History of Delhi, (Delaware County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Henry White Cannon, financier, was born in Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y., Sept. 27, 1850; son of George Bliss and Ann Eliza (White) Cannon. On his mother's side he is a direct descendant from Peregrine White of the Mayflower. He was educated at the Delaware literary institute, and was clerk and afterwards teller in the first national bank of Delhi. In 1870 he removed to St. Paul, Minn., as teller in the second national bank, and in 1871 he organized the Lumberman's national bank at Stillwater, Minn. He remained cashier and acting president of that bank for thirteen years and became prominently identified with the banking interests of the state, visiting New York and Washington, D.C., in the interest of the sale of bonds of the cities of the northwest, and in purchasing government securities for the national banks of that section. In May, 1884, he was appointed by President Arthur comptroller of the currency, to succeed John Jay Knox. The financial crisis of 1884 began in the same month as Mr. Cannon's appointment, and his official position required great executive skill By his prompt action he saved many banks from a receiver's hands, communicating his knowledge of the science of banking to the examiners he appointed. He reported to the senate finance committee the condition of New York city banks, and advised that no publicity be given to their condition as disclosed to the committee, in order that a further panic might be averted and the banks enabled, through the course advised by the comptroller's department, to regain their normal condition without resort to extraordinary legislative measures, which they in all cases did. The corporate existence of 971 national banks expired during his term of office, and as this represented a capital of over two hundred and seventy million dollars, the extension of these bank charters greatly added to his labors. Upon the accession of President Cleveland, in 1885, Secretary Manning and the President united in asking Mr. Cannon to continue his duties for the whole presidential term, but he resigned Feb. 1, 1886, to accept the vice-presidency of the national bank of the republic, New York city. On Oct. 3, 1886, he resigned, to become president of the Chase national bank. Mr. Cannon was prominently identified with the New York clearing-house association, as chairman of the clearing-house committee. President Harrison appointed him as one of the delegates from the United States to the International monetary conference held in Brussels in 1892. He was appointed by Mayor Strong one of the aqueduct commissioners for the city of New York, and was made a director in many financial institutions.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Frederick Steele, soldier, was born in Delhi, N.Y., Jan. 14, 1819. He was graduated from the U.S. Military academy, 1843; was commissioned 2d lieutenant, March 15, 1846; took part in the war with Mexico; was brevetted 1st lieutenant, Aug. 20, 1847, for gallant conduct at Contreras; served at Churubusco and Molino Del Rey, and was brevetted captain, Sept. 13, 1847, for gallant conduct at Chapultepec. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, June 6, 1848; was on frontier duty, 1848-61; was promoted major, 11th infantry, May 14, 1861; commanded the battallion composed of the 2d infantry, Lothrop's company and Morine's rifle recruits, at Wilson's creek, Mo., Aug. 10, 1861, and in the retreat to Rolla, Aug 10-17, 1861. He was appointed colonel of the 8th Iowa volunteers, Sept. 23, 1861, and promoted brigadier-general, U.S. volunteers, Jan. 29, 1862, and was in command of the southeastern division of Missouri, February-April, 1862. He commanded the 1st division, Army of the Southwest, May-November, 1862; taking part in General Curtis's movement from Batesville to Helena, Ark., in the action of Round Hill and in the occupation of Helena. He commanded the district of eastern Arkansas, November-December, 1862; was promoted major-general, U.S.V., Nov. 29, 1862; commanded a division, 13th army corps, on the expedition to the Yazoo, December, 1862, taking part in the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, Dee. 27-29, 1862; was captured at Arkansas Post, Jan. 11, 1863; commanded a division, 15th army corps, and was brevetted colonel, July 4, 1863, for gallant services in the Vicksburg campaign. He commanded the army in Arkansas, 1863-64; was promoted lieutenant colonel of 3d infantry, U.S.A., Aug. 23, 1863, and commanded the department of Arkansas, January-November, 1863. In September, 1863, he captured Little Rock, Ark., thus putting the Arkansas river into the possession of the Federal army, and during the winter of 1863-64, the corps of Steele and Blunt held the river as a Federal line of advance. In 1864, a combined attack near Shreveport, La., was planned by Generals Steele and Banks, and Steele began his advance. He drove back Price's forces from the southern part of Arkansas, but hearing of Banks's defeat at Sabine Cross Roads, he fell back toward Little Rock. While at Jenkins Ferry, on the Sabine river, he was attacked, April 30, 1864, by Generals Smith and Price, but repulsed the Confederate army with heavy loss. He was brevetted brigadier-general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865, for services at the capture of Little Rock, Ark., and major-general the same date for services during the rebellion. He commanded the forces on the east side of Mobile bay in 1865; on the Rio Grande, June-July, 1865, and in western Texas, July-October, 1865. He commanded the department of Columbia, December, 1865-67; and was promoted colonel of 20th infantry, July 28, 1866. He died in San Mateo, Cal., Jan. 12, 1868.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Amasa Junius Parker, lawyer, was born in Delhi, N.Y., May 6, 1843; son of Judge Amasa Junius and Harriet Langdon (Roberts) Parker. He attended the Albany academy, and was graduated at Union college, A.B., 1863, A.M., 1866, and at the Albany Law school, 1884; and was a law partner with his father, 1865-90. He was major and aide-de-camp, 3d division, N.G.S. N.Y., 1866; lieutenant-colonel, 1875; colonel, 10th regiment, 1877, and brigadier-general commanding the 3d brigade, 1886-91. He was president of the National Guard association, 1878-80; member of the state assembly, 1892, and state senator, 1886-87, 1892-93 and 1894-95. He compiled the new military code adopted by the state legislature in 1883. He served as president of the Albany Young Men's association; president of the board of trustees of the Albany Law school; trustee of the Albany Medical college; trustee of Union college, 1878-82; president of the board of trustees of the Young Men's association of Albany; trustee of the Union Trust company of New York city, and president of the board of managers of the Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for sixteen years. After 1890 he continued the practice of law alone.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Elias Parkman Needham, inventor, was born in Delhi, N.Y., Sept. 29, 1812; son of Daniel and Betsey (Fisk) Needham; grandson of Elias and Mercy (Stocking) Needham and of Joseph Fisk, and a descendant of Parkman Needham, who came from England to America with his family in the 18th century. In 1815 his father, a house carpenter, removed to Erie county, where he carried on his trade and cultivated a farm. Elias left home before reaching his majority, worked as a carpenter in Buffalo, N.Y., and there had as a fellow craftsman, Jeremiah Carhart . They established a melodeon manufactory in 1846, which they removed to New York city in 1848, and which under later inventions made by Needham became one of the most extensive manufactories of reeds and reed organs in the world. He patented, in 1864, a pneumatic tube capable of transmitting not only parcels, but cars laden with passengers, by means of his novel principle of a continuous circuit of air. In 1878 he received fifteen patents covering the principle of the application of perforated paper to the construction of automatic musical intruments, and developed the organette, since known as the ?olian and by other titles. He was married in 1840 to Lorana, daughter of William and Millana (Johnson) Newberry. His widow died, April 16, 1900. He died in New York city, Nov. 28, 1889.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor