The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-17
WELL-KEoWN NEW FORK FAMILIES.


| foundations OF those fortunes which, invested
principally In city real estate, have greatly In
creased In the hands OF their descendants. These
wise investments have with time swollen into
enormous wealth witness the present incomes
OF tho Astors, Goelets, Schcrmerho rns, Whit
news, Borill rds, LivinGstons, and others. with
the exception OF Cornelius Vanderbilt. the
fOun ers OF the great New York fortunes OF the
present century have all passed away. Among
| the merchants Of hts time Robert Lenox stood
| prominent. lie commenced business in this
city in 1883. ard remained here perm snentIy
until his death, which occurred In Decem ber,
1870, in the eighty 0rst year OF his age. During
the whole period OF surc' ssful business career,
extending beyond the ordinary course If human
| life, he wss distinguished for great prudence,
a clear aud sound Judgment, and unblo finished
reputation. Robert Lenox was tive OF tho
town ~ Kirkcudoriant, in Scotland. ID ring
the Revolutionary war he was sent,wh n quite "A
boy, to an uncle resldlng In Philadelphia, then o
| Commissary-Generalo OF prisoners In the British
service. He pursued hls studies for time at
Burlington, ". j., afterward entered his uncle's
once az assistant. md continued In the British
service TIL the end Of the Revoutionar. war,
| when he came to this CITY. At that time Nich-
olas Garner kent caDlnet makers store ut ~
Maiden lane. He was vestrynan Of Trinity
| Church, did a 1outishing business, WIS univer-
| sally respected. Auu nhu large tanllY. Hl' sons
were splendid looking men and his daughters
gre beauties. Minya Young man IN those DAYS
attended devoutlv every Sunday nj Trinity to
see the Misses GARNER Among those thus
pously inclined was Robert Lenox. then 1.-THE,
hands young fellow. twenty-five years OLD.
He found favor in the ewes OF one OF the Misses
Clrmer, and married very shortly after his ar
riv In New York. Subsequently he made q
short trio TO his native country, and on his re-
turn settled here IA merchant.
Mr. Lenox was essentially self-made man.
outside of the friendly countenlncs and sup
port OF his fther-inl w. He was, when he nrst
began, an entire stranger in oily where the
name Of Lenox is now greatly venerated. be-
cause OF the noble deeds of charity and the
lavish don1iio for religious and literary pur-
poses Of his only son. J mes Lenox Mr.. l. nox
oommsnced business on a SC lie com mensur tie
with his means, then slender In the extreme
but, with indomitabe energy and wonderful
saRacity, he gradually and steadily enlarged his
transactions, till he eventually became one OF the
most successful merchants In the United States.
For many years his operations greatly exceeded
those OF any other merchant In the country at
that day. Such was his prudence that II Il be-
lieved there not = year during the whole
period OF bis business career that he did not
NM his capital greater At the end than Il had
been in tn. beginning. Tits will he deemed
more surprising when IL IL considered that a
fierce war ragged in Elr)ps during the whole
time. and that the commerce OF this country
suffered the most hagrant mi lries at thu hands
OF the chief beleerents. Mr. Lenox Invested
largely In New York city real estate, which
greatly increased in value during his lifetime
What proved TO be hts most important purchase
some thirty acres OF wild land lying in the
then Ninth Word ot the city-was made In 1917
nd II 10 ha Enrn
comprises the land between Sixty-eRhth and
Seventy-fourth streets, Fourth and Fifth ave
nuea-the choicest dwelln ,-honse property up
town. Robert Lenoxs son, the present Mr.
James Ienox. ha. sold OF given away ;he greater
poriio OF this property. It's studded here and
there with SPLENDID monuments OF his pisty,
li0erility and philanthropy. Philip's Church,
the Presbyterian Home for Aged Women. the
Presbvteiiln II ,spital, and Lenox LIBRARY will
eloq emily remind all future jewellers on Lemon
Hin Of Mr.. James Lenox's good works. But TO
come back to Robert Lenox. After the war OF
1872 he gradually relinquished mercantile pur-
suite. occupying him elf with the care OF his
own estate. which had already become very
large. and which afforded him Amusement, for a
few hours daily TIL within a very short period Of
his death.
In 40 Mr. Lenox, then Firat Woe President
OF the Chamber OF Commerce OF New Yo.k. was
unanimously chosen President 10 All the va
csncy occasioned by the death of william
Blvard Mr.. Lenox ws annually reelected
and continued to hold The Office up TO the time
OF his death.
IL NAV De mentioned, AZ an evidence OF indus
try witch Wa prominent feature In Mr..
Lenoxs character, that even, when most extern
siy,ly engaged In business. ami having no part
ner to assist hin, n Invariably posted his own
books At the time OF ais ssth he resided at 50