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Recalls School Days with H. P. Davison
Troy Gazette Register
February 12, 1913
A girl schoolmate of Henry P. Davison, formerly of Troy, this county who is now a partner of J. Pierpont Morgan and Co. writing in the Williamsport Sun and News, says that Mr. Davison’s rapid rise in a quarter of a century from the place of a town boy to the position of affluence and princely wealth that he occupies now as one of the financial leaders of the world, is hard to equal in the business life of today. He was a born leader, she says.
"I well remember Harry (sic) Davison", she continues, "as a school boy, and can readily recall in influence and personal magnetism that in his boyhood days marked him to be a leader among all his associates. Little did I, however, or any other of his numerous boyhood friends, as much as we admired, respected and like Harry Davison, ever dream that he would mount to the heights in our country’s business life today that he has today as the probable successor to the man who it is said dominates the bulk of the wealth of this country and others.
"In any circle that he chose to grace, Harry Davison was at once recognized by the stranger as an unusual boy or young man. To his companions he was a jolly good fellow who rarely had an enemy and had many friends. Indeed, if you once knew Harry Davison when a boy you naturally considered yourself his friend and he your friend. He seemed to be capable of awakening a mutual bond of sympathy in nearly every one he met with perhaps just a word or a little deed, everybody liked Harry.
There was something about him as a boy that made him appear just a trifle different from the rest of the boys and girls of his acquaintances. This difference, however, was felt only by others. Never for an instance did Harry assume an attitude that might be one of proprietorship or any thing other than just the feeling of a good fellow, friend of everybody and foe to none.
It was probably Harry’s forgiving nature that made him a favorite among his companions and their parents alike. An unpleasant incident being told about Troy, his home and mine, where he and I attended the same school for some time. It afterward developed that there was no truth in the story. He began to treat me distantly and one day when we met on the street he accused me of being the originator of the story. I dared not confess the guilty one, but knew who started the tale. I could not convince him that he was wrong in his accusation.
"I went home weeping. My brother asked me for an explanation and when I told him the circumstances he immediately visited Harry in the latter’s home. On the following morning when I took my desk I found a note of apology from Harry. The originator of the story afterward came to be known to him and after explanations he freely forgave me. After that the three of us were closest of friends for the remainder of our school days.
"I believe that one of the factors that has spelled success for Henry Davison, banker and financier, is his principle of honor. There was no other boy in the school who was more honorable than Harry. The teacher of the school at that time was J. T. McCollum, who afterward studied law and became District Attorney of Bradford county. Mr. McCollum was a large man. On rainy days he always wore overshoes which naturally were big. Because of the crowded condition of the school desks had been placed on the platform near the desk of the teacher. I occupied one of these places and Harry the other. He knew that I was easily annoyed and delighted in playing innocent jokes upon me. Whenever he found Mr. McCollum’s overshoes during the teacher’s absence from the room Harry would keep them under my desk so that I would put my foot in one of them. One day this occurred, as it had frequently, that I became so provoked that I kicked my foot. The overshoe went spinning across the room and fell on a desk below. Of course the other scholars laughed.
"When Mr. McCollum entered the room Harry was busy with his studies as if nothing happened. I had a guilty look on my face. The teacher began to reprimand me and immediately Harry stepped up and told Mr. McCollum the circumstances declaring that he was the one to be punished.
" He was an apt student. He was quick to understand the principle involved in a mathematical problem, mathematics, by the way, probably being his best study, although he always stood high in every branch. He had the faculty of being able to make difficult things plain to everybody and this no doubt has been developed to such an extent during the last twenty-five years that it is now a great factor in the man’s present ability. Frequently he was called upon to teach a class, generally in mathematics. His knowledge of geometry was greater that any other pupil and at times he aided the teacher in solving problems.
"He would frequently borrow my books, having misplaced or loaned his to a companion. When I wanted to study a certain subject I of heart. (sic) A mutual friend of ours lost her father and mother only a few years apart and she was forced to earn her own living. She moved to New York City. After studying stenography for some time she secured a position. The pay, however, was small and she became in time a very much discouraged woman. The story of her struggle came to the ear of Mr. Davison, who immediately secured an excellent position for her with a good firm in the big city.
