Warren Delano IV
- Warren Delano Jr.
- Catherine Robbins Lyman
- Sara Ann Delano (sister)
- Frederic Delano (brother)
- Franklin D. Roosevelt (nephew)
Warren Delano IV[a] (July 11, 1852 – September 9, 1920)[3][4] was an American horseman and coal tycoon.[5]
Early life
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Franklin_D._Roosevelt_and_Eleanor_Roosevelt_with_Warren_Delano_III_and_Sara_Delano_Roosevelt_in_Newburgh%2C_New_York_-_NARA_-_196164.jpg/220px-Franklin_D._Roosevelt_and_Eleanor_Roosevelt_with_Warren_Delano_III_and_Sara_Delano_Roosevelt_in_Newburgh%2C_New_York_-_NARA_-_196164.jpg)
Delano was born at Algonac, the family estate in Balmville near Newburgh, New York in 1852.[1] He was a member of the Delano family as a son of prominent opium trader, Warren Delano Jr. (1809–1898), and Catherine Robbins (née Lyman) Delano (1825–1896). Among his siblings were younger sister Sara Ann Delano (the mother of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and younger brother Frederic Adrian Delano, a railroad president.
His paternal grandfather was Captain Warren Delano Sr., who was involved in the New England sea trade, and his maternal grandfather was Judge Joseph Lyman of Massachusetts.[2] His paternal uncle, Franklin Hughes Delano,[6] was married to Laura Astor, a daughter of William Backhouse Astor Sr. and sister of John Jacob Astor III and William Backhouse Astor Jr.[7] (husband of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor).[8] Reportedly, Laura was the favorite granddaughter of John Jacob Astor, the founding family patriarch who was America's first millionaire.[9]
In his youth, he was reportedly barred from his best friend Dick Aldrich's home, Rokeby, for spiking the punch at one of Aldrich's mother's parties (Margaret Aldrich, the wife of Richard Aldrich).[10] Delano attended and graduated from Harvard University in 1874, where his future wife attended private art classes.[1]
Career
Delano served as the president of the Delano Coal Company, one of the largest coal operations in Pennsylvania. Delano was known as a subsidiary of the Lackawanna Steel Company. Delano Coal owned the Buena Vista Furnace, a hot blast iron furnace built in 1847, that by the time it was acquired in 1901,[11] consisted of 20,000 acres (81 km2) of coal land in Indiana and Cambria counties.[12] He also served as vice president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.[13]
In 1901, Delano founded Wehrum, Pennsylvania, a non-union company town for the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, which contained 230 houses, a hotel, company store, jail, bank, post office, school, and two churches.[14] Wehrum was the largest town of what is now a series of ghost towns along the "Ghost Town Trail" that were abandoned when the mines declined and closed in the 1930s (the mines were eventually sold to the Bethlehem Mines Corporation in 1922).[15] He also founded Vintondale, Pennsylvania in Cambria County, and served as the President of Vinton Colliery Company and mayor of the town.
As of his death in 1920, Delano was a director of the Union Mining Company, served as president of the Delano Coal Company, and was chairman of the board of the Vinton Colliery Company.[2]
Personal life
In 1876, Delano was married to Jean "Jennie" Walters (1853–1922), much to her father's disappointment and discouragement as Jennie was his only daughter and companion following her mother's untimely death while abroad in 1862.[1] Jennie was the daughter of William Thompson Walters, a merchant and art collector,[16] and the sister of Henry Walters, who formed the Walters Art Museum from their father's collection.[17] Together, they lived in Orange, New Jersey, then New York City, before moving to Rhinebeck-on-Hudson, and were the parents of seven children, five of whom survived to adulthood, one son and four daughters:
- Warren Delano V (1877–1882), who died young.
- Lyman Delano (1883–1944), Chairman of the L&N and Atlantic Coast Line railroads,[18][19] who married Leila Chapin Burnett (1886–1936) in 1908.[20][21][22]
- Ellen Walters Delano (1884–1976),[23] who married philanthropist Frederick Baldwin Adams (1878–1961).[24]
- Jean Walters Delano (1889–1953),[25] who married George Harold Edgell (1887–1954),[26] a director of the Boston Fine Arts Museum, in 1914.[27]
- Laura Franklin Delano (1885–1972),[28] who never married and was a close friend of Helen Huntington,[4] the first wife of Vincent Astor.[29] Laura was also the inspiration for the character of Madge Telfair in Thomas Wolfe's novel, Of Time and the River.[30]
- William Walters Delano (1892–1892), who died in infancy.
