Hall, Henry, America's successful men of affairs

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

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c.

HUQH NESBITT CAMP, manufacturer, was born Oct. 14, 1827, in the village of
Livingston, N. J., about ten miles from Newark, at the house of his maternal grand¬
father, Calvin Ely. In the following December he was brought to New York by his
parents, and New York has been his home ever since. His parents were Isaac Brook-
field Camp and Jeannette Ely, both natives of New Jersey and children of neighboring
farmers. Beginning life at fourteen, he was employed in various ways until 1843, when
he entered the counting house of James A. Edgar, then of the firm of Booth & Edgar,
commission merchants. In March, 1854, at the suggestion of Francis Skiddy, his life¬
long and much loved friend, he formed a partnership for sugar refining in Bristol, R. I.
With $40,000 capital, loaned to the new concern by Francis Skiddy, Booth & Edgar,
and William Piatt & Sons, of Philadelphia, the firm of Camp, Brunsen & Sherry engaged
in business and were highly successful. Within a year they repaid their borrowed
capital, and for fourteen years fortune smiled upon them. In 1868, the firm dissolved,
Mr. Camp buying the interest of Messrs. Brunsen and Sherry, and forming a new part¬
nership, taking as partners George Robertson, one of his salesmen, and William McK.
Chapman, under the name of Hugh N. Camp & Co. During the war many competitors
came into the field, over-production followed, and Mr. Camp succumbed in 1870. He
prepared to resume, but finally concluded that the real estate business offered a greater
opportunity, and he opened an office in Pine street, as broker and auctioneer, and met
with success far ahead of his expectations. In 1880, he began buying and selling on his
own account, paying especial attention to lands in the 23d and 24th Wards. In these
dealings he has been successful. He is also and has been for many years largely inter¬
ested in lead mining in Missouri, and in the cement business in Pennsylvania. In 1854,
Mr. Camp married Elizabeth Dorothea McKesson, daughter of John McKesson. Of
their eight children, six are living—Edward B., Maria Lefferts, who married Perry P.
Williams; John McKesson, Fred. Edgar, Alice Emily, and Hugh Nesbitt Camp, jr.
Their home has been since 1861 at Morris Heights, where in 1863 he built " Fairlawn.''
In 1880, Mr. Camp was appointed by Mayor Edson, one of the Committee of Seven, to
inquire as to the necessity of an additional supply of water for this city. From the
action taken at that time, the citizens of New York are indebted for the magnificent
supply of pure water it now has. Mr. Camp has been trustee of The Mutual Life
Insurance Co., director of The Mechanics' National Bank, The Continental Trust Co.,
The Title Guarantee & Trust Co.. (and vice-president of the latter), and The Twenty-
third Ward Bank; and trustee of Clinton Hall Association, of which he was secretary
about thirty years. The Skin and Cancer Hospital, and The House of Rest for Con¬
sumptives. At present he is treasurer of The St. Joseph Lead Co., The Doe Run
Lead Co., The Mississippi River & Bonne-Terre Railroad, trustee of several charities
and a member of The Chamber of Commerce. His clubs are the Century, Union
League, Grolier, Church, Republican and City. In politics Mr. Camp is a staunch
Republican, and has been since 1859.

FELIX CAMPBELL, merchant and banker, a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., where he
is a resident, was born in 1829, of Scotch-Irish parentage.    He left the public schools
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