USA > New York > New York State's prominent and progressive men : an encyclopaedia of contemporaneous biography, Volume I > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
Mr. Rice is the author of " What is Music ?" and of numer- ous articles which have appeared in the "North American Re- view," the "Century," and the "Forum."
He was married, on December 14, 1885, to Miss Julia Hyne- man Barnett, and has six children, as follows: Muriel, Dorothy, Isaac Leopold, Jr., Marion, Marjorie, and Julian.
100
THOMAS GARDINER RITCH
THOMAS GARDINER RITCH, whose name has for a full generation been widely and honorably known in the legal profession of New York, may be reckoned a native of this city, although he was actually born outside of its limits, at the summer residence of his family, at the pleasant Westchester County village of North Salem. His parents were residents of this city, where his father, Wells Rossiter Ritch, was a prominent merchant. His mother's maiden name was Sarah A. Barnum.
He was born, as stated, on September 18, 1833, and in due time was sent to school at Stamford, Connecticut. Thence he went to Yale College, and was graduated with the degree of B. A. in the class of 1854, subsequently receiving from Yale the advanced degree of M. A. A course in the Yale Law School completed his academic training. He then came to New York, pursued his law studies further in the office of the Hon. James R. Whiting, and on February 27, 1856, he was duly admitted to practice at the bar of New York.
A trifle less than two years later, to wit, on February 1, 1858, Mr. Ritch entered into partnership with his Yale College friend, Stewart L. Woodford, and has maintained that connection un- broken down to the present time. General Woodford has been an absentee member of the firm on several occasions, as when he was serving in the army during the Civil War, and when he was minister to Spain. But his name has remained in its place, and at the end of his services elsewhere he has returned to the active work of the office. The firm has been known as follows: Woodford & Ritch; Stewart, Ritch & Woodford; Arnoux, Ritch & Woodford (1870-96); and at the present time, Ritch, Woodford, Bovee & Wallace.
314
315
THOMAS GARDINER RITCH
Mr. Ritch has held no political or other public offices, with the exception of that of school trustee for several years at Stamford, Connecticut. He is a director and trustee of several corpora- tions at Stamford, where he makes his home, is a director of the Niagara Fire Insurance Company, and his firm is counsel for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the Union Dime Savings Bank of New York, the Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn, and other corporations of the metropolis. Mr. Ritch was an executor and trustee of the will of Daniel B. Fayerweather, by which im- portant bequests were made to a number of colleges, and which was the subject of much litigation.
Mr. Ritch's college fraternities were Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. He belongs to the Yale and Lawyers' clubs of this city. For twenty-five years he has been an elder of the Pres- byterian Church, and is earnestly devoted to its work. He was married, on April 14, 1859, to Miss Maria E. Pratt, daughter of the late Hiram Pratt, once Mayor of Buffalo, New York. They have two children living - Mary Rossiter Ritch and Helen Weed Ritch.
Mr. Ritch's career has been typical of a large and important class of American business and professional men, who pursue quiet, industrious, and successful courses of life, and form the real backbone of the social and civic body. They perform no sensational exploits. Their names are not perpetually sounding in the popular ear. They do not seek nor hold public office. Their words and deeds are not matters of contention. But they do the real work for the welfare of the community and of the nation. Mr. Ritch has been throughout his whole career a valuable citizen in all the relations of life, and has constantly exerted, voluntarily and involuntarily, a potent influence for neighborly friendship, for business and professional integrity, and for loyal citizenship and good government. That is a record to be approved by all, and to be surpassed by none.
WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON
THERE was for many years no citizen of Westchester County, T' New York, more widely known and respected than "Judge" Robertson, as he was called among his friends and neighbors. He was for more than a generation an active political leader in a community where party feeling is intense. That he held the respect of opponents as well as of friends is a fact that marks him as, first of all, a good citizen.
