USA > New York > The aristocracy of New York : they are and what they were : being a social and business history of the city for many years > Part 4
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Another daughter of John married Hewitt, of the family who built the store at the corner of Reade and Broadway, lately occupied by Palmo-forty years ago consider- ed so far out of town that Hewitt was laughed at. Thomas Cook, in the crockery trade in Canal-street, married the widow Hewett. Mr. Caldwell is worth about $150,000.
CRAM, JACOB, of Irish parentage ; came to this city from Portland, Maine ; commenced working in a distillery; and finally got into the business on his own ac- count, in connection with a Mr. Parker, late proprietor of the Wool Grower's Bank. While in the business he was industrious, economical, and persevering, and has there- by made the larger part of his money. He has been wealthy, and has lived in good style many years now, has a patron to some extent of the fine arts and the sciences, he has, also, for a long time, been liberally interested in the various schemes of fashion and amusement, and kept his box at the theatre for his family's use, he has several children ; one daughter was clandestinely married to Mr. Mason, an actor of some note, for a long time connected with the Park Theatre, at which place he made the acquaintance with his wife. He has one son, a lawyer of considerable talent, and others who are quite young. Mr. C. deserves great praise for strongly evincing, in his getting of wealth, the peculiar traits above described of him. He is at this time in the occupancy of a house on the N.E. corner of Seventeenth street and Union Place, and lives in handsome style, enjoying, as he should do, the reward of his merits. He is reputed to be worth $200,000.
CURTIS, EDWARD. Formerly Collector of New York, bred a lawyer, has been a member of Congress, and is a particular friend of Daniel Webster. When Webster was at college in Hanover, N. H., Edward Curtis's father was a promi- nent man in the Federal party in Vermont, and run for Licut. Governor. He mar- ried a daughter of Thomas Kramer, a wealthy Loco Foco in Saratoga county. His brother George is a lawyer, and is a man of great personal worth. The brothers are in partnership in the law business.
The father of the above, General Zebin Curtis, of Windsor, Vermont, was a no- ble specimen of the shrewd, bold Yankee. He had stores in many other towns .- An honest, capable clerk was sure to be established somewhere as partner. The high price of pot and pearl ashes in Great Britain and Ireland, (occasioned by the supply of Barilla and Russian ashes being cut off by war, and the great demand for glass here : the Dutch, German and French not obtainable, and no manufacturies yet established in this country, ) raised prices here to correspond with their present rates, to three hundred dollars per ton. General Curtis would make contracts for all he could deliver within a time ahead : the Vermont forests shook and fell : farms were cleared and paid for by the clearing. The impulse was immense. The only drawback was in carriage hire (-40 per ton). The teams returned loaded with supplies for his stores. Gen. Curtis was then, forty years ago, a tetotaller, and re- commended total abstinence, while it was a common practice of many brother mer- chants to keep liquors to offer their customers, especially when they paid up. But his great delight was to show his fine wheat lands. ard recommend his lime ma- nure, on the banks of the Conneticut. Gen. Curtis was one of the first collectors of ginseng for the Canton market. The beautiful residence and gardens of Horace Everet are near this spot. Mr. Curtis is said to be worth 8100,000.
DRAPER. SIMEON. Jr. Auctioneer, of the firm of Haggerty, Draper & Jones, corner of William and Pine streets. From being a cierk of the old, well known, and wealthy auctioneer, John Haggerty. he married his daughter, and her brother is the Haggerty of the firm.
Simeon, Jr., with several brothers, inherits the fine person, appearance, and grena- dierlike sinture, of his parents, who long kept the stage-house at Brookfield, Mass., in the good old days of stage travelling, forty years ago. It stood on the top of the hill, oppisite the road that turned cif to Stafford Springs, from the old Springfield road. Near that stage house Jerome Bonaparte's horses dashed through a garden, fence, when he was carrying his beautiful Baltimore wife from home. Lorimer Draper, long in the dry goods business in Boston, and late the popular U. S. Council in Paris, is a brother. Mr. Draper some years since made himself quite conspicu- ous as a whig politician, and is worth some $200,000.
