George N. Terry
Born(1838-02-06)February 6, 1838
DiedJune 2, 1899(1899-06-02) (aged 61)[1]
Burial placeMount Pleasant Cemetery,
Center Moriches, New York
Parent(s)Nelson Terry
Eunice Terry [2]

George Nelson Terry (February 6, 1838 - June 2, 1899) was a colonel during the American Civil War, before going on to become a hotelier.[3] In 1867, Terry started a very close friendship with Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt, and was the one to find him after his suicide in 1882.[4]

Early life

George Terry's great-grandfather came from Connecticut around 1783 and built the Ketcham's Hotel in Center Moriches, New York.[5] He was the fourth child born to Nelson and Eunice Terry, and was raised in Brookhaven, New York.[2]

Career

Opening in 1864, Terry was the first lessee of the Hoffman House following its construction.[6] That November, Major general Benjamin Butler established his military headquarters at Terry's newly opened Hoffman House hotel.[7]

In January 1866, there was discussion of demolishing the United States Hotel to make space to widen the road.[8] Citizens were opposed to the plans, and The New York Times wrote: "Nothing could more completely illustrate the utter helplessness of the taxpayers of this city against any raid that organized self-interest..."[9] In 1867, Terry reopened the United States Hotel which was located on the corner of Fulton and Water streets, with the intention to conduct it on the European plan.[10] In 1869, after a client died of suffocation at the U.S. Hotel, Terry had to testify at the Coroner's Jury trial.[11] Terry was the proprietor of the United States Hotel until May 1872.[12]

In December 1873, George met with Cornelius Vanderbilt about a business venture in Toledo, Ohio.[13] The Commodore passed on the venture, and in February 1874, Terry acquired the Island House hotel, located on Lake Shore Road, leaving his brother to manage it.[12] His expansion into Ohio continued when he established William C. Terry & Company with his brother, to operate the Hotel French, in Lima, Ohio. On July 11, 1892, Terry left on a trip to Mt. Clemens, Michigan.[14] In 1896, George and William decided to sell the Hotel French to E.B. Hawkins.[15]

In 1892, at the Hotel Florence in Jamestown, which Terry owned, a murder-suicide took place.[16]

Personal life

In 1867, George while he was the proprietor of the United States Hotel, met for the first time Cornelius J. Vanderbilt, who was staying at the hotel.[12] From the start of their friendship, Terry saw Cornelius frequently and visited his home in Hartford multiple times where he became acquainted with Ellen Williams, Cornelius' wife.[12]

Vanderbilt biographer T. J. Stiles, has questioned whether George and Cornelius were lovers, based on the intensity of their letters,[13] including a letter where Cornelius writes: "Oh! George I cannot give you up. You must not desert me now, but must be brave & patient, and give me encouragement and hope for the future."[13]

When Ellen died in March 1872, George and Cornelius became constant companions, sometimes sleeping in the same room and sometimes in adjoining apartments.[12] Later that year, they went on a trip where they stopped in Omaha, Nebraska.[17]

On November 25, 1872, George and Cornelius posed for a photograph with General Robert O. Tyler and two others while in Hong Kong.[18]

Cornelius Vanderbilt trial

On December 28, 1877, Terry was called as a witness during Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt's lawsuit attempting to break his father's will.[19] After a two-month break, the lawsuit resumed February 26, 1878, with Terry being the first witness called back to testify.[12] Cornelius' counsel, Mr. Scott Lord, questioned Terry in relation to his meetings with Cornelius J. at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in October and November of 1874. Terry testified he had no recollection of meeting with Cornelius in the afternoon, and that they would have met in the evenings.[12] He also testified that he had made, "no arrangement by which he was to receive a share in the proceeds if the litigation should prove successful."[12]

During the cross-examination, Henry L. Clinton, William Vanderbilt's lawyer, tried to discredit Terry, and claimed W.H. Vanderbilt removed Terry's brother from Island House through the officials of Lake Shore road due to non-payment of rent.[12] Mr. Lord denied the claims, stating he was, "prepared to show that every dollar due had been paid, and even a year in advance."[12]

World travels

George and Cornelius departed for a trip to Europe on September 4, 1880. After arriving in Liverpool on September 16th,[20] they traveled to Cairo where they were joined by the American representative in the International Court of Egypt. They set out on an exploring expedition up the Nile, before traveling to the Holy Land, and to St. Petersburg. From thence, they crossed the Ural Mountains into Siberia, went to China, before returning back to New York via a Pacific Mail steam-ship.[21]