William H. Robertson was born in the old town of Bedford on October 10, 1823. He received a classical education, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. Before he was a law- yer, however, he was an active politician. He was only seven- teen years old when W. H. Harrison ran for the Presidency, but he was old enough to go on the stump and do valuable work in the campaign. He was then chosen to be Superintendent of the Public Schools of Bedford. In 1848 he was elected a member of the State Assembly, and served in that body for two years. His first term in the State Senate began in 1853. At its end he ac- quired his familiar title of Judge, being in 1855 elected county judge of Westchester County, which office he held for twelve consecutive years. In 1860 he was a Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket, and participated in the formal election of Lincoln and Hamlin. At the outbreak of the war he was in- spector of the old Seventh Brigade of the New York National Guard, and in 1862 Governor Morgan made him chairman of the committee to raise and organize troops in his Senate district. In 1864 he was again a Presidential Elector.
His legislative career was resumed in 1866, when he was elected to Congress, serving from March, 1867, to March, 1869. In 1871 he returned to the State Senate, and was thereafter reëlected
316
William & Robertson
317
WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON
four times. He left his place at Albany in 1881, to become Col- lector of the Port of New York by appointment of President Garfield. This appointment was made against the wish of the two United States Senators from New York, who thereupon, to indicate their displeasure, resigned their seats, and then sought reelection. In the latter aim they were defeated. The incident caused for some years a considerable split in the Republican party of the State, and was probably the inciting cause of the murder of President Garfield by the "crank" Guiteau. This opposition to his appointment was largely due to the fact that at the National Republican Convention of 1880 Judge Robertson had been the organizer of the movement which prevented the nomination of General Grant for the Presidency for a third term.
After serving a term in the custom-house, Judge Robertson in 1889 returned to the State Senate, and was reelected for another term. After its expiration he lived quietly at his home in Katonah, and continued the practice of law until his death, which occurred on December 6, 1898.
CHARLES FRANCIS ROE
THE United States is not commonly accounted a military nation. It is not burdened with a vast standing army, with the hateful conscription system, or with the other loads which armed powers have to carry. Yet there is no nation in which the militant spirit is more vital, and in which the average citizen is more ready to familiarize himself with the duties of warfare whenever the welfare of the republic may require it. The wise constitutional provision for a militia in all the States has given us a fine body of citizen-soldiery, and endowed us with vast potentialities for national defense. It often happens that mem- bers and officers of militia are descendants of soldiers, or have themselves served in the regular army of the United States in serious campaigns. Such is the case with the subject of present consideration.
Stephen Roe was a brave soldier in the American army in the Revolutionary War. At the conclusion of that struggle he settled in Ulster County, New York, and there some of his de- scendants have since lived. His grandson, Stephen Romer Roe, entered the Hudson River trade, and became one of the best-known captains on that river. He was the captain of the steamer Iron Witch and of the famous Daniel Drew of the Albany Line. His son, Charles Francis Roe, was born in the city of New York on May 1, 1848, and was at first educated at an academy at Sing Sing. Then he secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, on July 1, 1864. He was graduated in 1868, and received his commission as second lieutenant in the United States army. He was assigned to the First Cavalry, and served with it until Septem- ber, 1870, when he was transferred to the Second Cavalry. On
.318
FFF
Ihno. F Rec.
319
CHARLES FRANCIS ROE
December 28, 1870, he was mustered out of the service, owing to the reduction of the army in that year. But in 1871 he re- entered the army as second lieutenant in the Second Cavalry, and soon saw some active service. He was the leader of one of the columns sent - unhappily, too late - to the relief of General Custer, and his command was the first to reach the field after the battle and massacre in June, 1876. From November, 1876, to March, 1878, he served as adjutant. In December, 1880, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and then served as adjutant again until May, 1886. On January 1, 1888, he re- signed his command, for family reasons, and came to New York to live.
Soon after his arrival here he became interested in the Na- tional Guard, and was made captain of the New York Hussars. Under his command, that body was mustered into the State ser- vice as Troop A in 1889. Since then it has become a squadron, and ranks, according to competent military critics, as the largest and best-drilled cavalry organization in the country. Under Captain Roe it did important work during the railroad strike at Buffalo in 1892, and the street-railroad strike in Brooklyn in 1895. On February 9, 1898, Governor Black nominated him to be major-general in command of the National Guard of the State of New York, and the appointment was at once confirmed by the Senate, without debate. Early in the Spanish War, Gen- eral Roe was appointed by the President to be a brigadier-gen- eral of United States Volunteers, and in that position he did admirable service.
General Roe was, some years ago, married to Miss Katherine B. Bogert of Brooklyn, New York. He is a member of the University, Union League, United Service, New York Athletic, Military, Barnard, Driving, St. Nicholas, and United States Army clubs, the Sons of the Revolution, and the American Geographical Society. He is engaged in business in this city, and is the possessor of an ample fortune.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
F EW names are so prominently and so honorably identified with the history and substantial growth of New York city as that of Roosevelt. It was planted here in early times by pioneers from Holland. It is perpetuated upon the map and in the records of the city through being borne by a street, a great hospital, and other public institutions. Most of all, it has been borne in many successive generations by men of high character and important achievements, who have fittingly led the way for the present conspicuous representative of the family. For eight generations before him the paternal ancestors of Theodore Roosevelt were settled in New York, and more than one of them attained dis- tinction in business, in philanthropic work, and in the public service of city, State, and nation. They have intermarried with other prominent families, of other racial origins, so that in this generation there is a mingling of Dutch, Scotch, Irish, and French Huguenot blood within the Roosevelt veins.
Of such ancestry Theodore Roosevelt was born, at No. 28 East Twentieth Street, New York, on October 27, 1858. He was grad- uated from Harvard in 1880, and then spent some time in Euro- pean travel. On his return home he studied law. In the fall of 1881 he was elected to the State Assembly from the Twenty-first District of New York city. By reelection he continued in that body during the sessions of 1883 and 1884. He introduced im- portant reform measures, and his entire legislative career was made conspicuous by the courage and zeal with which he assailed political abuses. As chairman of the committee on cities he introduced the measure which took from the Board of Aldermen the power to confirm or reject the appointments of the Mayor. He was chairman of the noted legislative investigating com- mittee which bore his name.
320
Theodore Roosevelt
321
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
In 1886 Mr. Roosevelt was the Republican candidate for Mayor against Abram S. Hewitt, candidate of the United Democracy, and Henry George, United Labor candidate. Mr. Hewitt was elected. In 1889 Mr. Roosevelt was appointed by President Harrison a member of the United States Civil Service Commis- sion. His ability and rugged honesty in the administration of the affairs of that office greatly helped to strengthen his hold on popular regard. He continued in that office until May 1, 1895, when he resigned to accept the office of Police Commissioner of New York city from Mayor Strong. Through his fearlessness and administrative ability as president of the board the demoral- ized police force was greatly improved.
Early in 1897 he was called by the President to give up his New York office to become Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Then again his energy and quick mastery of detail had much to do with the speedy equipment of the navy for its brilliant feats in the war with Spain. But soon after the outbreak of the war in 1898 his patriotism and love of active life led him to leave the comparative quiet of his government office for service in the field. As a lieutenant-colonel of volunteers he recruited the First Volunteer Cavalry, popularly known as the Rough Riders. The men were gathered largely from the cow-boys of the West and Southwest, but also numbered many college-bred men of the East.
In the beginning he was second in command, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, Dr. Leonard Wood being colonel. But at the close of the war the latter was a brigadier-general, and Roose- velt was colonel in command. Since no horses were transported to Cuba, this regiment, together with the rest of the cavalry, was obliged to serve on foot. The regiment distinguished itself in the Santiago campaign, and Colonel Roosevelt became famous for his bravery in leading the charge up San Juan Hill on July 1. He was an efficient officer, and won the love and admiration of his men. His care for them was shown by the circulation of the famous "round robin " which he wrote, protesting against keep- ing the army longer in Cuba.
Upon Colonel Roosevelt's return to New York there was a popular demand for his nomination for Governor. Previous to the State Convention he was nominated by the Citizens' Union,
322
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
but he declined, replying that he was a Republican. The Demo- crats tried to frustrate his nomination by attempting to prove that he had lost his legal residence in this State. That plan failed, and he was nominated in the convention by a vote of seven hundred and fifty-three to two hundred and eighteen. The campaign throughout the State was spirited. Colonel Roosevelt took the stump and delivered many speeches. His plurality was eighteen thousand and seventy-nine. His administration since January 1, 1897, is fresh in the minds of all.
Early in the year 1900 it became evident that he was the pop- ular favorite for the nomination for Vice-President of the United States on the Republican ticket. Personally he would have pre- ferred renomination for the Governorship of New York ; but the unanimity and earnestness of the call for him to take a place upon the national ticket prevailed. In the National Republican Convention at Philadelphia, on June 21, 1900, President McKinley was renominated by acclamation, and Governor Roosevelt was nominated for Vice-President, also by acclamation, and in circum- stances of unanimity and enthusiasm never before known in connection with that office.
In the midst of his intensely active life Mr. Roosevelt has found time to do considerable literary work. The year after he was graduated from college he published his "Naval War of 1812"; in 1886 there came from his pen a " Life of Thomas H. Benton," published in the American Statesmen Series; the following year he published a " Life of Gouverneur Morris," which was followed in 1888 by his popular " Ranch Life and Hunting Trail." In 1889 were published the first two volumes of what he con- siders his greatest work, "The Winning of the West." In 1890 he added to the series of Historic Towns a "History of New York City." "Essays on Practical Politics," published in 1892, was followed the next year by "The Wilderness Hunter," while in 1894 he added a third volume to his "Winning of the West." In 1898 he collected a volume of essays, entitled “American Political Ideas." Since the Spanish War he has written a book on the Rough Riders, and a series of articles on Oliver Crom- well by him has been appearing in " Scribner's."
ELIHU ROOT
BY nativity Elihu Root is a son of New York State. Through ancestry he belongs to New England, and before that to old England. His father, Oren Root, is admiringly and affectionately remembered as one of the foremost educators of his day, having been professor of mathematics in Hamilton College from 1849 to 1885, and for a part of that time also professor of mineralogy and geology. In 1845 the family home was at Clinton, Oneida County, New York, and there, on February 15 of that year, Elihu Root was born. His early years were spent at that place, and his early education was gained at home and at the local schools. At the age of fifteen years he was fitted to enter college, and the college of his choice was Hamilton, with which his father was so conspicuously identified. There he pursued a course note- worthy not only for his admirable mastery of his studies but also for the decided and forceful, manly character which he devel- oped. It may be added that he paid his own way through college by teaching school. In 1864 he was duly graduated, and forth- with entered upon the study of the law. At this time his means were still limited, and he was compelled to act as a tutor while he was a law student in order to pay his way. These double duties were, however, successfully performed. His law studies were chiefly pursued in the Law School of New York University, then called the University of the City of New York, and in 1867 he was graduated and admitted to practice at the bar.
Seldom does a young lawyer attain success so immediate and so substantial as that which marked Mr. Root's career. He served an apprenticeship in the office of Man & Parsons, and then formed a partnership with John H. Strahan. Later he formed a partnership with Willard Bartlett, who became a jus-
323
324
ELIHU ROOT
tice of the Supreme Court. He was at one time counsel for William M. Tweed. In the famous Stewart will case he was chief counsel for Judge Hilton. He was also chief counsel for the executors in the Hoyt and Fayerweather will cases. He was prominent in the Broadway street-railroad litigation, in the Sugar Trust litigation, and in the suit of Shipman, Barlow, La- rocque & Choate against the Bank of the State of New York (growing out of the notorious Bedell forgeries). In the aque- duct litigation of O'Brien vs. the Mayor of the city of New York he was successful against the opposition of Joseph H. Choate, and thus saved to the city some millions of dollars. In many other important cases Mr. Root has been successfully engaged, and at the time of his entry into the President's cabinet he had one of the largest practices in the entire legal profession of New York.
