USA > New York > New York state's prominent and progressive men : an encyclopaedia of contemporaneous biography, Volume III > Part 5
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One of his last enterprises in Cincinnati was the establishment of the " Cincinnati Evening Telegram," in 1884.
Colonel Campbell removed to New York in 1888, and has since that date been engaged in the pursuit of his profession in this city, where he has achieved a gratifying measure of success. He has taken an active interest in politics, and has twice been nominated for Congress, but has on both occasions declined to accept the nomination. He has various business interests out- side of his profession, and is a member of the reorganization committee of the Columbus Central Railway Company of Ohio. Mr. Campbell is still frequently engaged in important litigation at his former home in Ohio.
For four years Colonel Campbell was president of the Hamil- ton Republican Club of this city. He is a prominent member of the Ohio Society of New York, and has been Master of Republic Lodge of the Masonic Order.
FRANCIS DIGHTON CARLEY
W HILE thousands of men have devoted their lives to bank- ing and finance in its other departments, Francis D. Carley is probably the first man to make a specialty of finance in relation to speculative investments in railway equities. Mr. Carley has long held the belief that the laws of finance work in natural developments, and are like other laws in other depart- ments, and govern the ultimate movements of securities. That his theories are correet he amply demonstrated during the phe- nomenal season of 1898-99 in Wall Street. A writer in " Mun- sey's Magazine " for April, 1889, gives an account of one of Mr. Carley's operations in the following language : "What it means to have the public with you in Wall Street is shown with especial clearness in what Francis D. Carley has accomplished for the minority stoek-holders of a railroad controlled by a bigger cor- poration through the ownership of a majority of the capital stock. The property has been making money, but no dividends have been paid. Mr. Carley undertook to champion what he held to be minority's rights. Professional Wall Street looked on amused. The stock for which he stood was selling around twenty-five dollars a share, and the 'talent' of the Stock Ex- change forthwith went short of it, expecting to buy back speedily at a ten-point profit. They did not. Instead of any decline, ad- vances began, and from twenty-five the quotations rose steadily above ninety. Chief of all reasons for this was that the public, inelined to take hold of anything fairly promising, was persuaded that Mr. Carley was in earnest and would fight loyally."
Francis Dighton Carley was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, on January 19, 1839. He is the son of Rufus W. and Mary Ann Carley. His father was a general merchant in St. Clairsville,
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and the circumstances of the family, ample for those simple days, were able to afford young Carley a good education in the schools of his native town, and later at the State University at Athens, Ohio. From that institution he was graduated with distinction, and afterward studied law.
He settled in Louisville, Kentucky, where it soon became ap- parent to him that a business, and not a legal career, was to be his sphere of usefulness. He became interested in various large corporations, and figured prominently in all the affairs of the city. He has been president of the southern wing of the Stand- ard Oil Company, of the Louisville and Nashville Railway Com- pany, and of the Citizens' Gas Company of Louisville. He was an active member of the Board of Trade as long as he lived in Louisville, and was for some time its president.
Mr. Carley has made his home in New York for a number of years, and is one of the best-known men in Wall Street.
He is a member of the Union League, the Tuxedo, and the Lotos clubs.
Mrs. Carley was Miss Grace Chess of South Bend, Indiana. They have three children : a son, Francis, aged nineteen, and two daughters, one of whom, Miss Grace Carley, married Oliver Har- riman, Jr., and the other, Miss Pearl Carley, became the wife of Richard Howland Hunt, son of the celebrated architect, Richard Morris Hunt, who designed the Lenox Library, the Presbyterian Hospital, the Tribune Building, and a large number of the finest residences in New York and Newport. Richard Howland Hunt has himself gained distinction as an architect. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have three children, Richard Carley, Frank Carley, and Jonathan Carley Hunt.
