Edward Schell (November 5, 1819 – December 24, 1893) was an American merchant and banker.

Edward Schell
30th President of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York
In office
1889–1889
Preceded byJohn Cruger Mills
Succeeded byJames William Beekman Jr.
Personal details
Born(1819-11-05)November 5, 1819
Rhinebeck, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 1893(1893-12-24) (aged 74)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting placeWoodlawn Cemetery
Spouse
Jane Lamberson Heartt
(m. 1847; died 1880)
RelationsRichard Schell (brother)
Augustus Schell (brother)
Parent(s)Christian Schell
Elizabeth Hughes

Early life edit

Schell was born on November 5, 1819, in Rhinebeck, New York.

He was one of four brothers born to Christian Schell (1779–1825), a merchant,[1] and Elizabeth (née Hughes) Schell (1783–1866).[2]

He was the brother of U.S. Representative Richard Schell; Collector of the Port of New York Augustus Schell; and Robert Schell, a well-known businessman of New York City.[2]

His paternal grandparents were Richard Schell and Anna (née Schultz) Schell.[2]

He was first educated at the Starr Institute in Rhinebeck, which he left at the age of ten years.[3]

Career edit

As a child,[clarification needed] Schell began his career with Littlefield & Shaw, an Irish linen importer in New York City. After a few years' service, he was sent to England to represent the house and, at the age of twenty-six, he became a junior member of Lewis S. Fellows & Schell in New York, which later became known as Schell, Fellows & Co. He was with the jewelry firm[clarification needed] for twenty years until it dissolved.[4]

He later entered the banking world with the Manhattan Savings Institution, serving as a trustee, treasurer and, beginning in 1876, president for over thirty years.[4] He was president of the bank during its robbery on October 27, 1878.[5]

Schell also served as a trustee of the Union Trust Company, a director of the National Citizens Bank, the Manhattan Life Insurance Company, the Citizens Fire Insurance Company, the Park Fire Insurance Company, the New York Society Library, the Institution for the Blind, St. Luke's Hospital, and a governor of the Manhattan Club.

He was also a vestryman of the Church of the Ascension in New York City and a warden of Christ's Church in Rye, New York.

Schell was a life member of the New-York Historical Society and the Century Association.

In 1889,[clarification needed] he served one term as the 30th president of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York from 1882 to 1883, succeeding Edward Floyd DeLancey.[4] He previously served as treasurer of the organization from 1871 to 1888.[6]

Personal life edit

In 1847, Schell was married to Jane Lamberson Heartt (1825–1880), the daughter of Jonas Coe Heartt, the mayor of Troy, New York, who later became the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. Together, they were the parents of:

  • Edward Heartt Schell (1848–1910), who married Cornelia Evarts Barnes, daughter of the William Evarts Barnes, in 1886.[7]
  • Jonas Heartt Schell (1850–1852), who died young.
  • Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Schell (1855–1882), who married Samuel Cragin, a son of George D. Cragin and Lydia (née Briggs) Cragin. Their daughter, Elizabeth Schell Cragin married Harold Heartt Foley.[8]
  • Mary Emily Schell (1857–1926), who did not marry and was active in philanthropy.[9]

Death edit

Schell died December 24, 1893, at his residence, 53 Clinton Place[clarification needed] in New York City.[3][10] After a funeral at the Church of the Ascension (which was attended by Cornelius Vanderbilt II, Chauncey Depew, Robert Stuyvesant, Charles A. Schermerhorn, among others), he was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Augustus Schell (1812-1884)". www.nyhistory.org. New-York Historical Society. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c The Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York: History, Customs, Record of Events, Constitution, Certain Genealogies, and Other Matters of Interest. V. 1-. Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York. 1905. p. 138. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "DEATH OF EDWARD SCHELL". The Port Chester Journal. December 28, 1893. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Youngs, Florence Evelyn Pratt; Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York (1914). Portraits of the Presidents of The Society, 1835–1914. New York, NY: Order of the Society. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  5. ^ "A GREAT BANK ROBBERY.; THE MANHATTAN SAVINGS INSTITUTION ROBBED. THREE MILLIONS AND A HALF IN CASH AND SECURITIES STOLEN FROM THE VAULT--THE JANITOR HANDCUFFED AND COMPELLED TO GIVE UP THE SAFE KEYS AND TELL THE COMBINATION--THE AUDACITY OF THE ROBBERS--STATEMENTS OF INTERESTED PERSONS--THE MANIFESTO OF THE DIRECTORS--HOW THE INSTITUTION IS AFFECTED". The New York Times. October 28, 1878. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York: Organized February 28, 1835, Incorporated April 17, 1841 ... Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York. 1923. pp. 170–174. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University. Yale University. 1910. p. 1242. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  8. ^ Religious Leaders of America. J.C. Schwarz. 1941. p. 62. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  9. ^ "Miss Mary Emily Schell" (PDF). The New York Times. June 20, 1926. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  10. ^ "The Obituary Record. | Edward Schell" (PDF). The New York Times. December 26, 1893. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  11. ^ "FUNERAL OF BANKER EDWARD SCHELL. Impressive Ceremonies in the Church of the Ascension, in Fifth Avenue" (PDF). The New York Times. December 28, 1893. Retrieved April 18, 2019.

External links edit