The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-21
OLD MEN THAr iRE LETT.
George Law. Moses n. Griuucii, Peter Cooper.
Jnmes Lenox. and Netmnre.

Prom ne Rochester Democrat ont CAronfcie
Now that the Commodore IL gone II NAV
he proper to take look NJ the old men that are
! left. There II George Law, who twenty years
ago was hid RI val. but was soon Nanuushed, He
aud the 'omin9d9rc were ~ the same age and
were remarkable Tor their natural powers. Law
made money a. n contractors and th"n made ten
Inns a, m9rh a. stcnI ,nig pr"Y,ic.or. tie
part of thr Eighth Avenue Railroad his wealth
being estimated at three millions. Law has 81
late years become corpulcnt and unWirlly. and
being Of six-foot height lac IL probably tho
heaviest man IN the city, lie attends the Re
wife IL "A member. Ills son, Jdmca Law. is also a
regular attendant Orni-tun frequently calls on
the old inln and occasionally gets a liberal con
daughter married Col. May. the hero Of the
Mexican war who died ten wears ago Of dissipa
ton. Law gave him u good berth IN his Htrcet
ear department, but the Colonel loved To- drinh.
and. OF course. his story was soon told. Col.
May was the uncle q the fellow who whipped
Bennett.
Another old man Of former distinction ia
Moses H. Grnncll who Is now the sole remnant
of that old circle of fashionable and convivial
society which formerly linked the names of
Simeon Draper. Philip Hone and other suciety
men of past generation. He was "A politician
In the days of Clay and Webster. and NJ one time
represented this city In Congress. He lived In
grand style at the corner OF FIFTH avenue and
Fourteenth street. but his accomplished wife H.
dead. his children are married and he ia board
Ing In great dignity at a fashionable hotel MIR.
BRYANT Il the old man OF literature, being now
eighty four years Of age and still retains possess
sipn Of all his faculties. lie has of late years
M dc short speeches, being the oldest speaker
on record. Mr. Bryant Il widower and his
du ightcr Keeps hOue for him. He has "A winter
Ic-iience In this city, but in the summer his
home for many years has been at ROslyn, on
Long Island.
Peter Cooper IA the Nestor OF this group being
now eighty six. lie - the oldest of all The ma
tive born residents OF this city, and has the
OF all his faculties. lie Is trustee Of the Cooper
Union. and has his private Office In this build
ing, where he attends to the detail Of business.
A. phildnthrorist, he IL too well known to re
quire description. Thurlow Weed IL also one Of
the noted old men OF this city, being now four
score. He lives with his daughter, and Is tho
Oldest printer In the state, a. we'll rs ono OF the
richest. Both he and Peter Cooper are acccss-
current Importance. james IsenON. the rccluse
philauthropist, L. getting to he an old man. and
Is growing more devoted to his lofty purpose ~
he gets older. His plans Will only be developed
after his death. and will involve the greatest
bencfactiOns ever made 10y any man Of Amori-
name.
a X. Wetmore IA now eghty-one. lie has
avoided notice, and hence has seldom been par
agraphed 10y the journalist. Carefully secluding
himself from the public, he has devoted his
the race. For many years Mr.. Wetmore was
known IA "A successful hardware merchant. lie
made money steadily. and lived with much
economy. in order to exercise rich lberaity.
This system he has continued through life. His
specially has been the City Tract Mission and
the society for the Relief OF tho Poor both OF
which were founded by him. The city mission
aries meet every month to make their report.
ana Dir. Netmure la, attended these meetings
with great regularity Tor forty years. lie has
grown old In the work. but though now past
four score Is In excellent health. and Il useful
a. ever. lie has line FAM y. and they are
among the leading features in the Madison
square Presbyterian Church.