On March 1, 1881, George and Cornelius traveled to Washington, DC together,[22] because, Cornelius had been invited to attend a reception thrown for President Rutherford B. Hayes by Congressman Simeon B. Chittenden and his wife.[23]

On July 20, 1881, George and Cornelius departed on a trip for Europe via SS Arizona,[24] they arrived to Liverpool on July 28.[25] They returned to New York on September 27, via the SS City of Richmond.[26]

On January 24, 1882, George, and Cornelius, arrived in Chicago together and stayed at the Tremont House.[27]

In February,[28] they traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the hopes the Hot Springs could improve Cornelius' health which had been failing.[29] From there, George and Cornelius traveled down to Florida, before returning to New York on March 18.[30]

Cornelius' 1882 Suicide

"Mr. Vanderbilt and myself about four weeks ago returned from Florida, where Mr. Vanderbilt had been spending the winter for his health. On our arrival in the city Mr. Vanderbilt engaged a suite of rooms at this hotel. His health has been very poor for some time past, and he was subject to epilepsy and has been confined to his bed for several days."

George N. Terry, The Associated Press The Buffalo News (April 3, 1882)[31]

Upon returning to New York on March 18, 1882, George and Cornelius checked into the Glenham Hotel located on Broadway. They were given two rooms, No. 79 & No. 80 on the fifth floor, overlooking Fifth Avenue,[32] with a communicating door between the rooms.[33]

On the evening of March 31, Cornelius suffered a "severe" epileptic fit.[30] According to Cornelius' private secretary, Major. E.D. Luxton, on Saturday, April 1, Cornelius put his hand to his head and said, "If I don't get some relief I'll commit suicide. I have nothing to live for."[30] Later that night, Cornelius went out to "No. 12 Ann Street," a local gambling house,[30] He returned to his hotel room in the early hours, and went to bed around 6:30 Sunday morning.[30]

Just after 2 pm on Sunday, April 2, George was surprised by the sound a gunshot.[30] He rushed through the communicating doors to find Cornelius on his back, in bed, having shot himself in the head. George dropped to Cornelius' side, he was still breathing. George spoke to him, but received no answer.[34] George sent for Dr. Robert G. Weir, and Judge E.O. Perrin.[30] Cornelius was unconscious and was suffering from labored breathing. William Henry Vanderbilt was summoned, and arrived shortly with his two sons.[29] Seeing there was nothing to be done, William left at 4:30 pm.[35] Cornelius survived another four hours after the injury,[36] until he passed away at 6:10 pm.[30]

George Terry was originally of the opinion that Cornelius must have accidentally shot himself while in a fit.[31]

Coroner Brady arrived and questioned Terry while the Deputy Coroner performed the post-mortem examination.[32]

An inquest was held by Coroner Brady on April 6, with a jury composed of by nine physicians.[30] George, was called as a witness in addition to E.D. Luxton - Cornelius' secretary, Dr. Weir - Cornelius' physician, and George B. Ashley.[30] Despite how he was quoted in the Associated Press, during the inquest, George revealed he had no doubt Cornelius committed suicide – rather than it having been an accident.[30]

Following Cornelius' death, his sister Mary A. LeBau Berger challenged his will. Estimated at $759,000, it was reported he left $120,000 to George Terry,[37] and only $1,000 to his sister. She claimed, "that the writing was not his last will; that its execution was not his voluntary act, and that he was not of sound mind at the time he signed it." She alleged Terry attached himself to Cornelius in hopes of getting his money.[38]