"Mr. Davison possessed a fine tenor voice and was frequently called upon to take leading parts in amateur operatic productions. We both attended the singing school in Troy conducted by Professor Cramer of Elmira. Harry was also a member of a quartet that sang at many entertainments given in Troy during the several years. I remember the cast of characters in one operetta very well. It was a production of ‘Cock Robin.’ Harry took the part of the ‘lark,’ his cousin, E. E. VanDyne, now of the firm of E. VanDyne’s Sons, was the said old ‘Owl.’ I had the part of the ‘Fly.’ Others who participated were John Dobbins, now of Troy, well known as a business and society man; Judson and Walter Aspinwall, Miss Anna Compton, Miss Libby Compton, and Mrs. Frank Price of Troy; Miss Laura Redington, now Mrs. Judson Aspinwall of Buffalo, N. Y.; Miss Cora Spaulding, Miss Lola Gates (?), and Miss Mary Dare.
"During the production of this piece Harry Davison all but upset the entire company in an amusing incident. Daniel Pomeroy, as ‘Cock Robin,’ was brought on the stage in a wheelbarrow, and just as Harry, the ‘Lark,’ began to sing the funeral ode, the barrow tipped over. We all stood horror stricken at the calamity with the exception of Harry, who broke in the solo, burst out in a merry laugh and fled from the stage." (this part is not in order, but is transcribed as originally printed) would be compelled to go to his desk for my book. He would always met (sic) me half way and extend the forgotten book with a bow and profuse apologies. He almost forced one to forgive him for any shortcoming in the same way, as unconsciously on his part, his personality compelled his companions to look up to him.
"As a youth Mr. Davison was a social favorite. No party in the little town of Troy or in the homes of the country nearby was a success unless Harry Davison was among the guests. At all times he was a jolly, laughing boy who enjoyed himself in what ever circumstance he might be and upon the occasion of a social event he was always one of the ring leaders of enjoyment."
"He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Troy and took a prominent part in the work of the congregation.
"The Davison family consisted of four children, two boys, Edward and Harry, and two girls, May and Henrietta. The mother of the family died when the children were young and they separated. Edward lived with his father; May entered the home of an aunt, Mrs. Truman, in Owego, N. Y., while Harry and Henrietta afterward made their home with an uncle, N. M. Pomeroy, who was the banker of Troy and one of the influential men of the community.
"Mr. Davison has never lost sight of his former home. Instead he makes occasional visits to Troy, only for short times, however. Since the death of his sister, Mrs. Henrietta Davison Pomeroy McKnight, he has given large sums of money for the improvement of the cemetery at Troy.
"Harry Davison of the boyhood days I believe to be alive in the Henry P. Davison of today. I recently heard of an incident that shows his thoughtfulness for his old time friends and his admirable kindness
Left to right, front row: Robert W. deForest, Vice-President of the
Red Cross; President Woodrow Wilson; Former President William Howard Taft;
and Eliot Wadsworth, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Red
Cross.
Page 266
Morgan came back on Saturday, October 19, a day before the Episcopal
convention formally ended. Throughout Sunday he held conferences
in the Red Room of his library at the urgent request of several leading
bank presidents headed by George Baker of First National and James Stillman
of National City. The latter’s presence implied support from the Rockfellers,
but that link disqualified him from overlording an operation that might
involve government help. Morgan automatically took command. Quite apart
from his firm’s resources and undoubted prestige, he could rely on Gary’s
cordial relationship with Roosevelt and Bob Bacon’s potential as a go-between.
When not in conference, he spent weary hours updating him-self on the
various trusts and banks under threat. By midnight on the 19th he had worked
out a provisional strategy that left no room for the weak. He had not hesitated
to reject Charles Barney’s desperate plea for an interview. On Monday morning,
though suffering from a heavy cold, he disposed of a monster breakfast
and lit the first of his Havanas. He then summoned Perkins and ordered
him to assemble a suitable emergency squad to select the most deserving
cases for immediate assistance. One of the firm’s accountants and another
from United Steel would be joined by Benjamin Strong of Bankers Trust,
together with Henry P. Davidson, a lively young vice-president from the
First National Bank.
Page 268
The situation remained critical. Westinghouse was taken into receivership; the Pittsburgh Stock Exchange had suspended business, with New York likely to follow; and several trust companies looked certain to share the Knickerbocker’s fate. On Wednesday, for once unable to face breakfast, Morgan swallowed a hasty cup of black coffee, and, an unlit cigar in his mouth, sucked lozenges as he rode downtown. That morning Markoe had sprayed his throat and made him promise to cut down to only twenty cigars a day! From his carriage he saw an ominous queue of people in front of the offices of the Trust Company of America at Fifth Avenue and Thirty-eighth Street. Harry Davidson and his aides had worked in the vaults right through the night counting securities as possible collateral.
