inHriene.'. To Xatiiamel was assigned mainly that
portion of the business that related directly to the
care and iii.iiiageijient of their numerous vessels when in
port, wliilsl (;i;(»ir(;i; assumed the financial control and
Kiiiflanr.. of il,,.],- ^eurn,! affairs. During the first five
years ih.-ir operations were on a very small scale, and
consisted (.r commissions and speculations at home, and
adventiiivs to ih<' West Indies. Afterwards they boldly
ernbarl^cil, -.a successive periods, in enterprises to every
(piarferc.r tlie world open to the commerce of the United
States u hirli ap])eared to oIFer a pnmiise of success.
(»i;oi;(;k (juiswoi-n early rose to the very front rank of
moi-chanls foi- intelligence, comprehensiveness of view and
sign;il aldlity. He maintained this position during the
whole of his life.
Possessed of a vigorous intellect and strong memorj^ he
was capabh' of severe and long-continued mental labor.
Ills piM*c:'i)tion was clear and ready, his decision prompt,
his :iclioii full of energy. His high integrity and sound
juilgUK'Ut commanded i)ublic contidence, and led to his
fre(pi(>nt selection for the office of arbitrator or umpire
in the SL'ttlement of commercial disputes. He served as
dir<'c!or in various corjiorations, insurance companies,
banks ami oth;'r associations connected with commerce,
auil ill railroad companies when this branch of internal
comiu'rc;' began to assume importancL\ and ever discharged
his duties with diligiMice and abilitv. He made the law of
marine insurance a subject of special study, and his
opinion on ditliciilt cases is believed to have possessed for
many years a weight not surpassed by any contemporary,
lay or piofessional.
Whilst he was always largely and actively eng-aged in
comnuM'cial enterprises, he was ever foremost in every
benevolent and imblic-spirited undertaking. During the
prevalencL> of yellow fever and the cholera he remained
in the Citv and administered of his substance to the
sufTerimr. He was amongst the first to relieve those
134 PORTRAIT GALLERY.
suffering from fire or other calamities, in other cities as
well as his own.
Mr. (tRISWOld had a very extensive acquaintance with
tlie leading men of all professions, and was on terms of
intimacy with Webster and his contemporaries.
Ilis politics were ever conservative. Early in life he was
a Federalist. He joined the Whig party at its formation,
and followed its fortunes to the end. Although a zealous
and ('fTicient laborer in \he political field, he never held a
political or civil oflice other than that of Elector for the
State of New- York, wdien General Taylor was chosen
President of the United States.
Mr. Griswold was elected a member of the Chamber of
("ommerce April 15th, 1817, and always took an active
part in its affairs.
In person, Mr. Griswold presentt^d a fine specimen of
the vigorous race to Avhich he belonged. Nearly six feet'
in height, with broad shoulders and chest, erect, muscular
and well balanced, his carriage was graceful, and his
activity and strength seldom surpassed.
II<' died, after a short illness, at New-Brighton, Staten
Island, (m September .0th, ISjO, in the 83d year of his age,
and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
WALTER R. JONES.
Wai.'iki: \l. .Tones was the loading Marine Underwriter
of his (lay. and cont lilxiicd hiigi'ly to the development of
thai fh'iiartnK'nl of coinmerce in ihc United States, particu-
larly ai ihc Toll of New- York. He was the son of John
.b»M;s, :ind was horn at ('old Spring Harbor, Long Island,
Ai)ril I.")!]!. 17li3. Tlio Cold Spiing branch of tlw^ .Tones
family of (JiK'cns Counfv, whose oriu:inal sc^at was on the
.south sido of the Island, whence all llu; sons of Willi.vm
Jo.NEs emigrated, excepting the father of Chief Justice
Samiel .Tones, were originally gentlemen farmers and
manufacturers. Their descendants, however, were natu-
HKKiKAI'niCAL SKf:TCIIES. 135
rally attracted to tiii.s City, in the building up of whose
business jind prosj)erity some of them took no insignificant
pint.
