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Henry B. Ledyard Jr.

Henry Brockholst Ledyard Jr. (February 20, 1844 – May 25, 1921[1]) was an American soldier and businessman who served as president of the Michigan Central Railroad and the Union Trust Company.

Henry B. Ledyard Jr.
President of the Michigan Central Railroad
In office
1883–1905
Preceded byWilliam H. Vanderbilt
Succeeded byWilliam H. Newman
Personal details
Born(1844-02-20)February 20, 1844
U.S. Embassy, Paris, France
DiedMay 25, 1921(1921-05-25) (aged 77)
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, U.S.
Spouse
Mary L'Hommedieu
(m. 1867; died 1895)
Parent(s)Henry Ledyard
Matilda Frances Cass
RelativesLewis Cass (grandfather)
Lewis Cass Ledyard (brother)
Alma materUnited States Military Academy

Early life edit

Ledyard was born on February 20, 1844, at the American embassy in Paris to an established American family. He was one of five children born to Henry Brockholst Ledyard (1812–1880) and Matilda Frances (née Cass) (1808–1898). His father was a lawyer, diplomat, and mayor of Detroit.[2] Ledyard had three sisters and a brother, Lewis Cass Ledyard, a lawyer with Carter Ledyard & Milburn who served as personal counsel to J. P. Morgan. At the time of his birth, his father was secretary of the American legation in Paris.[1]

His paternal grandparents were Benjamin Ledyard, a prominent New York attorney, and Susan French (née Livingston) Ledyard. His grandmother was the daughter of Revolutionary War Col. and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Henry Brockholst Livingston and granddaughter of the first governor of New Jersey, William Livingston.[3] His maternal grandfather, Gen. Lewis Cass, had been governor of the Michigan Territory and a United States senator from the state of Michigan, and served as secretary of state under President James Buchanan. His maternal grandmother, Elizabeth (née Spencer) Cass, was the granddaughter of Maj.-Gen. Joseph Spencer, who served in the American Revolution under George Washington. His aunt, Isabella Cass, married Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg, Baron van Limburg, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs.[2]

Ledyard was a student at the Washington A. Bacon's school for boys in Detroit before he was appointed as a cadet to the United States Military Academy at West Point by President Buchanan while his grandfather was serving as Secretary of State.[4]

Career edit

Upon graduation in 1865, Ledyard was presented with two commissions, second and first lieutenant, and was assigned to duty with the 19th Infantry, serving successively as Quartermaster, Brigade Quartermaster and Chief of the Commissary officers of the Department of Arkansas. He was later transferred to the 37th Infantry as Quartermaster and later to the 4th Artillery and was detailed Chief of Subsistence on the staff of General Winfield Scott Hancock of the Department of Missouri. After the Civil War, he was involved in battles with Native Americans in 1867 and, for a year, was Assistant Professor of French at West Point.[5]

Railroad career edit

Following the reorganization of the U.S. Army in 1870, Ledyard obtained a six months leave to learn about railroads, becoming involved with the engineering department of the Northern Pacific Railroad.[5] Later that same year, he became a clerk in the operating department of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and resigned from the Army. Within two years, he was Assistant Superintendent of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the following year was made Superintendent of the Eastern Division.[5][6]

In 1874, Ledyard was appointed assistant to William Barstow Strong, the General Superintendent of the Michigan Central Railroad Company. The next year he was made Chief Engineer and Assistant General Superintendent. Two years later, he succeeded Strong as General Superintendent and the following year, he became General Manager of the road.[5] After a few years of work turning the road into a success, the road was acquired by the Vanderbilt interests and William H. Vanderbilt became president of the company. Under Ledyard's supervision, the road smartly avoided issuing bonds and stockjobbing, and in 1883 he succeeded Vanderbilt as president of the Michigan Central. As president, he doubled the capacity of the railroad cars and had longer trains pulled by more powerful locomotives which reduced the cost of transportation. Ledyard had every steel railroad bridge in the eastern division torn down and rebuilt miles of trackage in an effort to eliminate curves and steep grades. After reconstruction, the company was operating eighty car freight trains versus the thirty before.[5] He was relieved as general manager in 1903,[7] but remained president of the road until 1905, when he resigned and became chairman of the board.[8]

In 1916, Ledyard purchased the Detroit Belt Line Railroad which bordered many large factories, including the Ford Motor Company.[5]

Finance career edit

In addition to being president of the Michigan Central, he also served as president and, later, chairman of the board of the Union Trust Company and a director of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit.[5]

