New-York tribune., 1880-06-13
SKETCH OF Ills CAREER.


an old Dutch family. ancestor Gilbert Opdyck.
Commissary- General under the Dutch Government OF
the NewNetherlands in 1640. Later the family settled
in NewJersey. George. like many Of the successful
business of this oiy began life farm, and there
remained until his sixteenth year. when he began teach
lug district school, Believing that the West afforded
tho best chance for a young man, he opened
a clothing store In Cleveland. Ohio. better open
soon presented itself in NewOrenns and he was IN the
clothing trade there for several years In 1882 he
transferred his business TO this city. About 1850 he be-
gan the importation Of dry goods and continued In that
business until 1867
Believing that there would be no money made by the
importation Of dry goods for several years to come, Mr.
Opdyko in the early part OF 1867 withdrew from the
dry goods business and in following year in com
pany with his and others established the banking
house OF George Opdyke & Co. The new house rapidly
established connections with banking houses In other
cities ana was in tho fun flood tide OF whom the
panic OF 1873 came Most Of the banking uses
| which wont under in the financial panic
had been crippled by advances to railroads in course Of
construction George Opdyke & Co. were the fiscal
agents or tho New-York and Oswego Midland Railroad
Company and placed the most OF the bonds Of the road
1t made advances theroad but not to such extent
seriously to cripple its resources and was thus able TO
weather the financial The house shaken good
deal and Of It's Suspension were rife Tor seYera
days morning paper announced that the house had
actually suspended and this caused run OF one day In
which half million dollars were paid out.
The house about 81 100000 by the depreciation
OF securities consequent upon the panic but every
Obligation. and has since carried its business. For
several months Mr. Opdyke had taken active part IN
the business # being carried by the younger part
ncrs. He leaves fortune varlousy estimated at from
81 100000 to S2OOO,O00.
For nearly twenty years Mr.. Opdyke took active
Interest in politics. In his younger days he Dem
ocrat but was opposed The extension of slavery He
was delegate rom New-Jrr,ey TO the Free Soil Con
vontOn held at Buffalo lS4s. lie served with Salmon
T. Chase on the COMMITTEES Resolutions. In that year
also he Free SOL candidate for Representative
in Congress IN his district NewJercy, and was de-
eaed Later he candidateior United States Ell
ator and was only beaten by by John T. stock
ton During the campaign OF 1856 after taking mp his
residence 81 this city, he gave General Fremont hearty
support. and late In the campaign accepted the nomna'
ton for the Assembly from the XIVtb District Two
yc ars later he elected 20 the Assembly from thai
district. aud took prominent part IN opposing schemes
or plunderng this city which were attempted to be
forced through the Legislature In 1850 he ran for
Mayor OF hs city the Republican ticket but was de-
fcntedby Fernando Wood.
I'm l $50 Mr Opdyke was one Of tho delegates from
this city to Republican National Convention ut Chit
cago lie and David dudley Field cOOpcrated with Hor
ace Greeley Ia opposing the nomination OF William H.
Seward fot the Presidency. II seemed almost Impossible
10 break the solid Seward ph0nnX The New-England
delegates wero not instructed 10 support Mr. Seward,
but were favorable TO him. They were argued with
gatons were seen, and finally the combination was
eff ccd which nominated Mr. Lincoln. He contributed
$50 600 toward the election OF Mr.. Lincoln After tho
nauguratIon the President offered Mr Opdyko the pO-
sion Of Collector OF this port 1t was declined with
thanks. In the following year Mr. Opdyke was elected
Mayor I'm this position he able TO aid the Govern
mrnt materially In raising aud equippng troops ana
sending tho seat of In March, 1852, he re-
celved telegram from General Mcclellan saying that
the rebel rain Merrmac had sunk the frigate Congress
/ Hurph phuhl % ~ M he
way down tho coast and there was danger that she
| might enter the hnrbOr OF New-York Mayor opdyke
ac ted promptly. lie called meeting OF merchants ana
prominent at his housein Fifh-aye ltWas
resolved 10 load large vessel with stone ana on tue
appeaance OF the dreaded to stink II in the narrow
a., mart ~ the shin channel n the bay. The vessel
nrocured AZ once loaded with stone tOwed into the
| harbor and anchored. feet steamer WAS also pro-
cured TO cruise of the coast and give timely notice OF
the approach or the The timely arrival of the
Monitor ia Hampton Roads rendered the precautions
Mr. Opdyko was Mayor when tho draft riots began ln
this CITY In 1858 the first day the mob broke into tho
gun factory at SecondaVe ana IMehtl nrSts, W "hicn
The Mayor had large interest IL had been hen TOT
time by the police and the employees OF the factory Ihc
nnce were called away 10 put down mObs In other parts
| OF tbs CITY crowd again collected and was driven
lead Of @. W. Farlee. Mayor Opdykes son-ln.law inc
defenders finally driven out by the mob VINO toOk
all the guns aud anmuuiton stored ln the place aud
then the promises on hre completely desroylngth the
| building aud contents. Az about tho SAME
front OF the Mayors house, No 20 FItthhye.' near
| FfIeenth-at Mrs. 0pdyke was hurried away by some
friends in carriage. which was pursued Tor SOME dls
| lance by bowling mob Learning that cr9"u wa, was
nard the steps OF the house AMI haranRued the
crowd endrayOring TO dlssdhde the ruas from carry
ing out their purpose OF plllaEig anu 9'un,mR dRd e
| house. He was successul and the crowd disperseu
Mayor Opdyke advised by friends 10 rave tne Guy
until the excitement had suDsded as many threats had
been made tnat he would be Assassnated He refused
| stanton Of tine condition OF things and asked Tor
troops TO assist the police In putting dOWn to rots
| - Tho .itv nutm
Fifteen minutes afierwRr1 he received repy IIon sec
rotary Stanton saying that three reSne5 were on tDe
| way 10 New-YOrk and that more would follow.
Mr.. Opdyke was msnGet Oh ne Scnr To
veutlOn or 1868 and the Inter ono III Governor non
mans term OF office. For years before his death,
he had studied closely inc questions Oh naneo anu Po
cal economy. He had written various essays and art
nrst 81 so 600 600 OF reenDacks Mr. Opdyke approved
| OF this action. Tho Secretary was much pleased
| financial transaction. Some time afterward Mr.;
Opdyke was informed that the Secretary contemplate
lie i,sue of another 4l5000O,0O0 Of greenbncks He
visited Mr. Chase and strongly advised against IT, say
| ing that any paper money would certainty impair
gold. The Secretary adhered to his resolution Mr. Op
dyke then visited the Committee on 3 einnTe oi % iu
them Three members agreed with hlm Dut the [ehan-
nrSsoed ing iST came 10 pass Mr. Opdyke always believed
tnn large amount OF money oOuu nave ooeh saVeu 70
The Government by efecting loans abroad After the
war he opposed the tOO sudden return 10 specie pay
ment beeying that the great reduction OF the volume
OF currency would be hurdu lie was rather IN IaVor
of Allowing the country grow up with the volume OF
the currency Had this been done he believed the panic
| 81 Ia73 would have been ayerted.
VI In ieI there was hostility between Thuriow Weed
and Mr. opdyke and the former mace y sernIS 49,
f,0 journal Mr.. Weed charged that Mr. opoyAe was
nerested In Government contracts aud that ne USED MS
soniVsIeT e. W. Faree as oOnk to his interest
| in these contracts He also charged, among other
had made an excessive caim when they demanded
100000 damages from the city as Tor ne
burning bI S 6s mob Mr. opdykS sued Mr. Weed for
pe and tho trial lasted for soVeral weeks, ending with