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DENISON, LYMAN, a brother of Charles, came to this city at or about the same time with his brother, and under similar circumstances. The combination of their energies, has been in a measure the cause of their success, and we may well quote them for the benefit of those for whom we write, to show the absolute certainty to which money getting may be reduced, where several are unanimous in a scheme .- They came here poor and friendless, without education, and by diligent application they have made themselves rich. Think of a man sleeping in a bunk, in a small drinking establishment on the dock, patronised by that class of men only, who buy nothing at a higher price than three cents per glass, rising by the strength of his own native genius to wealth and the brightest respectability in the community, and you have our idea of an aristocrat, and not in the spendthrift son of a virtuous fath- er. The subject of the present sketch. is now rich and highly esteemed for the best of reasons, viz : his own character and nothing else. He is reputed uo be worth $200,000.
DENISON, CHARLES, of the firm of C. & L. D., a native of Hartford, Con- necticut, came to this city when a mere boy, without friends or money, and after applying himself with energy for many years to the various opportunities of making money, which fall in the way of all who look for them, and by prudently economising the money he received, he finally commenced keeping a small grocery and liquor store, in which he received at first the patronage of theriver boatmien, but eventually by attention to business, and prudence in the management of his profits, he enlarged his stock in trade until the firm was well known and highly respected. The sub- ject of this sketch is now retired from business, and has his residence at Westchester. He is reputed to be worth $200,000.
DEPAU, FRANCIS. A worthy Frenchman, resided many years in Charleston, S. C., and there made the greater part of his large fortune. Ile was a large shipper of cotton.
On removing to this city he established the Havre Line of Packets. Mr. Curtis Bolton, from his long experience in business, as one of the Grm of the eminent house of Robert & John Bolton, Savannah, and J. H. Bolton, of this city, was placed at the head of the house of C. Bolton, Fox & Livingston, who were agents for the line. Mr. Bolton has since retired. Mr. Depau died during a journey to France and Italy a few years ago. His remains were conveyed to this city, and exposed with the solemn pomp of the Roman Catholic Church, in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Mr. Depau exerted himself to establish business with Rome and Cavitabuchia, through the eminent banking house of Torlonio, now Price Torlonio. He was a thorough, calculating, honorable man of business, and warm in his domestic affections. He built the row of elegant buildings in Bleecker street known as Depau's Row, and was said to be worth at least $300,000.
DELMONICO, MRS. (widow of John). The large fortune which this lady holds was made by her husband, (a Frenchman,) who commenced by keeping a Restau- rant in Broad street, near Beaver, where he continued to make money for many years, and which property is a portion of the estate which he left. He subsequently erected the building a: the junction of South-William and Beaver streets. where he transacted an immense business for a number of years. The portico of this build- ing was taken from the ruins of Pompeii. and in this place most of his money was made. He was killed acculentally while shovang on Long Island. His sous are the proprietors and keepers of the splendid hotel in Broadway, near the Battery. The lady, as did her husband, enjoys high reputation for many amiable qualities, and is reputed to be worth, with the estate of her husband, $250,000.
DAY, MAHLON -- a Friend-commenced the Book business, in which he has made the larger portion of hismoney, by publishing and vending small toy books and primers for children. Gradually enlarging, as his means increased, and con- tinuing his plain-habited economy, he slowly but surely increased the pile. He is highly respected as one of the kindest and most benevolent of men ; and we are sure we find a responsive chord in the breasts of all who know him, when we offer a hope that he may live long to enjoy the reward of his labors. He was the founder in 1818, of the first Bank Note List in the United States, and is worth at least $100,000.
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EMERSON, WM., of the firm of Emerson & Pritchard, lawyers in Wall street. And late one of the judges in Richmond county, his residence being in Staten Island. He is a brother of the world-renowned, trancendental philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and son of a clergyman late of Boston, who preached in an old church which formerly stood in Washington street, on 'the site now occupied by Joy's build- ings.
Mr. Emerson was a graduate of Harvard University, studied divinity, and for some time taught a high School for young Ladies in his native city. He afterwards went abroad to perfect his studies, but while in Germany, either becoming imbued with the philosophy of that country, or from some other cause, he resolved to dis- continue the study of theology and apply himself to that of law. On his return having prepared himself for admission at the bar, he came to New York and com- menced practice in connection with Mr. Sullivan.
He delivered in this city before the Atheneum some twenty years ago, a valuable course of lectures on German Literature, is an amiable and gentlemanly man, and what is far higher praise, an eminently, just, upright, and conscientious lawyer, well deserving the possession of $100,000.