JOHN MITCHELL CLARK
W HEN, about the year 1635, a number of the principal in- habitants of Ipswich, Massachusetts, being dissatisfied with the management of that town, moved away under the lead- ership of the Rev. Mr. Parker, and founded the town of New- bury, in the same colony, one of the foremost of their number was Nathaniel Clark. He was a strong supporter of Mr. Parker in the religious controversies which were raging at that time, and he held a high place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen. He was chosen constable, selectman, and to other official places, and naval officer of the ports of Newbury and Salisbury. He was also an ensign in a military company. His wife was Elizabeth Somerby, whose father came from England and whose mother was of Huguenot descent, the family name of Feuillevert being translated into Greenleaf. This latter name indicates relationship to the poet John Green- leaf Whittier, who was descended from the Feuilleverts. Na- thaniel Clark's son Henry married Elizabeth Greenleaf, who was related also to the families of Coffin and Stevens, conspicuous in New England history. Henry Clark had a son Enoch, and he in turn had a son Enoch, both of whom filled various publie offices. In the next generation was Captain Thomas March Clark, a soldier in the War of 1812, and a man of prominence, who married Rebecca Wheelwright, a descendant of the Rev. John Wheelwright. Their son was also named Thomas March Clark, and he became one of the foremost clergyman of his time in the United States. He was graduated from Yale College in 1831, and was successively rector of Grace Church (Protes- tant Episcopal) in Boston, rector of St. Andrew's Church in Philadelphia, rector of Grace Church in Providence, Rhode
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Island, and Bishop of Rhode Island. He received the degree of D. D. from Union College and Brown University, and LL. D. from the University of Cambridge. He married Caroline How- ard, daughter of Benjamin Howard of Boston.
John Mitchell Clark, son of Bishop Clark, was born in Bos- ton, Massachusetts, on July 23, 1847. He received an exception- ally sound and thorough education, which was completed with a course at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, from which he received the degree of Ph. D. in 1865. His inclination led him, however, to a commercial rather than to a professional or literary life, and soon after leaving college he engaged in busi- ness in Boston.
His first important engagement was with the leading house of Naylor & Co., in the iron trade, and with that house he has ever since remained. He is now the head of the New York branch of that house, and is a prominent figure in the iron trade of the metropolis.
Mr. Clark has taken little part in political affairs, beyond dis- charging the duties of a private citizen. He is well known in a number of the best clubs and other social organizations. Among those of which he is a member are the Metropolitan Club, the Union Club, and the Tuxedo Club. He is also a member of the Down-Town Association and of the Brown University Alumni Association, and is a patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
WILLIAM HENRY CLARK
W ILLIAM HENRY CLARK, who was Corporation Coun- sel of the city of New York during two administrations, and for many years a prominent figure in the political, financial, and sporting worlds of the metropolis and its suburbs, was a native of the city of Newark, New Jersey, the Clark family having for several generations been a well-known one in that State. He was born on November 29, 1855, and was carefully educated in the admirable public and private schools of his native city.
Upon the approach of manhood, Mr. Clark found his inclina- tion turning toward the legal profession, and accordingly he entered the law office of James M. Chapman, in New York, as a student. There he remained for some time, pursuing his studies with diligence and laying the foundation of the success which he afterward attained in his chosen profession.
Before his course of study was completed, however, Mr. Clark left Mr. Chapman's office and entered that of Bourke Cockran, the distinguished lawyer, orator, and political leader. This change may be regarded as a turning-point in his career ; for, under Mr. Cockran's direction, Mr. Clark not only finished his law studies and became well prepared to begin practice, but he also became deeply and practically interested in politics as a Democrat. It was through Mr. Cockran that he made his first influential friends in the political world, and thus was launched upon a public career of more than common success.
Mr. Clark completed his studies and was admitted to the bar in 1882, and in the following year formed a partnership with his preceptor and friend Mr. Coekran, under the firm-name of Cockran & Clark. This connection lasted for some time, to the
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mutual satisfaction and profit of the partners. It was broken only by the entrance of Mr. Clark into semi-publie office as counsel to the Sheriff of the county of New York, Mr. Davidson. The partnership was amicably and regretfully dissolved, and Mr. Clark thereafter for a time devoted his attention to the legal business of the shrievalty.