At tli<' ;ig(' of eleven, the subject of this sketch entered
the Ntoiv of his eldest brother, William H. Joi^ks, then in
1 Im| flour f i;id<\ A few years later, through the instrumen-
f.'ilily of his eoMsin, J. .Tacksox Joxks, he became a clerk
in Hie ofhce of Ww IJnited Insurance Company, which was
airuuig the earliest of our City organizations to undertalve
rnai-ine risks, and where he served his lirst apprenticeship
lo (he calling that engrossed all the subsequent years of
his lif«'. In 15-24 he became an assistant to Archibald
(«'i:a< IK, President of the first Atlantic Insurance Com-
|>a,ny. I ii IS2S), after the discontinuance of this Company,
and in conjunction with Josiaii L. Hale, he organized
the second Atlantic Insurance Company, with a capital of
$:<:)(>, ()()(). Mr. IIalk was President and Mr. Jones Vice-
President, and tlieComi>any had a prosperous career until,
in turn, it gave j»la(^e to a third successor, bearing the name
"Allatitic."
In the yeiir 1842 the mutual system of insurance had
come into favor. The substitution of the assured, for
stockholders, as recipients of such dividends as might be'
realized from the business of underwriting, appealed to the
interest of the merchants. Various difficulties and hazards
wer;' necessarily incident to the inauguration and conduct
of such a system. But the experiment was in process of
being tried, and Mr. .Ionhs and his associates had faith in
their ability to adoi)t it and carry it successfully forward.
Acc;)rdingly, the pnvsent Atlantic Mutual Insurance Com-
]>any was chartered and commenced business July 1st,
1812, with Mr. Jonks as President and Mr. Hale as A^ice-
l^resident. Not long afterward the office of Secretary was
tilled by Joiix D, Jones, who succeeded his uncle in ISoo,
and has ever since been the President.
The characteristics of Walter R. Jones were untiring
energy and industry, fidelity to dut}^ probity, accuracy
and prudence. These qualities, together with the skill and
experience gained in his previous training, were devoted
13*1 I'nlMKAlT GALLERY.
to the estaMislimeiit and nianngement of tlie new enter-
pri.M". Of the C'omitnny's standing little need be said liere.
Its !m<m<'slioncd credit and honorable repute have long
b.-.-u n-<-ojrnizfd throughout the coniniercial world. During
tli.-t4-n v.«ars. dating' from January, 1844, the average of
annual divi<lond realized by its assured exceeded tliirty-
flin-t- per cent., and at the time of Mr. Jonks' decease, in
l.s;i:». theagirregate of these dividends, made in scrip to the
a.ssun-d, had exceeded six nnllions of dollars. The iirm
foiindati«»ns on which the Company was thus established
n-niain unshaken, and lis prosi)erity and usefulness in the
wrvice of commerce have been uninterrupted.
Willi.- ollicial duties claimed the time and attention of
Mr. .loxKs. th.-y did not wholly- debar him from other in-
1 which did not recpiire his immediate personal care.
Ani'iig these interests, centred at Cold Si)ring Harbor,
were manufacturing industries and whaling ventures, under
th«' management of his brother. .l(»iix II. Jonks. It may
Ik« !nenti<»ne(l. :i< uiatterof local history, that in 1848 the
whalinir lleet liii.d dut at Cold Spring numbered eight
\<-«'-e|s. luiving an aggregate tonnage exceeding three thou-
K«nd tons. <-arrying altoul two linii(lre(l and lifty men, and
ing about a (juarter of a million dollars.
Th«' ready synipathy of Mr. .Ioxes was also enlisted for
humane enierprises. when wisely planned, and especially
"' * .'•i:it4'd with the sea. II was largely due to his
i' '''iii elFort that t hi- Life Saving J5en(>volent Associa-
'•■•' \v:iH cliartered in Maich, 1S4;», and was enabled to
the improved system of Life Saving Stations on tiie
Atlantic r<(ast. In sliort, he was neven* content to be idle
«»r to wanfe a nutHHMit ]>(»ssiblr to be employed upon some
UM-ful task. .\t tlie same linie liis Irnuk sincerity and un-
\\"U f<»rliima kindly place in the recollec-
ii"ie^ <•( Ills as>«M-iat4's au'l eutniiporaiies.
