k (J;is.s Fll^S Book ^t^ Pj. PRESRNTlin BV Saint Nicholas Society II OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK PORTRAITS OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE SOCIETY 1835—1914 ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 28, 1835 INCORPORATED APRIL 17, 1841 PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY 1914 .1 EDITED BY FLORENCE E. YOUNGS ISAJt io i3i4 OFFICERS, 1914 President Charles Isham Vice-Presidents Vernon M. Davis William D. Murphy DeLancey Nicoll Alfred Wagstaff Treasurer Henry Cotheal Swords Secretary Clarence Storm Assistant Secretary Guy Van Amringe Chaplains Rev. Stephen Van Rensselaer Rev. Howard Duffield, D.D. Physicians Robert Fulton Weir, M.D. Francis LeRoy Satterlee, M.D. Consulting Physicians RoLFE Floyd, M.D. Theodorus Bailey, M.D. MANAGERS Austen H. Fox Thomas Ludlow Chrystie William Hull Wickham Frederic I. Lockman Herman LeRoy Edgar Henry L. Bogert Charles A. Schermerhorn Walter L. Suydam Charles H. Stout Samuel Riker, Jr. William Augustus Boyd Alphonso T. Clearwater STEWARDS Alfred Wagstaff, Jr. Philip Rhinelander Thomas Bloodgood Peck James M. Montgomery William L. De Bost John R. Delafield PRESIDENTS Baii.ey, Nathaniel P. Beekman, James W. Beekman, James William Benson, Egbert DeLancey, Edward F. Depew, Chauncey M. DePeyster, Frederic . DePeyster, Frederic J. DeWitt, George G. Field, Benjamin H. Fish, Hamilton Fish, Stuyvesant Foster, Frederic de Peyster Fox, Austen G. Hoffman, Ogden IsHAM, Charles Jay, William Jones, Samuel King, Edward King, John A. Lawrence, Abraham R. LocKMAN, John Thomas Macdonough, Augustus R. Manley, James R. McLean, James M. Mills, John C. Mount, Richard E., Jr. Norwood, Carlisle, Jr. Ogden, James DePeyster Remsen, Robert G. RooME, Charles Roosevelt, James J. SCHELL, Augustus ScHELL, Edward Schermerhorn, Charles A. Stanton, S. Franklin Stuyvesant, Peter G. SuYDAM, Walter Lispenard VanBuren, John Vanderbilt, Cornelius Vermilye, William M. Verplanck, Gulian C. Constitution Signatures of Members Bibliography Index PACE 52 34 62 10 4S 66 22 64 76 36 24 74 72 7S 20 88 80 14 68 16 50 84 42 12 40 53 38 56 iS 46 32 26 30 60 82 70 6 86 23 54 44 8 90 91 92 95 \/|ANY years ago Charles A. Schermerhorn began collecting for the Saint Nicholas Society the portraits of its Presidents. Recently it became evident that if the undertaking was to be completed the work must be done before trace of the earlier Presidents was lost. Search was made in many directions, and it is surprising that all the portraits were obtained. The thanks of the Society are due to many members, to Mr. Kelby of the New York Historical Society, Mr. Hyde of the Herald, Mr. Bigelow of the Society Library, Mr. Egbert Benson, and to others who assisted the Committee. The sketches were written in haste, material for them was difficult to obtain, and readers are invited to send any further facts of interest to the office of the Society, 1328 Broadway, New York. Chari.es a. Schermerhorn, Carlisle Norwood, Walter L. Suydam, Committee. PETER G. STUYVESANT 3^ntx (BtxRXti g)tuj>\)esant PRESIDENT 1835-36 PORTRAIT from a miniature. He was born in 1778; died August 16, 1847. Had a large farm in the neighbor- hood of the Bowery and Eighth Street, and gave part of it to New York City for Stuyvesant Park. His residence, "Peters- field," was built before the Revolution, and was situated on his father's "Bouwerie"' farm. He was a founder of the New York Historical Society on November 20, 1804, and its President, 1836-1839; a Director of the Erie Railroad in 1832, this being the first trunk line to enter the city. He assisted in the endowment of the Chair of Ecclesiastical History in the General Theological Seminary, the only professorship for which even a partial endowment was raised between 1833 and 1837. He married first Susan Barclay, and second, Helen Sarah Rutherfurd, and being childless, devised most of his estate to Stuyvesant Rutherfurd, his great-grandnephew, on condition that he change his name to Rutherfurd Stuyvesant. GULIAN C. YERl'LANCK (Sultan Crommtlm l^erplanck PRESIDENT 1837 41, 1858-59 PORTRAIT at New York Historical Society. Born August ■*• 6, 1786, in Wall Street; he died at his home in 14th Street March 18. 1870. He entered Columbia College at the age of eleven, graduated in 1 80 1, and was admitted to the Bar in 1807. The only case he ever tried was his own, when he with several other students and graduates were tried before Mayor DeWitt Clinton for rioting because the I-"aculty would not allow a graduate to use political expressions in his address. This riot tijok place in Trinit\- Church. He published "The Bucktail Bards or The State Trium- virate," in 1819, a political satire. Member of the Legislature from 1819, for four years continuously; of Congress, 1825- 1833; of the New York State Senate 1837-1841. Member of the Tontine Association, and for many 3'ears President of the Century Club. One of the hospitals on Ward's Island was named for him. He was a Sachem of Tammany, and helped lay the corner-stone of the Wigwam in 14th Street. He was buried from Trinity Church, of which he had been a Warden. His term as President of Saint Nicholas was the longest in the Society's history. EGBEET BENSON Cgliert 33tn6on PRESIDENT 1842-43 r)ORTRAIT from an old photograpli in a family Bible. ^ Bom September i, 1789; died February 25, 1866. He lived at 36 East 22nd Street, New York, and at New Utrecht, now Bensonhurst. Columbia College was his Alma JNIater, his class being that of 1807. