Heber Reginald Bishop

Carriage House: No. 147 E 69th, designed by John Correja,

was built for Hebert R. Bishop. The facade was redesigned by Barney & Colt

in 1913 for railroad magnate Arthur C. James whose mansion was under construction

at 39 East 69th Street at the same time

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HEBER REGINALD BISHOP.

By Mary C. Bishop.

Heber Reginald Bishop was born March n, 1840, in Medford, Mass., and was the youngest son of Nathaniel Holmes Bishop and Mary Smith Farrar.

The family is descended from Dr. John Bishop, who came from England to America and settled at Bradford, Mass., some time about 1717. He married Sarah Bond, of a well-known Colonial family, by whom he had a daughter Sarah and a son John. The family removed to Medford, Mass., in 1723, and descendants continued to reside there until 1868. The son John Bishop married Abigail, the daughter of Dr. Simon Tufts, of Medford, and their home was on High Street, where they received later in life General Washington, John Adams and John Quincy Adams — three Presidents of the United States. Mrs. John Bishop was an intimate friend of the elder Adams' wife, the two families being

connected by marriage. Their children were John and Abigail. Abigail Bishop married Dr. Archelaus Putnam, and John Bishop married Lydia, the younger daughter of Nathaniel Holmes, a merchant and large property owner residing in Boston, whose wife was Rebecca Goodwill, by whom he left two daughters; — the elder married William Fowle of Lynn, the younger married John Bishop of Medford, and several children were born to

them. Their son, Nathaniel Holmes Bishop, who inherited large landed estates in Medford, married Mary Smith, daughter of Dr. Judson Farrar, of Peterborough, N. H. Nine children were born to them, of whom Heber Reginald Bishop was the youngest son. Nathaniel Holmes Bishop died in Medford in 1850.

Heber Reginald Bishop was educated at Mr. Cummings' school in Medford, and afterward at the Academy in North Yarmouth, Maine. He early developed a taste for commercial life, and in the autumn of 1856 he entered the counting-house of Benjamin Burgess & Sons, then prominent merchants on India Wharf, Boston, chiefly engaged in the West India trade. There he remained three years, and by his industry and devotion to the

interests of his employers he earned their full confidence and esteem. In the autumn of 1856 he was sent by them to look after their interests at Remedios, Cuba, and so well did he master the details of business in a foreign land that he was enabled to establish his own commercial house in March, 1861, just as he entered his twenty-second year. The following years were very prosperous ones for the Island of Cuba, and Mr. Bishop soon built up a large business, exporting sugar and carrying on the usual banking business with the planters. In 1868 the first Cuban insurrections broke out, and from that time almost chaos reigned on the Island. The cultivation of the sugar-cane was carried on under

increasing difficulties, owing to the scarcity of labor and the political conditions, which caused capitalists to withhold from the planters the financial assistance necessary to enable them to continue the production of sugar. The future of the Island appearing so uncertain — with a revolution in progress, which the Spanish Government was unable to suppress, and the impending emancipation of the slaves, which all now saw was but a question of a few years — Mr. Bishop concluded to retire from Cuba, although he was not able at the time to dispose of valuable real estate, consisting of sugar warehouses, wharves and cooperage. In 1876 he left Cuba, and never returned to the scenes of his early

success, where he had spent seventeen years of his life in building up and extending a large and prosperous business.

In 1862 Mr. Bishop married Mary, the second daughter of James Cunningham, of Irvington, New York. She accompanied him to Cuba for several winters, always returning to spend the summers at Irvington. From 1870 Irvington became Mr. Bishop's principal home, although in 1878 the house he occupied, formerly Mr. Cunningham's, was destroyed by fire, and was never rebuilt.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bishop had become interested in what was then called " Rapid Transit," and was largely instrumental in constructing the Third Avenue Elevated Road, and in 1878 New York City became his permanent home. His attention was next directed to Western enterprises, and he became a Director of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad Company, and of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company. In 1887 he

was one of the organizers of the Minnesota Iron Company, and of the Duluth and Iron Range Railway, and became President of both these corporations. He was also a Director of the Chandler Iron Company, and in later years of the Lackawanna Steel Company.