Page 281
Henry P. Davidson, who had joined the firm as Perkins’ potential successor, and Jack Morgan (by now on the board of U. S. Steel) both became directors of Stillman’s bank, in which the firm had bought more and more stock. At Pierpont’s direction, George Baker’s First National Bank (a Morgan affiliate) also bought a majority holding in Chase National, but the richest plunder came from carving up Harriman’s empire.
Page 282
Harriman died within a few days, leaving a fortune estimated at $100 million. * Morgan was less interested in the 18,000 miles of railroad than the chance to snap up his holdings in Guaranty Trust and Equitable Life. Two of his partners, the swiftly rising Harry Davidson and William H. Porter, went on the board of Guaranty, which soon absorbed several weaker companies. Aided by the phenomenal growth of the insurance business, the two huge corporations began amassing between them liquid asserts exceeding $360 million before the end of Taft’s term in office.
Page 309
He spent his last days in the Red Room, playing solitaire and seeing only Davidson, Tom Lamont, and a few close friends.
Page 315
-Jack Morgan injured.-
Jack made a quick recovery. Aided by a superb team of specialists, including Davidson, Lamont, Dwight Morrow, and Edward Stettinius, who had taken charge of the firm’s new Export Department, he redoubled his efforts to counterbalance Wilson’s isolationism.
Page 316
Davidson headed the American Red Cross, and Stetinius was appointed secretary of state.
Henry P. Davison Succumbs After Second Operation - 1922
Henry P. Davison, banker and philanthropist, whom we of Troy like to
think of as our Mr. Davison, because he was born and lived here until he
was 21, died last Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at his home at Peacock
Point, Locust Valley, L. I. The end came at the close of an operation
for tumor of the brain. His health began to break two years ago.
Last August he had a similar operation, and until Thursday it was thought
he was on the road to slow recovery. The sudden change for the worse
followed a trip to New York, the first in months, on Wednesday. It
was not until Friday that his physicians decided that a second operation
was imperative. As soon as a section of the skull had been removed
it became apparent that his case was hopeless. The tumor, instead
of remaining dormant or being absorbed had increased in size, and its filaments
could not be entirely removed without the destruction of brain tissue.
Mr. Davison was in his fifty-fifth year. His splendid physique
- he was built like an athlete – and the fact that he had always lived
simply and carefully, counted much in the hope of his physicians that he
might pull through an illness which to another or less resistance must
have caused death months ago.
With his wife he leaves four children – Hon. Frederick Trubee Davison
who two years ago married a daughter of the Rev. Endicott Peabody, head
master of the Groton School, and who succeeded Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.,
in the New York Legislature; Alice, who in January was married to Artemus
L. Gates; Harry Davison, the younger son, and Miss Frances Davison.
There is also a grandchild, Frederick Trubee, Jr., a brother, G. E. Davison,
of Silsbee, Texas, and a sister, Mary, who a year or two ago became the
wife of Anatole LeBraz, a distinguished French man of letters. Their
home is in Paris.
Announcement of Mr. Davison’s death was received in Troy with a sense
of personal loss. Many men scale the heights of worldly success at
the costs shall we say of character, they become mere money getters, they
live apart. Not so with Mr. Davison, he was the same genial Harry,
thoughtful always of early associates, clinging to old friends, happy when
they were happy, never more so that when he could do for them. In
this spirit of brotherhood he gave liberally to the Presbyterian church
in memory of relatives, headed the move for the improvement of Glenwood
cemetery and endowed it generously. The cooperation which he received
in this enterprise inspired the gift to Troy of Davison Green and all that
it represents. His friends were looking forward to the time when
it would be possible for him to come to Troy for the dedication of the
Green. Instead there was a memorial service on Tuesday simultaneously
with the funeral at Locust Valley.
On an easel in the bandstand over-looking the Green and his birthplace
there was a large picture of Mr. Davison draped with the American flag.