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen 1835-41, 1845, 1846; and its President, 1836-38. He was Acting Mayor for a short time, and was presented by his fellow-alder- men with a silver pitcher. ]\Iaria Couwenhoven, wife of ]\Ir. Censon, was born at New Utrecht April 6, 1803, and died there June 22, 1867, in the same house in which she was born. Mr. Benson was buried in the graveyard at New Utrecht after a funeral service at the South Reformed Dutch Church, New York City, of which he had been an Elder for five years. II JAMES R. MAXLEY PRESIDENT 1844-45 r)ORTRAIT by Daniel Hiintingtun now in the staff room *■ at Bellevue Hospital, copied by his grandson, James W. Embury, and from this copy the photograph was taken. A clue to these portraits was obtained from the Will of the sister of James R. Manley, and the only other likeness found is a silhouette by Edouart, which could not be obtained. Dr. JManle}' was a practising physician of New York and lived in 1841 at No. 19 White Street, which location he found so remote that he requested the use of a burse to visit the Hospital, then at City Hall Park. At the time Dr. INIanley was President of the Saint Nicholas Society he lived at No. 74 Second Avenue. He was President of the New York State Medical Society in 1826; Vice-Presi- dent New York Academy of iNIedicine, 1849; Consulting Phy- sician, Bellevue Hospital, from 1847 to 1851, when he died, aged seventy years. 13 SAMUEL JONES ^amutl Jours PRESIDENT 1846-47 O ORX [May 26, 1769; died at Cold Spring Harbor, L. I., *~^ August 9, 1853. He obtained his legal education in the office of his father, "the father of the New York Bar," where De^^'itt Clinton was at the same time a law student. He held the office of Assemblyman, iSiJ-1814; Recorder of the City of New York, 1823; Chancellor, 1826-1828; Chief Justice of the Superior Court of the City of New York. 1828- 1847; '^"fl Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, 1847- 1849, ranking as the fourth judge in the family. He was one of the founders of the Union Club in 1836. He was also a founder of the General Theological Seminary. He married Catherine Schuyler, born 1793, died November 20, 1829, daughter of Philip J. Schuyler and his first wife Sarah Rutsen, of Rhinebeck, N. Y. Although he had completed his eightieth year upon his re- tirement as Supreme Court Justice, he returned to the practice of his profession, and continued therein until two months before his death. Judge Jones and his wife were both interred in the Schuyler Cemetery at Rhinebeck, but were removed in 1893 to the Cemetery at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 15 JOHN A. KING Joiju 9ll6op ^tns PRESIDENT 1848-49 PORTRAIT from a print at New York Historical Society. Born January 3, 1788, died July 7, 1867. The IMinutes of a Stated Meeting of the Society of September 5, 1867, say: "the late Hon. John A. King departs this life, an ancient President of our Society, honored with many public offices of trust and importance." His career began as member of the Committee of a Public Dinner on Washington's Birthday, 181 5, to celebrate the Treaty of Peace. He was Member of Assembly for Queens County, 1819-21, 1832, 1840, and Governor in 1856. He was a founder of the Union Club in 1836, and its second Presi- dent; and was a Vice-President of a Mass Meeting held in Union Square April 20, 1861, on the outbreak of the War. 17 JAMES DE PEYSTER OGDEN f amcsi lie ^^cj^ster (Bc^^ni PRESIDENT 1850-51, 1856-57 PORTRAIT obtained from the New York Herald. Born ' August 26, 1790; died April 7, 1870. An eminent Merchant of old New York. He went into mercantile business in 1820, his store being at 24 Broad Street, near the corner of Garden Street, and he lived at the City . Hotel. While General Jackson was President of the United States, Mr. Ogden was American Consul at Liverpool. He was one of the most prominent and estimable members of the Chamber of Commerce and was also prominent in politics. He was a Vice-President at the dinner to Lord Ashburton at the Astor House, September i, 1842. During the Civil War he was an active Member of the Union Defense Committee. A trustee of the " Sailors' Snug Harbor," and ended a valu- able life at the age of nearly eighty years. 19 , -''*'" ' ''i^^^B w* ' '%" ^ ^/ jp r^ --*R,_ OGDEN HOFFMAN PRESIDENT 1852-53 r)ORTRAIT from The Genealogy of the Hoffman Family. ^ Born October 13, 1794: died May i, 1856. He gradu- ated with honors at Cohimbia in 181J. Joining the navy, he was taken prisoner witli Decatur, under whom, in 181 5, he served in the War on the Barbary States. He left the navy in 1816, and went to Orange County, N. Y., where his father owned a country seat, and began the study of law. He was District Attorney of Orange County in 1823, and in 1825 was elected by the Democrats to the Legislature. Later he removed to New York, and joined the Whigs because President Jackson had removed the deposits from the United States Bank. In 1828 he was elected to the Legislature, and was subsecjuently District Attorney of New York. He served in Congress in 1836 and 1838; was District Attorney for the LTnited States in Southern New York from 1841-1845 ; and was afterwards Attorney General for the State of New York. He was one of the most consummate criminal lawyers America has ever produced, and has been called "the Erskine of the American Bar." 21 FREDERIC DE PEYSTER jFretjeric lie ^^ej^ster PRESIDENT 1854-55 BORN in New York City, November ii, 1796, he died at Tivoli, N. Y., August 17, 1882. Graduated at Colvunbia College in 1816. During the War of 1812, he served as a volunteer with other students of the college in the erection of fortifications at "McGowan's Pass" for the defense of this City. In 18 19 he was admitted to the bar, and in 1820 he was appointed a Master in Chancery. He was appointed a Cap- tain in the 1 15th Regiment. In 1825 he was aide to Brigadier- General Fleming, and later became a member of the staff of Governor De Witt Clinton. During fifty-eight years he was a member of the New York Historical Society and its Presi- dent 1864-66, 1873-82; in 1827 when a rising young lawyer he applied to the legislators at Albany for a grant to the His- torical Society, and through his efforts five thousand dollars was voted. Governor Clinton said, in reference to the history of New York, "Do you not know, gentlemen, that the most important is the worst or least described part of the Union?" HAMILTON FISH JIamilton fi^i) PRESIDENT 1860-61 A GRADUATE of C(jlmiil)ia in 1827 with tlie highest ■' *• honors, he led a most reniarkaljle public life. He was Congressman, Lieutenant-Governor, Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State in 1869. He negotiated the Treaty with Great Britain arbitrating the .llabaiiia and Newfoundland fisheries claims, and settled the Vinjinius case with Spain. He was the first Cabinet Officer to athocate civil service. From 1861 to 1865 he was chairman of the Union Defence Committee. He was President of the New York Historical Society, Trustee of the Lenox and Astor Libraries and of the Peabody Educational Fund. Besides being President of the Saint Nicholas Society, he was President cif the Union League Club. 25 ¥ ^M J^ h V. ^' 1 I jn ^y ^^^H 1 - iJ JAMES J. ROOSEVELT James 3^acot)us H^oosetjelt PRESIDENT 1862, 1864 F) ORX December 14, 1795; died April 5, 1875. Portrait ■*-^ from a large print. In the quest for this portrait atten- tion was drawn to the signature of Judge Roosevelt as here reproduced from the book of the Society: Cr^^a^^o, Zi^fn^ One member of the family states there were two James Roosevelts and that the middle initial was used to distinguish our subject from the other James; Mr. Fred Roosevelt, a son of Judge Roosevelt, declares that the middle name was Jacobus and that his mother so stated. The Genealogical Record of the Saint Nicholas Society has the name James John Roosevelt. There was a direct ancestor Johannes, born 1687. Judge Roosevelt was a Manager, \'ice-President and Presi- dent of Saint Nicholas. District Attorney of the United States for the southern District of New York, ^Member of Congress, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, "noted for his integrity united with great abilities." 27 JOIIX VAN BUREN f oi)n Wan a3uren PRESIDENT 1863 PORTRAIT from The New York Herald. ^ Son of President V^an Buren, he was known as "Prince John." He graduated from Yale in i8j8 and in 1830 was admitted to the Bar. In 1831 he was attache to the U. S. Legation to the Court of St. James, and Attorney-General of New York State in 1845. He was many-sided as were most of the Presidents of Saint Nicholas, being famous as lawyer, orator, politician and society leader. The minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Society held November 28, 1866, read: "Long a practitioner at the Bar, he was appointed Attorney-General of the State, the duties of which office he performed with signal ability and honor." 29 AUGUSTUS SCIIELL M PRESIDENT 1865-66 R. SCHELL was born at Khiiiebeck, N. Y., August i, 1812. He graduated with marked distinction from Union College in 1830, and was admitted to the Xew York Bar in October, 1832. In 1857 he was appointed by Presi- dent Buchanan Collector of the Port of New York. In 1867 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of the State of New York, and Ijore a prominent part in its most important labors. In 1872 he was appointed by Governor Hofifman a member of the Commission to propose Amend- ments to the State Constitution. For thirty years he was a most efficient member of the Board of Trustees of the New York Institution for the Blind, and after 1866 its President. For nearly half a century Mr. Schell was one of the most active Members of the New York Historical Society, serving on its executive Committee from 1845 to 1872, and as Chair- man of the Committee for twenty years. He was President of that society in 1872, and again from January 3, 1883, until his death, March 27, 1884. 31 CHARLES EOOME CfjarlfS Broome PRESIDENT 1867 T7LECTED to Saint Nicholas March 9, 1847, he became a ^ Steward in 1859. Born in New York City, August 4, 181 2, he was in 1838 a clerk in the office of the Manhattan Gas Light Company, rising to President of the Company in 1854, which position he held until 1884 when he was chosen President of the new organization, the Consolidated Gas Company. He was Captain of Company D in the famous Seventh Regi- ment, and assisted in forming the 37th New York Militia, was commissioned Colonel, May 29, 1862, when he served in the defence of Baltimore, and received the thanks of the Secretary of War. May 13, 1865, he was commissioned Brevet Briga- dier-General U. S. Volunteers, "for faithful and meritorious services." His ]\Iasonic life was an active one. and at his death on June 28, 1890, Grand Conimandery, Knights Templar, printed General Order No. 2 in his memory as "Past R. E. Grand Commander of the Grand Conimandery of the State of New York, and Past ]\I. E. Grand Master of the Grand Encamp- ment of the United States." 23 JAMES w. bei:kmax James William 33cclunan PRESIDENT 1868-69 OORX November 22, 1815; died June 15, 1877. Married ^-^ Abian Steele JMilledoler. A graduate of Columbia College in 1834, he studied law in the of^ce of the late John L. Mason. Mr. Beekman lived on a large landed estate on the East River, left to him by his uncle James for whom he was named. The house built in 1 763 was demolished, and the great carved wooden mantel and chimne}- breast, with tiled fireplace from the drawing room, were given to the New York Historical Society. This house had many historical associations. He was a strong supporter of the common school system and a member of the Board of Education, Trustee of Columbia College, \\'oinan's Hospital, the old New York Hospital. His death was caused by illness contracted in prosecution of duty as an officer of this Hospital. Interested in politics he was Assemblyman from the old Sixth District in 1848-49; State Senator from this City 1850- 51, "A silver gray Whig." He carried through the Legislature the bill creating the Central Park. He was a founder and \'ice-President of the Union League Club; for many years a member of the Century and first President of the St. Nicholas Club. For thirty-nine years he was an active member of the New York Historical Society, and at the time of his death one of the Vice-Presidents. He was buried from the Dutch Reformed Church, of which he was an enthusiastic member. 