ELLIOT, Dr. SAMUEL M. A Highlander by birth, and possessing in an eminent degree the Scotch characteristic of physical and mental energy, indomitable perseverance, clear-sighted sagacity, brave self-reliance, and fearless buoyancy of spirit. Having received a very thorough European education, he came to this country in 1834, and commenced the practice of his profession as an Oculist. Though well versed in every brauch of medical science, he had the discernment to perceive at once the field which lay before him here ; there being not one physician at that time in the city, who devoted his attention exclusively to diseases of the eye. Though an entire stranger, without patronage or pecuniary resources, in the midst of a community distinguished for its able medical men, he soon found that room which is always afforded to eminence. His success in the treatment of Chronic and other diseases of the eye, has been almost unparalelled, and though he has not escaped the calumny which superiority too often incurs from the envious, he is now generally allowed to be the most skilful oculist in America.
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He was last vear invited to accept a Professorship of Opthalmic Surgery, in Cas- tleton College, Vt., which duty to his numerous patients in New York, obliged him to decline. Though abundantly rewarded for his labors not only by the gratitude and affection of his patients, but in the right substantial tokens of " gold and silver," he abates not a whit in the zeal and intensity with which he applies himself to his profession, and few men are capable of as strong'mental application or as long con- tinued corporeal exertion as Dr. Ellio :. He is an ardeut lover of the sciences, espec- jally Astronomy, and Natural History, kind and benevolent in his disposition, and keenly alive to social and intellectual enjoyments. He owns a beautiful and tasteful villa, at Staten Island, the abode of his genial hospitality and social intercourse with his large circle of personal friends. He is also an owner of real estate in New York, and is asserted to possess property to the amount of $200,000.
FELLOWS, JAMES, is a native of Dutchess county, from whence he came to this city a poor boy, to look for business ; the first eligible opportunity which pre- sented itself, was an offer by some one to s'art him on a tour to peddle jewelry through the country, a businessat this time mostly done by Jews). by his address and manage- ment. combined with nis strict habits of economy, he finally accumulated sufficient money to engage in business on a more extensive scale, and in a permanent location in Maiden Lane, where he has ever since continued. He is highly respected for nu- merous good qualities, and is one of the examples of the certainty of success where proper diligence is applied, which we take pleasure in laying before the youth of our city and country. He bas obtained his wealth by proper mocans, and we are hap- py to see all such in its possession. He is reputed at this time to be worth $200,000.
FAILL, EDWARD, one of two brothers engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- ness at the corner of Burling Slip and Water-street ; they are of Scotch descent, their father having come from that country. The old gentleman possessing the na- tional characteristic of industry and economy, commenced business as a pedlar, and saved the money he made, until he had acquired sufficient to enable him to start a
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country store at East Chester, in which, with larger profits, and the same practices, he grew rich, and at his death left to his children, each a large property. Like their father, the sons are highly respected from their upright conduct in business and are reputed to be worth $300,000.
FOX & LIVINGSTON, owners of a Havre Line of Packets. These gentlemen married daughters of the late Francis Depau, inherited a portion of his wealth, and reside in two of the splendid houses built by him in Parisian style, in Bleecker street. T. W. Fox was educated as a physician in Philadelphia. This line was established by Mr. Depau and Captain Isaac Bell-yet an owner. Capt. Bell is SO years of age, hale and hearty, and walks ten or twenty miles with ease. He has been interested in ships upwards of sixty years, is the oldest ship owner in the United States, and one of the best mercantile penmen in the city.
FELT, DAVID, first hung out his big ledger, as a sign, in State street, at the cor- ner of Congress street, Boston, forty years ago. Iron spring backs were getting into vogue. Boston was then a little village, too small for David to grow in, so he removed to New York, whence he has stretched himself to New Orleans, stopping now and then, and branching off to intermediate places. Blank books and the best of stationary have produced riches. Mr. Felt employs many hands in the various branches of his extensive business, at his manufactory in Brooklyn. His stores are in Pearl and Wall streets, and his pew in the Unitarian Church of the Messiah, in Broadway. He has lately bought an estate in New Jersey, where he designs to transfer his manufactory. His property is worth at least $200,000.