Clustered about on the lawn were several hundreds of his friends and many
school children. Like the Episcopal funeral at Locust Valley the
service began with a portion of the beautiful burial service of that church
by the Rev. Robert Lee Lewis of St. Paul’s, closing with the Lord’s prayer
in unison. Led by the High School one of Mr. Davison’s favorite hymns,
“He Leadeth Me,” was sung. An appreciation of Mr. Davison by his
friend of many years, the Rev. Edward P. Morse of the Presbyterian church
embodied with an outline of his brilliant career intimate personal glimpses
of the man, his generous sympathy and broad Christian brotherhood, his
gifts and love for Troy. Another of Mr. Davison’s favorite hymns,
“Be Thou With Me,” by Mrs. John W. Pomeroy, and prayer and benediction
by the Rev. Johnstone of the Baptist church, closed a service which beautifully
typified the simplicity which he enjoined upon his family.
All business places were closed during and for a half hour before the
service by proclamation of the Burgess George E. Boyer. Attorney
B. K. Mitchell who had charge of the service on behalf of the Men’s Class
of the Presbyterian church, sent a telegram to the Davison family of the
sympathy of the community and the form in which it was expressing itself.
Of the thousand or more from all walks of life who attended the simple
rites at Peacock Point, not more that 150 members of his family and intimate
friends were able to crowd into the tiny, ivy clad St. John’s Protestant
Episcopal chapel where the Davison family worship. When the cortege
arrived by a private roadway from the home the honorary bearers took up
stations along the path to the chapel. J. P. Morgan was nearest the
door. A quartet from St. Bartholomew’s church sang “Onward Christian
Soldiers,” a hymn which Mr. Davison greatly loved. The officiating
clergymen were his rector, the Rev. Charles W. Hinton, and the Rev. Endicott
W. Peabody, father-in-law of Trubee Davison.
In accordance with his wish the services were brief, there was no eulogy
and the women wore no mourning veils. Interment was in the Locust
Valley Cemetery. The coffin was of bronze, with a nameplate of gold
which read simply, “Henry Pomeroy Davison, Born June 12, 1867, Died May
6, 1922.
Mr. Davison was not known to his banking associates as a money seeker
on his own behalf, rather as a man of the highest character, possessed
of a moderate fortune variously estimated at $3,000,000 to $5,000,000.
As a New York paper remarks, Mr. Davison’s life story reads like fiction.
He was the oldest of four children of George B. and Henrietta POMEROY Davison.
He was born in this boro Friday, June 13th, 1867, in the house now occupied
by S. A. Williams. His boyhood was that of every other boy of the
village. His mother died when he was 8, and the remaining years of
his childhood, youth and young manhood were spent in the homes of his uncles,
Eleazor and Merrick Pomeroy. Among his classmates under Prof. McCollom,
were D. E. Pomeroy, Frank Gernert, Ben McKean, Everitt VanDyne, Effie and
Lillian Joralemon, Nellie Adams, Fred Holloway, and Louise Wilson.
At 16 he taught a term in the Leahy District near Canton. Before
he had completed the curse in Troy he was sent to Greylock Institute, south
Williamston, Mass. It was through Nat. Bishop, one of his Greylock
classmates, that he came to know Miss Kate Trubee of Bridgeport, who became
a potent influence in his life, and whom he subsequently married.
He was a bookkeeper in the Pomeroy Bro’s. bank under Samuel Aspinwall,
for about two years and his uncles hoped to retain him. He was alert
even then, counted money at odd moments to gain speed, developed himself
physically on a horizontal bar in the hall over the bank, and in other
ways laid the foundation for bigger and better jobs.
At about 21 he insisted upon being release and H. K. Mitchell became
his successor in the Troy bank. He went to Bridgeport where he was
offered the choice of two positions – one in a wholesale grocer, the other
in a bank, both controlled by the Trubees. He chose the latter but lost
no time in seeing that his Troy friend Frank Gernert, took the grocery
job. He was always doing that sort of thing, looking out for his
friends. His rise in Bridgeport was rapid but the vision which had
brought him from Troy, took him to New York in 1891. The Astor Place
bank
needed a man. By sheer force of character and persistence in the
face of rebuffs, he convinced the management that he was the man for the
place. At 32 he had outgrown the Astor Place bank and became the
head of the Liberty National, the youngest president of an important bank
in the city if not the whole country.
The hopes of his youth were being realized but not satisfied for he
conceived and organized a bank for bankers – the Bankers’ Trust Company
– the home of which at Wall and Nassau Streets is one of the finest bank
buildings in the world. In the corridor is a marble tablet which
reads: “The Directors of the Bankers Trust Company here record their
appreciation of the services of Henry Pomeroy Davison in the organization
and up building of the company and the erection of its permanent home.”