- Sara Delano (1894–1983), who married Roland Livingston Redmond (1892–1982).[31][32]
On September 9, 1920, Delano was killed when the horse he was riding frightened by an approaching New York Central train, dashed onto the tracks at Barrytown, killing him instantly.[4] His widow died two years later in 1922.[33] His funeral was held at Steen Valetje in Barrytown and was attended by his nephew Franklin, then the Democratic vice presidential candidate.[34]
Steen Valetje residence
In 1875, Delano inherited Steen Valetje (which means "little stone valley" in Dutch), the estate built in 1851 for his uncle Franklin Hughes Delano on a wedding gift of land from the Astors' nearby Rokeby estate.[35] Franklin died childless. In 1881, Delano hired New York architect Thomas Stent to expand the property.[1][36]
At Steen Valetje, Delano moved his family and devoted himself to breeding horses.[37] At the time of his death, he had a stable of 65 horses, including saddle and driving horses and heavy draft horses,[4] and was an officer of the Springbrook Driving Park Association.[38] His son Lyman inherited Steen Valetje and his family kept the home until 1966 when it was sold by the family.[30]
References
- Notes
- ^ Although commonly referred to as Warren Delano III, he was, in fact, Warren Delano IV, as his elder brother, who was born in 1850, was named Warren Delano III[1] and died in infancy before Warren Delano IV's subsequent birth in 1852.[2]
- Sources
- ^ a b c d e Pottker, Jan (2014). Sara and Eleanor: The Story of Sara Delano Roosevelt and Her Daughter-in-Law, Eleanor Roosevelt. St. Martin's Press. p. 44. ISBN 9781466864511. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ a b c "Delano Family Papers, 1568-1919". www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 542; Volume #: Roll 542 - 13 Mar 1900-22 Mar 1900.
- ^ a b c d "WARREN DELANO KILLED BY TRAIN AT BARRYTOWN His Favorite Horse, Frightened by Express, Dashed On Track, Carrying Him to Death. BORNE 150 FEET BY ENGINE Uncle of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Had Large Coal interests in Pennsylvania. OWNED STABLE OF HORSES He Intended to Exhibit Animal HeWas Driving at Dutchess County Fair Tomorrow" (PDF). The New York Times. September 10, 1920. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Roosevelt Genealogy". www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- ^ "Franklin H. Delano". The New York Times. 25 December 1893. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- ^ "THE DESCENDANTS OF JOHN JACOB ASTOR. | INCLUDING THE FAMILIES OF BRISTED, WARD, CHANLER, CARY, DE STUERS, DELANO, VAN ALEN, ROOSEVELT, DRAYTON, WILSON, LANGDON, RUMPFF, BORELL, WILKS, KANE, CARROLL, DE NOTBECK, AND JAY" (PDF). The New York Times. March 6, 1898. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "DIED. DELANO". The New York Times. 25 December 1893. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
At Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Dec. 23, 1893, Franklin H. Delano of New-York City
- ^ Homberger, Eric (2004). Mrs. Astor's New York: Money and Social Power in a Gilded Age. Yale University Press. p. 105. ISBN 9780300105155. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Brandt, Clare (1986). An American Aristocracy: The Livingstons. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. pp. 227, 233. ISBN 9780385158756. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Weber, Denise Dusza (2008). Vintondale. Arcadia Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 9780738555416. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Stephenson, Clarence D. (July 1968). "Buena Vista Furnace" (PDF). Mahoning Mimeograph and Pamphlet Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- ^ "Portrait of Warren Delano III - William Jacob Baer (American, 1860-1941)". artsandculture.google.com. Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Regional Trail Guide" (PDF). Indiana County Parks & Trails. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 19, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- ^ "Ghost Town National Recreation Trail, Pennsylvania". National Recreation Trails. November 18, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- ^ "AMERICA'S GREAT ART COLLECTOR William Thompson Walters, Known Everywhere for His Devotion to Art, Dies in Baltimore" (PDF). The New York Times. November 23, 1894. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "HENRY WALTERS IN SURPRISE MARRIAGE Baltimore Financier, 73, Weds Mrs. Pembroke Jones, Widow of His Old Friend. THEY SAIL ON AQUITANIA Noted Art Collector and Bride Tell on Steamer of Their Wedding a Few Hours Before" (PDF). The New York Times. April 12, 1922. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Lyman Delano, Roosevelt Cousin, L. & N. Head, Dies". Louisville Courier-Journal. 24 July 1944. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ "100 AT DELANO RITES; Members of Roosevelt FamilyI at Funeral of President's Cousini" (PDF). The New York Times. July 26, 1944. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "MISS BUNCE BRIDE OF JOHN G. JACKSON Many New York Guests Attend the Ceremony at Poughkeepsie. MISS LEILA BURNETT WEDS Marriage to Lyman Delano, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Delano of New York, at Southborough" (PDF). The New York Times. June 7, 1908. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "MISS LEILA DELANO ENGAGED TO MARRY; President Roosevelt's Cousin to Become the Bride of Arthur Willing Patterson" (PDF). The New York Times. September 5, 1936. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "ROBERT B. DELANO, BROKER, ENDS LIFE; Relative of the President Is Found a Suicide in the Argentine Chaco. ON STAFF OF COTTON FIRM Son of Lyman Delano Had Been a Close Friend of the Roosevelt Children" (PDF). The New York Times. June 2, 1936. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "ELLEN DELANO ADAMS" (PDF). The New York Times. April 18, 1976. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Frederic Adams, Rail Officer, Dies: Director of Several Lines, 83, Had Also Been Banker". New York Times. 24 Oct 1961. p. 37.
- ^ "FALL KILLS HORSEWOMAN; Mrs. Jean Waiters Edgell Found on New Hampshire Bridle Path" (PDF). The New York Times. August 16, 1953. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "G. H. EDGELL DEAD; MUSEUM DIRECTOR; Head of Boston Fine Arts Had Taught at Harvard--Was Expert on Sienese Painting" (PDF). The New York Times. June 30, 1954. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "MISS DELANO A BRIDE. Married to Prof. G. H. Edgell at Her Summer Home, Steen Valetje" (PDF). The New York Times. June 14, 1914. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Laura F. Delano Is Dead; Dog Show Judge Was 86". The New York Times. 28 January 1972. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Appleseed, Peter. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Life and Times. p. 81. ISBN 9781312213746. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ a b Estersohn, Pieter; Aldrich, John Winthrop (September 18, 2018). Life Along the Hudson: The Historic country estates of the Livingston family. Rizzoli. pp. 188–197. ISBN 978-0-8478-6323-5. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ Johnston, William R. (1999). William and Henry Walters, the Reticent Collectors. JHU Press. p. 15. ISBN 9780801860409. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Davis, Howland; Clermont, Friends of (1995). A Livingston genealogical register. Kinship. pp. F-14, H-33, 235. ISBN 9781560121367. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "DEATH MAY CLEAR UP MYSTERY OF A LIGHT Burning in Mansion 32 Years Since Daughter Married Against Walters's Will" (PDF). The New York Times. December 4, 1922. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "WARREN DELANO FUNERAL. Franklin D. Roosevelt Attends Services at Barrytown" (PDF). The New York Times. September 13, 1920. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Nonko, Emily (August 28, 2017). "19th century Hudson River estate built for an Astor gets a price cut to $20M". 6sqft. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Kelly, Nancy V. (2009). Rhinebeck's Historic Architecture. Arcadia Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 9781614232902. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Delano, Daniel Webster (1946). Franklin Roosevelt and the Delano influence. J. S. Nudi publications. pp. 160, 184. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Warren Delano Killed by Train". Coal and Coal Trade Journal. Coal Publishing Corporation: 1021. 1920. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
External links
- Warren Delano IV at Find a Grave
- Steen Valetje at Hudson River Valley Heritage.
- Portrait of Jennie Walters Delano (1853-1922) by Theobald Chartran.
- Portrait of Warren Delano III, by William Jacob Baer.