ROBERT MORRISON OLYPHANT

THE rare privilege of rounding out four score years and ten and of watching the wonderful progress that has been made during this period — the development of great railroad systems, the application of electricity to countless industrial activities, the navigation of the air and under water, the finding of the North and Smith Poles, and many other great discoveries that have made this era the most notable in the history of the world — is granted to only a chosen few.

One of these, Mr. Robert Morrison Olyphant, was born in New York City September 9, 1824, the youngest son of David W. C. Olyphant and Ann (McKenzie) Archer Olyphant. His father was a prominent New York merchant, the son of Dr. David Olyphant, who espoused the cause of Prince Charles Edward Stewart, and came to Charleston, S. C, soon after the battle nf Culloden. He was appointed Director-General of Hospitals, Southern Department, in 1776, and held the office throughout the Revolutionary War.

Mr. Olyphant was named for Robert Morrison, the first British missionary to China, and an intimate and life-long friend of his father, who gave free passage in his ships to Dr. Morrison, after the latter had been refused by the East India Company. Mr. Olyphant also gave free passage in his ships to all of the early American missionaries to China, and interested himself deeply in their welfare. One of these ships was named the Morrison, as a tribute of
this friendship. Robert Morrison Olyphant's education began at the age of three in Troy, N. Y. and later he attended the schools of Isaac Webb, Middletown, Conn., and Daniel Bacon, New York City. He entered Columbia University at the age of fifteen, in the class of 1843, but by diligent work was able to complete his course in three years, and to be graduated with the class of 1842. He is the oldest living alumnus of Columbia.

After graduation he entered the employ of Talbot, Olyphant & Company, an East India trading firm, of which his father was senior member. He visited China in 1844, returning a year later. In 1846, he married Sophia Vernon, of Newport, R. I., great-granddaughter of Gov. Richard Ward of that state, and after her death, in 1855, he married her youngest sister Anna Vernon. Of ten children, Robert and Mrs. George Casper Kellogg are now living, also eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A son, John Kensett Olyphant, died June 22, 1916.

In 1858, Mr. Olyphant re-organized the old firm of Olyphant & Company, of China, and again visited the Orient, where he remained for four years. He was the active head of the firm until his retirement from mercantile business in l873. Here it may be noted that the company firmly declined to have any dealings in opium, and no ship of Olyphant & Co. ever carried a pound of the drug.

In May of that year he was elected a member of the Board of Managers of the Delaware & Hudson Company, and afterward served as Assistant President, Vice-President, and for twenty years as President, and in his advanced years holds the honorary position of Chairman of the Executive Committee.

His relationship with his associate officers and the employees of the company was always cordial and happy. At a meeting of the Board of Managers, upon his retirement in 1903, resolutions were passed expressing the high esteem in which he was held and their confidence in his executive ability. At this time a handsome punch-bowl and salver were presented to him by the officers of the company and the employees of the New York office.

The Delaware & Hudson Company is one of the oldest mining companies in the country, and was the first to import and operate a steam locomotive on its railway, in 1829, the oldest company operating steam railroads in the United States. In 1901, the assets of the company were $55,282,239.10, and the net earnings $3,370,706.67. During Mr. Olyphant's connection with the company (to 1903), $35,000,000 was paid as dividends and $200,000,000 in wages.

Mr. Olyphant always has taken a deep interest in the development of American and other public-spirited enterprises. As a Fellow of the National Academy of Design, he was instrumental in raising the money for its first building in New York City. He has been a member of the St. Andrew's Society of the State of New York for seventy years, having joined in November, 1846, and is its oldest living member.

At the 160th Animal Banquet of the St. Andrew's Society, November 29, 1916, the following resolutions were passed unanimously:

WHEREAS Mr. Robert M. Olyphant was elected a member of St. Andrew's Society of the State of New York at the Annual Meeting, held on the 30th day of November, 1846, and from that date to the present time a period of seventy years has continued to be an active, zealous and devoted member of the Society, now therefore it is unanimously
Resolved, that the members of the Society present at this, the 160th Annual Meeting, extend to Mr. Robert Olyphant, who has attained the well deserved age of ninety-two years, and now celebrates to-night his Seventieth Anniversary Annual Meeting, their heartiest congratulations upon his long and honourable association with this Society of Scots-men and their descendants in the City and State, a record of membership seldom, if ever, surpassed in the annals of the societies of this city, and wish him continued good health, happiness and prosperity during the years to come.

It is further Resolved that this resolution be spread at large upon the Minutes of the Meeting and that a copy of the same, signed by the President and the Secretary and sealed with the Great Seal of the Society, be transmitted to Mr. Olyphant.

Mr. Olyphant has always been connected with the Presbyterian Church. Notwithstanding his advanced years, he takes an interest in many of the philanthropies of the church, city and state, and still keeps his interest in the affairs of China as one of the staunch backers of the Canton Christian College.

The record of such a life, now nearly rounding out a full century of business activity and service to his fellow men, is the greatest legacy, not only to his family, but to the community and the world.

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Source: Excerpts from: SCOTS AND SCOTS' DESCENDANTS IN AMERICA - by MacDougall, D. J., Published 1917 - Caledonian Publishing Co. - New York - NOT IN COPYRIGHT

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The Troy Times, Troy, N.Y., Saturday Evening, May 4, 1918

Robert M. Olyphant Dead.
Former President of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad - Ninety-three Years of Age - Oldest Alumnus of Columbia.
New York, May 4, 1918.
Robert Morrison Olyphant, Honorary Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, of which he had been President for twenty years before his retirement from active life, died yesterday in his ninety-fourth year. Mr. Olyphant was the oldest alumnus of Columbia University and the oldest member of the St. Andrew Society of the state of New York, an organization he joined in November, 1846.

He was born September 9, 1824, the son of David W. C. Olyphant and Anne (McKenzie) Archer Olyphant. His father was a New York merchant in the East India trade and was the son of Dr. David Olyphant, who came to Charleston, S.C. soon after the battle of Culloden, and later in 1776 was appointed Director General of Hospitals. Robert Morrison Olyphant was named for Robert Morrison, who was a famous missionary to China. He entered Columbia with the class of 1843, but was graduated a year ahead of his class.

His father was the senior member of the firm Talbot, Olyphant & Co., and Mr. Olyphant joined the company. In 1844 he made a trip to China, and returning, married Miss Sophia Vernon of Newport, R.I., and upon her death he was married to her younger sister, Anne Vernon. Of ten children, Mr. Olyphant is survived by his son, Robert Olyphant of this city, and a daughter, Mrs. George Caspar Kellogg of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Mr. Olyphant reorganized his father’s company in 1858 and again visited the Orient. He retired from the mercantile trade in 1873. Long after his retirement Mr. Olyphant became assistant to the President of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. He was elected to a Vice Presidency of the road, and later became President. Upon his retirement in 1908 he was elected Honorary chairman of the Executive Committee.

Mr. Olyphant was a Fellow of the National Academy of Design and helped raise the funds for the erection of the first Academy building. He was deeply interested in art, and for many years was a patron of the Canton Christian Church in China.

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