OF JVEW YORK CITY.                      281
 

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Among other of the olden time merchants, is one to
whom I have often alluded, and who is the founder of
a family, whose name Is Interwoven with the prosperi¬
ty of the city — John McVickar. He was a merchant
of the last as well as present century. The manner in
which he came to this country Is as curious as his subse¬
quent successful mercantile career. He was Irish born.
John and Nathan were sons of an Irish gentleman of
moderate estate, and he lost his first wife — their mother.
He afterwards married a second time, to give a mother
to his boys. She was not different from the general
run of step-mothers, and the home ceased to be a home
to them. Under those painful circumstances, John, the
eldest brother, determined to abandon it and try his
fortune in the Western hemisphere. He told his young¬
er brother that If he succeeded In New York, whither
he was bound, he would send for him.

He came to New York at about the age of seventeen
years. He had an uncle already established in this
city, and he was under the special guardianship of Dan¬
iel McCormick, of whom I have written so much. The
familiar address to him of " John," in after life by the
old merchant, often awakened the surprise of strangers.
.John was fortunate.    He did succeed, and he sent for