GRINNELL, MINTURN, & Co., are the owners and managers of a line of Liverpool, and also of a line of London packets. This house was founded half-a-century ago by the late Preserved Fish, late President of the Tradesmens' Bank. It has ever been one of the most substantial houses in New York. Moses H. Grinnell, the present head of the house, is well known as a prominent Whig poli- tician, late a Member of Congress, a zealous Unitarian, President of a New Eng- land Society, &c., &c., is from New Bedford, where he has wealthy connections. One of his brothers is a Member of Congress from that district, N. P. Willis married his adopted daughter. Mr. Grinnell is building a splendid mansion in the Fifth Avenue.
Mr. Minturn, of this house, is one of the sons of Mr. Minturn, formerly of Min- turn & Champliu, once a large India and Canton house, aud a brother of the aut- tioneer of the same name. Mr. Delano, the junior partner of the house, married a daughter of Wm. B. Astor. Grinnell, Minturn & Co., are worth about $300,000.
GOODHUE, JOHNATHAN, came to this city about forty years since, he was raised in Salem, Mass., his father was a man of high character, and. was for several years a Senator in Congress.
Mr. Goodhue bad been in the employ as clerk and supercargo of William Gray, Joseph Peabody, and other houses of like character in Salem, and brought with him to his city, the agency of their business here ; a lucrative one of itself. He estab- lished himself in the commission business, which he has ever since pursued. His house has always had the principal agency of the first houses in Boston and other eastern ports, engaged in the India, China, and Balac trade. Mr. Goodhue's first , partner was John B. Swett, since of Philadelphia, a brother of Samuel Swett. who married the only daughter of the late Wm. Gray : his second partner was Thomas W. Ward, now the Boston agent of Baring, Brothers & Co., and related by mar- riage to the Gray family. His partners are Pelatiah Peritt, formerly a clerk, and Calvin Durand.
No commercial firm in America stand higher for honorable character and good conduct than that of Goodhue & Co. They are agents and chief owners of the old Liverpool Line of Packets. This line was first established about forty years ago by Isaac Wright, Francis Thompson, Jeremiah Thompson, and Benjamin Marshall, all Englishmen. Mr. Marshall is the only survivor : he now lives at Troy, and is well known as an extensive manufacturer. The ships are consigned in Liverpool to the house there of Baring, Brothers & Co., managed, till recently, by Samuel Stillman Gair. Mr. G. is the son of a Baptist Minister, of (Boston and married a cousin of the Rev. Dr. Wainwright, of this city. Goodhue and Co. are worth about $1,000,000.
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GRISWOLD, NATHANIEL L. & GEORGE, in their solid Granite Warehouses, 71 and 72 South street, may be considered the first house in the Canton trade from this port. It is their principal business, and they have been long engaged in it. Nathaniel L. died about a year ago at an advanced age. They were from Connec- ticut, and descendants of Gov. Griswold. Mr. George Griswold is a Presbyterian of Dr. Potts's church. John C. Grepp, formerly a clerk, now a partner, married a daughter of George Griswold. Winthrop G. Gray, a son of Sylvanius Gray, of Bos- ton, a nephew of William Gray, married a daughter of Nathaniel L., and is also supposed to be a partner. The concern is worth at least $1 000,000.
GRINNELL, MOSES H., senior partner of the house of Grinnell, Minturn & Co., owners and managers of Lines of Liverpool and London. Packets, and successors of the late firm of Fish & Grinnell, of which the noted Preserved Fish was the founder. Moses H. Grinnell, the prominent man, originally from New Bedford, was a clerk in that house ; has been a member of Congress, a strong Whig, a zealous Unitarian, President of the New England Society, and a leading man in all the interests he espouses. This house has a valuable business and support from the wealthy influ- ence and whaling interest of New Bedford. Mr. G. is building a splendid residence among the palaces of the 5th Avenue. Ilis efficiency was called upon to restore order in the Phenix Bank, after some delicate investigations, eight or ten years ago. Mr. Grinnell is brother to the Representative in Congress from New Bedford, and his estate is estimated at $200,000.
GROESBECK, DAVID, stock and exchange broker, isa native of Albany, where he served an apprenticeship to the shoe making business, his father and uncle being extensive dealers there, but having a turn of mind which fitted him to engage in other business, he came to this city, and was for a long time clerk in an office similar. to that which he now keeps. He has made all of his money within a few years, by dealing in fancy stocks, in which business he is connected more or less with Jacob Little. He is a good business man, with considerable luck, and is said to be worth $150,000.