Mr. JoNKs wa.M elected a meml>er of the Chamber of
Comm.-n'e. Novenjber -Ith, 1S:M, and retained his member-
-'â– ip until hisde:it|i. whic-h occurn-d in this('ity, April 7tli,
.*' in thi Kivt\ V, ,ond year of ins age.
UIOCiUAI'IIICAL SKETCH KS. 137
LORING ANDRE^VS.
L()i:iN(; A\Dni:ws was born on January 31st, 1799, at
WirMlliarn. in White (now called Greene) County, in the
Stale of New- Vol k. His first American ancestor, William
Am)i;j;\vs, liad been one of the companions of Joii^' Dav-
JiM'oin' in the settlement of the colony of New-Haven, in
]n:{.», jind his name appears on the records as one of the
twelve men chosen to select from their own number the
seven i'lir.ufesses to whom was to be entrusted the govern-
ment of the infant settlement. William's son, Samuel,
wiio acconi])anied his father from England, removed with
Ills own family, in 1G72, to Wallingford, the iirst off>hoot
<»r I he j)arent colony, and but a few miles removed from it.
The fcMinder of the Ameiican family built the first church
in Xew-Haven, and after the migration to Wallingford, the
name ap])eais in many of the documents relating to the
history of that community. The removal to Windham was
made about the middle of the last century by Laban
Andiikws, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch,
and it was in Windham that Lowing Andeews received
his education, and underwent the early experience that
was the loundal ion of his subsequent success in a larger
s]>h(Me of action than the little country village afforded.
C'oNSTAXT Andkkws, Lokincj's father, was w^ell remem-
bered in "Windham a few years ago, as having been a
Justice of the Peace, a prominent Free Mason, a man of
commanding ])resence, and of an ardent and enterpris-
ing- temiHM-. The family consisted of two sons and two
daughters, the subject of this sketch being the second son.
Almost with the beginning of the century, began that
movement to the then unknown " Great West," which
drew with it the more adventurous spirits of the seaboard
States. Constant Andhews was one of these, and as he
was a land surveyor by profession, the opportunities of a
new countiy appealed to liim with especial force. In 1817
lie joined the westward march of the pioneers, leaving his
family behind. Louing had already, in 1813, at the age
13S PORTRAIT GALLERY.
ui jwun.H'n, nppron tired himself to Foster Morse— one of
!ln'«':ijli«'sr of file tanners Avho had been attracted by the
vir^nn lu-mloek forests of the Catskill Mountains— serving
out the ajiiirentieesliip, which was completed in 1820. In
»lu? meantime, liis motliur had died in New- York City, and
his cUh-r l)r()th(*r had followed his father to the West.
WIm-h Ik' found himself of age and a free man, young
I/<»i:ix<; at once took his way westward in search of the
falhiT an(n)rotlu'r of whom for some years he had heard
no direct tidings. Tln' journey was then a great under-
taking for a youtli of slender means, but he persevered
until ho discovcnv] that both his father and his brother had
«li«'d and been buried at I'rairie-du-Cliien.
Thi' fju«*st liad occupied two years, and when the melan-
choly end of it had been attained, young Andrew^s re-
turned to N<'\v-Y<Mk by the way of New-Orleans, and
nrrived at Hudson, (wliere one of his aunts was living,)
worn out and dispirited. His good aunt refused to let him
I««:iv«* ]u'V utilil li«' was restored to health and strength, but
wlhMi li<* w;is fullv recovered, he determined again to seek
liis fi»rfum* in the West. From this purpose he was di-
v<Tl«'il by what In- ?neant to be a passing visit to liis old home
at \Viu<lliam. TIwh' Ik* was warmly greeted, and his old
omployor. FosTi:i: aMoi;si;, offered him the management of
oil*' <if his tniin«M-ies, upon terms so favorable as to induce-
him I le again iu his birthplace. Until 1818, the busi-
n'»»H at fanning had been prosecuted on a small scale oidy,
but In that y«'ar Colon. •) I-'.i.wakks, of Northampton, Mass.,
•1 ill (ireene C'ounty the lirst of the great tan-
iieiu-ti, which for neaily half a century, and until the
ni liri'l b.M-ii sirippc'l ,,f tlR'ir hemlock forests,^
rtw^ nil. i ili<! leading industry of the Catskill region.