Mr. Davidson was succeeded as Sheriff by Hugh J. Grant, and the latter retained Mr. Clark during his administration as his legal adviser. In that place Mr. Clark attained an intimate knowledge of the legal interests of the city, and became partie- ularly well fitted for the next appointment which came to him and with which his name is most identified.
This latter appointment was that as Corporation Counsel of the city of New York, which made him the supreme legal adviser of the municipal government, and put him in charge of the legal interests of the city. It is a place of trust and honor, and of considerable political influence, which has been sought and filled by lawyers of the highest distinction. Mr. Clark was appointed to this office by Mr. Grant when the latter became Mayor, and he filled it throughout Mr. Grant's administration with eminent success. Mr. Grant was succeeded in the mayoralty by Mr. Gilroy, who reappointed Mr. Clark, and retained him in the office throughout his administration.
At the end of Mr. Gilroy's term in the Mayor's office a politi- cal revolution occurred in New York. A strong anti-Tammany " fusion " movement was organized and was successful, and a Republican Mayor, Colonel Strong, was elected. This led to a change in the political complexion of the appointive offices, and Mr. Clark was accordingly not continued in his place.
He thereupon retired to private practice, and held no more public offices, though he retained for the remainder of his life an active interest in political affairs. He was identified with Tam- many Hall, and for years was prominent in its councils. In the latter years of his life, however, together with Messrs. Grant, Gilroy, and others, he disagreed with those who directed the poliey of the organization, and accordingly had little to do with the workings of the party.
In his private legal practice Mr. Clark was engaged in a mim- ber of important and even sensational cases, including several in
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which city office-holders were involved. He was counsel for the defense of Sharp and Kerr, who were indicted in connection with the famous Broadway Railroad bribery cases. He was likewise counsel for the defense of Maurice B. Flynn when the latter was indicted for conspiracy in connection with the Depart- ment of Public Works. As a lawyer in private practice Mr. Clark was successful, and he enjoyed the patronage of a large and profitable clientele.
In addition to his office-holding and legal practice, Mr. Clark found time to interest himself in the operations of Wall Street. He greatly enjoyed the excitement of speculation, and was gen- erally regarded as an enterprising and successful operator. He also speculated in real estate to a considerable extent, and was credited with having amassed from this source alone a handsome fortune.
It was upon his retirement from the office of Corporation Counsel that Mr. Clark began his Wall Street operations. At about the same time he began to take an active interest in turf affairs, his means at this time enabling him to establish and to maintain a fine racing-stable. He was always regarded on Wall Street as a man who did big things and took long chances in his undertakings. The love of taking chances seemed at times as strong as the desire for gain. At times he conducted " deals " on the Street that made even the veterans of the financial center stare with astonishment. There is a story that he made $60,000 in a single day in Brooklyn Rapid Transit stock.
Upon the turf Mr. Clark had a noteworthy, honorable, and generally successful career. He established an expensive stable and maintained it in lavish style, regardless of expense. He hired the jockey Maher to ride his horses for two years, at a salary of $10,000 a year. He won the great Brooklyn Handicap race with his famous horse Banastar. That incident made Ban- astar a prime favorite for the Suburban stakes; but when the latter race came to be run, through some irregularity the horse was left at the post, thus occasioning heavy losses to many who had backed it in the betting, including a host of Mr. Clark's personal friends, as well as, of course, Mr. Clark himself. Mr. Clark's own losses were very heavy, but it was characteristic of his generous temperament that he was much more troubled over
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his friends' losses than his own. The jockey was blamed for the " fluke," and Mr. Clark would not let him ride again, though he continued to pay him his salary as stipulated. Later the matter was settled, and Maher was released by his employer.
After that unfortunate incident Mr. Clark appeared to be the victim of some malign fate. On both Wall Street and the turf he met with serious reverses. In a decline in prices of stocks in the winter of 1899-1900 he was said to have suffered considera- ble loss, which he could ill afford, and which he was not able to recoup. He also entered upon a great racing scheme which was most praiseworthy in intent, but which did not in his time win the success which it deserved. He wished to encourage trot- ting-races in this part of the country, and to restore trotting to the popular favor which it enjoyed a generation ago. and accord- ingly organized among his friends a movement to that end. The result was the establishment of the great Empire City Trot- ting-track, in the northern suburbs of New York. This was a costly undertaking, the initial expense being about $700,000, of which Mr. Clark is said to have furnished nearly one half.