He was for many years a Trustee of the Metropolitan Trust Company, and in all these positions his ability, integrity and business aptitude secured for him the respect and confidence of his associates. He also was actively connected with many charities

in our city, notably the Presbyterian Hospital, of which he was for several years the Vice-President; but of late years his impaired health and frequent absences abroad had caused his retirement from any active participation in its management.

These interests did not prevent him from taking a strong interest in social matters; he was a member of the Metropolitan, Union, Union League, Century, Grolier and other clubs. In sporting matters he also took a keen interest, and was a member of the Restigouche Salmon Club, the Southside Sportsmen's and other clubs.

In 1870 he made his first visit to the Pacific Coast, which he revisited in 1880 and in 1890. In 1881 he first went to Europe, spending five months in travelling. Again, in 1883 and in 1885, he visited Europe, and in the course of Ihese trips went to England, France, Germany, Austria, Russia and Spain. His taste for art was thus developed, and having begun his collection of jade in 1880, he added to it whenever good specimens were to

be obtained. Most of 1888 and 1889 was spent abroad, and he then visited Italy and Turkey, in addition to the more usual routes. In 1892 he was able to take a long-anticipated trip to China and Japan. He spent three weeks in Peking, and saw

many of the marvellous things which are not generally shown to travellers. His reputation as a connoisseur and collector had preceded him, and great opportunities were given him.

The autumn of 1892 found him again in Europe. Early in 1895 Mr. Bishop spent two months in Egypt, going up the Nile as far as the Second Cataract. Afterwards he made a short visit to the Holy Land, Greece and Turkey, this being his second visit to

Constantinople. He returned by way of Sicily, Naples and Rome to Paris in April.

In 1882 Mr. Bishop had built his home on what was then considered "upper" Fifth Avenue, and there he continued to reside till his death. In 1893 he added to his house a fire-proof room for his collection of jade, which by that time had reached considerable size. To that collection he was constantly adding as long as he lived, although for the past few years it was only something very rare or curious that he would think worthy to be included. This

collection is unique; it contains not only many objects of rare artistic beauty and value, but also many specimens of mineralogical and archaeological jade, which greatly enhance its value. So there gradually came to Mr. Bishop the desire that the collection should not be broken up, and in March, 1902, he formally presented it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of which he had been for many years a Trustee, with the understanding that it

was to remain in its present home until a corresponding room could be prepared for it in the Museum. This Mr. Bishop hoped to accomplish himself, but he was not permitted to see it finished, and it remains for the Trustees to whom he left the gift to see that his wishes are fully carried out. It was his hope that New York should possess the finest collection of jade in the world, outside of China, and it was with the full knowledge and approval of his children that this was presented to the Museum to remain as a memorial of patient and intelligent collection of a beautiful and little-known substance. For many years Mr. Bishop had been preparing a work, which was to be not only an illustrated cata-

logue of his collection, but a work of reference on all matters concerning jade. This was practically completed in the summer of 1902, but has yet to be printed and published. It is not designed for general circulation: only one hundred copies are to be issued,

and they are to be presented to the principal Museums and Art Libraries of Europe and America.

With all his taste for artistic things Mr. Bishop never lost his interest in business affairs nor in outdoor sports. As long as his health permitted, he kept in touch with many business enterprises, and his enjoyment of fishing and shooting continued to the last. In 1882 he made a trip with General Sheridan to the Rocky Mountains, travelling many hundreds of miles on horseback in search of big game; and several times he went with smaller

parties of friends for the same purpose. He was an enthusiastic fisherman, and much enjoyed his visits to the Restigouche Club, of which he was a member. In later years he enjoyed more the comforts of shooting in England and France, and had many

pleasant experiences there. In 1899 he rented for the season an estate in Norfolk, England, where the shooting was excellent, and where he entertained many friends from the United States and France.

Mr. Bishop's last visit abroad was in the spring of 1902. He enjoyed his visits and shooting in Scotland, and returned to New York in October. The heart trouble which had threatened him for several years became pronounced in November, and after six weeks' confinement to his room, he passed away December oth, in the sixty-third year of his age. A man still young in feeling and appearance, it seems as if he had been taken prematurely from the scene of his activities; but such a nature can never die, and in some more perfect life no doubt he finds opportunity for the exercise of all his powers. He made many warm friendships, and his generosity and kindness have left many to mourn him. His wife, four sons and four daughters survive him.