to the far West of that period, and settled in Milwaukee. Here he received his education in the public schools, including the then renowned Seventh Ward High School, and at Milwaukee University. The memory of the university is perpetuated by an association of which Mr. Kennedy is president. Just before the Civil War the family removed to Marysville, California. During this period young Kennedy began the study of law, but was compelled to abandon his cherished preference for a professional career. Sub- sequently his parents returned to Hartford, and he found em- ployment in a wholesale dry-goods store in New York city, shortly before the close of the war. His advancement in business was rapid, and in a few years he became a partner in a prosperous jobbing house. Soon after, however, he chose to retire from mercantile business, and about twenty-five years ago he entered into partnership with Samuel R. Weed in the insurance business. The firm of Weed & Kennedy is perhaps more strongly equipped than any similar concern in the world. It embraces marine, casualty, liability, and other departments, and has the United
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States management of six European fire-insurance companies. Mr. Kennedy has served on several of the most important com- mittees of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, and was twice president of the board. His most influential and distin- guished work was done while he was chairman of the committee that prepared the standard fire-insurance policy of New York State, which, with little or no change, has been generally adopted throughout the entire country. He has always concen- trated his energies, and has, therefore, refused all offers of direc- torships in banks, trust companies, and similar institutions. But he does not withhold his support from movements for amelio- rating the conditions of society, and he is a trustee of the Brook- lyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, a regent of the Long Island College Hospital, a director of the New England Society in Brooklyn, and president of the National Society to Erect a Monument to the Prison-Ship Martyrs of the Revolution. He is also a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the Revolution, and the Order of Free and Accepted Masons. He was for many years active in politics, frequently exercising considerable influence on nominations ; and there is no exciting campaign when his voice is not heard in advocacy of the principles of the Republican party. He was never a can- didate, except in 1877, when, with his consent, he was proposed for Consul-General to London. President Hayes stated to one of his friends that Mr. Kennedy's appointment " was determined on "; but General Grant afterward made such a strong personal appeal for the retention of General Badeau that the administra- tion could not disregard it, and no change was made in the incum- bency of the London place. Mr. Kennedy served two terms as park commissioner in Brooklyn. During his terms of office several of the most important and durable improvements to Prospect Park were begun. He was at this time most instru- mental in defeating a corrupt scheme for erecting a costly soldiers' monument in front of the Brooklyn City Hall. He proposed as an alternative a memorial arch at the entrance to Prospect Park, a proposal which was ultimately adopted. But his most im- portant and memorable public service was done in connection with the Shore Road. The wisdom of converting the country
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