Abram Hewitt

Abram Stevens Hewitt (July 31, 1822 – January 18, 1903) was an American politician, teacher, ironmaking industrialist, and lawyer. He was the mayor of New York City for two years, from 1887 to 1888. Hewitt also served as a U.S. Congressman from New York's 10th congressional district and led the Democratic National Committee from 1876 to 1877.

Hewitt is best known for his work with the Cooper Union, which he helped start in 1859 with Peter Cooper, his father-in-law. He was important in planning and supporting the first line of the New York City Subway. Because of this, he is often called the "Father of the New York City Subway System." His efforts helped create the city's modern public transportation.

Early life

Abram Hewitt was born in Haverstraw, New York. His mother, Ann Gurnee, came from a French family called Huguenot, and his father, John Hewitt, was from Staffordshire in England. John moved to the U.S. in 1796 to help build a steam engine for a water plant in Philadelphia.

Hewitt won a scholarship to Columbia College and graduated in 1842. He taught mathematics there and later became a lawyer. In 1843 to 1844, he traveled to Europe with a student named Edward Cooper, whose father was the famous industrialist Peter Cooper. After the trip, Hewitt became close to the Cooper family and married Edward’s sister, Sarah Amelia, in 1855.

Corporate career

In 1845, Peter Cooper helped Abram Hewitt and Edward Cooper start an iron mill in Trenton, New Jersey called the Trenton Iron Company. In 1854, they made the first structural wrought iron beams there and made other new products. Hewitt’s younger brother, Charles, helped manage the iron mill. Hewitt also joined the boards of many other companies.

Hewitt helped build the Cooper Union, a free school started by Peter Cooper, and led its board of trustees until 1903.

Political career

In 1871, Peter Cooper worked hard to help remove a corrupt group called the "Tweed Ring" from control of Tammany Hall and to reorganize the Democratic Party in New York.

Congress

Abram Hewitt began his political career in 1874 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for New York's 10th congressional district. He served from March 4, 1875, to March 3, 1879. During this time, he became head of the Democratic National Committee in 1876 when Samuel J. Tilden ran for President.

Hewitt won his seat back in 1880 after defeating James O'Brien and served again from March 4, 1881, to December 30, 1886. One of his most famous moments was giving a speech when the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Mayor of New York City

Hewitt was elected mayor of New York City in 1886, beating Henry George and Theodore Roosevelt. During his time as mayor, he helped pass important laws for managing city money carefully and supported fair hiring practices. He also helped create plans for building the first New York City Subway line.

Entrepreneurial career

Abram Hewitt invested in natural resources, including land in West Virginia. He worked with managers like William Nelson Page. He was friends with Henry Huttleston Rogers, an important financier and industrialist who helped develop natural resources.

Hewitt invested in a place called Loup Creek Estate in Fayette County, West Virginia. This helped create the Deepwater Railway, which later became the Virginian Railway. The railway transported bituminous coal to a new coal pier at Sewell's Point on Hampton Roads. In 1890, Hewitt worked with Edward Cooper and Hamilton McKown Twombly to start the American Sulphur Company. This company later joined with Herman Frasch to form the Union Sulphur Company.

Philanthropy

Abram Hewitt cared about helping others through education and science. In 1887, Columbia University gave him a special degree called LL.D.. He led groups of Columbia alumni and helped manage the university.

Hewitt was part of many important groups. He became president of the American Institute of Mining Engineers in 1876. He helped start and support the Carnegie Institution of Science. He also helped Barnard College and the American Museum of Natural History.

Death and family

Abram Hewitt died at his home in New York City on January 18, 1903. He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery.

His daughters, Amy, Eleanor, and Sarah Hewitt, made a lovely collection of decorative arts. It was shown at the Cooper Union and became the main collection of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. His sons also did great things. Peter Cooper Hewitt was a successful inventor. Edward Ringwood Hewitt was an inventor, chemist, and fishing expert. Erskine Hewitt was a lawyer and giver who donated Ringwood Manor to the state of New Jersey. He also worked as a director and later chairman of the National Reserve Bank of the City of New York.

Legacy

One of Cooper Union's academic buildings was named after Abram Hewitt. It was torn down and replaced by 41 Cooper Square in 2007. A large column from the old building was moved to Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, where it now stands near his memorial.

A New York City fireboat, called Abram S. Hewitt, was named in his honor and served from 1903 until 1958. The boat was later broken apart, and pieces of it can still be seen at the Witte Marine Scrapyard in Rossville, Staten Island.

There are several places and buildings named after him, including a statue in the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York in Albany, New York, a school called Abram Stevens Hewitt School (P.S. 130) in the Bronx, New York, and Hewitt Hall at Barnard College at Columbia University. There is also Abram S. Hewitt State Forest along the Appalachian Trail and the village of Hewitt, New Jersey that remembers his work.