Tli«' li-alluT was cart.'d over the mountain roads to the town-
of Kingston. «.n th«' Hudson Kiver, a long and wearisome
joiirn-y. nnd ihf-nce transjKuted by boat to the City of
Ni'W York, at that time, and for many j^ears afterward,
th" ^..l.• market f<.r tli.- i)roduct. It was in 1822 that
I.^»uixo Amii:k\v.s returned to Greene County, and seven
' later he came to this City, which was to be his home-
BIOfJIJAI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 139
for tli(i romniruler of his life, to establisli himself as a
iHMlhernierdiiint, with a capital as yet small in money, but
with a reputation for intef,mty and industry that secured
hini fh(' confidenre of the tanners of Greene County. It;
was not loni; Ix^fore he took a prominent place among that
body of solid and honorable men of the "Swamp," who
wcr*' not less distinguished for their commercial honor
than for their l)usiness sagacity.
Ji<»i:i.N<i Andi:kws was to pass througli one more trial
on his way to jjrospei'ity. In IS'.Vi he had formed a partner-
shij> with Wii.LiA.M Wilson, in wliich Gideon Lee and
SitKi'iiEui) Knai'P were special partners. The profits of
th<' liini were large for several years, but the panic of 1837-
came, and at the age of thirty-eight Mr. Andkews found
himself once more penniless. But liere there came to him
a inaik of confidence that not only refiected honor upon
his special partners, but also emphasized the character for
pi-obity which he himself had earned. These gentlemen
invited liim to a conference, in the course of which they
oiTer(Hl to let their money remain in his keeping, to be
rei)aid, practically, at his OAvn convenience, and with no
other security than his word. The money w^as repaid in
due time, and the success of Loiiing AndeeW' s thenceforth
was scarcely broken. For a great i)ortion of the remainder
of liis business career he was alone, except when, during
tS4(), A HIKE Low, of Boston, was his partner. In 1851 he
admitted into partnership Charles Gibbons, a young
man who had risen from the ranks, and by his industry,
perseverance and honesty had won the confidence of Mr.
Andukws. In the latter years of his life Mr. Andrews
was assisted in the management of his business by his two
sons, AVillia:\i L. and Constant A., the firm name being
LouiNi; Andrews c\: Sons,
Mr. Andrews was described by his business associates
as the soul of honor in all Lis transactions, and possessed
in a remarkable degree foresight and independent judg-
ment. He attested his great faith in the value of Swamp
properly by investing largely in it. He was one of the
earlv directors of the Mechanics' Bank, one of the founders
140 POIITRAIT GALLERY.
of 111.' Shoe and Leather 15ank, and its first President.
\W sul»s<Tibed lar^^oly to the stock of the AtLintic Cable
Conii»any. at a time when tliat enterprise seemed hazardous
to a (lo;;ree which in tliese days it is difficult to understand,
or Hveii to recall.
Mr A MMiKWs was elected a member of the Chamber of
C<nnn)erce .Jidy G, 180.1, and continued his connection with
th<* association to the close of his life.
in liis social and more private relations, Loiitng An-
DKKws was self-contained and somewliat reticent, but
kindly : lii"^ benefactions were alike liberal and unosten-
tati..n><. 11." died in this Cit}^ January 22d, 1875, in the
TCitli yrar of his age.
JOSHUA BATES.
This eminent baidver and financier, to wdiose kindly
and gMP'rous oflices America owes so much, was born in
Weymoiitli, Massachusetts, October lOlli, 1788. His father,
(y»»l. .losin'A I>A'n:s, was one of the most estimable citizens
of WeynicMith, bnt was not in prosperous circumstances.
