Ashbel H. Barney
Encyclopedia
Ashbel Holmes Barney was an American banker and expressman
who served as president of Wells Fargo & Company in 1869-1870.
, the son of John and Sarah (Grow) Barney. He was a descendant of Jacob Barney of Bradenham, Buckinghamshire
, England
, who settled at Salem, Massachusetts
, in 1630. John Barney was a farmer in Jefferson County, New York
, when his sons Danford
(1808) and Ashbel were born.
Educated at Belleville Academy in his native county, Ashbel Barney went to Cleveland, Ohio
, in 1842 with his brother Danford and engaged in business as forwarding and commission merchants as Danford N. Barney & Company.
At Cleveland in 1846 Ashbel Barney married Susan H. Tracy, the daughter of Gardiner and Catherine (Lansing) Tracy of Utica, New York
. Their children were:
Lucy Collins Whitney was the sister of William Collins Whitney, Secretary of the Navy in 1885-1889. It was at Whitney's New York City
home, 871 Fifth Avenue, that he gave a debutante
ball in honor of Lucy's daughter, Helen Barney, on January 5, 1901.
, in 1849. In 1857 Ashbel moved to New York City, where Danford had located the previous year.
On November 17, 1859, Ashbel Barney was elected a director of Wells Fargo & Company in place of James McKay, who had resigned. Barney was president at various times of Wells Fargo, the United States Express Company, and the Northern Pacific Railroad. He was vice president of Wells Fargo from the beginning of 1867 until 1869 when he succeeded Louis McLane as president. During his presidency Lloyd Tevis
acquired a controlling interest in Wells Fargo. Barney stepped down as president of Wells Fargo in 1870 and was succeeded by William G. Fargo
that year and by Tevis in 1872.
elected in his place.
Ashbel H. Barney died at his residence, 101 East 38th Street in New York City, on December 27, 1886. His funeral was conducted at the residence on December 30 by the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst of the Madison Square Presbyterian Church
. The pall bearers were Thomas Collier Platt, Grosvenor P. Lowery, Samuel N. Hoyt, James C. Fargo (president of American Express
), Hiram Barney, and George F. Crane. Also present were Barney's son and daughter with Morris K. Jesup, Theodore Wood, Salem H. Wales, Darius Ogden Mills
, Benjamin Brewster
, Parker Handy, Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, Peter F. Baker, Duncan Cryden, Charles Atterbury, Hugh Murdock, Louis Murdock, James H. Thompson, Charles H. Adams
, George C. Magoun
, Russell Sturgis
(son-in-law of Danford N. Barney
), Appleton Sturgis (son of Russell Sturgis), A. Bancroft and W.P. Seymour. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Express mail
In most postal systems express mail refers to an accelerated delivery service for which the customer pays a surcharge and receives faster delivery. Express mail is a service for domestic mail and is governed by a country's own postal administration...
who served as president of Wells Fargo & Company in 1869-1870.
Early life
Barney was born in 1816 at Henderson, New YorkHenderson, New York
Henderson is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,360 at the 2010 census. The town is named after William Henderson, the original land owner....
, the son of John and Sarah (Grow) Barney. He was a descendant of Jacob Barney of Bradenham, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, who settled at Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, in 1630. John Barney was a farmer in Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, when his sons Danford
Danford N. Barney
Danford Newton Barney was an American expressman who served as president of Wells Fargo & Company from 1853 to 1866....
(1808) and Ashbel were born.
Educated at Belleville Academy in his native county, Ashbel Barney went to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, in 1842 with his brother Danford and engaged in business as forwarding and commission merchants as Danford N. Barney & Company.
At Cleveland in 1846 Ashbel Barney married Susan H. Tracy, the daughter of Gardiner and Catherine (Lansing) Tracy of Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. Their children were:
- Gardiner Tracy Barney, b. November 29, 1849, Cleveland; d. in childhood.
- Charles Tracy BarneyCharles T. BarneyCharles Tracy Barney was the president of the Knickerbocker Trust Company, the collapse of which shortly before Barney's death sparked the Panic of 1907.-Early life and marriage:...
