The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-05
MOSES TAYLOR.
An Old School Merchant OF New York
Busy and Brilliant Mercantile Career
Clerks OF Old Times and Their
Labors = "reminiscences Of the
Cholera Scourge, the Great Fire
and Financial Panics-Busi.
ness as Banker and In
Other Fields OF Enter
prise-Persenal Life.


Continuing our sketches of the living representa-
tive men OF New York, we find no one the teach
ings OF whose life fuller of interest than those OF
Moses Taylor. To young men just entering upon
business careers and ambitious OF mercantile wealth
and honOrs the record OF his life Is full OF instruc-
ton. There Is vitality In such life record, en-
oouragement. hope-the stimulus OF noble example,
tbs stimulus Of highest success. Moses Taylor is
merchant OF the old school, that distinguished class
OF heightened men who, by drectness energy, intel
ugence, honesty. uprlghtness have achieved their
mercantile triumphs ana given sucn splendor OF
character. stability and worldwide renown TO the
merchants OF New York. Because he u an old mer-
chant and belongs the old school he Is not by any
means old fogyish. In the busy scenes OF our busy
metropolitan life to-day on Change, In matters OF
finance in questions OF commerce, IN politics. In re-
gion In science and art there Is no one more active
none more wide awake, none more thoroughly up
to the spirit OF the times. none more warming with
active human sympathies with everything apper-
tanning TO modern progress and the great strides OF
our modern civilization. Commencing his business
hfe as clerk In . shipping house he soon founded
shipping house Of his own, whose vessels crossed
every ocean and penetrated arthcst seas In remotest
quarters OF the globe TO which American enterprise
has pushed Its commerce. This house still con-
snues with him at the head. Its success has been I'M
exampled He started with good name, justice and
truth honor and uprghtness. These he Inherited
these he never sacrificed. Extending his nvincbe
energies to other enterprises, and carrying
with him into these new fields of labor
the same energy, pr0mptncss and integrity, he has
added largely to his wealth till now, as is well
known, he is one OF the richest men In the city.
He has known no such word as fail. The triu nphal
rewards Of q successful life are now his. He has
kept his hands clean, his honor unsulied Entire
falthfulness, scrupulous honesty answering truth
fitness and untiring activity have brought him his
successes. No one need be told how he has made
his vast wealth the minister OF good deeds. 1t has
not yet been forgotten how few years ago in an
important financial CRISIS IN our city affairs he came
to The rescue OF the police and advanced nearly
million OF dollars FOR their pay, and how, In the
darkest hour Of our countr,'s peril and need, he
was foremost TO furnish the go ernment money with
which to carry On the war, and without which the
growing victory Of It's brilliant close would never
have been achieved. His lie has been Of great
business enterprises great persistence ana industry
great and lofty aims and great unsellshness. Devo-
ton to business earnest and practical, plain ana
straightforward, quiet and unostentatious and seek
ing that,
Above all early dignties,
A still and quiet conscience,
ID the summary Of his llfe The details, necessarily
constrained OF course, within the compass Of a
newspaper sketch, We give below. and which. Is
we have already promised, VIII be found full OF
interest and repete with lessons Of instruction.
GENEALoGY AND SCHOOL DAYS.
Noses Taylor is Of English descent His great.
grandfather, after whom he was named came to this
country IN 1876 from London. An advertisement In
the New York Gazette OF 1850 announces his place
OF business, which was also his residence 1.-THE
corner house opposite the Fly Market" Excepting
q few months, during which tme he resided and
carried business IN Old Slip this paternal ances
tor remained In his first chosen locality, pursuing
here with diligence his business the residue Of
his lie. And this reminds US that IN this
city, where one generation seldom leaves
any distinctive mark connecting 1t with
another, where the landmarks OF former times are
10 speedily obliterated by the spirit OF changeabe
prevailing our people and the product OF revo-
buttons in business and where everything that is
old Is sacrificed to anything new, It is indeed re
markable that now, century later, lineal descend
ant or the same name should be carrying on bust
ness within stones throw Of the same locality The
youngest or the elder Noses Taylor was the grand
father or the subject OF present sketch, having
been born three years after his fathers settlement In
this city. During the occupation OF New York by
the British forces In the Revolutionary War this
younge 81 son moved into New Jersey with his fam.
ily and while there JACOB Is. Taylor, the father OF
Mr.. Taylor, was born. Many still living remember
Mr.. Jacob b. Taylor. What gave him conspicuous
Aston as his confidential and advisory business
agent-a trust OF great responsibility and the duties
zeal ana fidelity. Few citizens were helo In nlgner
respect, and as will be remembered, he, Tor many
successive years was elec.ed 70 our Guy vo4ncls az
gO0u OLD period IN our municipal history when, II
should be stated, civic distinctions were only con-
ans ~A mt I'm I'M or
January, 1906 Mr.. Taylor was born. The house In
which ne was born then stood at the corner OF
Broadway and Morris street. house which has
long since passed out OF exissence; but the memory
OF which aud the pleasant childhood days passed
within liz walls IL slill fresh and green IN the recol,
lection OF Moses Taylor. In 1916 his father removed
his residence further up BROADWAY. nearly opposite
70 where the New York Hotel now SANDS and
where ne continued to reside long after ms son nad
fafen his departure from the paternAl ROOF ana es-
sayed single to combat life and lts duties IN
the sharp connct OF the world tumuituous
arena Unt he was nItoen years OF age he attend ed
school regularly. Inc Schools winch lie successfully
attonded were those Of Pickett which was conducted
wiin such nourIsbng success In Chambers street;
Forrest and SlCcum. In Churcn street, aud Kellogg,
in Thames street. these schools were al neary TWO
mics from his ather's house, which, as Will be seen,
was then quite out OF town; and as his underwriting
custom was 10 90 back and forth On foot he thus
early learned the habit OF long and rapid waking,
aud which ne still keeps up, and TO the constant
practice Of wnicn his present vigorous health 10 no
and punctualliy which have characterized all the
long years OF his active business NE were his marked
cnaracteristics tnen. lie was never q truant; no
shirKed no duty; lie lett no work unpcrformcd; but
he was always prompt In has attendance,
dgent his studies, and faithful and
Thorough In the work which was Imposed upon him.
Though dIigent student, his Incliuations did not
lead DIM TOWARDS the paths OF scholarship those
leading to professional emlneuce. Young as ne was,
his youthful brain had been busy planning his
future. HIS aspirations were OF trade; ms coming
victories commercial conquests; his neo the COM
mercs OF Inc word. This secret hope and yeaining
ambition OF his young lie were unex pecteuly de-
veloped to ms father In conversation win hun juss
peiurc his 1lteelth birthday.
'You are getting 10 he pretty big boyr his father
said to nlln he came Ia from Ills long WAX nom
school "uaye you made up your MINI what Kind
Of business you would Ike TO follow when you are
manan
son, yes. long ago" he promptly answered.
swell, what - itf
''SnippiDg merchant"
'Wouidn't you IKE 70 study ana be lswyerw
'Not ut ain