New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-01-01
MIR. TRANSFORMERS
Bankers Life Clouded by
Many Personal Misfortunes.

Spencer Trask. who was killed In train
wreck yesterday. inherited his capacity for
leadership from his Puritan ancestor, Cap
tain William Trask. who came to this
country with Endicott on the ship Abigail.
In 1928, and established the foundations OF
the Massachusetts Bay Colony at Salem.
The captain has been called the Miles
Standish of the Salem Colony. He gave
the land for New England's first school.
the nucleus of Harvard College From
that day to this the Trask family has been
prominent In public affairs. Spencer Trask
for many years was a leader IN financial.
educational and philanthropic affairs and
in the world of art, of which he was an
active patron.
He was born In this city In 1874, the son
of Sarah Marquand and Alanson Trask He
was graduate Of Princeton in the class
of '66. and from that university later re-
ceived the degree of A. NJ. Returning to
this city he went into the banking bust
ness with Henry G.. Marquand. his ma
ternal grandfather. The business pros
pered. In 1869 it became his. In that year
he bought seat on the Stock Exchange
and formed the firm of Trask & Stone In
1881 this became Spencer Trask & Co.,
which 1t has since remained.
To Spencer TraSk Thomas A. Edison
owed much of his financial success. The
banker became associated with the in
ventor almost at the outset Of his career.
For over twenty years the former was
president of the New York Edison Com
pany. He assisted in establishing the
whole of the Edison business in New York
and Brooklyn. He was also interested in
the Edison illuminating business through
out the country. He was one of the orig
mai trustees, and for many years one of
the executive committee, of the General
Electric Company
IDENTIFIED WITH MANY INTERESTS.
Many other business enterprises had oc-
cuped his attention. particularly the rail-
ROAD development of the West He was
also interested in real estate as president
or the Morningside Realty Company and
OF the Broadway Realty Company At one
time he was said to be the largest
stockholder in THE New York Times" and
leading factor in its reorganization in
1897. For several years, however Mr.
Trask had been practically out of active
business
Recently he served as president of the
Reservation Commission of Saratoga
Springs, appointed by Governor Hughes to
investigate complaints against various gas
companies operating at the Springs.
For his philanthropies the name of Spen-
Ger Trask had long been conspicuous He
made many liberal contributions to Prince
ton University He erected, at Saratoga.
in memory of his daughter. the ST. Chris
tina Home. an undenominationaI institu-
ton for children and for the education OF
girls for domestic service. He was one OF
the founders of the New York Teachers
College, and of he
tees for fifteen years. He was also a trus-
tee of ST. Stephens College and an active
supporter of the Kindergarten Association
and the General Theological Seminary. In
church work he took an active part as a
protestant Episcopal COMMUNICATE
AS patron of art Mr.. Trask was well
known, He was an active member of the
Municipal Art Society. of New York City
and his home at Yaddo, In Saratoga
springs, contains many art treasures
Yaddo is one of the most beautiful pri-
vate estates in the country. While II is
private home, yet Mr.. Trasks public
spiritedness and generosity made il free to
the public With the exception of sew
eral private gardens, the entire park sur
/ rounding his mansion is free TO the public
and many thousands enjoy the beauties of
his magnificent estate. Mr.. Trask was one
tional Arts Club.
HOME AT. LAKE GEORGE.
Another of Mr.. Trask's homes was on an
island in Lake George. where he had spent
much Of his time after the health of him
self and his wife made it necessary for
them TO spend much time in the open air.
Mrs. Trask, whom he married in 1874
was Miss Katrina Nichols. daughter of
T ol,o1c
poet and dramatist Her play 1.-THE Little
Town of Bethlehem was produced by the
Ben Greet players. and is being played at
the present tine. Another drama of hers
is king Alfred's Jewel" which, with
"Mors ct Victoria" was published anony-
mously. 1t was only last spring that the
publishers cleared the mystery by announc-
ing that Mrs. Trask was the author. of
both.
Mr.. Trask, despite his successful career
was the victim of many nlisfortunes His
four children all died in a few DAYS during
scarlet fever epidemic some twenty
years ago. Mrs. Trask's health had caused
him much concern in recent years and his
own health had been seriously impaired
Last August he lost an eye in an automo-
bile accident, and the surgeons barely
saved the sight of the other
Mr.. EraSk a member of the follow
ing clubs and organizations in New York:
Union League. Metropolitan, Lawyers.
City, Reform, Church. National Arts
Tuxedo. Princeton Alumni Association, Ma
ton Sculpture Society, Municipal Art So
ciety. American Geographical Society. New
England Historical and Genealogical So.
ciety and Metropolitan Museum of Art He
was also president of the Lake George
Country Club and the Athenam. of Sara
toga Springs.