BIOGRAPHY:James H. Blauvelt; Nyack, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

GEN. JAMES H. BLAUVELT, formerly President of the North River Steamboat
Company, and for many years before his death one of the most enterprising
business men of Nyack, was born in Orangeburg, Rockland County, September 13,
1845. His schooling was received in Orangeburg, and in Rockland College at
Nyack, where he was under the preceptorship of Professor Rutherford. Beginning
for himself, he became a clerk in the store of D. D. Smith & Co., at Nyack,
and there he remained for three years.

The firm having built a steamer, the "Chrystenah," at a cost of $200,000, Mr.
Blauvelt took charge of it as captain. Although he was then less than
twenty-one, he had the full confidence of his employers, who reposed every
trust in him. For five years he ran the boat between New York and Peekskill,
butfinally left the position and purchased a one-fourth interest in the
business of D. D. Smith & Co. At that time the firm had a business aggregating
about $100,000. After about five years, he withdrew from the concern, selling
his interest to the other members of the company.

The North River Steamboat Company was organized, of which our subject's father
was a member, and which took in the Smiths also. At the time of the latter's
failure, in 1878, he was appointed receiver of the North River Steamboat
Company, the business of which he closed up, selling all the boats. He then
became one of the principal stockholders in the New North River Steamboat
Company, which purchased some of the former company's boats, including the
"Chrystenah" and the ferry and freight boats. He had his office in the
Commercial Building, Nyack, and remained President of the company until his
death. In addition to the steamboat business, he established and carried on an
extensive life and fire insurance business, in which he had a large trade. In
buying and selling real estate he also was largely engaged. For some time he
was district agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Aside from business matters, Mr. Blauvelt took an active part in military
affairs. From the position of Captain of a company of militia, he was promoted
to be Colonel of the regiment, and later Major-General, with the commission
from Governor Tilden, who was his warm personal friend. A Republican
politically, he took an active part in local affairs, and served as President
of the Village Trustees. He was the first President of the Nyack Rowing
Association, which built the Nyack Boathouse. In church work he took an active
part, being Deacon and Sunday-school Superintendent for years, and also aiding
in the singing. He had a tenor voice, which was highly cultivated, and his
singing was greatly admired. In the Masonic lodge he filled all the chairs.
His death, which was the result of paralysis, occurred August 28, 1892, after
a sickness of four years.

The General's family still resides in Nyack. His wife was C. Letitia, daughter
of his former partner, David D. Smith. They had six children, namely : Kate
Lillian, wife of J. Erskine Van Houten, who is a glass manufacturer; Harry
Russell, a promising young man, who is general agent for the Massachusetts
Life Insurance Company in New York City; Walter Herbert; Grace Estelle; James
H.; and Maggie Christine, who died in childhood.