Alexander Lafayette Chew Explained

Alexander Lafayette Chew (October 4, 1824 – November 19, 1911) was an American banker.

Early life

Chew was born on October 4, 1824, in New Orleans, Louisiana, where his father served as collector of the port of New Orleans. He was one of six children of Beverly Chew (1773–1851) and Maria Theodora (Duer) Chew (1789–1837).^[1] Three of his siblings married into the Kennedy family of Louisiana and his eldest sister, Lucy Ann Chew, married their cousin, U.S. Representative William Duer.^[2] During the Marquis de Lafayette's 1824 visit to the United States, his father hosted the French statesman at their New Orleans home. Young Alexander was born shortly thereafter and Lafayette became godfather of the boy, giving the family an "ornate silver teapot inscribed with the infant's name."

His paternal grandparents were Ann (Fox) Chew and Col. John Chew Jr. (1740–1799), who served in the Continental Army. His maternal grandparents were Continental Congress delegate William Duer and Lady Catherine Alexander. Among his Duer relatives were uncles William Alexander Duer and John Duer, both prominent Judges. His mother was also a cousin to Edward Livingston, the United States Senator from Louisiana.^[3]

He attended Hobart College in Geneva, New York, beginning in 1840.

Career

In 1863, he was a founder of the First National Bank of Geneva. Three years after it was formed, Chew, his father-in-law Phineas Prouty, Corydon Wheat, his brother-in-law Thomas Hillhouse and Thomas Raines (later New York State Treasurer) bought out the bank and made Chew President.^[4] Shortly after he became president, First National built their headquarters on the southeast corner of Seneca and Exchange Streets in Geneva.^[4] By 1890, the Bank had assets totaling more than $370,000,000.^[5] Chew served as its president until his death in 1911. The bank was reorganized as the Geneva Trust Company in 1919.^[6]

Chew also served as a trustee of Hobart College for forty-two years and a vestryman and warden of Trinity Church in Geneva.

Personal life

On January 10, 1849, Chew was married to Sarah Augusta Prouty (1825–1912), a daughter of merchant Phineas Prouty and Margaret Van Vranken.^[7] Sarah's sister, Harriet Prouty, was the wife of New York State Comptroller Thomas Hillhouse and her brother was Phineas Prouty.^[8] Together, they were the parents of:^[2]

• Beverly Chew II (1850–1924),^[9] a banker and well-known book collector who married Clarissa Tainter Pierson, a daughter of the Rev. Job Pierson and granddaughter of U.S. Representative Job Pierson,^[10] in 1872.^[2]
• Harriet Hillhouse Chew (1851–1919), who married Dr. Ernest Cleveland Coxe, son of Bishop Arthur Cleveland Coxe.^[2]
• Phineas Prouty Chew (1854–1935), a printing press manufacturer who married Marguerite Pistor in 1879.^{[11] [12]}
• Thomas Hillhouse Chew (1856–1932),^[13] who never married.^[2]
• Alexander Duer Chew (1858–1927),^[14] cashier of the International Pump Co.^[7] who never married.^[2]
• Katherine Adelaide Chew (1861–1924), who married Samuel Cooper Winship, a son of Maj. Oscar Fingal Winship.^[2]
• Theodora Augusta Chew (1863–1874), who died young.^[2]
• Lillian Chew (1868–1931), who married George Wilder, vice president of the Central Bank of Rochester.^{[2] [15]}

Chew died in Geneva on November 19, 1911.^[16] His second son Thomas succeeded him as president of the First National Bank of Geneva and served as president until his own death in 1932.^{[13] [17]}

Descendants

Through his youngest daughter Lillian, he was a grandfather of composer Alexander Lafayette Chew Wilder (better known as Alec Wilder).^{[18] [19]}

References

Notes

Sources

Notes and References

1. Book: Daughters of the American Revolution. Lineage Book, Vol. 20. The Society. 1905. 130–131. 3 May 2018. en. Daughters of the American Revolution.
2. Book: Weeks . Lyman Horace . Prominent Families of New York: Being an Account in Biographical Form of Individuals and Families Distinguished as Representatives of the Social, Professional and Civic Life of New York City . 1898 . Historical Company . 193 . 14 April 2022 . en.
3. Book: Browning . Charles Henry . Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings . 1891 . Porter & Costes . 123 . 14 April 2022 . en.
4. Web site: Currency, Finance and the Civil War . historicgeneva.org . Historic Geneva . 18 April 2022 . en . 8 August 2014.
5. Book: Treasury . United States Comptroller of the . Annual Report . 1890 . . 230 . 18 April 2022 . en.
6. Book: Dept . New York (State) Banking . Annual Report of the Superintendent of Banks Relative to Savings Banks, Investment Companies, Safe Deposit Companies and Licensed Lenders ... . 1920 . 440 . 18 April 2022 . en.
7. Book: Prouty (Proute) Genealogy . 1910 . C. H. Pope . 978-0-598-99860-6 . 75–76 . 14 April 2022 . en.
8. Book: Hillhouse . Margaret Prouty . Historical and Genealogical Collections Relating to the Descendants of Rev. James Hillhouse . 1924 . T. A. Wright . 223, 298 . 26 October 2021 . en.
9. News: BEVERLY CHEW.; Was Famous as Collector of Books and Manuscripts . 18 April 2022 . . 22 May 1924.
10. Book: Chronicle . 1977 . Historical Society of Michigan . 11–12 . 18 April 2022 . en.
11. News: PHINEAS CHEW DEAD; OF PIONEER ANCESTRY; His Father Lafayette's Godson --Former Treasurer of Robert Hoe Printing Press Concern. . 18 April 2022 . . 2 January 1936.
12. News: MARRIED -- Barstow--Chew . 18 April 2022 . . 26 October 1901.
13. News: THOMAS H. CHEW DEAD; GENEVA (N.Y.) BANKER; Philanthropist and Member of Old Family -- Trustee of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. . 18 April 2022 . . 4 March 1932.
14. News: Deaths -- CHEW . 18 April 2022 . . 17 July 1927.
15. Book: The Rand McNally Bankers' Monthly . 1909 . Rand McNally & Company . 306 . 18 April 2022 . en.
16. News: Alexander Lafayette Chew. . 14 April 2022 . . 19 November 1911.
17. News: GENEVA CHURCH COLLEGE GIVEN ESTATE SHARES. Hospital, Kin Also Benefit by Terms of T. H. Chew's Will . 18 April 2022 . . 20 March 1932 . 6.
18. Book: Stone . Desmond . Alec Wilder in Spite of Himself: A Life of the Composer . 25 April 1996 . . 978-0-19-535728-8 . 8 . 14 April 2022 . en.
19. News: Wilson . John S. . Alec Wilder, Composer, 73, Dead; Wrote Songs and Classical Works; 'Let Uniqueness Be Unique' Also Admired by Jazzmen Made Others Laugh Returned to Study at Eastman Home Was the Algonquin . 18 April 2022 . . 25 December 1980.