The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-29
Seligmans
Long Noted
as Bankers
Founded Business Which
Backed North in
Civil War.
BY HELEN WORDEN
Times Special Writer.


NEW YORK. Aug. kissing
~ Is much healthier than hand
shaking" said jefferson Seiigman,
Ticking an invisible bit Of dust from
his spotless white linen waistcoat.
George Holman and had dropped
in 70 pay a visit on Mr.. Hellman S
cousin JeH-oldest living member OF
the banking firm Of Sehgman Broth
ers. We were IN search Of early
New York stories.
JEFF can tell US more than any
one else" George Hellman said
He was born and brought up on
Manhattan Island
A white-haired attendant ushered
us into the ivory-walled executive
Offices. An imposing life-sized p0r-
trait OF the original brothers-Jo-
seph William and James, founders
of the tirm-nung over the open
fireplace
jefferson Sehgman. white beard
81 and dignifed. had placed his
Mahogany dask so that it faced the
painting
Miss Worden and 7 have been
exploring old New York, jeff" said
Mr.. Seligman. We Just came from
Rivington-st. Mother was born
there, you know. IN 1852
Our expedition had begun at 168
1st-av, the residence of William Sc
ligman IN 1852. This locality. in
the neighborhood Of Tompkins
Square. was then the fashionable
part Of the city.
That house was torn down about
1865 a waiter at Lanza's restau-
rant told US. We've been at No.
168 for % years"
PushcartS. Italians and Russians
swarm First-av today. From No.
1913 we had gone a few blocks down
to RivingtCn-st. My mother vas
born at No 102." Mr. Hellman said.
I'D like to see if the house is still
there"
Past SplendOr Indicated
Bernstein's deHcatessen stood on
the site. No 104. which had evident
" been q twin to No. 102, was un-
changed II was a nice pinkish-
red brick, with quaint old dormer
windows. trim, early American,
black, wrought-iron. rallied stoop
and neat Colonial doorway.
Irwin Fisher. a general physician,
occupied the ground floor. Ills nurse
took US through the drawing room
and back parlor The black marble
mantel. white Corinthian columns
and deep-set windows offered traces
of a more opulent past.
The superintendent, dark
skinned Greek from Salonica,
showed us the upper floors. This
apartment rents for SIS" he said. I
glanced out the back window. Rows
of pushcarts we're lined up in the
yard. What are they doing there?"
I inquired. oh. its a puShcart
stable" said the Greek.
My grandfather. Joseph. consid-
cred this the best residential sec
ton of New York II 1882 Mr..
Hellman said.
Plainly jefferson Seligman was
interested only mildly in family his
tory. You can do a great deal OF
good" he said to me, side-stepping
"reminiscences, If you discourage
handShaking. know. I studied
medicine III my youth He careSsed
his beard. "A good. honest kiss has
its talking point"
We also took a look at A Broad
way, where Grandfather Joseph and
your father first went IN business. -
continued George Holman, ignor-
ing his cousins words. ITS now
Jules Bache's building"
Declined Cabinet Place
The Seligman Brothers organized
their banking firm during the Civil
War. Joseph backed the Northern
side heavily He was a friend OF
Ulysses S. Grant. After the war
he was offered the post of Secretary
of the Treasury but did not &C
cept.
Uncle James. your father. lived
at 104 Seventh-av, didn't he, jena?
asked George Holman.
I believe So" Mr.. Seligman re
piled vaguely. I was born at II
". 24th-st' And then turning to
me. but TO set back TO the evils Of
handshaking-yOu've got a strong
plea there when you say kissing is
healthier than this silly business ca
clasping hands"
The Seligman are among the
first old New York banking firms
The family. which originally con-
sisted Of eight brothers-Joseph.
William. James. Jesse and Isaac
among them-was founded in
America a century ago by Joseph
who came here from Bavaria and
brought his seven brothers over by
degrees. The SeligmanS were the
bankers Of the North and later fiscal
agents OF the United States during
many administration.
The family intermarried with the
KuhnS. the LOebS. the WarburgS,
the SchiffS and the Lewisohns. Gov.
Herbert Lehman. New York. is kin
to the SeligmanS.
Joseph Seligman was the father
of Prof E. R. A Seligman of Co.
lumbia University as we'll as George
Hellman'S mother. Mrs. Frances
Holman. James. Of course. was the
father Of jefferson and the presi-
dent OF Temple Emanuel.
Jesse migrated 10 San Francisco
but during his stay here served as
president OF the Hebrew Orphan
! Asylum. Isaac. youngest Of the
eight brothers. founded the English
branch His son is Sir Charles Sc
ligman.