He never stood still. He was an incessant, untiring worker.
His field of influence and usefulness grew. Congress and Wall street
turned to him for counsel in the panic of 1897. The next year he
was appointed as expert on banking to the Monetary commission which visited
the European Countries to study their conditions with an idea to better
ours. The greatest foreign financiers at once recognized him as one
of the world’s best banking minds. Invitation to become a member
of the J. P. Morgan firm followed and many other financial honors.
The Morgan firm became the fiscal agents for the allies and largely through
Mr. Davison floated for them enormous loans. On his trips to Europe
he visited the fronts, made airplane trips over the lines and visited the
stricken lands. When President Wilson asked him to take the Chairmanship
of the Red Cross War Board, his first thought, he said, was that I can
not possibly do it. But in the morning I did not see how I could
possibly not do it. His services were considered worth a million
a year to the Morgan firm. This he forsook to take up the Red Cross
Work at $1 a year. One of his first acts was to launch a seven-day
drive for $100,000,000 for war relief. His associates on the board
were appalled, but it went through with fifteen million to spare.
A second Red Cross Drive in 1918 netted $170,000. For what he did
for suffering humanity during that time he received the highest honors
bestowable by man – France, England, Italy, Belgium, his own country, vied
with each other in appreciation of his work. He and Mrs. Davison
turned over their New York home to the Young Women Christian Association
in which she was very active for a hostess house. Doubtless but for
the strain of his war work he might have been alive, but what a splendid
record, it was worth it.
With his wife he leaves four children-Hon Frederick Trubee Davison who two years ago married a daughter of the Rev. Endicott Peabody, head master of the Groton School, and who succeeded Theodore Roosevelt Jr. in the New York Legislative; Alice, who in January was married to Artemus L Gates; Harry Davison, the younger son and Miss Frances Davison. There is also a grandchild, Frederick Trubee Jr., a brother, G E Davison of Silsbee, Texas, and a sister, Mary, who a year or two ago became the wife of Anatole Lebraz, a distinguished French man of letters. Their home is in Paris.
Announcement of Mr. Davison’s death was received in Troy with a sense of personal loss. Many men scale the heights for worldly success at the cost shall we say of character, they became mere money “getters” they live apart. Not so with Mr. Davison, he was the same genial Harry, thoughtful always of early associates, clinging to old friends, happy when they were happy, never more so than when he could do for them. In his spirit of brotherhood he gave liberally to the Presbyterian Church in memory of relatives, headed the move for the improvement of Glenwood cemetery and endowed it generously. The cooperation which he received in this enterprise inspired the gift to Troy of Davison Green and all that it represents. His friends were looking forward to the time when it would be possible for him to come to Troy for the dedication of the Green. Instead there was a memorial service on Tuesday simultaneously with the funeral at Locust Valley. On an easel in the bandstand overlooking the Green and his birthplace, there was a large picture of Mr. Davison draped with the American flag. Clustered about on the lawn were several hundreds of his friends and many school children. Like the Episcopal funeral at Locust Valley the service began with a portion of the beautiful burial service of that church by the Rev. Robert Lee Lewis of St Paul’s, closing with the Lord’s Prayer in unison. Led by the High School one of Mr. Davison’s favorite hymns, “He Leadeth Me” was sung. An appreciation of Mr. Davison by his friend of many years, the Rev Edward P Morse of the Presbyterian Church embodied with an outline of his brilliant career intimate personal glimpses of the man, his generous sympathy and broad Christian brotherhood, his gifts of love for Troy. Another of Mr. Davison’s favorite hymns, “Be Thou With Me” by Mrs. John W Pomeroy, and prayer and benediction by the Rev. Johnstone of the Baptist church, closed a service which beautifully typified the simplicity which he enjoined upon his family. All business places were closed during and for a half hour before the service by proclamation of Burgess George E Boyer. Attorney S K Mitchell who had charge of the service on behalf of the Men’s Class of the Presbyterian Church, sent a telegram to the Davison family of the sympathy of the community and the form in which it was expressing itself.