35 BENJAMIN H. PI ELD Benjamin i|a?arti jfielti PRESIDENT 1870 r)ORTRAIT from New York Historical Society, of wiiich *■ he was President 1885-86; its Treasurer for seventeen years, the erection of a fireproof building for the Historical Society was largely due to his efforts. Born at Yorktown, Westchester County, New York. Edu- cated at North Salem Academy. He was a merchant in New York City widely known for philanthropic work. Married Catharine \'an Cortlandt de Peyster, a daughter of Frederic de Peyster. A Life Member of the American Geographical Society, Director of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, Presi- dent of Home for Incurables, New York Free Circulating Library, Eye and Ear Infirmary, Field Home and I'^ield Farm and Land Company. A member of the Chamber of Commerce, Century Club and a Trustee, or Director of the Working Women's Protecti\e L'nion, Roosevelt Hospital, Greenwood Cemetery, American Museum of Natural History, Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and the Good Samaritan Dispensary. Vice-President of the Society Library and a Director of the New York Dispensary. He was influential in the erection of the monuments to Farragut in Madison Square and to Halleck in Central Park. Z7 RICHARD E. MOUNT, JR. mtctorti eti\Dartis iHount, f r. PRESIDENT 1871-72 /"^ RADUATE of Columbia College in 1834; entered the ^—^ law office founded b)- James Alexander, the celebrated colonial lawyer. Mr. Mount was never happier than when poring over the old Latin poets. He was deeply interested in musical and dramatic affairs, contributed to papers on social and other topics. A lover of early Xew York history, he was a life mem- ber of the Historical Society, and Treasurer of the Society Library, and the only trustee of that institution to leave it a legacy. Director of many banks and n:ember of a number of clubs. Died INIarch 31, 1880, aged 66 years, at his residence in West 2 1st Street. 39 JAMES M. McLean Bfamcs ittonroe JHcilfan PRESIDENT 1873-74 BORX in Xew York, Decemljer 8, 1818; died :\Iay 13, 1890. He was Secretary and President of the Citizens Fire Insur- ance Company for almost forty years. President in i860 of the Xew York Board of Fire Under- writers, serving four years, he was a prominent factor in creating harmony among local fire insurance companies, and in establishing the present Fire Department. When the Xational Board of I'ire Underwriters was formed in 1866, his was tlie only name put forward for President and he was re-elected for a second term. Among the many positions of trust held by him are the following: President and Director of the Manhattan Life In- surance Company; an incorporator and original Director of the Manhattan Savings Bank; one of the first Board of Direc- tors of the Xational City Bank and \'ice-President of the Union Trust Company. President of the Board of Education four years; Trustee of the Xew York and Brooklyn Bridge ; President of the Insti- tution for the Blind. Alember of the Union, Saint Xicholas and [Manhattan Clubs. 41 AUGUSTUS R. MAfDOXOUGII PRESIDENT 1875-76 OORX Xovember 20, 1820; died July 21, 1907. jNIarried *-^ Frances Brenton !\Ic\'ickar on June 10, 1846. He was the son of Commodore Thomas Macdonough, U. S. N., the hero of the battle of Lake Champlain. Educated at Utica, New York, Yale 1839. Admitted to the Bar. Practised law at St. Louis, JMo., from 1842 to 1848. Shortly before his wife's death he came to New York, where he engaged in active practice until 1873. Though a good lawyer his tastes led him also into the field of literature. Mas- ter of classical and modern languages, his literary acquaintance was extensi\-e. During his term as President of Saint Nich- olas, at the Paas Festival in 1876, he recei\'ed the commission- ers from Holland who came to attend the Centennial. His speech of welcome, written and delisered in the Holland lan- guage, is to be found in the minutes of the Society. During the Civil War the great Sanitary Commission I'air was held in L'nion Square to send supplies and comfort to our soldiers in the field. Mr. Macdonough was editor-in-chief of the newspaper called The Spirit of the Fair. He wrote upon Civil Service reform, and was Examiner for New York a short time, inaugurating the most needful adjunct to good government. He was Secretary of the meeting which formed the Association of the Bar. In 1873 he left the Bar and was Secretary to the Erie Rail- road Compan}-, remaining until No\-ember 14, 1895, when he retired; however, he continued in its service in an advisory capacity down to the time of his death. 43 ^- \ 1^5^'' 'IH^P ^^ \VII,I.IA.\[ M. VKHMII,VE PRESIDENT 1877-78 r)ORTRAIT obtained from Louis Verniilye Davison. Mr. ^ X'ermilye was born September 30, 1801 ; died June 18, 1878. Married Hester Ann De Riemer. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Hospital. An incorporator of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in 1875, and served as a Director thereof for two years, retiring at the expiration of his term. He always remained a staunch friend of the Society. Pie was founder of the Ijanking house of Vermilye & Co. The minutes of a special meeting of the St. Nicholas Society, June 24, 1878, read : — "By the death of Air. Vermilye the City of New York has lost one of the most sagacious, prudent and honorajjle of her men of finance, whose names are held throughout the world the synonyms of integrity and ability." 