USA > New York > New York State's prominent and progressive men : an encyclopaedia of contemporaneous biography, Volume II > Part 3
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In college Mr. Botsford joined the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. He is now a member of the Psi Upsilon Club of New York, the Ma- sonic Order, the Order of Odd Fellows, the Lakeside Club of Plattsburg, and the Transportation Club of New York. On June 29, 1892, he was married to Miss Catherine L. Lyon, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. E. M. Lyon of Plattsburg. They have one child, Benedict Lyon Botsford, born at Plattsburg, where they make their home.
Mr. Botsford has a large general practice throughout the northern part of New York State, his clients including many of the foremost men and corporations in that region. He is also an influential figure in business and financial affairs, through his connection with banks at Plattsburg and Albany, and with the various mining and transportation companies above mentioned.
JOSEPH BENJAMIN BOWDEN
MONG the great mercantile and manufacturing enterprises A of New York city, a prominent place must be accorded to the trade of jewelry and gems. New York is, of course, the center of the import trade in such articles, through its market passing practically the entire supply of the United States. But it is not, of course, by any means dependent upon foreign coun- tries. On the contrary, in New York city and its environs are to be found some of the most extensive and important manufac- tories of jewelry in the world. Here the deftest artificers in gold and silver execute the designs of the most accomplished artists. There is scarcely a conceivable article of adornment which is not here produced, of the best quality and most attractive design. The result is that New York is not only a place of import, but of export, too ; its wares of gems and precious metals being eagerly sought after by purchasers in foreign lands. With a conspicu- ous master of this fascinating industry we have in these pages to deal.
Joseph Benjamin Bowden, who is well known in this city as a leader in the jewelry manufacturing trade, comes of English ancestry on both sides of the house. Some of the Bowdens in earlier generations were prominent in colonial affairs. One of his ancestors was Thomas Bowden, an officer of the British army who served with distinction in the French and Indian War. His father, Joseph Bowden, was a successful jeweler, and from him Mr. Bowden naturally acquired his liking for the trade.
The son of Joseph and Charlotte Bowden, Joseph Benjamin Bowden, was born in the then city of Brooklyn, New York, on January 10, 1852. His parents moved to Flushing, New York, in 1854. He received a good practical academic education in the
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local schools and in the Flushing Institute, Flushing, New York. Then he entered upon the business in which his father has long been engaged.
At an early age Mr. Bowden was taken into partnership with his father. That was in 1873-74, the firm bearing, however, the name simply of Joseph Bowden. From 1874 to 1878 Mr. Bowden was the head of the establishment of J. B. Bowden. From 1886 to the present time he has been senior partner of the firm of J. B. Bowden & Co., manufacturing jewelers, with offices in the heart of the wholesale jewelry trade of New York, at the corner of Maiden Lane and Broadway.
Mr. Bowden's time has been pretty steadily given to business, so that he has had none to give to office-seeking. He has long taken, however, an active interest in political matters, as a Republican, and is the president of the Jewelers' Republican Organization.
He is prominently connected with various jewelry trade organ- izations, being president of the Jewelers' Security Alliance, vice-president of the Jewelers' League, and a director of the Jewelers' Association and Board of Trade. In addition to his strictly trade interests, Mr. Bowden is also a director of the Chatham National Bank of New York.
Mr. Bowden makes his home in Brooklyn, and is largely identi- fied with the social life of that part of the metropolis. He is a member of several of the leading clubs of Brooklyn, including the Crescent, Union League, Lincoln, and Atlantic Yacht clubs. He is a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to Acanthus Lodge, F. and A. M., and the Aurora Grata Scottish Rite Organ- ization.
He was married, on May 14, 1874, to Miss Alice M. Jaggar, and has three children : Joseph L. Bowden, Laurens R. Bowden, and Alice R. Bowden.