Personal life edit

On October 15, 1867, Ledyard was married to Mary L'Hommedieu (1847–1895),[9] a daughter of Stephen Satterly L'Hommedieu (president of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad) and Alma (née Hammond) L'Hommedieu.[10] Together, they were the parents of:

His wife died unexpectedly on March 30, 1895.[16] Ledyard died on May 25, 1921, at his home in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.[17][18] After a quiet funeral at Grace Episcopal Church, he was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.[18]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Times, Special to The New York (May 26, 1921). "HENRY B. LEDYARD, RAILROAD HEAD, DIES; Chairman of the Michigan Central Was Brother of Lewis Cass Ledyard of New York". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Klunder, Willard Carl (1996). Lewis Cass and the Politics of Moderation. Kent State University Press. p. 102. ISBN 9780873385367. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  3. ^ Livingston, Edwin Brockholst (1910). The Livingstons of Livingston Manor: Being the History of that Branch of the Scottish House of Callendar which Settled in the English Province of New York During the Reign of Charles the Second; and Also Including an Account of Robert Livingston of Albany, "The Nephew," a Settler in the Same Province and His Principal Descendants. New York: The Knickerbocker Press. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  4. ^ "H. B. LEDYARD, M.C. CHIEF, DIES. Ex-Soldier, Veteran Railroad Builder, Expires in Grosse Pointe Home. Was 77 Years Old; Came of Distinguished Families; Funeral Friday". Detroit Free Press. May 26, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Burton, Clarence M.; Burton, M. Agnes. "Biography: Henry Brockholst Ledyard". www.michiganrailroads.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "LEDYARD DENIES MERGER.; Pere Marquette Not to be Absorbed by Michigan Central". The New York Times. December 26, 1908. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "RELIEVES LEDYARD | MICHIGAN CENTRAL HAS A NEW GENERAL MANAGER". Detroit Free Press. July 15, 1903. p. 1. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "VANDERBILT LINES UNITE UNDER ONE HEAD; Reorganization, with Newman President, Announced. MAY STOP COMPETITION Big Four and Michigan Central Roads in Single System to Prevent Rivalry". The New York Times. February 1, 1905. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "MRS. H. B. LEDYARD DROPS DEAD". Chicago Tribune. March 31, 1895. p. 3. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  10. ^ Rogers, Mrs Sophie Selden (1931). Selden Ancestry: A Family History, Giving the Ancestors and Descendants of George Shattuck Selden and His Wife, Elizabeth Wright Clark. E. van D. Selden. p. 209. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  11. ^ Michigan, University of (1960). The President's Report to the Board of Regents for the Academic Year ... Financial Statement for the Fiscal Year. UM Libraries. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Bragg, Amy Elliott (October 20, 2011). Hidden History of Detroit. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781614233459. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  13. ^ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (December 3, 1932). "HENRY LEDYARD DIES SUDDENLY IN DETROIT; Prominent as a Lawyer and Finan- cieruMember of an Old Michigan Family". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "HENRY LEDYARD, JR., MARRIED.; He and His Bride Start for Yokohama to Meet Baroness von Ketteler". The New York Times. September 6, 1900. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "CAREER OF LIEUT. LEDYARD.; Dead Officer Left Yale to Enlist in the War with Spain". The New York Times. December 9, 1899. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  16. ^ "DEATH'S SUDDEN CALL. SAD TAKING OFF OF MRS. HENRY B. LEDYARD. DROPPED DEAD WHILE WALKING ON CHENE STREET. SHE HAD NO WARNING OF THE GRIM REAPER'S NEARNESS. Her Character, Lovable, and Marked With Kindly Charity". Detroit Free Press. March 31, 1895. p. 5. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  17. ^ Clarence Monroe Burton; William Stocking; Gordon K. Miller (1922), The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922; Volume 4, The S. J. Clarke publishing company, pp. 5–6
  18. ^ a b "Ledyard Given Quiet Funeral," Detroit Free Press, May 28, 1921, p. 11.

