George H. Bend
George Hoffman Bend | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date New York City, U.S. |
| Died | February 15, 1900 (aged 61) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Known for | Member of the New York Stock Exchange; prominent Gilded Age socialite |
George Hoffman Bend (August 3, 1838 – February 15, 1900) was a prominent American banker, affiliated with the New York Stock Exchange, and recognized as an influential personality within New York's social circles during the Gilded Age.
Early life
Born in New York City on August 3, 1838, Bend was the second child among seven siblings of William Bradford Bend and Catherine Ann (née Thomas) Bend. His brothers and sisters included William Bradford Bend (1837–1905), who wed Isabella Tomes; Katharine Ann Bend (d. 1901), spouse of James Kennedy Whitaker; and Elizabeth Pelham Bend (circa 1845–1933), married to Henry Asher Robbins (1829–1914), a co-founder of the Waltham Watch Company and proprietor of the Asher House in Southampton.
On his father's side, his grandparents were Reverend Dr. Joseph G. Bend, who served as rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Baltimore, and his wife—a granddaughter of Mary Boudinot, sibling to Elias Boudinot, the Continental Congress president from 1779 to 1783. Mary’s daughter Susan Boudinot was married to William Bradford, who held office as U.S. Attorney General under President Washington.
Maternal lineage traces back to Philip Thomas and Frances Mary Ludlow. Philip Thomas had connections to distinguished families such as the Abraham Schermerhorns. Frances was the daughter of James Ludlow and Elizabeth Harrison—the latter being the offspring of architect Peter Harrison. James Ludlow, a 1768 graduate of Columbia College, descended from Gabriel Ludlow, an accomplished New York merchant who emigrated from England in 1694 with roots linking to English and French royal ancestry.
Career
Bend entered into partnership in 1866 with Albert L. Mowry and Richard and Samuel B. Keys in the firm "Mowry, Keys & Bend."
By 1873, he secured election to a four-year term on the Governing Committee of the New York Stock Exchange, serving alongside prominent individuals such as Edward King and John R. Garland.
In January 1890, a public altercation occurred between Bend and fellow broker Leopold Schepp concerning the valuation of Sugar Trust certificates. The confrontation intensified when Bend accused Schepp of dishonesty and proceeded to physically strike him. Consequently, both were disciplined by the Stock Exchange Governing Board—initially receiving ten-day suspensions which were later extended: Bend’s suspension lasted six months while Schepp’s was thirty days.
By 1897, Bend celebrated over three decades—34 years specifically—of active involvement with both the Stock Exchange and the Open Board of Stock Brokers, underscoring his enduring role within financial markets.
Residences
In January 1882, George H. Bend’s country residence located in Riverdale-on-the-Hudson was destroyed by fire. The mansion, valued at upwards of $60,000 and situated on approximately eight to ten acres overlooking the Hudson River, contained a valuable collection including rare books, artwork, and jewelry appraised at more than $40,000.
The following year, in 1883, his family leased a cottage in Newport, Rhode Island, actively engaging in the local social scene.
By 1891, they constructed a distinguished stone cottage named "Sky High" at Onteora Park in Hunter. This residence was regarded as one of the most remarkable homes within the Catskills. The two-story dwelling measured 77 by 42 feet and featured nine fireplaces along with five chimneys.
Society life
Bend, along with his wife and daughters, held a distinguished position within New York's high society during the Gilded Age. They regularly participated in significant social events such as dinners, balls, dances, and cotillions, while also actively supporting a variety of charitable organizations. Their social calendar often included visits to popular upscale destinations in the Northeast, including Newport, Lenox, the Hudson Valley, and the Catskill Mountains.
In 1892, the entire Bend family was listed among New York’s most esteemed social circles in Ward McAllister's "Four Hundred", a roster of the city’s leading families published in The New York Times.
Bend was affiliated with several exclusive clubs such as the Union Club, Metropolitan Club, Union League Club, New York City Riding Club, The Players, New York Yacht Club, and the American Geographical Society.
Personal life
On April 21, 1868, Bend married Elizabeth Austen Townsend (1846–1928), daughter of Isaac C. Townsend and Mary (née Austen) Townsend. The couple resided on West 54th Street and had two daughters:
- Amy Bend (1870–1957), who became the wife of Cortlandt F. Bishop (1870–1935) in 1899.
- Beatrice Bend (1874–1941), who wed diplomat Henry Prather Fletcher (1873–1959) in 1917. Fletcher held diplomatic posts as U.S. Ambassador to Chile, Mexico, Belgium, and Italy.
Bend passed away at age 61 on February 15, 1900, at his home located at 4 East 46th Street in New York. His funeral service took place at Grace Church. His widow was the beneficiary of a $40,000 life insurance policy. Following his death, she resided with their younger daughter at 563 Park Avenue.
Descendants
His sole grandchild, Beatrice Bishop (1902–1993), was both an accomplished author and a respected physician. She married diplomat Adolf A. Berle, Jr., and after his passing, she wed Dr. André Frédéric Cournand, a Nobel Prize laureate in medicine.
Among his extended family, nephew Henry "Harry" Pelham Robbins (1874–1946) was married to Emily Welles, sister of Ambassador Sumner Welles and grandniece of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor. Additionally, his niece Maud Robbins became the wife of Harry Whitney McVicker in 1891.