The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-09-22

in harmony with the engineering
forces of the United States govern
ment.
"He returned to Rome to accept the
position of secretary and treasurer of
the New York Locomotive Works,
which position he filled from 1881 un-
til 1888. He then resigned the office
OF treasurer but was continued as Sec
retary until 1890, when, upon the
death OF L. G. Mock, the president, he
was elected to that office and contin-
ued as such until the company passed
out OF existence. He was also presi-
dent OF the Rome Locomotive and Ma
chine Works until 1900 and since that
time had been retired from active
business connections, although he had
been and was stockholder in many
enterprises. He served as director
in the Rome Iron Works, and the
Rome Merchant-Iron Mill, was long
president Of the First National Bank,
was vice president of the Rome Brass
& Copper Company and a director
of the Rome Metal Company, Rome
Wire Company, Rome Manufacturing
Company, Rome Tube Company, Rome
Gas, Electric Light & Power Compa-
ny, the Bingham Harness Company
and the Rome-Turney Radiator Com
pany. lie was a trustee of the Rome
Cemetery Association and the Central
New York Institution for Deaf-Mutes.
He was a member Of the Sigma Phi,
the Sons of the American Revolution,
Society Of Colonial Wars, the Rome
Club and the University Club of New
York.
"Mr. Stryker served as a member
of the Board of Fire and Police Com
missioners of this city from June l,
1885, to May l, 1895, and a part Of
that time was chairman of the board.
As in every other position that he was
called upon to fill, he discharged his
duties in the most painstaking and
efficient manner. He believed thai
public office was a public trust, and
paid the same attention to the details
of such a position that he did to his
own business.
"While he was a lifelong and earn
est Democrat, Mr.. Stryker was not
seeker for political office. At the
New York state Democratic conven-
ton held at Saratoga on Sept 21,
1904, he was unanimously nominated
for the office of state engineer and
surveyor. On the evening of the
22d, 5000 people, headed by the Rome
City Band, visited Mr.. Stryker's resi-
dence and ratified his nomination.
Addresses were made by Democrats
and Republicans alike, endorsing the
candidacy of Mr.. Stryker. That fall
Roosevelt swept the county and car
ried everything on the Republican,
ticket with him. Except for the tidal
wave Mr.. Stryker, with the rest oil a..
Democratic ticket, would have been
elected.
"In an interview with the Sentinel
directly after Mr.. Stryker's nominal
ton for state engineer and surveyor,
eX-Stato Engineer Horatio Seymour
of Utica paid him a high compliment,
saying among other things:
''Mr. Stryker commenced at the bot
tom and rose to the top by true merit.
He served in my department for three
years and there was none more trust
worthy nor more faithful that he. In
1879, the first year of his appoint
ment, he was assistant engineer in
the construction of the Chanplain
Canal and the Glens Falls Feeder. He
had charge of much important work
covering territory of 60 miles. In
the following year he was appointed
engineer in charge of the improvement
of the Hudson River, which consisted
Of dredging and the maintenance OF
the channel"
"Mr. Stryker was a member of Zion
Episcopal Church, was prominent in
its affairs and for years was men,
Der of the vestry.
'His activities closely touched the
general interests of society and his
efforts and business judgment contri-
buted to the material prosperity and
to the advancement of the city Of
Rome.
"IIe was fond of travel, and had
made several trips abroad. He was
keen observer and thorough student
of conditions in the old world. He
always was pleased to impart to otn-
ers knowledge thus gained, and his
illustrated talks before the Rome
Club, of which he was a popular and
honorcd member, will be remembered
with great pleasure by all who heard
him. He owned an extensive orange
in Florida, where he spent
his winters, and made a study of the
of the products of his land,
particularly oranges. He had
mathematical mind and it was his
aim to excel in whatever he under
took. Mr.. Stryker was fond of out
door SPORTS, and was an enthusiastic
golf player. Democratic in manner
and kind and affable by nature, he
was easily approached and always had
a pleasant word for his friends and
acOuaintances.
zone of Mr.. Stryker's greatest
pleasures for nearly half a century |
was trout raising, a work in which |
success in large measure came to him
at times. When a student in college |
ne conceived the idea of building the
present Stryker fish ponds, and the
work was started during his first va
,ation. The flow from number of |
ver-failing springs supplying water
If unexcelled purity was diverted to
several artificial ponds and since
hen Mr.. Stryker has raised millions
If trout.
"Walks were built around the cool,