, b. January 27, 1851, Cleveland, d. November 14, 1907, New York City; married Lucy Collins "Lily" Whitney. - Helen Tracy Barney, b. May 16, 1853, Cleveland, d. February 17, 1897, New York City.
Lucy Collins Whitney was the sister of William Collins Whitney, Secretary of the Navy in 1885-1889. It was at Whitney's New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
home, 871 Fifth Avenue, that he gave a debutante
Debutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
ball in honor of Lucy's daughter, Helen Barney, on January 5, 1901.
Wells Fargo & Company
Ashbel Barney remained in Cleveland when his brother Danford moved to Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, in 1849. In 1857 Ashbel moved to New York City, where Danford had located the previous year.
On November 17, 1859, Ashbel Barney was elected a director of Wells Fargo & Company in place of James McKay, who had resigned. Barney was president at various times of Wells Fargo, the United States Express Company, and the Northern Pacific Railroad. He was vice president of Wells Fargo from the beginning of 1867 until 1869 when he succeeded Louis McLane as president. During his presidency Lloyd Tevis
Lloyd Tevis
Lloyd Tevis was a banker and capitalist who served as president of Wells Fargo & Company from 1872 to 1892.-Early life:...
acquired a controlling interest in Wells Fargo. Barney stepped down as president of Wells Fargo in 1870 and was succeeded by William G. Fargo
William Fargo
William George Fargo , pioneer American expressman, was born in Pompey, New York. From the age of thirteen he had to support himself, obtaining little schooling, and for several years he was a clerk in grocery stores in Syracuse....
that year and by Tevis in 1872.
Later life
After 1881 Barney was practically retired from business. He retired from the board of directors of Wells Fargo & Company in 1883 with Colonel Charles Frederick CrockerCharles Frederick Crocker
Charles Frederick Crocker , was vice president of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company.-Biography:He was born in Sacramento on December 26, 1854 to Charles Crocker.-References:...
elected in his place.
Ashbel H. Barney died at his residence, 101 East 38th Street in New York City, on December 27, 1886. His funeral was conducted at the residence on December 30 by the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst of the Madison Square Presbyterian Church
Madison Square Presbyterian Church, New York City (1854)
Madison Square Presbyterian Church was a Presbyterian church in Manhattan, New York City, located on Madison Square Park at the southeast corner of East 24th Street and Madison Avenue. Construction on the church began in 1853 and was completed in 1854. It was designed by Richard M. Upjohn, the son...
. The pall bearers were Thomas Collier Platt, Grosvenor P. Lowery, Samuel N. Hoyt, James C. Fargo (president of American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
), Hiram Barney, and George F. Crane. Also present were Barney's son and daughter with Morris K. Jesup, Theodore Wood, Salem H. Wales, Darius Ogden Mills
Darius Ogden Mills
Darius Ogden Mills was a prominent American banker, philanthropist and, for a time, California's wealthiest citizen.-Biography:...
, Benjamin Brewster
Benjamin Brewster
Benjamin Brewster was the Episcopal Bishop of Maine and Missionary Bishop of Western Colorado.-Early life:He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of the Rev. Joseph Brewster and Sarah Jane Bunce...
, Parker Handy, Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, Peter F. Baker, Duncan Cryden, Charles Atterbury, Hugh Murdock, Louis Murdock, James H. Thompson, Charles H. Adams
Charles H. Adams
Charles Henry Adams was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Coxsackie, he attended the public schools, studied law, was admitted to the bar about 1845 and commenced practice in New York City. He moved to Cohoes in 1850 and in 1851 was appointed with rank of colonel to Governor...
, George C. Magoun
George C. Magoun
George C. Magoun was, in the late 1880s, the Chairman of the Board of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway....
, Russell Sturgis
Russell Sturgis
Russell Sturgis was an American architect and art criticof the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1870.-Early life and marriage:...
(son-in-law of Danford N. Barney
Danford N. Barney
Danford Newton Barney was an American expressman who served as president of Wells Fargo & Company from 1853 to 1866....
), Appleton Sturgis (son of Russell Sturgis), A. Bancroft and W.P. Seymour. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery.