The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-19

ne na0 Oeou TWO year, D partner. Inc business na0
been highly prosperous. He had inspired new life
into 1.-THE life Of youth, holiness and determina-
ton. Robert b. Mntun was also Q young man.
latter being Henry GrinnelL These two young men
were now the sole partners ana had the sole drec-
foundation OF ' the frm Grlnne MlntuD 4 Com .ns
firm second to none IN this city for enterprise fair
ness and upright dealing In Dusness-a frm that
through all ths shocks OF financial revolutions OF the
past iorty years has stood
Firm the granite
Lashed by the ocean
arm whose credit has never been shaken or honor
stated tue business WAS conducted under the
Old firm name OF Fish & GrInnell UNTIL In fact 1888
nation OF firms 10 embrace only the names OF those
actually employed in business. At 1rst their Dusi-
ness place was corner OF Pine and Front streets
ana then rev years later on the opposite corner,
lrom which place IN ls4l 1t was moved 10 No. IS
sonth street. where the business OF The Old house
Sill conducted. IL would REQUIRE . long chapter TO
describe In detail the extended business OF this
house. Their business was immense. They owned
large number OF chips which penetrated almost
our shipping interest Was great interest aud the
character OF shipmasters and crews vastly
the present day OF immense modern steamships be-
fcre railroads and telegraphlng. All Imports
ana exports were by sailing vessels. In those days,
and long AFTER the travel 10 and from Europe, that
KIND Of travel that IL now wholly diverted to steam.
ship lines-our wealthy merchants and fashionable
and pleasure tourists-was confined TO sa,ng
packets. Messrs. Grianell, Mlnturn Co. estaD-
iisned two tines Of ocean packets--the ..Biue and
White swallow Tan Line" running to Liverpool
mug TO London. The ships sailed al first every ten
days and then every week. The only other oceanic
Captain Belts line to Havre. E. X. Collins Ora
matte Line" and Burns, Trembe Co.'S
ns 70 Liverpool would be deeply
lines and also the progressive growth OF sailing
ships, and how from 500 tons they crent up to their
present colossal magnitude. But this Is foreign to
subject. and neither VIII stop TO PulurRc at
length on the success OF this famous mercantile
house. Mr.. Grinnell was an interchangeable worker,
prompt and attentive to business, energetic and
wide awake. At one time they owned and were
Interested IN nearly fifty vessels, which, laden with
valuable freight, were traversing every sea. some
times some sweeping storm would bring them DIS
asters OF shpwrecks but not q year passed that
the profits did not aggregate more than the l0sses
II unnecessary to say that holiness enterprise
and skilled management contributed to this result.
Its brilliant success was the legitimate reward OF
enterprise and straightforward dealing. In 1860 Mr.
Crunch retired from the business, leaving TO the
unblemlsh name
ELECTION 10 CONGRESS AND POLITICAL LIFE.
The cares OF business did not prevent MIR. Grinnel
devotlng some attention to political AFFAIRS Belong
ing TO sne Old line whg party, he was never, now
ever an active politician, but notwithstanding THIS
the weight OF his name and influence carried his
nomination IN 1883 Tor Congress. Our city then, as
Is well known constituted one Congressional district
This was in the old times, when 1t took three days
TO get through general election, when Tammany
Han did not hold Imperial sway, and when those
sure OF being returned as elected. On the
ticket with MI Grnnel which mad 1000 major
elected Ogden Holman, Edward Curtis and
James Monroe-a somewhat different stripe
OF men from the most Of those elected nowadays
to Congress from TINS city. Mr.. Grinnes Con-
gressonai career has left no record OF lengthy
speeches He made his influence feit in committee
roome and in his votes showed MS abiding feaity to
his party. Few men ever went to Congress who were
80 universally popular with their associate mem.
bers, irrespective OF party afhliation. His magnh
ppnf nnfaf 80 vi ittaln n
ana not It's anmosles were III the ascendancy, have
not Vet been forgotten.
