The Washington times., 1902-06-16
ANCESTRAL Line
OF THE PRESIDENT
Mr.. Roosevelt's Forbears
Were of a Proud Old Stock.
BUSINESS MEN AND FIGHTERS
One of Them Was New York Alder
man in the Early Days of the Last
Century - The Dunwoodys and the
Criswells - Some in Washington's
Army.

"Reminiscences of President Roose-
velt's Family" is the title OF an article
which appeared in the last issue of
the European Express md Belgium
Times and News" a journal which is
published in Brussels. Belgium. The
article is signed by Charles j. Murphy,
of Brussels, Belgium, and is highly in
teresting by reason of the personality
involved in it.
James. another son, who lived at s
Roosevelt's family were proud old
stock in New York annals. and in his
day he and his two sons were we'll
known men in the city.
James, another son. who lived at s
Jacob Street, was alderman of the
Fourth ward, In 1909. James Roosevelt
lived for some thirty years in Bleecker
Street, and died at the age OF eighty
four Although he had numerous chill
dren but two survived him. Isaac left
three daughters. the eldest OF whom
married Richard Variek, once mayor Of
New York. A daughter of James Roose-
welt married Mr.. Bailey. A son Of
this marriage was the Right Rev. James
Roosevelt Bailey. the Roman Catholic
archbishop Of Baltimore and primate OF
the United States-one of the finest men
ever ordained A man of magnificent
presence; had he lived he would have
been our first American cardinal
Il have not enumerated the one-quar
ter Of the high Offices held by Isaac
Roosevelt, the sugar house owner. who
was president of the Bank of New York
In 1892 old Isaac Roosevelt was presi-
dent of the board of governors. He lived
in Queen Street in that part now called
Franklin Square. Aaron Burr was also
a governor of ,he hospital. Jacob Roosc-
welt bought in 1928 ten lots. each being
25xl2O feet. in the swamp. for f10 each.
through which a few weeks later Roose-
velt Street was opened. The same Jacob
afterward bought the whole OF Beekman
swamp for f10O. through which his son
afteTward opened Ferry Street.
Old President Isaac's father was
Nicolas. He was alderman from 174s to
1867. Another one of the family was
ward alderman from 1859 to 1865. His
name was Cornelius. A still older an
cestor was an alderman In 100.
There Is cne of the name since be-
come famous in commerce. James. who
started business in Maiden Lane at No
102 as early as 1897. He was in the
hardware line. He continued as late as
1924 under the name of James Roosevelt
x Sen. He lived at 80 Maiden Lane. and
af;erward at As Broadway. cousin OF
the writer, Felix 1ngoldsby. was a rival
hardware merchant of the President =
grandfather, whose store was at 1l9
Maiden Lane. James J. j. Roosevelt was
United States district attorney, an alder
man. member of Congress. judge. etc.
'One Of the Roosevelt family was our
United States minister at The Hague.
another was secretary of legation at
London under Mr.. Cleveland. and one
was our former charge d'affaires to
"A son of James j., Of Maiden Lane, |
was one of the best men New York ever |
produced a man of great wealth and |
director of the Chemical Bank. whose
son, Theodore Roosevelt. is the honored |
President of the United States.
President Roosevelt's Irish descent |
comes from John Dunwoody, who emil
grated from ireland In 1886. John Dun
wife was Criswell. who came !
over from ireland with the Dunwoodys. |
who were all sturdy Irish farmers. One
Of the daughters of the Dunwoody fam
ily married John Elliott. United States
Senator from Georgia. Mrs. Elliott's
married President Roose
velt's father
Several of the Dunwoodys and Girls
wells fought in the War OF the Revolu-
ton. as nearly half OF General Wash
ngton's army was composed Of Irish
men and the sons of Irishmen. Several
,f Wsshlngton's best generals were
Irish. including Mad Anthony Wayne.
General Sullivan, Montgomery, and
others. The first man shot by the Brit
sh in Boston was an Irishman named
Murphy.
THE writer Of this is not OF Irish
birth but in the interest of truth he
mentions these facts"