45 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^Kt"^ i^. . ^^H f^^H ^^^^^^^^Kg^g^^wj ' ijt^^^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I EGBERT G. EEMSEN l^ohtxt #cor5c Ecmsen PRESIDENT 1879 \/f R. REAISEN was active and well known in the social ^ ' -^ life of New York; he lived first in Cherry Street, in Waverly I'lace, 19 East 22(1 Street, and later at 87 Fifth Avenue, and there died January 18, 1896. His widow (Mar- garet Delprat) moved to 3 East 80th Street, an illustra- tion of the march northward of the residence district in the life of one generation. Mr. Remsen graduated at I'rinceton, A.B. Class of 1842, A.M. in 1845; College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia, M.D., in 1846. He was one of the three founders of the "Patriarchs," a series of subscription dances. 47 EDWAED F. DE LANCEY Ctitoarti Jfioj^ti Bfi.ancej> PRESIDENT 1880-1881 OORX Octoljer 23, iSji, at jMamaroneck, N. Y. ; died *-^ April 7, 1905, at Ossining, N. Y. Educated at the Uni- versity of Penns3'lvania, Hobart College and the Harvard Law School. Admitted to the New York Bar in 1846. He held a high reputation as historian and genealogist; was President of the Westchester Historical Society, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Corresponding Secretary of the New York Historical Society and a member for fifty-four years. Edited Judge Jones' "History of New York in the Revolution." Many times a delegate from Zion Church, New York, to the Diocesan Convention, and he was Treasurer of that body from 1866 to 1 88 1, when he declined re-election. Trustee of the Fund for Aged and Infirm Clergymen and of Trinity School. Vice-President of the Huguenot Society, and member of the Society of Colonial Wars and the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. 49 ABRAHAM K. LAWHKNCE 9H)raf)am 3^il\u Hatarence PRESIDENT 1882-83 M ON. ABRAHAM RIKER LAWRENCE was born at * * loo East 14th Street in the City of New York, Septem- ber 19th, 1832. He is the son of Hon. John L. Lawrence (Comptroller of New York City, ist President of the Aqueduct Board, State Senator, Treasurer of Columbia College, Charge d'Affairs in Sweden, etc. ) and Sarah Augusta, daughter of General and United States Senator John Tangier Smith. He was educated at private schools, Ballston Spa Law School, in the offices of his father and Judge Jasper W. Gilbert. He was admitted to the Bar in 1853. He was Assistant Corporation Counsel from 1853 to 1856 and 1857 to 1858, a nieniljer of the Constitutional Con\ention in 1867, Democratic Candidate for Mayor of New York 1872; elected Justice of the Supreme Court 1873, re-elected 1887, and served until December 31st, 1901, having been on the bench for twenty-eight years. He was President of the Saint Nicholas Society for two terms, 1882 and 1883. He is one of the founders of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, of which he was Vice-President in 1905 and 1906. He is a member of the Union, Century and Manhattan Clubs, the New York State Bar Association, Society of Colonial Wars, and the American Rifle Associa- tion. He is the author of "'Compilation of the Tax Laws of the State of New York, with notes of Cases," and since 191 1 Official Referee of the Supreme Court. His wife is Eliza, only daughter of the late Dr. William Miner of this City. 51 NATHANIEL P. BAILEY PRESIDENT 1884 r>ORN June 7, 1809; died October 12, 1891. In 1836 he '-^ married a daughter of Jacob Lorillard. Mr. Bailey was a noble and courteous character and prom- inent in commercial and social life. He was a Governor of the New York Hospital from 1858 until his death; Vestry- man of Trinity Cliurch ; an active member of the Union League Club during the Civil \\'ar; many years a member of the Century Association, and of institutions for the promotion of science, learning and practical benevolence. 53 COKNELI US V A X D KK H 1 LT Corntliusi "gTantierbilt PRESIDENT 1885-86 OORN on Staten Island, N. Y., November 27, 1843; died '-^ September 12, 1899. In 1885 he entered the office of the New York and Harlem Railroad and successively held important positions in connection with the Vanderbilt system. Upon the death of his father he became the head of the house and controller of the \'anderbilt properties. He was a trustee of Columbia College, General Theological Seminary, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Aluseum of Natural History, St. Luke's Hospital and other institutions. He was noted for his interest in charitable work. Erected a building on Madison .\venue occupied by the Railroad branch of the Y. AI. C. .V. He also gave to Yale College a dormitory. 55 CARLISLE NORWOOD, JK. Carlisle jBtorVoooti, f r. PRESIDENT 1887 /"^ ARLISLE NORWOOD, who was the junior of his name ^-^ when elected President of the Society, became greatly interested in everything that related to Saint Nicholas and what it represented, by reason of the fact that when he was fourteen years of age his father, a Vice-I'resident of the Society, took him to one of the annual dinners then held at the old Saint Nicholas Hotel. Shortly after he became of age he was elected to membership and qualified as a life member. At that time there were but a very few young men in the Society, and that made the position of a young man somewhat isolated at the meetings and dinners. Mr. Norwood promptly proceeded to overcome this ilifticulty by inducing (juite a numerous party of his Knickerbocker friends to become memljers, and so great was the interest that they enthusiastically took in all the affairs of the Society, it was not long before the result was that the very much older men who had long predominated were retired from office and another generation, not the youngest, however, succeeded to their places. When Mr. Norwood became Presi- dent he was the youngest man who had then or since been elected to that office. He was elected to various offices for nineteen consecuti\'e years and has served on many committees, perhaps more notably on the Installation Committee, where he conducted his part in the ceremony generally much more to the delight of the Society than of the officer being installed. 