MATTHEW P. BREEN
M ATTHEW P. BREEN was born in County Clare, Ireland, on December 4, 1845, the son of an eminent civil engineer. He was educated in the Queen's University, now the Royal Uni- versity, of Dublin, and in 1866 came to New York, where he en- tered the law office of Hamilton W. Robinson, late chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. In due time he was admitted to the bar, and in 1871 opened an office of his own. He soon secured a large and profitable clientage, and won, by his ability, integrity, and industry, a leading place at the New York bar.
Early in his career Mr. Breen became interested in politics, as a Democrat of independent and anti-boss proclivities. He was one of the Committee of One Hundred who organized the County Democracy, which was a formidable rival of Tammany Hall; yet he continued to be the personal friend of John Kelly, then head of the latter body. In 1882 he served a term in the State As- sembly, and was the author of several important laws, including that regulating monthly tenancies, which closely affects the welfare of more than one hundred thousand families in this city.
Mr. Breen played an important part in the development of what is now the borough of the Bronx. When, after annexa- tion, it was neglected by Manhattan politicians, he was one of the chief organizers of the Citizens' Local Improvement party, which elected Louis J. Heintz Commissioner of Street Improve- ments for those wards ; and he also served for two years as coun- sel to the Taxpayers' Association, which, through his efforts before the Legislature and elsewhere, effected the establishment of the Department of Street Improvements, and opened a way for the growth of the sparsely populated " annexed district " into the populous and attractive borough it now is. When grateful
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property-owners and business men wanted to give him a testi- monial purse of five thousand dollars, Mr. Breen declined it, though he proudly accepted a set of eulogistic resolutions.
Mr. Breen, in the Assembly of 1882, presented and secured the passage of a resolution appointing a committee of five, of which he was chairman, and of which Theodore Roosevelt, present Governor, was an associate member, to examine into the ad- visability of establishing public parks and parade-grounds for the National Guard in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth wards. The committee reported in favor of the project, and its recom- mendations led to the establishment of the magnificent chain of parks in that portion of the city. Finally, he was prominent among the advocates of the consolidation of Brooklyn and other municipalities with New York.
For six years Mr. Breen was a school trustee of the Seventh Ward, and he has long been a friend of public education. He is an authority on corporation and municipal law, and most of his practice is now in those departments. He has been closely identified with the development of transportation facilities in the northern part of the city, and secured for his clients exten- sive and valuable franchises throughout the borough of the Bronx and Westchester County.
In 1899, after long and careful research, Mr. Breen published a large volume entitled "Thirty Years of New York Politics." It is a coherent study of political doings in this city from the rise of the Tweed Ring to the present day. Written with the assured authority of personal observation and knowledge, it reveals, in a most interesting manner, the interior workings of the "machines" under the direction of William M. Tweed, John Kelly, and Richard Croker. It has an extensive circulation, and seems assured of permanent rank among records and studies of municipal politics.
Mr. Breen is married and has six children. He resides in the borough of the Bronx, and has a pleasant summer home on Long Island.
GEORGE ALEXANDER BROWN
"THE name of Brown is well and honorably known in the financial world of America, and, indeed, all around the globe, the firm of Brown Brothers having given it an interna- tional standing of the highest character. The first of this par- ticular branch of the family in America was Stewart Brown of Baltimore. He was descended from the famous Irish king, Brian Boru of Ulster. He came to this country from Ireland, and married Sarah Harman, a girl of English origin. To this couple was born a son, to whom was given his father's name of Stewart, and who was one of the founders and the senior partner of the great banking firm to which we have alluded. This sec- ond Stewart Brown married Mary Ann Abbott, a native of Lon- don, England, and the subject of this sketch was their thirteenth child.
The family had removed from Baltimore to New York, and here George Alexander Brown was born, on February 10, 1853. His early education was secured under the careful direction of private tutors and in private schools in this city, and then, in the fall of 1872, he entered the School of Mines of Columbia Col- lege as a member of the class of 1876. His career as a student was creditable, but he left college in 1875, and entered the bank- ing-house of Brown Brothers as a clerk. After mastering the details of the business he was transferred to the house of Brown, Shipley & Co., London, England, where he remained for seven years.