GRAHAM, JOHN L., son of the late John L., is like his father, a lawyer by pro- fession. The elder was by birth an Englishman, and a practitioner of some distinc- tion in the Old Country. The subject of the present sketch has figured somewhat extensively in the political arena, as well in Tammany Hall as in the rendezvous of the opposite party ; he was also conspicuous as one of the friends of John Tyler, Ex- President, by whom he was appointed Post Master of the city of New York. He was, some years since, well known to the business community as a leader in several great speculations which were set on foot, as the North American Loan and Trust Company, and the Lockporg and Niagara Railroad. He married a lady who had at the time of her marriage a large property ; he is the father of the Lieut. Graham whose brilliant exploits in Mexico have brought him before the community in a highly creditable light. Mr. G. is at this time more respected for his soundness as a lawyer, and his gentlemanly character, than for his measure of dollars and cents, although he is reputed to be worth $50,000.
HOW LAND & ASPINWALL, stand among our first houses for wealth, enter- prise, and extensive general business. Their ships built for the Canton trade, excel in rapid voyages, and may be considered as the beginning of a Line of Canton Packets. They are fitting out two Steamers to ply between different ports in the Pacific, from Lima to Oregon. G. G. & S. Howland founded this the present house, and are now special partners. They built ships for the Greeks in their war of Inde- pendence, and pursued a valuable trade to Chili, Peru, and China, and a large com- mission business.
Mr. G. G. Howland has a fine seat and farm on Long Island, and is a warm supporter of Dr. Potts. The seat of Mr. Aspinwall, in Staten Island, is celebrated for its beauty. Mr. Aspinwall's father was long a respectable broker in Wall street. The wealth of this house, including the private fortunes of Gardiner Greene and Samuel Howland, is very large, probably $2,000,000.
HERRICK, JONATHAN K., is an Albanian, came to this city when quite a lad and engaged in various small enterprises, and finally, when his capital would per- mit, started a fancy Stationery and Book store in Pearl street, in which business ap- plying his gentlemanly manner and business tact, he acquired a number of warm
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friends, who not only contributed their own patronage, but exercised their whole influence to induce others to do the like ; he is at this time one of the largest impor- ters and dealers in his line in the country ; he has been continually making money ' at a rapid rate, but within the last year is said to have cleared $100,000. He is well esteemed in the trade for the qualities above alluded to, and to the public is well known for the attributes which make him an example which we take pleas- ure in bringing before the people. He is said to be worth $250,000.
HALL, ASA, came from New Jersey to this city when quite young, and learned the Hatters trade, and being of that turn of mind that enables a man to save and grow rich, he started with his savings, a store in Greenwich street, near Dey, the same as is now kept under the firm of A. Hall & Son. And by purchasing property with the ready money which he had laid away, its rise combined with trade, to which he still attends, has put him in possession of the large fortune which he is said to own. Mr. HI. is a very plain but a very respectable man, he is a direc- tor of the North River Bank and is reputed to be worth $250,000.
HARPER, JAMES, JOHN, JOSEPH WESLEY, and FLETCHER. These distinguished publishers, are natives of Newtown, L. I., where their father, a wealthy Methodist, spent his days, and where after being married at the advanced age of 80 years, he died, within a few months of the present time. He was a farmer and al- so a carpenter by trade, James Harper the eldest of the brothers, served his apprenticeship as a Printer, with Paul & Thomas, corner of Water street and Burl- ing Slip, as did also Johp. In 1816 he and his brother John commenced business for themselves in Dover street. The first book they published was "Seneca's Mor- als," for Mr. Duychinck, then an extensive publisher, father of the late editor of the Literary World, In the following year they took with them the two younger broth- ers to learn the trade, and themselves commenced publishing on their own account. 'Their first book was " Locke on the Human Understanding." In 1825 they erected ' and moved into the building 82 Cliff street, having previously taken into partner- ship their brothers Joseph and Fletcher. They have since made large additions to the edifice and built one on the opposite side of the street, so their establishment is by far the largest in the country. They print 70 reams of paper per day, and last year printed 2,500 volumes, they use a barrel of flour a week for paste, and employ 400 persons, one fourth of whom are females, and pay them $200,000 per year. Their business is connected in the most methodical and systematic manner. James has the general supervision of the in-door affairs, negociating with booksell- ers, authors, &c. John is the financier, and superintends the accounts. Wesley has charge of the Printing and binding departments, and Wetcher attends the outdoor concerns, travelling, &c.
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