57 JOIIX C. MILLS 3o\)\\ Cruger jMls PRESIDENT 1888 OHX CRUGER MILLS was one of the younger men in a coterie of those wlio at that time were the most active in all the affairs of the St. Nicholas Society. These gentlemen were Augustus Schell, James M. McLean, Edward Schell, Robert G. Remsen. Benjamin L. Swan and Carlisle Norwood (the senior). Li the days of those gentlemen the customs of the Society were more markedly of the old Knicker- bocker type than they are today. ]\Ir. Mills, who had literary tastes and was a widely read man, was at all times greatly interested in everything that related to the history of old New York, and such things secured his attention not only because they appealed to his imagination but since he thoroughly believed that the ancient customs were of such a character that they should be perpetuated. When he was Secretary of the Society he was without the assistance that is nowadays given to that official, and his duties brought him in personal contact with a very large number of the members, upon whom he strongly impressed himself by his unfailing ct)urtesy and a manner towards them which indicated that he sincerely thought that each one of them, because of his association in the Society, was entitled to his special consideration. EDWARD SCITRLL Ctituarti ^djfU PRESIDENT 1889 OORX Xoveiiiber 5, 1819, at Rhinebeck, N. Y. ; died *-^ December 24, 1893. Began business as a junior clerk with Littlefield & Shaw, Irish hnen importers in New York, and at twenty-six years \\as a junior member of the firm of Lewis S. Fellows & Schell, New York. Seventeen years later he entered the banking business, principally engaged with the Manhattan Sa\ings Institution of which he was a trustee, treasurer and president for over thirty years. He was a Trustee Union Trust Company; Director National Citizens Bank; Manhattan Life Insurance Company; Citizens Fire Insurance Company ; Park Fire Insurance Company ; New York Society Library; Institution for the Blind; St. Luke's Hospital; \'estryman of the Church of the .\scension, New York, and \\'arden of Christ Church, Rye. Life member New York Historical Society and of the Century Association. A governor of the Manhattan Club. 61 JAMES WILLIAM liKRKMAN James William 93erlunan PRESIDENT 1890-91 OORN N^ovember 4, 1847; "^I'ed August 7, 1908. Graduate *-^ of Columbia Law School, admitted to the Bar in 1871. Elected to Saint Nicholas November 29, 1869, he proved a valuable member and was made a Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau, by the Queen Regent of the Netherlands in recognition of his services to the Oiflcers of the Dutch Man- of-War Van Speijk, during the Columbian Naval Review of 1893, when a dinner was given by Saint Nicholas to these officers. Mr. Beekman devoted much time to Charitable Institutions, was a trustee of the New York Hospital ; one of the Execu- tive Committee of the New York Historical Society and a member of many cIuIjs and patriotic societies. 63 FKEDEEIC J. DETEYSTEE jFrctitrirk Blames lie ^e jester PRESIDENT 1892-93 OORN February 5, 1839; died May 11, 1905. Graduated ^ from the College of the City of New York in i860 and Columbia Law School in 1862. He was notable for public work in educational, charitable, historical and other interests ; was a Trustee of the Holland Society; President of the Saint Nicholas Club; Governor of the Society of Colonial \\'ars in the State of New York; Governor-General of the Society of Colonial Wars; President of the Huguenot Society; President of the New York Dis- pensary; President of the Orphans Society; Chairman New York Society Library; President New York Infant Asylum; also a New York Trustee and Treasurer of the American School of classical studies at Athens, which has raised funds for exploration and restoration, aided deserving scholars to pursue Greek studies in the Hellenic capital, and enlisted the sympathies of the reading public in these things. Married Augusta McEvers Morris of Morrisania, by whom he had five children. CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW Cljauncci) iEitdjcU BcprVp PRESIDENT 1894-95 r)OKTRAIT from a large print. Born at Peekskill, Xew York, on an estate purchased by his forefathers from the Indians over two hundred years ago. Graduated from Yale 1856, LL.D. 1887. Studied law in Peekskill with Hon. William Nelson, l-^lected to the New York State Legislature i86i-6j, and Secretary of State, N. Y., 1863. Declined the post of ^Minister to Japan and other prominent offices. He was Attorney for the New York and Harlem Railroad, and when Commodore A'anderbilt in 1869 acquired control of the New York Central Railroad and consolidated it with the Hudson Ri\er Railroad, \It. Depew became a Director. In 1875 h^ ^^'as General Counsel of all the \'anderbilt roads; in 1 88 J he became 2nd A'ice-President and in 1885 President of the New York Central and Hudson Ri\-er Railroad. He has been President of the Union League Club; Yale Alumni; Sons of the American Revolution. At the anni- versary dinner of Saint Nicholas held December 6, 19 13, at Delmonico's, Mr. Depew delivered a speech which was received with cordial manifestations of delight. 