The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-06

was stricken with blindness while he was
in the Freshman class and he was forced
TO forego q college education to assist in
the law Office.
Two years later he entered a banking
house in New York, and for convenience
became a resident of this city. In 1852 he
became connected with the Hudson
County National Bank, and in 1858 its
cashier. He held thatposition till in 1873
he was made president Of the bank
which he still held at the time of his
death.
HIS POLITICAL CAREER.
When but twenty-three years of age he
was returned to the State Legislature from
the First, Second and Third wards of the
city, a strong Wing district, though he
was an ardent Democrat, and with a
prominent part in the legislation of the
session for one so young. The next year
he was elected an Alderman from the
Second ward of Jersey City and reelected
in 1880 and 1850. Two years later he was
sent to the Board of Aldermen from the
First ward and chosen president of the
Board. He moved afterwards to the
Bergen section--then Bergen City, q
town by itself-and was by an almost
unanimous vote made a Councilman
there.
In 1865 he went to Bergen county, and
represented the people of the Fourth Con-
gressional district in the Democratic
Convention at Baltimore which, in 1872,
nominated Horace Greeley for the Presi-
dency. He returned to Jersey City in
1873, and the next year was nominated
for Congress.
IN CONGRESS
During the Robson investigation Mr..
Hardenbergh allowed his pride In his
Suate- Robson being a Jerseyman-and
he refused to stand by the caucus in con-
damnfflp him
The little detection made great stir
politically, and it was used as handle
against him when his denomination was
proposed. This was q time, however,
when Mr.. Hardenbergh's great personal
strength was too much for the party
managers, and he was put in the field
again. Stiastny, of Hoboken, was nomi-
mated by the Republicans to persuade the
German vote against him, but he was as
big at the polls as he had been in the
convention, and he easily achieved re-
election.
In 1878 he was asked to run for Con-
gress again; but the directors of the
Hudson County Bank We're opposed to it.
Ii took him too much away from the
bank. BY way of persuading him to stay
at home, they offered him the presidency
of the bank He accepted 1t, and with
drew from politics.
Ex-Sheriff Laverty was nominated, and
beaten by Mr.. Brigham. In 1880 the
leaders found it necessary to put up a
strong man, and Mr., Hardenbergh was
persuaded to enter the race again, and
was sent for the third term to Congress-
During his six years service he rem
dered conspicuous service to this locality.
One of the things he did was to make
Jersey City port of entry, and it is yet a
port of entry apart from New York city.
TO KEEP THE CITY.
In 1888 or thereabouts the finances of
the city fell to low ebb. Bankruptcy
stared the city in the face, and the Board
of Finance of that time, fearful of being
in at the crash, fell apart of its own
weight by retiring from Office. The city
needed men in charge of its treasury who
could seize the helm and guide the mu-
nicipal ship safely between the financial
rocks that lay in her course Allan Nc
Dermott was chosen for his skill in man
agement; Mr. Hardenbergh, because it
was known that he could save the credit
of the city through the strength of his
own credit.
The story of the struggles of the Board
to save the city from ruin is of too recent
development to need retelling. 1t is
enough to say that they accomplished the
objects they went into office to achieve
and put the city upon social footing
again.
Mr.. Hardenburgh felt that his removal
from office by the adoption of the new
charter was an act of ingratitude and he
resented it in his communication with
his friends as personal affront.