The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-12-29
CHARLES P. CLINCH.
His Thirty-Eight Years in the New York
Custom House.
rviving Thirteen Administrations = Re-
tirement From Office When Near
Eighty-Mrs. A. Il. Stewards
Only Surviving Brother.
New York Times. December ISL

/
evening entertained his sister at tea. When
she left him he was apparently in his usual
health. At o'clock he was taken with con-
yulsions arising from an attack of gout-to
which he had long been a sufferer-in the
stomach, and he never. rallied. He
was born at No. 81 Pine street, in this
city October 20, 1897, and was, subsequently,
in his eighty-fourth year. His father,
James Clinch, was wealthy ship-chandler,
who by his first wife had four children, viz:
James, Charles p, Maria, who never mar
ried, and C0rnelia, the widow of the great
| dry goods millionaire, Mr.. Clinch was left
independently well off by his fathers death.
and did not engage in active business during
| his young days except for short period,
when he held subordinate position in the
City Bank. He was through life a pro-
nOunced Democrat, and at the time spoken
of and afterward took an active interest in
politics. He was elected to the Legislature
in 1884, 1885. and 1896, Fserving with such
men as William NJ Marcy, Silas Wright,
and Preston King. Previous to this he had
acted for a while as City Editor of the
Aurora, one of the early New York news
papers, then published in Wall street and
during his time he contributed anonymous
ly series of political articles to that paper,
exposidg and upsetting the plans of the
/ Wings, which attracted great deal OF at
| tentiOn. In 1910 he was a Sachem in Tam
many Hall.
A large part of Mr.. Clinchs inheritance
was invested in insurance stock, which were
rendered valueless by the great fire of 1885.
and it was in consequence of this misfortune
that he accepted position in the Custom
House. He was appointed an Inspector of
Customs by Collector Jesse Hoyt, on March
%, 1888, Martin Van Buren, being then
President. On April %, 1899 Collector
Hoyt promoted him to Deputy Collector
ship, which he held until 1857 when Col
lector Heman J. Redfield made him a
special Deputy, with power to act in the
Collectors absence. On March II, 1863,
Collector Hiram Barney created for him the
position of Assistant Collector, from which
he resigned on November 6, 1876, to take
effect November so of that year. No one
has since been appointed to that place
From November Is, 1865, to May 16, 1866, he
filled the office of Collector rendered vacant
by the suicide of President King. His in
innate friend, John Van Buren,, sought to
have him formally appointed Collector
but he refused to accept it, On the ground
that he would be compelled to forfeit his
independence. When he resigned, his old
associates presented him with an album
containing all their portraits, which cost
$500, and an address in which they styled
him the Nestor of the United States Gus
toms service. Mr.. Clinch thus held contin-
nous office in the Custom House for over
thirty-eight years, under no fewer than
thirteen Administrations of different poll
tics. His resignation was brought about
through the entreaties of his sister after the
death of her husband. which occurred in
April, 1876 She made him present of the
house in which he died, and furnished it for
him. He had previously resided at Staple
ton, Staten Island, where at his death he
still owned a handsome residence and
grounds. Since that time he has taken no
active part in politics or business. He was
twice married. His last wife died about ten
years ago. He leaves an adopted daughter,
who is unmarried.
Mr.. Clinch was looked upon as possessing
more knowledge Oh the subject of American
customs, revenue and navigation laws than
any other living man, and his judgment
was always trusted implicitly by his associ-
ates in office. This fact and his sterling in
tegrity made his retention necessity under
successive administrations although his
bluntness and independence of character
were such as would have, over and over
again, caused the speedy removal of a less
valuable servant. Many anecdotes are told
by his old colleagues illustrative of this and
other of his distinguishing traits. Special
Treasury Agent Jayne once informed him
that he was about to take proceed
ings against his brother. now dead.
for violation of the revenue laws. The old
gentleman, without moving muscle, re-
sponded: "Well, sir, If he is guilty, let him
be punished like anyone else" When the
news of Lees surrender was received in this
city, Mr. Clinch seized an American flag
and, rushing into the rotunda, sang 1.-THE
Star Spanged Banner" from beginning to
end. His tastes were always of marked
literary character, and he was a devoted
friend of art and the drama. Among his in
innate friends were Fitz Greene Halleck, the
poet; the late James Gordon Bennett, Thur
low Weed, Miss Stebbins, the sculptures, and
many others similarly distinguished. He
himself wasa poet of no mean ability, and
copies of volume of scattered pieces which
he once published have sold at auction
as high as $25. He was the author of three
dramas, one of which, entitled THE First of
MAY in New York, was performed with sue
cess on the boards of the old Broadway The
alter. He also contributed largely to the
press. There were not many better Shak
spearean scholars in the United States than
he. He knew the great poets works by
heart almost from end to end. and took
pleasure in reciting them by the hour on
the slightest provocation. In addition to
his other accomplishments, he was an excel
lent extemporane0us speaker and first-rate
amateur actor. The late Alexander T. Stew
art admired him heartily, and was during
his life his warm friend. His funeral will
take place on Sunday morning at $3.50
o. o'clock, from the Church of the Incarnation.
His remains will be taken to Stapleton and
buried beside those of his second wife in the
Moravian Cemetery there.
A meeting of heads of Departments was
held in the Collectors room in the Custom
House yesterday afternoon to take suitable
| action respecting Mr.. Clinchs death. Col
lector Merritt presided, and in stating the
object of the gathering spoke of him as one
of the best officers ever appointed, to po-
sition mere, ana one who. without regard to
personal or political associations, COM
manded the confidence and regard not only
of his associates, but also of the business
community whose duties brought them in
contact with him. On motion of General
| Palmer, a Committee on Resolutions. con-
sisting of the mover. Deputy Collector Wynn
coop, Chief of the Correspondence Bureau
Trelor, Naval Officer Burt, and Mr.. Neibuhr,
an old Custom House broker, was appointed
to draft appropriate resolutions. After they
had done so, eulogistic speeches were
made by General Palmer, Deputy Collector
Briggs and Deputy Collector Wyncoop. The
last named, who was Mr.. Clinch's associate
for many years. spoke of him as a very kind
hearted man. who was always ready to do
another q service and to forget anything IN
pleasant that might have occurred in his
| intercourse with his fellows; as a very thor
ough man, who for years after his first APP
pointment to Office made special study of
Il -