Being a good American, and preferring life in New York to that of London, he left the last-named firm and returned to the United States. He then became a member of the New York Stock Exchange. That was in March, 1882. He then formed
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with his two brothers a copartnership under the title of Stewart Brown's Sons, which had a highly profitable and honorable career of twelve years. In 1894 the firm was dissolved by mutual consent, and Mr. Brown continued in the same business alone, in which he has been successful beyond the ordinary mea- sure of the Street.
Mr. Brown has never held political office of any kind. He has always been a Democrat, and never voted for a Republican President until 1896, when he voted for Mckinley. In 1892 he was an active member of the New York Stock Exchange Cleve- land and Stevenson Club, and was one of its delegates to the executive committee of the United Business Men's Cleveland Clubs. In that campaign he was one of the chief organizers of the Democratic meeting on the steps of the United States Sub- Treasury in Wall Street, which Mr. Cleveland afterward declared to have been, in his opinion, one of the strongest factors in his campaign.
Mr. Brown is a life member of the Calumet Club, and was on its governing committee for six years. During that time he held successively the offices of secretary, vice-president, and president. After serving as president for two years he declined a reëlection in 1898. He is a member of the St. Anthony's Club, the college fraternity of Delta Psi, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
He was married, on St. Valentine's Day in 1895, to Mary I. P. Whitmore, daughter of Charles J. and Sarah Blake Whitmore of Boston, Massachusetts. The wedding ceremony took place in Emmanuel Church, Boston. One daughter, whom they have named Mary Anne, has been born to them.
STEWART BROWNE
THERE is no business pursuit that requires a higher degree of ability and integrity, and that more directly concerns the welfare of the general community, industrially and com- mercially, than that of the financier. The banking system of a country is, indeed, the foundation of its business transac- tions, and the vast development of the insurance business, both in fire and life departments, in recent years, has made it scarcely second to any in importance. The present sketch has to do with the career of a man who has attained more than ordinary success and world-wide prominence in both these great financial pur- suits.
Stewart Browne, who is well known throughout the United States for his connection with insurance and financial interests, is a Scotsman by birth, having been born in the city of Glasgow, in 1855, where his father is a well-known merchant.
He began his business career in the Bank of Scotland, where he served in various positions for four years, resigning to con- nect himself with the Bank of Commerce, in which service he was for five years at various branches and in various positions, lastly as assistant branch manager.
He resigned from the Bank of Commerce to accept the general managership of the English Investment Company of London, which he resigned to become assistant Canadian manager of the Fire Insurance Association of London, from which position he was taken to become American manager of the Glasgow and London Insurance Company, which position he held for a num- ber of years.
His executive and organizing ability attracted the favorable attention of the late W. H. Beers, for many years president of
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the New York Life Insurance Company, who invited him to enter the service of the New York Life, as its New England manager, and he subsequently became manager of the company's business at London, England.
Upon the retirement of President Beers and the election of that well-known financier and insurance expert, John A. McCall, to the presidency, the latter appointed Mr. Browne his con- fidential assistant, which position he held until October, 1899.
During his career on both sides of the Atlantic Mr. Browne has been indirectly identified with a number of financial and in- surance interests, and has traveled all over the world on special missions. While with the New York Life he organized the National Surety Company and became its vice-president, and also organized and became president of the International Bank- ing and Trust Company, which has been merged in the North American Trust Company.
Mr. Browne resigned from the New York Life because the directors of the International objected to his also continuing his connection with the New York Life- a course that Presi- dent McCall reluctantly concurred in.
He next founded the firm of Stewart Browne & Co., bankers, whose chief business is handling consolidations and reorganiza- tions of corporations. He is one of the most active and aggres- sive men in New York, and will, no doubt, before long be iden- tified with some large corporation as its executive.
Mr. Browne is a member of New York's principal clubs and societies. He married, in 1876, a daughter of Frederick Harris of Ringwood, Hants, England, and has a son and daughter.