67 EDWAED KING CtiVoarti ^ing PRESIDENT 1896-97 OORN July 30, 1833, at the family country seat, High- *-^ wood, Weehawken, N. J. ; died November 18, 1908, at I University Place; funeral ser\ice at Grace Church. Graduate of Harvard University and President of the Har- vard Club of New York. He was President of the New York Stock Exchange, and in 1873 was made President of the Union Trust Company restoring that institution to great prosperity. Mr. King took no part in public life, yet was consulted by and gave assistance to the Secretaries of the United States 7>easury during times of financial difficulty. He was a member of the Century Association and of the University Club; Metropolitan Museum of Art; National Academy of Design; Treasurer and Trustee of the New York Public Library and Governor of the New York Hos- pital. Owned a country residence at Grymes Hill, Staten Lsland, N. Y. 69 S. FI;.\XK1.IX STANTON Utiles jFranlUin Stanton PRESIDENT 1898-99 ' I ''HE writer of this refers for genealogical information •* to the book* of the Society and for the official record of Mr. Stanton to the St. Nicholas year books. Here he will be spoken of with reference to his general character- istics and his social life among members of the St. Nicholas Society as such. From the time of his election to member- ship until the last year of his life Mr. Stanton took an active and affectionate interest in everything that related to the welfare of the Society and those things which it represents. By nature he was unusually social and warm hearted. He preser\-ed all his friendships and never made an enemy. His loyalty to his friends under all circumstances was one of his predominant characteristics, and he enjoyed among the members of the Society an unusual popularity and will be long and pleasantly remembered by every one of us whoever came in contact with him. * Genealogical Record, printed 1905. Elected March i, 1875. Horn April 2, 1846. Died June 15, 1907. 71 FREDERIC UK I'KVSTER FOSTER PRESIDENT 1900 01 GRADUATE of Columbia College. A.B. 1868, A.M. 1871, LL.B. 1872. Studied law in Paris, 1869-1870. Has practised law in New York since 1872. Is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New ^'ork Society Library, and a member, governor, director or trustee of many social, financial and charitable organizations. Of Saint Nicholas he was an efficient and enthusiastic ofificer and under his administratiim the Society made sub- stantial progress. 72, STUYVESANT FISH PRESIDENT 1902-03 r^ RADUATE of Columljia College 1871. President of ^-'^ tlie Illinois Central Railroad, and an ofificer in impor- tant railmad, insurance and financial institutions. Trustee of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York 1883 to 1906; Trustee New York Life Insurance and Trust Company; \'ice-President and Director of the National Park Bank; member of the Monetary Commission created by the Indianapolis Conference 1897. President American Rail- way Association 1904-1906. Chairman of the International Railway Congress, Wash- ington, 1905. ^ UKDK'CK *■. DK WITT George (§06man ©f Witt PRESIDENT 1904-05 A X ARDENT lover of Saint Nicholas and a very efficient ■' *■ President through* )nt his term of office. Graduate of Columbia College; A.B. 1867, A.M. 1869, LL.B. 1870; Major 27th Regiment, N. G. N. Y. ; Lt.-Col. 5th Division Staff, N. G. N .Y. ; Trustee Columbia University; member law firm of De Witt, Lockman & De Witt; Trustee Fulton Trust Co.; New York Life Insurance and Trust Co.; Greenwich Savings Bank; Director Chemical National Bank; Governor New York Hospital; \'ice-President New York Society Prevention of Cruelty to Children. 77 AUSTEX G. FOX Austen (§eorgf jfoir PRESIDENT 1906-07 !_] AR\'ARn, A. B. 1869; LL.B. 1871 ; admitted to the Bar ^ * iS/J. Married Alice Hoppin of Providence, R. I. He was special assistant District Attorney in the prosecution of police ofificials after the investigation by the Lexow Committee 1S94-96. Nominee of the Citizens Union for District Attijrncy in 1897; [Member of the Committee of Fifteen in 1901 ; Chair- man of Committee of Nine, police problems in 1905. \'ice- Chairman Anti-imperialistic League; Vice-President Bar Association of the City of New York in 1898. Member Public Health Defense League; President Har- vard Club 1904-05; President City Club in 1905; member of manv others. 79 1 1 ^^^^P^Mf^B^ ■♦'-.J ^ • / . ' \bV y.^ 4 WILLIAM JAY 5^iUiam f aj) PRESIDENT 1908-09 ORX at 623 Broadway, New York City, Feljruary 12, BORN : 1841 841 Educated at Columbia Grammar School ; Columbia College A.B., 1859; A.M., 1863; Columbia College Law School LL.B., 1867. " Bedford House." Hon.e i.l Chief Ju>rfcc Jay Residence Bedford House, near Katonah, Westchester County, New York, the home of John Jay, first Chief Jus- tice of the United States. Served in the Volunteer Army of the United States during the War of the Rebellion, 1861 to 1865. Resigned with the rank of Captain in the line, having been brevetted Lieutenant- Colonel for gallant and meritorious services in the field. Married, June 12, 1878, Lucy Oelrichs, daughter of Henry Oelrichs. Is President of the Coaching Club, The Huguenot Society, Vice-President of The New York Herald Company, Senior Warden and Clerk of the Vestry of Trinity Church. CHAELES A. SCHEBMERHOEN Cfjarles ^usustus §»cj)rrmer!)0rn PRESIDENT 1910-11 r^ HARLES A. SCHERMERHORN, who resides in this ^-^ City, was born January i, 1839, at No. 60 Hudson Street, New York City, educated at private schools. In 1861 joined the Seventh Regiment, N. G. N. Y., and made the campaigns of 1862-1863 with the Regiment, later engaged in business in the Central West, and in 1880 married Louise Schermerhorn, daughter of John P. Schermerhorn, M.D., a former member of the Saint Nicholas Society. Mr. Schermerhorn is a member of the Sons of the Revolu- tion; The Society of the War of 1812, Post Lafayette Grand Army of the Republic; joined the Saint Nicholas Society September i860, is also a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, Holland Society, Church Club, is a Vestryman of Trinity Church and a member of numerous other Societies, National and Charital)le. Pie is a Trustee and Secretary of the House of Mercy and of the Society for the Relief of the Destitute Blind, and a Trustee of St. Luke's Home. Member Seventh Regiment Veteran Association. Llnknown to Mr. Schermerhorn, the Editor has added the fol- lowing extract from the Chronicle of the Society. December i, 191 1. "Loving cup presented to i\Ir. Charles A. Schermerhorn, the retiring President, in recognition of his long services as an officer of the Society." 