Cornelius Van Cott was born in the City of New York, in the Fifteenth Ward, on President Lincoln's birthday. He was of old Knickerbocker stock that settled upon Manhattan Island before the Revolutionary War. His great-grandfather and his sons were soldiers in the war. Cornelius was educated in Public School 16 on Thirteenth Street. His father died while Cornelius was yet very young, he was early thrown upon his own resources. He had an early love of books and began his career by running a hand printing press for the American Tract Society, and at the age of fifteen. Subsequently he was apprenticed to Messrs. Dusenbury & Van Dusen and learned the trade of carriage building. Mr. Van Dusen was Foreman of Southwark Engine Company 38 of the New York Fire Department, then located on Ann Street. Young Van Cott quickly got a liking for the firemen's life and when he turned twenty years old he joined Hose Company No. 7.
Mr. Van Cott was appointed an Inspector of Customs, a post which he surrendered to engage in the fire insurance business. After he had been elected a director of Aetna Fire Insurance Company he held for several years the office of vice president of that corporation. He developed into a sound and capable financier and in time became known as a first-class underwriter. He was also connected with the Hanover Insurance Company and for a number of years was a Trustee of the West Side Savings Bank.
His education and his training peculiarly fitted him for the office of Fire Commissioner, and in 1879 Mayor Havemeyer appointed him to a seat in the Board. Mr. Van Cott served six years and was finally elected Treasurer. His services were recognized by a graceful testimonial from members of New York's best known merchants and businessmen. When Mayor Cooper came into power in 1879, Mr. Van Cott was reappointed by him, and his fellow commissioners elected him President of the Board on May 9, 1881. Shortly after, he resigned the post of President. It was a great tribute to his integrity and ability that he (a Republican) should have been appointed by a Democratic Mayor and confirmed by a Democratic Board of Appeals. Subsequently he was re-elected Treasurer and again elected President in 1883. His term of office expired in 1885.
Mr. Van Cott served in the New York State Senate in 1888-89, and was a member of the committees on Commerce and Navigation; Cities; Poor Laws and Grievances, and was Chairman of the Committee on Public Health. He was appointed Postmaster of New York City on May 1, 1889. He at once began active measures for improvements and facility in distributing the mails in the New York post office. The clerical force was largely increased, new substations were established, and a Sunday special delivery was put in operation. The business of the office rapidly increased until its profits exceeded $4,000,000 per annum.
Mr. Van Cott was appointed an Inspector of Customs, a post which he surrendered to engage in the fire insurance business. After he had been elected a director of Aetna Fire Insurance Company he held for several years the office of vice president of that corporation. He developed into a sound and capable financier and in time became known as a first-class underwriter. He was also connected with the Hanover Insurance Company and for a number of years was a Trustee of the West Side Savings Bank.
His education and his training peculiarly fitted him for the office of Fire Commissioner, and in 1879 Mayor Havemeyer appointed him to a seat in the Board. Mr. Van Cott served six years and was finally elected Treasurer. His services were recognized by a graceful testimonial from members of New York's best known merchants and businessmen. When Mayor Cooper came into power in 1879, Mr. Van Cott was reappointed by him, and his fellow commissioners elected him President of the Board on May 9, 1881. Shortly after, he resigned the post of President. It was a great tribute to his integrity and ability that he (a Republican) should have been appointed by a Democratic Mayor and confirmed by a Democratic Board of Appeals. Subsequently he was re-elected Treasurer and again elected President in 1883. His term of office expired in 1885.
Mr. Van Cott served in the New York State Senate in 1888-89, and was a member of the committees on Commerce and Navigation; Cities; Poor Laws and Grievances, and was Chairman of the Committee on Public Health. He was appointed Postmaster of New York City on May 1, 1889. He at once began active measures for improvements and facility in distributing the mails in the New York post office. The clerical force was largely increased, new substations were established, and a Sunday special delivery was put in operation. The business of the office rapidly increased until its profits exceeded $4,000,000 per annum.