J. HULL BROWNING
THE first paternal ancestor of J. Hull Browning in this country was Nathaniel Browning, who came from Eng- land in 1645 and settled at Warwick, Rhode Island, where, in 1649, he bought of John Roome "a dwelling house and two lots of eight acres for three pounds in wampum." He and his descendants, down to the fifth generation, were Quakers. The first maternal ancestor of our subject in this country was Richard Hull, one of the original settlers of New Haven Colony, Connecticut. Several of the Hull family were prominent in the army and navy in the War of the Revolution and the War of 1812. Colonel John W. Hull, grandfather of Mr. Browning, was the commander of a regiment at the battle of Stonington. Mr. Browning's paternal grandfather was William T. Browning, who married Catherine Morey, daughter of a rich ship-owner of Newport, and lived on a farm at Preston City, near North Stonington, Connecticut. His son, John Hazard Browning, became a merchant at North Stonington, then came to New York city and rose to a commanding position in the wholesale dry-goods trade. He sent two men to California in the early days of that State, and had a prosperous career there until 1860, when he retired from business. Later he was deeply interested in iron works in the South. He married, in 1829, Miss Eliza Smith Hull, daughter of John W. Hull, above mentioned, who bore him three sons, William C. Browning, of Browning, King & Co. of New York, Edward F. Browning, and John Hull Browning. He died on March 21, 1877.
John Hull Browning was born at Orange, New Jersey, on December 25, 1841, and at the age of two years was brought by his parents to New York city. Here he was educated in the
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public schools and in the Free Academy, now known as the Col- lege of the City of New York. On being graduated from the latter institution he turned his attention to mercantile affairs. His first engagement was with his brothers in the clothing busi- ness. He began as their clerk. After three years of such service he was admitted to partnership in the firm, and maintained that relationship until 1883.
At the latter date he became actively interested in railroad affairs. He had married Miss Eva Sisson, daughter of Charles G. Sisson, president of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, and thus was led to take an interest in that corporation. Upon the death of Mr. Sisson he was chosen to be a director of that road, and a year later was elected president of the company. The road was sold to the Erie Railroad in July, 1897.
His administration of the road was marked with a most pro- gressive and enlightened policy. He increased the transporta- tion facilities, erected fine, new station houses, and in general much improved the property. He has also been connected with various other railroad enterprises and other businesses. Upon the death of his father in 1877 he was elected a director of the Richmond County Gaslight Company, and is now president of that corporation.
Mr. Browning is an earnest Republican in politics, and although he has held no public office he has been for years an active and efficient worker for the success of that party. He is president of the Republican League of Bergen County, New Jersey, and has done much to maintain and increase Republican strength in that traditional stronghold of the Democratic party.
Mr. Browning's home is in the attractive suburban town of Tenafly, New Jersey, and is one of the most beautiful of the many fine country-seats which adorn that region. He is a public-spirited citizen and has done much for the welfare of his less prosperous neighbors. He has contributed generously to many benevolent enterprises, notably to Christ Hospital, in Jersey City, of which institution he is vice-president.
CHARLES CORNELIUS BULL
C YHARLES CORNELIUS BULL comes of English stock, settled in Orange County, New York, some time before the Revolutionary War. His father was that Richard Harrison Bull, now deceased, who is remembered by thousands of depositors in the New York Savings Bank as for many years the efficient president of that institution, and by another multitude of alumni of New York University as professor of mathematics and civil engineering in their Alma Mater. There was scarcely a more noteworthy figure in the higher educational world of the me- tropolis than that of Professor Bull, and New York University- then called the University of the City of New York, and in a far less prosperous condition than at present-had no more loyal and efficient supporter. The ripe scholarship, firm discipline, genial comradeship, unfailing wit, and exceptional ability to im- part instruction, which he possessed, together with his com- manding and patriarchal appearance, make him a marked figure in the memory of all who enjoyed the privilege of sitting in his lecture-room.
The subject of the present sketch was born in this city on June 7, 1855, and was carefully educated. His college course was naturally pursued in New York University, where he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in the class of 1874. Subse- quently he received the degree of A. M. from the university. On graduating in arts and science, he at once entered the Uni- versity Law School, and was there graduated in 1876 with the degree of LL. B., securing the prize offered for the best thesis written by a member of the graduating class. He served, also, the usual clerkship in law in the office of Messrs. Weeks & Forster.