External links edit

henry, ledyard, henry, brockholst, ledyard, february, 1844, 1921, american, soldier, businessman, served, president, michigan, central, railroad, union, trust, company, president, michigan, central, railroadin, office, 1883, 1905preceded, bywilliam, vanderbilt. Henry Brockholst Ledyard Jr February 20 1844 May 25 1921 1 was an American soldier and businessman who served as president of the Michigan Central Railroad and the Union Trust Company Henry B Ledyard Jr President of the Michigan Central RailroadIn office 1883 1905Preceded byWilliam H VanderbiltSucceeded byWilliam H NewmanPersonal detailsBorn 1844 02 20 February 20 1844U S Embassy Paris FranceDiedMay 25 1921 1921 05 25 aged 77 Grosse Pointe Farms Michigan U S SpouseMary L Hommedieu m 1867 died 1895 wbr Parent s Henry LedyardMatilda Frances CassRelativesLewis Cass grandfather Lewis Cass Ledyard brother Alma materUnited States Military Academy Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Railroad career 2 2 Finance career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editLedyard was born on February 20 1844 at the American embassy in Paris to an established American family He was one of five children born to Henry Brockholst Ledyard 1812 1880 and Matilda Frances nee Cass 1808 1898 His father was a lawyer diplomat and mayor of Detroit 2 Ledyard had three sisters and a brother Lewis Cass Ledyard a lawyer with Carter Ledyard amp Milburn who served as personal counsel to J P Morgan At the time of his birth his father was secretary of the American legation in Paris 1 His paternal grandparents were Benjamin Ledyard a prominent New York attorney and Susan French nee Livingston Ledyard His grandmother was the daughter of Revolutionary War Col and U S Supreme Court Justice Henry Brockholst Livingston and granddaughter of the first governor of New Jersey William Livingston 3 His maternal grandfather Gen Lewis Cass had been governor of the Michigan Territory and a United States senator from the state of Michigan and served as secretary of state under President James Buchanan His maternal grandmother Elizabeth nee Spencer Cass was the granddaughter of Maj Gen Joseph Spencer who served in the American Revolution under George Washington His aunt Isabella Cass married Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg Baron van Limburg the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs 2 Ledyard was a student at the Washington A Bacon s school for boys in Detroit before he was appointed as a cadet to the United States Military Academy at West Point by President Buchanan while his grandfather was serving as Secretary of State 4 Career editUpon graduation in 1865 Ledyard was presented with two commissions second and first lieutenant and was assigned to duty with the 19th Infantry serving successively as Quartermaster Brigade Quartermaster and Chief of the Commissary officers of the Department of Arkansas He was later transferred to the 37th Infantry as Quartermaster and later to the 4th Artillery and was detailed Chief of Subsistence on the staff of General Winfield Scott Hancock of the Department of Missouri After the Civil War he was involved in battles with Native Americans in 1867 and for a year was Assistant Professor of French at West Point 5 Railroad career edit Following the reorganization of the U S Army in 1870 Ledyard obtained a six months leave to learn about railroads becoming involved with the engineering department of the Northern Pacific Railroad 5 Later that same year he became a clerk in the operating department of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad and resigned from the Army Within two years he was Assistant Superintendent of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy and the following year was made Superintendent of the Eastern Division 5 6 In 1874 Ledyard was appointed assistant to William Barstow Strong the General Superintendent of the Michigan Central Railroad Company The next year he was made Chief Engineer and Assistant General Superintendent Two years later he succeeded Strong as General Superintendent and the following year he became General Manager of the road 5 After a few years of work turning the road into a success the road was acquired by the Vanderbilt interests and William H Vanderbilt became president of the company Under Ledyard s supervision the road smartly avoided issuing bonds and stockjobbing and in 1883 he succeeded Vanderbilt as president of the Michigan Central As president he doubled the capacity of the railroad cars and had longer trains pulled by more powerful locomotives which reduced the cost of transportation Ledyard had every steel railroad bridge in the eastern division torn down and rebuilt miles of trackage in an effort to eliminate curves and steep grades After reconstruction the company was operating eighty car freight trains versus the thirty before 5 He was