This race-course was a fine one, picturesquely situated among the hills near Yonkers, and there were many hopes that it would emulate and even surpass the historie glories of old Jerome Park. Unfortunately the site chosen was not as readily accessible as might have been desired, and for that and other reasons it was not at onee a profitable enterprise. It has now passed under other ownership, and is to be remodeled and made more con- venient of access, so that there is a prospect of the fulfilment of Mr. Clark's ambition concerning it.
Hard work, the high-pressure strain of Wall Street and the turf, together with an amount of worrying over the losses of himself and his friends already mentioned, at last began to tell upon Mr. Clark's fine health. In the late fall of 1899 his health began to show signs of serious impairment, and although he was mentally as keen and robust as ever, he fell prey to occasional and irresistible fits of melancholy depression. While he was in this condition he was attacked by a severe cold, which settled in his throat and lungs. For a time he attempted to disregard it and to pursue his ordinary courses of life. Finally, however,
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he was compelled to heed the warnings of his physician and the solicitations of his relatives and friends.
Mr. Clark accordingly, though with reluctance and under protest, closed his office and went to Lakewood in quest of rest and health. A few weeks at that delightful resort among the New Jersey pines seemed almost to restore him to his normal condition of mind and body, and he returned to New York and resumed his work ; but with his return a relapse in his condition occurred. After a few days' confinement to his bed he suddenly grew much worse and rapidly sank.
On the morning of February 17, 1900, he died, his last act being to recognize his brother as he came into the room, and to greet him with a cheery "Hallo, Ed!" The funeral service was held at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, in New York, on February 20, and the interment was at Calvary Cemetery.
Mr. Clark was married. His wife and two young sons sur- vive him. He was a man of handsome personality and genial manner, who commanded the confidence and affection of a host of friends, both in the business and in the social world, and his death was deeply and widely deplored.
GEORGE CASPAR CLAUSEN
G EORGE CASPAR CLAUSEN, the first president of the Park Board under the Greater New York charter, and also Park Commissioner under its provision for the boroughs of Man- hattan and Richmond, is the son of Henry and Caroline Clausen, both natives of Germany. Henry Clausen lived in the early part of his life in the city of Bremen, and was there engaged in mercantile pursuits. Near the middle of the nineteenth century, however, he came to this country and made his home in New York. For a time he pursued a mercantile career with marked success, but later, seeing the vast opportunities in the rapidly increasing popularity of beer as a beverage, he founded in New York city the great brewing establishment of Henry Clausen & Sons.
The elder Clausen was one of those who reaped a rich reward from his foresight in seeing that the public in America could be largely turned from the consumption of whisky and spirits to the use of malt liquors as a beverage.
George C. Clausen was born in New York city on March 31, 1849, and received a particularly careful education. At first he attended a public school in New York, but soon left it to continue study in private schools here. He was then sent to a military college in Maryland, and completed his education with a course of study in Germany.
Thus prepared for the duties of manhood, Mr. Clausen became a member of the great brewing firm founded by his father. This interest and others connected with brewing were so productive that when an English syndicate in search of such investments made its purchases in New York some years ago, he sold out to them and made a handsome fortune, which he invested to great
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advantage in other directions, giving evidence of remarkable business capacity.
Mr. Clausen also began to take an interest in publie and politi- cal matters. Affiliating with the Democratic party, he joined Tammany Hall, and has remained a faithful and influential mem- ber of that organization ever since, having been reëleeted for several terms as a member of the Sachems.
He was introduced to the publie service by Mayor Gilroy, who, on January 4, 1893, appointed him a Commissioner of the De- partment of Taxes and Assessments. He held that place for about four months, when he resigned, on May 1, to take an un- salaried appointment as a member of the Park Board. Of this board he was afterward elected president. The old Park Board, of which he was a member, was the one which planned and began the work of the Harlem River Speedway, and which expended the million dollars appropriated under an act of the Legislature to relieve the distress of the poor of the city in the hard times of the winter of 1894. In both of these matters there were differ- enees of publie opinion, and somewhat excited controversies. Mr. Clausen's publie position was characterized by an unswerving devotion to what he believed to be right. The Park Board of which he was a member went ont of office with the whole ad- ministration under the power of removal given to Mayor Strong by the Legislature.