1I«' f^.ivc his children lli:' best edncational advantages, both
|niblic and private, which Weymouth atfordod ; and when,
at t!i(» :!;;« of Jifl';'n. young 13ati:s w^as placed in the
roiinting-house of \\'iii.i\M R. (^kav, then one of the
niiTciiant pi-inn-s of 1'. p>ion. Mr. (<kay says that his
f;illt<T. in t;ikiiig leave of him, gave him twenty-five
dttllars, which was his whole i):i1 riinony. Tiie boy was
faifhfiil. intelligent, diligent, and strictly upriglit in
all business matters, and soon won the confidence of his
iMiiployer. Mr. (Ji:\v had two bnsiiu'ss houses, one in
t"''" ' -town, the other in P)Oston. AVhen young Bates
â– ^ Jileen years of age he was i)nt in charge of the
' town house, and remained there throe years, when
irn"d to Boslon. and for three years more was in
'l-ntial relations with Mr. (Iuay. In 181:3 he formed
a parln«jr.ship, nn<lei- Mr. (,Jkay\s patronage, with Capt.
BIOGllAPIIICAL SKETCHES. 141
l{i:n<i.oiji). of Cliai-lestown, under the style of BKCKror.D
& J5ai Ks. l.iif, ouinp^ to complications arising out of the
war of 1.S12, tlie l)usiness was not snccessful, and, at the
•'"'• "I" iliiv" yf^nrs, the copartnership was dissolved.
Li'Mii. (;.,\. Wir.i.iAM GitAY, father of William R. Gkay,
a ^Mvat sliippiiiiT merchant of Salem, had removed to
Boston sonic years Ix-fore, and in 1816 sent young Bates
to Kni-oi)e, as Ills agent. Tie conducted his business there
very sMccessfnlly, traveling over the continent extensively,
and ronning tin; ae(inaintance of the great commercial
lionscs of Holland, France and Italy. From 1820 to 182a
he resided in London, and conducted negotiations with the
great niereliants of London, in behalf of the Geays and
otin-r American houses, and so great was the confidence
lit' ins])iie<l, that wlien he was about to enter into part-
n<«rship with Mr. .b.iiv Baking, January 1, 1S2G, one of
til.' most eminent of these merchants, Mr. Labouciiere,
voluntarily tciidrivd him the capital he needed for the
l)ailnerslii|.. Two years later, in 1828, both Mr. Baring
and Ml-. Bates joined tlie great banking house of
]?Ai;iN<; r.!:oTi[EKS & Company, of which in a short time he
became the active manager in all American and foreign
air.ii'.-s, and, oji the retirement of Sir Alexander Baring,
l^Lord .VsiiiMinoN,) the senior partner. His thorougli
business abilities, his great knowledge of commercial
alfaiis in all parts of the world, and his admirable tact
an<l genial manners, made him a model banker. In the
settlement of all American (piestions he was the supreme
authority. lie cultivated the most amicable relations
with all the leading American bankers. AVhile he never
forgot for a moment his allegiance to his native country,
and was always proud of his American citizenship, his
relations were so cordial with the Governors of the Bank
of Enuland and the irreat London bankers, that he could
obtain greater favors from them, than were accorded to any
otiier banking house. He Avas always ready to render a
service to America, and his first great opportunity to do so
was not neglected. Mr. Samt^el B. Kuggles, long an
honored uRMuber of the New- York Chamber of Commerce,
1 \2 PORTRAIT GALLERY.
tlms sfnfcil Mr. Bati:.>^' services to New- York City and
tlic count ly in ]8:?S. in a speech before the Chamber,
Ortolwr 2(»tli. IH'A, culled to take action on the occasion
<if liis (lentil. (We omit some passages, not necessary
to ihe uiulerstanding oi' tlie snbject.) At the time of
the gn-at financial panic in 1837, the Legislature of the
State of New- York passed an act practically permitting
the banks of the State to suspend specie payments for
one year from :May IG, 1837. Mr. Ruggles was elected
a member <»f the State Assembly in November of that
ye:ir, and made Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means, in that body. It was a part of his duty
to examine carefully the resources of the banks, and
fspfcially their ability to resume specie payments in
Mav. 18:}S. He was thus brought into communication
with many of the most eminent bankers and financiers
of ilie City and country. Among them, none possessed
.sonnder hiiancial knowledge, or clearer and more far-
siglited judgment and integrity, than the late James
(.ioKK Ki.\(i, soon :ifter President of the Chamber of
Commerce. :ind the head of the great banking house of
PiMMi:. \V.\i:i> \ KiNc. \\lio were most intimately asso-
ciat<'(l with the house of Barixg Brothers & Co. Mr.