Of the thousand or more from all walks of life who attended the simple rites at Peacock Point, not more than 150 members of his family and intimate friends were able to crowd into the tiny clad St John’s Protestant Episcopal chapel where the Davison family worship. When the cortege arrived by a private roadway from the home the honorary bearers took up stations along the path to the chapel. J P Morgan was nearest the door. A quartet from the St Bartholomews church sang “Onward Christian Soldiers”, a hymn which Mr. Davison greatly loved. The officiating clergy-men were his rector, the Rev. Charles W Hinton, and the Rev. Endicott W Peabody, father-in-law of Trubee Davison.
In accordance with his wish the services were brief, there was no enlogy and the women wore no mourning veils. Interment was in the Locust Valley Cemetery. The coffin was of bronze, with a nameplate of gold which read simply “Henry Pomeroy Davison, Born June 12, 1867, died May 6, 1922.” Mr. Davison was not known to his banking associates as a money seeker on his own behalf, rather as a man of the highest character, possessed of a moderate fortune variously estimated at $3,000,000 to $5,000,000.
As a New York paper remarks, Mr. Davison’s life story reads like fiction. He was the oldest of four children of George B and Henrietta Pomeroy Davison. He was born in Troy Boro Friday, June 13th, 1867 in the house now occupied by S A Williams. His boyhood was that of every other boy of the village. His mother died when he was 8, and the remaining years of his childhood, youth and young manhood were spent in the homes of his uncle Eleazor and Merrick Pomeroy. Among his classmates under Prof. McCollom were D E Pomeroy, Frank Gernert, Ben McKean, Everitt VanDyne, Effie and Lillian Joralemon, Nellie Adams, Fred Holloway and Louise Wilson. At 16 he taught a term in the Leahy District near Canton. Before he had completed the course in Troy he was sent to Greylock Institute, South Williamstown, Mass. It was through Gen Bishop, one of his Greylock classmates, that he came to know Miss Kate Trubee of Bridgeport, who became a potent influence in his life, who he later married.
He was a bookkeeper in the Pomeroy Bro’s bank under Samuel Aspinwall,
for about two years and his uncles hoped to retain him. He was alert even
then, counted money at odd moments to gain speed, developed himself physically
on a horizontal bar in the hall over the bank, and in other ways laid the
foundation for bigger and better jobs. At about 21 he insisted upon being
released and H K Mitchell became his successor in the Troy bank. He went
to Bridgeport where he was offered the choice of two positions-one in a
wholesale grocery, the other in a bank, both controlled by the Trubees.
He chose the latter but lost no time in seeing that his Troy friend Frank
Gernert took the grocery job. He was always doing that sort of thing, for
his friends. His rise in Bridgeport was rapid but the vision which had
brought him from Troy, took him to New York in 1891. The Astor Place bank
needed a man. By sheer force of character and persistence he convinced
the management that he was the man for the place. At 32 he had outgrown
the Astor Place bank and became the head of the Liberty National, the youngest
president of an important bank in the city if not the whole country. The
hopes of his youth were being realized but not satisfied for he conceived
and organized a bank for bankers—The Banker’s Trust Company-the home of
which at Wall and Nassau Streets is one of the finest bank buildings in
the world. In the corridor is a marble tablet which reads: “The Directors
of the Bankers Trust Company here record their appreciation of the services
of Henry Pomeroy Davison in the organization and upbuilding of the company
and the erection of its permanent home”. He never stood still. Congress
and Wall Street turned to him for counsel in the panic of 1897. The next
year he was appointed as expert on banking to the Monetary commission which
visited the European Countries to study their conditions with an idea to
better ours. The greatest foreign financiers at once recognized him as
one of the world’s best banking minds. Invitation to become a member of
the J P Morgan firm followed and many other financial honors. The Morgan
firm became the fiscal agents for the allies and largely through Mr. Davison
floated for them enormous loans. On his trips to Europe he visited the
fronts, made airplane trips over the lines and visited the stricken lands.
When President Wilson asked him to take the Chairmanship of the Red Cross
War Board, his first thought, he said, was that I cannot possibly do it.
But in the morning I did not see how I could possibly not do it. His services
were considered worth a million a year to the Morgan firm. One of his first
acts was to launch a seven day drive for $100,000,000 for war relief. His
associates on the board were appalled, but it went through with fifteen
millions to spare. A second Red Cross Drive in 1918 netted $170,000,000,000.
He and Mrs. Davison turned over their New York home to the Young Women
Christian Association in which she was very active for a hostess home.
Doubtless but for the strain of his war work he might have been alive,
but what a splendid record, it was worth it.
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