When the present eity of New York was formed by consolida- tion of the various metropolitan communities, and Mr. Van Wyek, a Demoerat, was elected Mayor, Mr. Clausen was again summoned to the public service, and on January 1, 1898, he be- came president of the Park Board for the boroughs of Manhattan and Richmond, which place he has sinee filled.
Mr. Clausen is a member of numerous clubs, including the Democratic, New York Athletic, and the Larchmont Yacht clubs and the Liederkranz and Arion societies. He is also a member of the New York Driving Club, and is one of the best-known horsemen on the pleasure drives of New York.
He is married, and has a son in Princeton, and a daughter just reaching young womanhood.
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WILLIAM ROGERS COLE
W ILLIAM ROGERS COLE, who before attaining middle age has placed himself in the foremost rank of an impor- tant department of American industry and commerce, comes of the old colonial stock which, in the eighteenth century, made New Jersey one of the strongest of the thirteen colonies. The paternal family of Cole and the maternal family of Rogers have for many generations been settled in New Jersey, and have been conspicuous in the affairs of that commonwealth. Mr. Cole's father, John H. Cole, and his mother, Mary Elizabeth Cole, are both still living, and have for some years made their home in Jersey City. Formerly, however, they dwelt in the historic town of South Amboy, in Middlesex County, at the mouth of the Raritan River, and there, on October 22, 1868, William Rogers Cole was born.
The boy received a good practical education, partly in the public schools of New Jersey and partly at the Cooper Institute in New York city, giving him an excellent foundation for the special business training which was to come later. He also spent two and a half years in the law office of L. & A. Zabriskie in Jersey City, and four years in the employ of a custom- house broker, where he acquired much practical business training.
From his earliest years he manifested more than ordinary ac- tivity and energy in whatever work came to his hand. He was ever willing to perform any duty, and to do so with all possible promptness and thoroughness. No duty seemed too great for him to undertake, and none too trivial to receive his most care- ful attention, nor were his duties few or light. The hard work of life was begun by him at an early date, and among the other
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employments of his boyhood was the selling of newspapers on the streets of Jersey City.
With such a record of instruction and experience, Mr. Cole, at the age of twenty-one, in January, 1890, made his first genuine mercantile engagement. This was as a shipping-clerk in the warehouse of Richard Grant & Co. in Jersey City. In that ca- pacity he displayed in a marked degree the traits of energy and executive ability which he had already developed, and his ability, diligent prosecution of all his duties, and his fidelity and de- votion to his employers' interests soon marked him for promo- tion. After five years' service in subordinate places, he was, in 1895, made a director of the corporation into which the firm had been transformed, and in January, 1896, he was chosen secretary of the board. He continued to be a director and to be actively interested in the business of the corporation until its dissolution in 1898, at which time the founder, Mr. Grant, retired from busi- ness, after having been actively and successfully engaged in it for more than forty years.
The Richard Grant Company was engaged in the cooperage business, an ancient industry, but one which, with all the changes of industrial methods, has never become obsolete. It was, in fact, one of the foremost houses in that industry, and Mr. Grant was himself one of the most conspicuous pioneers of the cooperage trade. Mr. Cole found the business much to his liking, and, during the nine years of his connection with Mr. Grant's company, learned thoroughly all the details of it. Natu- rally, therefore, upon the dissolution of the company, he decided without hesitation to continue in the business on his own account.
Accordingly, on January 1, 1899, he organized the firm of Wil- liam R. Cole & Co. Its prime object was the manufacture and ex- port of hard-wood cooperage stock. This stock consists chiefly, though not exclusively, of white oak, and is sent by the firm to nearly all parts of the world. A large domestic trade is likewise controlled by Mr. Cole.
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