83 JOHN THOMAS LOCKMAN f oj)n djomas iloclkman PRESIDENT 1912 BORN September 26, 1834; died September 27, 1912. Through the death of General Lockman, the Saint Nicholas Society suffers the loss of a President during his term of office. The mere recital of the record of this honor- able life conveys little of the man as we knew him here, where his unassuming and charming personality endeared him to us. The following from the Nciv York Herald: Brigadier General John T. Locliman, a civil war veteran, wiio in his later years was a member of the law firm of De Witt, Lockman & De Witt, a com- panion of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, died last night at his home, No. 140 West Seventy-third street. He was seventy-eight years old. General Lockman was born in this city. For more than seven years he served in the old Volunteer Fire Department. At the outbreak of the civil war he was a law student, and on April 19, 1S61, he enlisted as a private and took part in the Martinsburg campaign under General Robert Patterson and at Ball's Bluff under General Stone. He was promoted to captain and took part in the occupa- tion of Winchester, Va., and in the campaign of Virginia. He was made a lieutenant colonel in the iigth New York Volunteer regiment and fought in the Army of the Potomac under Generals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker and Meade. When Colonel Peisner died at the battle of Chancellorsville Lieutenant Colonel Lockman commanded the regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. He was ordered to the Southwest to reinforce General Thomas' command and fought in the battles of Wauhatchee and Missionary Ridge and took part in the pursuit of General Bragg and in the relief of Knoxville. He later participated in the battles of Caseville, Pine Hill, Kolb's Farm, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Atlanta. He entered that city and was in the famous march to the sea, and afterward was at the siege and occupation of Savannah. There he received the command of a pro- visional division to guard captured cotton and army stores. Colonel Lockman was in the march through the Carolinas. He was brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers for his services in the capture of Atlanta. At the end of the war he resumed his study of law. He was graduated from Columbia Law School in April, 1867, and in 1S72 became a member of the firm of De Witt, Lockman & Kip, which later became De Witt, Lockman & De Witt. General Lockman was a vestryman of Trinity Church, a trustee of the New York Protestant Episcopal Public School, a director of the Lawyers Mortgage Com- pany and the Mortgage Bond Company. He was a member of the New York Historical Society, the St. Andrew's Society, the Metropolitan, Church, and Army and Navy Clubs, a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. At the time of his death he w.-is president of the St. Nicholas Society. He leaves a widow, three daughters and two sons. 8S WALTKR LTSI'KXARD STYDAM Salter Hispcnarti g'uptiam PRESIDENT 1913 ly ^ R. SUYDAM began his career in Saint Nicholas, No- ■^"■^ vember 26, 1900, that being the date of his election. On December 5, 190 1, he was elected a steward to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Moses Taylor Pyne; Mr. Suydani's grandfather, Abraham Schermerhorn, having been in 1835 the first stew- ard of the Society. Again in 1903 he served as a steward and then was elected a manager for four years. In 1909 he was Fourth Vice-President, Third in 1910 and 1911, First in 1912; soon the ill- ness of General Lockman placed the active manage- ment upon Mr. Suydam, who was acting President Abraham ^i tii.KMhhH -hn ., ^ i • . until 1913, for which year he was elected President; he was oft'ered renomination for a further term 1)ut declined, stating that practically he had already been lie fore the members for two years. Three days later he was informed that he had been unanimously nomi- nated for the position of manager, for the term of four vears, which office he now holds. 87 CHARLES ISIIAM Cj)arlcs f 6l)am PRESIDENT 1914 TV yr R. ISHAM was elected Secretary of the St. Nicholas ^'■*- Society in 1896, and continued in that office until 1910, when he became a Vice-President. He was born in New York City, was educated at Phillips' Academy, Andover, graduated from Harvard in the Class of 1876, and studied at the University of Berlin and the College de France. He was admitted to the Bar in the State of New York, was Resident Graduate in History at Harvard, Librarian of the New York Historical Society, and Private Secretary at the United States Legation in London. He married Mary, daughter of Robert Todd and Mary (Harlan) Lincoln. 89 Constitution unamexded roi.i.owED by the signatures of the members, com- prising ONE hundred and SEVENTY-SIX PAGES SIMILAR TO THE ONE REPRODUCED ON THE opposite page. Truly a relic of New York old and of to-day. j&dtJQi of- *^^ «? "yua^tZi-T-^ to /S dA^c^ ^4^2/ r fL i-0 /a^^^^f.,^^r. ^>uL£ (t ^'^O^GjL^^J^.r^. 9?. ffV ^-^ ■^r/S'i^T 7i,