29 October 2009

Julia Newcomb (b. 1873)

Julia Newcomb (b. Dec 1873) was the daughter of  Norman Simeon Newcomb (b. 4 Nov 1836, BMN #2033). She married Gustave Rich (b. Oct 1871).  B.M. Newcomb said she died in 1895, but she was alive for the 1900 census.

26 October 2009

Jesse Newcomb (b. 1883 or 1885)

Jesse Newcomb (b. 1 Jan 1961, MBN #1341) was the father of Jesse Earl Newcomb (BMN# 2451).  B.M. Newcomb's book states that Jesse Earl Newcomb was born in 1883 and that he was the son of Jesse Newcomb's first wife, Jennie Cady. However, census records indicate that he was born in 1885, which would make him the son of Jesse's second wife, Annie Hallam. BMN has a death date for Jennie in 1884, and a marriage date for Jesse and Anna in 1885. The length of their marriage is given as 16 years in the 1900 census, which would suggest 1884 rather than 1885. But it is given as only 20 in the 1910 census, which would make it 1890; this seems unlikely since their sons Guy and Charles were both born before 1900.

23 October 2009

Harold W. Newcomb (b. 1888)

Harold W. Newcomb was born 12 Sep 1888 and died 11 Apr 1965. He marred Erma Radunzel (b.  Dec 1891).  B.M. Newcomb stated that Harold was the son of James Newcomb (BMN #1435) and Lucy Carter. However, in the 1900 census, he is living with Lucy and is clearly listed as her stepson, not her son. Both the 1900 and the 1910 censuses list Lucy as the mother of two children (George and Percy), not three. The 1900 census lists Harold's birthdate as 1886, not 1888 (as indicated by BMN).  In 1910, George was living with Lucy and Harold was living with James. (James and Lucy were divorced. James remarried, to Alberta Kintz, in 1911).

22 October 2009

Aaron Smith Newcomb (b. 1847)

B.M. Newcomb wrote:

Mr. Newcomb was educated in the common schools of Grant Co., Wis.; graduated, 1872, from Platteville State Normal School. After teaching school at Sun Prairie, Wis., keeping a general store, Belmonst, Wis., prospecting near Georgetown, Colo. during the gold excitement of 1875-76, and selling sewing machines in western Iowan, he was ordained in 1882 as a minister, his first charge being the Congregational Church of Pattersonville (now Hull), Ia. While there he founded the Pattersonville Educational Institution, a Christian academy which had many years of successful existence, becoming unnecessary with the establishment of public high schools.

In 1885 he moved from Iowa and was pastor at Clintonville, Kaukauna, Eagle River, Windsor, Ithaca, Pine River, Green Lake, and Osseo, Wis. In 1917 he moved to California, becoming pastor at Orange. In 1910 at Wester Park, Kans., following residence at San Diego, Calif., for his wife's health. Later at Ivanhoe, near Rockefeller, Ill.; again, resided Alto Pass, Ill. All of the churches under his care grew in educational, literary and charitable movement, he persisting in his guiding motive to "make the world better for my having lived in it."

21 October 2009

Frank Newcomb (b. 1857)

Frank Newcomb (BMN #1039) was born 13 Aug 1857. He married Maragaret D. Hall (born 11 Jan 1869).  B.M. Newcomb said that Frank had conducted a vaudeville company for twenty-five years. Yet his occupation as listed in the census gives no hint of this. In 1880 he was working on his father's farm, in 1900 and 1910 he was a farmer and in 1920 a fireman, and in 1930 had no occupation.

17 October 2009

Calvin Newcomb (b. 1822)

Calvin Newcomb (b. 20 Oct 1822) was the son of Luther Newcomb (b. 13 Apr 1786, BMN #363) and Narcissa Babcock (b. 13 Oct 1786).  B.M. Newcomb said that he died unmarried. But in the 1850 census we see him at age 27, living with his mother Narcissa, age 64, and with Rebecca Jane, age 21, and Otis F. age one. In the 1860 census we find Calvin Newcomb still with Rebecca and Otis, and with four more children. It's true, the 1850 and 1860 censuses do not list family relationships, so it's possible that Calvin wasn't married to this woman and that the children weren't his. But that seems unlikely. In the 1870 and 1880 census, we see Rebecca and some of the children with her second husband, Frank Chapman.