Mr. Root early took an active interest in politics, as a Repub- lican. In 1879 he was a candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and although defeated with the rest of the Re- publican ticket he polled a large vote. President Arthur in 1883 appointed him United States District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and he held that place until the middle of President Cleveland's first term, when he resigned it. He became the leader of the Republican party in his Assembly District, and was the representative of that district on the County Committee. In 1886 and 1887 he was chairman of the Republican County Committee. In 1893-94 Mr. Root became dissatisfied with the "machine methods" of party management, and was a conspicuous member of the Committee of Thirty which undertook the reform of the party organization. Again, in 1897, he was a vigorous supporter of Seth Low for the Mayor- alty, against the Republican machine and Tammany candidates. In 1898 he was an earnest advocate of the nomination and elec- tion of Theodore Roosevelt as Governor of New York, and was his counsel in some important matters relating to the campaign.
Upon the resignation of General Alger, in July, 1899, Mr. Root was chosen by President Mckinley to succeed him as Secretary of War. He at once entered upon the duties of that important office with his characteristic energy and ability, and soon obtained a masterly knowledge of the details of the depart- ment. He did more than that. He initiated large reforms and
325
ELIHU ROOT
improvements in the military organization of the country, and was instrumental in effecting their adoption. The troubles in the Philippines and in China have made the War Department a center of great responsibility and activity during Mr. Root's incumbency, but the confidence of the President and the nation in his ability to discharge all his duties has never wavered.
Mr. Root is a member of the Bar Association, the New England Society, the Union League, Republican, Century, Metropolitan, University, Lawyers', Players', and other clubs of New York. He has been president of the New England Society and of the Union League and Republican clubs, and vice-president of the Bar Association. He has frequently appeared in public as an orator on important occasions, and is esteemed as one of the most eloquent and convincing speakers of the day. He has long been a trustee of Hamilton College, and in 1894 received from that institution the degree of LL. D.
HARRY GODLEY RUNKLE
H ARRY GODLEY RUNKLE, who before reaching middle age became a leading and dominant figure in the industrial and commercial world, is of remote German ancestry. His first progenitor in this country was Adam Runkle, who came hither from Germany in the year 1720, and settled in the then province of New Jersey, where both before and after that date so many of his countrymen settled, and to the development of which prov- ince into an important State they so largely contributed. In New Jersey, and in the northern and eastern part thereof, then known as East Jersey, the Runkle family remained for generation after generation down to the present time. Its members retained the best characteristics of the old German stock, and also be- came fully assimilated to the composite organism which in time became known as the American nation. They exhibited, in every generation and in all walks of life, characteristic intelli- gence, energy, and thrift, and became prominent in industrial and social affairs.
In the last generation Daniel Runkle, a direct descendant of Adam Runkle, lived at Asbury, in Warren County, New Jersey, and was president of the important Warren Foundry and Ma- chine Company, in the neighboring city of Phillipsburg. To him and his wife, Elizabeth Runkle, the subject of the present sketch was born.
Harry Godley Runkle was born at Asbury, Warren County, New Jersey, on June 10, 1858. His childhood was spent at the parental home, but his more advanced education was acquired in the well-known Charlier Institute, at Sixth Avenue and Fifty- ninth Street, New York, facing Central Park. That was a
326
327
HARRY GODLEY RUNKLE
school of great vogue and high merit in its time, but it has now gone out of existence.
On leaving school Mr. Runkle turned his attention to business, and particularly to distinctively industrial affairs. He became a clerk in the office of the People's Gas Light Company, in Jersey City, New Jersey, entering that employment for the express purpose of learning the business of the manufacture and distribu- tion of gas. Next he became treasurer of the People's Gas Light Company at Paterson, New Jersey. From the latter city he re- moved to the city of Plainfield, New Jersey, and there made his home, and became president of the Plainfield Gas and Electric Light Company, a place which he still holds.
In 1887 Mr. Runkle joined himself with R. A. C. Smith in forming the firm of Runkle, Smith & Company, which con- structed the waterworks system of Havana, Cuba.
Other corporations besides those named with which Mr. Runkle is now officially connected are the American Mail Steam- ship Company, the American Indies Company, the Connecticut Lighting and Power Company, the Warren Foundry and Machine Company, the Plattsburg (New York) Light, Heat, and Power Company, and the White Plains (New York) Lighting Company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.