relieved as general manager in 1903 7 but remained president of the road until 1905 when he resigned and became chairman of the board 8 In 1916 Ledyard purchased the Detroit Belt Line Railroad which bordered many large factories including the Ford Motor Company 5 Finance career edit In addition to being president of the Michigan Central he also served as president and later chairman of the board of the Union Trust Company and a director of the Peoples State Bank of Detroit 5 Personal life editOn October 15 1867 Ledyard was married to Mary L Hommedieu 1847 1895 9 a daughter of Stephen Satterly L Hommedieu president of the Cincinnati Hamilton and Dayton Railroad and Alma nee Hammond L Hommedieu 10 Together they were the parents of Matilda Cass Ledyard 1871 1960 who married Baron Clemens von Ketteler a German diplomat 11 12 Henry Brockholst Ledyard III 1875 1932 13 who married Mary Alice Maude Hendrie 1877 1928 daughter of William Hendrie of Hamilton Ontario in 1900 14 Augustus Canfield Ledyard 1877 1899 a First lieutenant with the 6th U S Infantry who died during the Philippine American War 15 Hugh Ledyard 1885 1951 the secretary and treasurer of the Art Stove Company of Detroit 5 His wife died unexpectedly on March 30 1895 16 Ledyard died on May 25 1921 at his home in Grosse Pointe Farms Michigan 17 18 After a quiet funeral at Grace Episcopal Church he was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit 18 References edit a b Times Special to The New York May 26 1921 HENRY B LEDYARD RAILROAD HEAD DIES Chairman of the Michigan Central Was Brother of Lewis Cass Ledyard of New York The New York Times Retrieved November 29 2021 a b Klunder Willard Carl 1996 Lewis Cass and the Politics of Moderation Kent State University Press p 102 ISBN 9780873385367 Retrieved September 22 2017 Livingston Edwin Brockholst 1910 The Livingstons of Livingston Manor Being the History of that Branch of the Scottish House of Callendar which Settled in the English Province of New York During the Reign of Charles the Second and Also Including an Account of Robert Livingston of Albany The Nephew a Settler in the Same Province and His Principal Descendants New York The Knickerbocker Press Retrieved April 26 2017 H B LEDYARD M C CHIEF DIES Ex Soldier Veteran Railroad Builder Expires in Grosse Pointe Home Was 77 Years Old Came of Distinguished Families Funeral Friday Detroit Free Press May 26 1921 p 1 Retrieved November 29 2021 a b c d e f g h Burton Clarence M Burton M Agnes Biography Henry Brockholst Ledyard www michiganrailroads com Retrieved November 29 2021 LEDYARD DENIES MERGER Pere Marquette Not to be Absorbed by Michigan Central The New York Times December 26 1908 Retrieved November 29 2021 RELIEVES LEDYARD MICHIGAN CENTRAL HAS A NEW GENERAL MANAGER Detroit Free Press July 15 1903 p 1 Retrieved November 29 2021 VANDERBILT LINES UNITE UNDER ONE HEAD Reorganization with Newman President Announced MAY STOP COMPETITION Big Four and Michigan Central Roads in Single System to Prevent Rivalry The New York Times February 1 1905 Retrieved November 29 2021 MRS H B LEDYARD DROPS DEAD Chicago Tribune March 31 1895 p 3 Retrieved November 29 2021 Rogers Mrs Sophie Selden 1931 Selden Ancestry A Family History Giving the Ancestors and Descendants of George Shattuck Selden and His Wife Elizabeth Wright Clark E van D Selden p 209 Retrieved October 27 2021 Michigan University of 1960 The President s Report to the Board of Regents for the Academic Year Financial Statement for the Fiscal Year UM Libraries Retrieved April 26 2017 Bragg Amy Elliott October 20 2011 Hidden History of Detroit Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9781614233459 Retrieved April 26 2017 TIMES Special to THE NEW YORK December 3 1932 HENRY LEDYARD DIES SUDDENLY IN DETROIT Prominent as a Lawyer and Finan cieruMember of an Old Michigan Family The New York Times Retrieved November 29 2021 HENRY LEDYARD JR MARRIED He and His Bride Start for Yokohama to Meet Baroness von Ketteler The New York Times September 6 1900 Retrieved November 29 2021 CAREER OF LIEUT LEDYARD Dead Officer Left Yale to Enlist in the War with Spain The New York Times December 9 1899 Retrieved November 29 2021 DEATH S SUDDEN CALL SAD TAKING OFF OF MRS HENRY B LEDYARD DROPPED DEAD WHILE WALKING ON CHENE STREET SHE HAD NO WARNING OF THE GRIM REAPER S NEARNESS Her Character Lovable and Marked With Kindly Charity Detroit Free Press March 31 1895 p 5 Retrieved November 29 2021 Clarence Monroe Burton William Stocking Gordon K Miller 1922 The city of Detroit Michigan 1701 1922 Volume 4 The S J Clarke publishing company pp 5 6 a b Ledyard Given Quiet Funeral Detroit Free Press May 28 1921 p 11 External links editHenry Brockholst Ledyard at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry B Ledyard Jr amp oldid 1215529681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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