Death

On Saturday, June 3, 1899, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Terry died of heart failure, at the home of a friend with whom he had lived for several years.[3][5] No public funeral announcement was made, as a result when he was interred on Tuesday, June 6, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery few non-relatives were present.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Death List of a Day - Col. George N. Terry". The New York Times. June 4, 1899. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "1850 United States Federal Census", United States census, 1850; Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York; roll 106, page 190a, line 38. Retrieved on November 9, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Col. George N. Terry Dead: He Was The First Proprietor of the Hoffman House". The Evening Star. June 3, 1899. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Suicide of C. Vanderbilt: Particulars of His Life". The Evening Star. April 5, 1882. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Funeral of George N. Terry: One of a Noted Family of Bonifaces, He Began as a Bellboy in New York". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 7, 1899. p. 8.
  6. ↑ "Personal Intelligence". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 5, 1899.
  7. ↑ "General News". The New York Times. November 7, 1864. ProQuest 91847912.
  8. ↑ "New Broadway". The New York Times. January 11, 1866. p. 4. ProQuest 92047534.
  9. ↑ "That New Broadway". The New York Times. January 16, 1866. ProQuest 92318636.
  10. ↑ "Reopening of the U.S. Hotel". The Sun. March 29, 1867. p. 4.
  11. ↑ "Poisoned by Gas: Fatal Case of Suffocation". New York Daily Herald. November 6, 1869. p. 7.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "The Vanderbilt's Will: Continuation Of The Contest Between The Commodore's Heirs". The New York Daily Herald. February 27, 1878. p. 5.
  13. 1 2 3 Stiles 2009.
  14. ↑ "George N. Terry of the Hotel French". The Lima News. July 11, 1892. p. 8.
  15. ↑ "New Management: E.B. Hawkins Succeeds William C. Terry & Co., as Manager of the Hotel French". The Times-Democrat. June 1, 1896. p. 5.
  16. ↑ "Double Tragedy: Patrick Dowd Kills George Haas and Then Shoots Himself". Vol. 24, no. 102. The Buffalo Evening News. August 8, 1892.
  17. ↑ "Personal". The Omaha Evening Bee. July 25, 1872.
  18. ↑ "Gen. Robert Tyler, Jessup, George N. Terry, C. Vanderbilt, Bernardo E. Carneiro". Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ "The Vanderbilt Will: Conclusion of Cornelius J. Vanderbilt's Searching Cross-Examination". The New York Herald. December 29, 1877.
  20. ↑ "Cabin Passengers By The Steamship City Of Richmond". Liverpool Mercury. September 16, 1880. p. 6.
  21. ↑ "Mr. C.J. Vanderbilt's Trip". The New York Times. September 5, 1880. ProQuest 93823199.
  22. ↑ "The Hotels Crowded: Some of the Arrivals in the City Yesterday". The Washington Post. March 2, 1881. ProQuest 137750986.
  23. ↑ "Mr. Chittenden's Reception: Garfield and Hayes and Other Distinguished Guests Present". The Washington Post. March 3, 1881. ProQuest 137762265.
  24. ↑ "Passengers For Europe". The New York Times. July 20, 1881. ProQuest 93970510.
  25. ↑ "Cabin Passengers by the Steamship Arizona". Liverpool Mercury. July 28, 1881. p. 6.
  26. ↑ "Passengers Arrived". The New York Times. September 27, 1881. p. 8. ProQuest 93940387.
  27. ↑ "Chicago Arrivals". Chicago, Illinois: The Chicago Tribune. January 25, 1882. p. 6.
  28. ↑ "Hot Springs Sprays: Events As They Occur In The Valley of Vapors". The Daily Arkansas Gazette. February 2, 1882. p. 4.
  29. 1 2 "Suicide of Cornelius J. Vanderbilt Yesterday Afternoon". The Chicago Tribune. April 3, 1882. p. 2.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Mr. Vanderbilt's Suicide: The Coroner's Jury Find That It Was Done Under Mental Depression". The New York Times. April 7, 1882. p. 8. ProQuest 94092384.
  31. 1 2 Associated Press (April 3, 1882). "A Chapter of Horrors: C.J. Vanderbilt's Tragic End". Vol. 3, no. 149. The Buffalo News. p. 9.
  32. 1 2 "A Vanderbilt Suicide: Cornelius, Jr., Third Son of the Commodore, Ends His Existence". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 3, 1882. p. 1.
  33. ↑ Cooper & Howe 2021.
  34. ↑ Cooper & Howe 2021, pp. 85.
  35. ↑ Cooper & Howe 2021, pp. 86.
  36. ↑ "Suicide of C.J. Vanderbilt: He Shoots Himself In The Head in the Glenham Hotel". The New York Times. April 3, 1882. p. 1.
  37. ↑ "The Last Will and Testament of Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt". October 25, 1881.
  38. ↑ "Contesting C.J. Vanderbilt's Will". The Washington Post. May 30, 1882. ProQuest 137816923.

Sources

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