14 October 2009

Eliza Ann Newcomb (b. 1834)

Eliza Ann Newcomb (b. 24 Feb 1834) was the daughter of Reuben Newcomb (b. Aug 1796, BMN #207) and Ann Sparks (b. Jul 1804). She married Burroughs Stackhouse (b. Dec 1832). B.M. Newcomb said she died in 1878, but she was alive for the 1880 census.

11 October 2009

Andrew Rollins Newcomb (1879-1963)

Andrew Rollins Newcomb (b. 20 Nov 1879, d. 1 Sep 1963, BMN #2539).  There is something odd here. I found listings for the Los Angeles National Cemetery and the California Department of Health for Andrew Rollins Newcomb and Ralph A. Newcomb, both born  on 20 Nov. 1879, both died on 1 Sept. 1963, both with mother's maiden name Boydston. The National Cemetery has them both buried in plot 304 8 F. B.M. Newcomb listed Andrew but did not list Ralph. It seems very unlikely to me that there were really two men. While it is not 100% impossible that twin brothers died together and were buried in the same plot, it is so extremely unlikely that I do not consider it an option. I wonder if Andrew changed his name, or if there was some other kind of name mixup that resulted in his being listed twice, under different names. This needs further research.

08 October 2009

Horatio Victor Newcomb (1844-1911)

Here is what B.M. Newcomb wrote about him:

Mr. Newcomb was a banker. He was formerly of the firm of Newcomb, Buchanan & Co. of Louisville, and was at one time president of the Louisville & Nashville R.R. He was, later, a partner of Warren Newcomb & Co., New York. In 1880 he organized the United States National Bank of New York and was for several years its president.

This biography appeared in America's Successful Men of Affairs: An Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous Biography, 1896:

HORATIO VICTOR NEWCOMB, railroad president and banker, is one of the group of vigorous spirits who have come to the metropolis from the Southern States during the last fifteen years and identified themselves prominently with financial affairs. Born in Louisville, Ky., July 26, 1844, he springs from New England ancestry, being, through the line of his father, Horatio D. Newcomb, a descendant of Hezekiah Newcomb and Jerusha Bradford, who were married Nov. 4, 1716, the latter being a daughter of Thomas Bradford and great-granddaughter of Major William Bradford, who came to America in the good ship Mayflower in 1620 and for many years ruled the Plymouth colony as its governor. Through the line of his mother, Cornelia Washington Read, Mr. Newcomb is collaterally descended from George Washington, the father of his country. The Newcomb family traces its line back through the history of America and England as far as 1189. In Kentucky, it has always belonged to the ruling class in the South, being conspicuous both in public affairs and business enterprises.

Victor received an excellent education, beginning in schools at home and continued in England and France. From his books, he brought an active mind and earnest nature into the counting room of the firm of H. D. Newcomb & Bro., commission merchants in Louisville, Ky., and, when fitted for the responsibilities of a career, became a partner in Warren, Newcomb & Co. in New York city. He proved a bright, competent and active business man, and his firm, which subsequently took the name of Newcomb, Buchanan & Co., at Louisville, enjoyed a large trade and a prosperous career while he was at the head of it.

Horatio D. Newcomb, father of the subject of this sketch, is remembered as one of the most enterprising of the residents of Louisville, being largely engaged in Southern trade, the operation of steamboats on the rivers, the management of a large possession in land and, as president of the corporation, in the direction of The Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Upon his resignation in 1880, a series of extremely complimentary resolutions were adopted by the directors of the corporation, some of whom were older railroad men than he, who attributed to his foresight, energy and progressive spirit, the great growth and prosperity of the Louisville & Nashville system. Mr. Newcomb was the youngest executive officer of a railroad during his time and bore the title of the "boy president."

"Mr. H. Victor Newcomb having, for reasons relating to his personal health, tendered his resignation as president of this Board, the Directors cannot permit the occasion to pass without an expression of regret at the loss of his Valuable services as the head of this company. The name of Mr. Newcomb is intimately associated with the origin, the subsequent growth and the rapid development of The Louisville & Nashville Railroad. His father, H. D. Newcomb, was one of its founders. From the organization of the company to the day of his death in 1874, he was continuously in its services in the capacities, successively, of director, vice-president and president.

