Hall, Henry, America's successful men of affairs

([New York] :  New York Tribune,  1895-1896.)

Tools


 

Jump to page:

Table of Contents

  Page 173  



THE    CITY    OF    NEW    YORK.----DE.                                                            173

machinery oils, in which business he continued for many years, becoming widely known
through all the manufacturing districts of New England. In 1863, he acquired a for¬
tune in Wall street through the good offices of the Commodore, who always looked upon
him as a favorite nephew and felt for him a strong attachment. Mr. De Forest remained
almost constantly at the bedside of his uncle during the latter's last illness, comforting and
cheering him to such a degree, that the Commodore desired his continual presence. Dur¬
ing this illness Mr. De Forest's mother contracted a heavy cold, which soon developed
pneumonia and her death followed that of the Commodore within about twenty-four hours.
Having retired from the oil business, he accepted the position of purchasing agent of The
New York Central Railroad, and for thirteen years served the road with the strictest in¬
tegrity, doing his best for the corporation and receiving on his retirement, which was due
to impaired health, most flattering testimonials from the officers of the road. In 1879,
he withdrew from active business, retaining an interest in the firm of Colbron, Chauncey
& Co. of Wall street. Always a lover of good horses, he enjoyed for many years his
daily brush on the road with Frank Work, Joseph Harker, Wm. Turnbull, Wm. H.
Vanderbilt and other owners of fine horses. In early life, he married Miss Katherine
Rice, daughter of a sea captain of Nantucket and of old Dutch stock through her
mother who was a Van Pelt. Mr. De Forest left an unblemished record and possessed
the sincere affection of hundreds to whom he was always ready to extend a helping
hand, being of a most genial and kindly nature. He left a son, now living in the West,
and a daughter, Isabel De Forest, the wife of Wm. T. Colbron of New York.

HENRY P, DE GRAAF, merchant and banker, born in Herkimer, N. Y., Nov. 24,
1825, is of old Holland Dutch descent. Remarkable even in youth for stature, at the
age of fourteen, when he first left home, he had already grown to be over six feet in
height. Ambitious to make his way in the world, he learned the cabinet maker's trade
in Little Falls, and in three years' time Young & Co, pronounced him the best of their
sixty workmen. Mr. De Graaf practiced the trade for several years in Albany and
Canajoharie. In 1849, he went to California in a ship so crowded that there was not
space enough for the whole company to sleep at once. Arriving in San Francisco
after a voyage of six months and nine days, he proceeded to the mines. While pros¬
pecting for gold, he was induced by the high price of provisions, pork then selling at
$2 a pound, to hunt for game and sell the meat to the miners. He received 70 cents a
pound for venison and a share of the profits of the miners whom he supported, and
gained a little capital in this occupation. A thirteen months' stay in California com¬
pletely satisfied the young New Yorker, and in 1851, he resumed the cabinet maker's
trade in Canajoharie. Later, he again visited California, and opened the pioneer ship
chandlery store of San Francisco. This venture was successful. In 1852, he came to
New York city, and found work in the furniture shop of the firm of Wentworth & Sons,
and thereafter for many years followed this honest calling. Honest, competent, untir¬
ing, an excellent workman, and able to deny himself unnecessary luxuries, he gained
sufficient capital to venture in business alone, and in 1857, he started a furniture factory
of his own on Pearl street. This enterprise was profitable from the start, although
exposed to keen competition from a rival store adjoining. The firm of De Graaf &
Taylor, founded in i860, moved to the Bowery, and 'in a few years attained great
importance. In 1865, this firm shipped a large amount of furniture of their own mak¬
ing to the Pacific coast.    The consignee refusing to accept the goods, De Graaf & Taylor
  Page 173