Mr.. Grlnncll Us we have stated was an old line
whig. HIS devotion TO the WING party was unialter
ing, ana TO Daniel Webster was enthusiastic TO an
almost unparalleled degree. Tms latter enthusiasm
was most strlklngly shown at the Baltimore
Convention At which General scott was nominated
for the Presidency. On the forty -eighth ballot GEN
era Scott needed only one vote to secure the noun
nation Mr.. Grinnell had all the way through given
his solitary vote Tor Daniel Webster.
Won't you change your vote now, Mr.. GrlnnellG'
Will decide the case ana nominate General Scott"
Il would not change my vote II one hundred thou
me-, he energelically replied. II stick to my friends
| shall continue to vote for Daniel WeDstern
s lime q M er
Rress he was president for time OF the PhenIx
Bank. The financial crisis OF 1887 had served III
way 10 get Its aalrs entangled. and 1t was be-
Iieved Its charter would be Withdrawn. Mr. Grin.
nell took hold OF the matter was made temporary
president OF the bank and succeeded straighten
ing out all It's entangements. lie is stu director OF
the bank, and by the way, sad but necessary com
mentary transformers OF life ana ITS duties
Ii the only one now living OF the bank directors Ia
1921 when he first became director. lt Is unques-
toned that the sound financial status Of this bank
to-day is largely 10 be attributed 10 his skiliul
financial management
In 1s43 Mir. Grlnnei was elected President OF the
Chamber OF Commerce, succeeding IN this office, as
VIII be remembered, Robert Lennox. and preceding
tue late Peletah Perit He filed the position several
years dscharglng his duties most acceptabIy.
IMPORTANT POSITIONS OF TRUST
Our merchants clerks owe MI. Grlnnell a deep
debt OF gratitude for the earnest zeal apd devotion
TO their interests In taking the Inilatory steps, he
dd, toward founding he merchants Clerks Savings
Institution" It's benefits to them have been meal
cuiabe, and 1t Is pleasant to be able TO record that
its management since has been such 10 insure IL
strength and perpetulty. lie Is now and has been
for Twelve years past s president and much OF Its
usefulness Is due 10 his personal efforts. =
HIS connection with the sun Insurance Company,
OF which he was one OF the earliest directors and
was president at the time Of ms appointment n
Collector but resigned on receiving the latter
appointment, Is TOO wen known to require
more than passing notice, This company nas
never Jailed TO pay promptly ali its losses ana ranks
AMONG the first companies OF the kind In the city
q statement that speaks volumes Tor Its manage
ment, oil which Mr.. Crunch has always been the
life and spirit.
COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.
For hve years having entered OH his duties in
1850, Mr.. Grinne was one OF the Commissioners or
Pubic Charities and Correction The duties OF
this important Office ne discharged with unremIt
tiiy carnestncss and hdelitJ Many abuses taat had
engrafteQ themselves into the system Of manage
ment were, through his energies and those OF his
coadjutors, eradlcated. Tue stupend0us benefits
now conferred through the medium OF this organ
zati0n were many OF Them planned, matured and
perfected by them.
APPOINTMENT AS COLLECTOR.
PassApg over many minor positions Mir. Grinnell
has nied from time to time, and some Of which he
SAIL oils with credit alike to himself and the various
institutions with which he is associated come to
hls appointment rs Collector. 0De thing worthy OF
note Is the fact that the appointment came unso.
lcied, and another thing equally worthy of note is
the fact that II could have been conferred upon no
one possessing more thorough intimacy with all
the diverse ramihcatiOns OF our shipping interests
HIS entrance upon the duties OF his ONCE to the
horde OF corrupt men holding place there was rs
Ightfully alarming as the presence or the Pied Piper
o. Hameln TO the rats In Brunswick. AZ the drst
words ne
Uttered
You heard as II an army mutereI,
And the mutterng grew TO gfumbling,
And the srumoling grew to mighty rumbling
his efforts 10 clean these Augean stables have only