"In 1874, upon the death of his father, H. Victor Newcomb was elected a director to succeed his father, later vice-president of the company and then president. When Dr. Standiford became president, he was an active member of the board of directors and an efficient adviser and coadjutor of the president. During the incumbency of Dr. Standiford, the services and exertions of Mr. Newcomb were invaluable to the company toward the acquisition of the additional lines of road, which have supplemented and completed the great Louisville & Nashville Railroad system. The continuation of the line by the way of Montgomery and Mobile to New Orleans and the establishment of the Southern terminal stations of the road upon the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile and upon the Mississippi levee in New Orleans, was his special project, and its successful accomplishment was substantially the result of his sagacity and energy.

"Resolved, That we accept with regret the resignation of H. Victor Newcomb as president of this Board; and upon his termination of our official relations with him, made necessary by causes beyond his or our control, we most cheerfully bear testimony to his ability and fidelity in the discharge of his laborious duties and responsibilities as chief officer of this company. To his acknowledged wisdom and foresight and to the courage of his convictions, the stockholders of the company are substantially indebted for the late valuable additions to the property of the company, resulting in the perfection of the present great railway system of The Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company; and he is entitled to and receives the hearty thanks of the stockholders and of this Board for his kindness and manly bearing toward us, his associates, officially and personally. We render to him our kindest wishes for all the future."

In 1880, Mr. Newcomb removed to New York city and organized The United States National Bank, of which the stockholders elected him president. In this institution, he was associated with Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Morris K. Jesup, William R. Travers, Col. John J. McCook, and other well-known men. Within fourteen months from the time this bank had opened its doors, the deposits had grown to $7,000,000, an achievement the like of which had never been heard of before. He was, it is believed, the youngest bank president in the United States; and whatever may be said of the subsequent history of the institution, it is a fact that while Mr. Newcomb held the position of president, the bank never sustained a single loss.

Mr. Newcomb has been at times a large and active operator in Wall street. He began dealing in stocks before he left Louisville and became conspicuous for the brilliancy of his manoeuvres. He thought quickly, acted without hesitation, and generally succeeded in his ventures. The manner in which he developed the value of the stock of The Louisville & Nashville Railroad was the subject of much flattering comment.  As a director in The New York & West Shore Railroad at its organization, Mr. Newcomb was an active factor in the construction of that line.

Dec. 26, 1866, he was married in Louisville to Florence Ward Danforth. Two children have been born to them, Herman Danforth Newcomb, and Edith, wife of Reginald Henshaw Ward, formerly of Boston. The family dwell in a handsome house at 683 Fifth avenue and have figured prominently in the social life of the city. The introduction of their daughter Edith to society was the occasion of a brilliant function. Mr. Newcomb is a member of the Union, Tuxedo, New York Athletic, Suburban, Driving, Riding and other clubs, and an active supporter of every public spirited and philanthropic enterprise which commends itself to his judgment.

05 October 2009

Albert Newcomb (son of Samuel)

Albert Newcomb (BMN #1477) was the son of Samuel Newcomb (b. 8 Dec 1811, BMN #638) and Abigail Coolbroth. B.M. Newecomb indicated that Albert was born around 1847. However, he does not appear in the census records until 1870 at age six (and again in 1880 at age 16), which would make his birth date around 1864.

02 October 2009

Adelia Eliza Newcomb (b. 1825)

Adelia Eliza Newcomb (b. 25 Oct 1825) was the daughter of  Asahel Newcomb (b. 25 Feb 1799, BMN #873). She married Daniel Dodge (b. 15 Jul 1820).  B.M. Newcomb said that Adelia died in 1871. Yet her husband, Daniel Dodge, is listed with their children and his second wife in the 1860 and 1870 censuses. Were Adelia and Daniel divorced? Or was BMN wrong about her death date? I have not been able to find her after 1850.

01 October 2009

Mary Ann Meeting (b. 1829)

Mary Ann Meeting (b. 6 Nov 1829) married George Henry Newcomb (b. 9 Aug 1831, BMN #652).  B.M. Newcomb said she died in January 1909, but she was listed with her daughter's family in th 1910 census.