Cornelius Van Cott was born in the City of New York, in the Fifteenth Ward, on President Lincoln's birthday. He was of old Knickerbocker stock that settled upon Manhattan Island before the Revolutionary War. His great-grandfather and his sons were soldiers in the war. Cornelius was educated in Public School 16 on Thirteenth Street. His father died while Cornelius was yet very young, he was early thrown upon his own resources. He had an early love of books and began his career by running a hand printing press for the American Tract Society, and at the age of fifteen. Subsequently he was apprenticed to Messrs. Dusenbury & Van Dusen and learned the trade of carriage building. Mr. Van Dusen was Foreman of Southwark Engine Company 38 of the New York Fire Department, then located on Ann Street. Young Van Cott quickly got a liking for the firemen's life and when he turned twenty years old he joined Hose Company No. 7.
Mr. Van Cott was appointed an Inspector of Customs, a post which he surrendered to engage in the fire insurance business. After he had been elected a director of Aetna Fire Insurance Company he held for several years the office of vice president of that corporation. He developed into a sound and capable financier and in time became known as a first-class underwriter. He was also connected with the Hanover Insurance Company and for a number of years was a Trustee of the West Side Savings Bank.
His education and his training peculiarly fitted him for the office of Fire Commissioner, and in 1879 Mayor Havemeyer appointed him to a seat in the Board. Mr. Van Cott served six years and was finally elected Treasurer. His services were recognized by a graceful testimonial from members of New York's best known merchants and businessmen. When Mayor Cooper came into power in 1879, Mr. Van Cott was reappointed by him, and his fellow commissioners elected him President of the Board on May 9, 1881. Shortly after, he resigned the post of President. It was a great tribute to his integrity and ability that he (a Republican) should have been appointed by a Democratic Mayor and confirmed by a Democratic Board of Appeals. Subsequently he was re-elected Treasurer and again elected President in 1883. His term of office expired in 1885.
Mr. Van Cott served in the New York State Senate in 1888-89, and was a member of the committees on Commerce and Navigation; Cities; Poor Laws and Grievances, and was Chairman of the Committee on Public Health. He was appointed Postmaster of New York City on May 1, 1889. He at once began active measures for improvements and facility in distributing the mails in the New York post office. The clerical force was largely increased, new substations were established, and a Sunday special delivery was put in operation. The business of the office rapidly increased until its profits exceeded $4,000,000 per annum.
Mr. Van Cott was appointed an Inspector of Customs, a post which he surrendered to engage in the fire insurance business. After he had been elected a director of Aetna Fire Insurance Company he held for several years the office of vice president of that corporation. He developed into a sound and capable financier and in time became known as a first-class underwriter. He was also connected with the Hanover Insurance Company and for a number of years was a Trustee of the West Side Savings Bank.
His education and his training peculiarly fitted him for the office of Fire Commissioner, and in 1879 Mayor Havemeyer appointed him to a seat in the Board. Mr. Van Cott served six years and was finally elected Treasurer. His services were recognized by a graceful testimonial from members of New York's best known merchants and businessmen. When Mayor Cooper came into power in 1879, Mr. Van Cott was reappointed by him, and his fellow commissioners elected him President of the Board on May 9, 1881. Shortly after, he resigned the post of President. It was a great tribute to his integrity and ability that he (a Republican) should have been appointed by a Democratic Mayor and confirmed by a Democratic Board of Appeals. Subsequently he was re-elected Treasurer and again elected President in 1883. His term of office expired in 1885.
Mr. Van Cott served in the New York State Senate in 1888-89, and was a member of the committees on Commerce and Navigation; Cities; Poor Laws and Grievances, and was Chairman of the Committee on Public Health. He was appointed Postmaster of New York City on May 1, 1889. He at once began active measures for improvements and facility in distributing the mails in the New York post office. The clerical force was largely increased, new substations were established, and a Sunday special delivery was put in operation. The business of the office rapidly increased until its profits exceeded $4,000,000 per annum.
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