KiN<; was hostile lo the act of suspension passed by the
previnus Legislature, :iiid was determined to spare no
I'lfort l(» bring abitut ilie j)i()ni[)t resumption of specie
|.;i\ments in M:iy, 18:58. Meanwhih', Mr. Nicholas
liiiUM.i;. then J'l-esidcnt of the ''Pennsylvania Bank of
lliu I'liited States," (resuM-ii;iiiMl from the old Bank of the
L'niN'd Slates.) nnd reg.-ird.d in many quarters as a high
autliority in ni:iil.'is of rm.ince. wrote to Mr. Ei'GCJLES,
••jiriieslly advisiii^r ij,,. piolonguiion of the susx)ension
of niH.Ti<* p.-iymenls, :iimI nsserling the inability of the
banks to redeem I heir obligations in coin. The Com-
n»ille«' «.r Ways and .^^■:lns disapproved of Mr. Biddle's
view, and cc.nsidted My, Kix,; <>u the best means of
l»rin;;ing about resumi»ti(.ii. lb- was so earnest in his
iM-lj.-f in i(.s ne<'<«ssity. iIkiI he went to Europe in the early
winter of ]8:J8, to aid in its accomplishment, llow he
BIOOUAI'IIICAL SKETCHES. 143
succeeded is told in the following letter, addressed to Mr.
RUGGLES:
LoxDON, MarcJi 15, 1S3S.
JJeai: Siu :
I hasten to inform you that I have concluded an arrange-
ment on 111.' part of 15ai:ing Buotiiers & Co., and Prime,
VVari> A: King, witli the Bcmlc of England, for the ship'-
men( (.f one million of sovercif/ns, (in gold, of course,) by
tlie four or live first ships for New- York, from London and
Livripool, and 1 trust and hope that upon their arrival
our hanks, and those of the Atlantic Cities, will resume
and maintain specie payments, toward which result my
llioughts and eflorts have been unceasingly devoted for the
last month. Tiie service which I have thus had an oppor-
tunity to afford my own City and State, by aiding it in
tiiking the initiative in this great and wholesome measure,
alVords me a satisfaction, in which I know that you and
my other friends will fully participate. This arrangement
was only concluded delinitely this morning, but I com-
municate it with all dispatch.
James G. King.
To Samuel B. Ruggles, Esq.,
Chairman Comniillce of Ways and Means,
Albany, N. Y.
li was not till after Mr. King's return to New- York
that it was learned that Mr. Bates had not onlv readily
resjionded to Mr. King's proposition, which, without his
powerful aid and co-o]>eration, could not have been ac-
complished, but mindful of the difhculties attending re-
sumption, had itisisted upon having another million of
sovereigns, ($."),( )00, 000, ) placed at the disposal of the
American bankers, if it should be required. In 1839 Mr.
Bates, solicitous for the rescue of the monied institutions
of his native land from embarrassment and dishonor,
olfered, on behalf of Bakixg Brothers & Co., to advance
a large sum on Stale stocks, (which were not then readily
marketable in England,) for account of several banking
l-lt POKTllAIT GALLERY.
in.slitutions of New-York City, and tlins relieve them.
This civdil. thou.irli but ])nrtiallY used, contributed largely
t*» iTiiiintnin ]»ublic ronlidence.
Thr r.'siilt of the negotiations of 1838, so honorable alike
u> Mr. KiNc; and to Mr. Bates, is now a matter of history.
Th.' lirst million of sovereigns, ($5,000,000,) with so much
more in prospect, proved amply sufficient. The New-
Y<»rk baidvs all resumed early in May. Their example w\as
penendly followed tlnoughout the Union, except in the
rnse of Mr. J'liMti.KS Bank, Avliich, after a vain attempt to
carry an (tjipi-essive load of interior State stocks, finally
went down and disappeared from the financial world.
But Mr. Baths' manifestation of the highest love for his
i-fuintry did not stop with these acts. When, in 1846,
(in-at Britain and the United States were nearly ready to go
Ut war on the Northwestern Boundary question, the British
(tovcrnmenfc claijning, on very weak grounds, that the
houndarv line should be the 45th degree of north latitude,
whih' the United States Government; demanded the parallel