Soon after his graduation from the law school Mr. Bull was
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CHARLES CORNELIUS BULL
admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profes- sion. His first office was opened in partnership with James B. Butler, under the firm-name of Butler & Bull. The late James W. Husted, the well-known political leader and speaker of the State Assembly at Albany, was for some time a consulting part- ner. This firm was dissolved in 1879. Two years later Mr. Bull joined Samuel R. Taylor in the firm of Taylor & Bull, which firm lasted until 1887, when it, too, dissolved. For twelve years thereafter Mr. Bull was alone in his business. But on May 1, 1899, he for a third time entered into a partnership, this time with Newbold LeRoy Edgar, under the name of Bull & Edgar, with offices at No. 27 William Street. The practice of the firm is of a general character, including the management of estates and large private interests. Mr. Bull's pursuit of his profession has been marked throughout with a gratifying measure of suc- cess, due chiefly to his personal qualities of scholarship, integrity, and indomitable energy.
Mr. Bull has held no political offices, and has taken no part in politics save as an intelligent private citizen. He belongs to a number of social and professional organizations, among them being the Association of the Bar of New York City, the Calumet Club, the Delta Phi Club, the Baltusrol Golf Club, the Oakland Golf Club, and the New York Historical Society. He is now secretary of the Calumet Club, and treasurer of the Delta Phi Club. He is also a trustee of the Society for the Relief of the Destitute Blind, and a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of New York.
Mr. Bull remains unmarried.
JAMES EDGAR BULL
TN all the numerous and distinguished company of those men who have held professorial chairs in New York University, or the University of the City of New York, as it was formerly called, there are few figures remembered so vividly, so gratefully, and so pleasantly, as that of Professor Richard H. Bull. For many years, in the historic old building on Washington Square, which has now given place to a lofty new edifice, he held sway alike over the minds and hearts of the students. His patriarchal appearance, his ripe scholarship, his rare fund of humor, and his warm sympathies and genial disposition, endeared him to all his "boys," as he called them, and fixed him forever in affectionate memory. He filled with eminent ability and for many years the two chairs of mathematics and civil engineering, and contributed largely to the sterling reputation of that great institution of learning. At the same time he was a most successful practical man of business, as president of the New York Savings Bank, and at his death both university and city sustained and realized an irreparable loss.
Professor Bull came of good old English stock. His first American ancestors came to this country in early colonial days, and were among the first settlers and most valuable citizens of Orange County, New York. He married Miss Mary Schouten, whose name indicates Knickerbocker origin, thus uniting the two worthy and masterful races of England and Holland.
James Edgar Bull is their son. He was born in this city on August 26, 1857, and after careful preparation entered New York University in the fall of 1874. He was a good student and a popular companion, the fact that his father was a conspicuous member of the faculty having no influence upon his standing
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among his fellows. He was a member of the Delta Phi Frater- nity, and at the end of his course was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa. He was graduated an A. B., in 1878, and then entered the University Law School, from which, two years later, he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. His gradua- tion thesis on "The History of Crimes and Punishments since the Time of Blackstone and Howard " won for him the two-hundred- and-fifty-dollar essay prize, the highest honor of the institution.
Mr. Bull devoted a couple of years to general law practice in the New York courts. Then he formed a partnership with Amos Broadnax, and began practice in the United States courts, and thereafter devoted most of his attention to such practice. The firm of Broadnax and Bull continued in prosperous existence until the death of Mr. Broadnax, in 1894. The present firm of Gifford & Bull was then formed.
For several years Mr. Bull's practice has been exclusively con- fined to litigations relating to patents, patent rights, and trade- marks. He has been connected with many of the important suits which, in the last fifteen years, have been brought before the courts in relation to electric light and power appliances. The vast development of electrical devices, and the multiplication of in- ventions thereof, have made this one department of legal prac- tice of great importance to the industrial world, and correspond- ingly profitable to those who devote their attention to it.
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