and when he arrived in the metropolis his entire financial reinforcement was represented in one solitary half-crown. But he had to his credit an ample fortune in the way of good health, willing hands and a stout heart; and he did not fear to put his faith to the test. He secured employment at his trade, and such was his mechanical ability, his industry and his absolute integrity that upon attaining his majority he was enabled to engage in business upon his own responsibility, — an enterprise which developed into one of .the most important in the line of contracting and building in New York city. He formed a partnership with a friend, under the firm name of Masterton & Smith, and this association was continued until the death of Mr. Smith, in 1854, — thus covering the long period of thirty-six years. The partnership was one of most perfect confidence and mutual esteem, and the firm gained marked prestige in their line of endeavor. After the death of his honored associate Mr. Masterton formed other relations in a business way, but he gradually withdrew from active connection with business, by reason of impaired health, thereupon retiring to his beautiful country home, where his last days were spent. The firm of which he was a member was not only one of the oldest in the city, but one of the oldest in the country, and many prominent public buildings and private residences were erected by the concern. Among the former may be mentioned the old Exchange, in Wall street, the old United States Bank, which later became the assay office; the custom house of New York; the city hall at New Orleans; and the general post-office at Washington. With his partner he had large interests in the granite and marble quarries near Tuckahoe, Westchester county.
In the year 1836 Mr. Masterton came to Westchester county and purchased a tract of land near Bronxville' on the White Plains road, and here he erected a substantial residence and made many other improvements. This became his permanent home, and he became closely identified with all that touched the progress and welfare of the community, so ordering his life as to gain and retain the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
He died in the sixty-third year of his age, passing away in January, 1859. As delineating his character, we refer with pleasure to, and quote from, the address delivered by his pastor. Rev. Washington Roosevelt, on the occasion of his funeral, January 19, 1859: "Mr. Masterton was a man of strong attachment. He never forgot a friend. Only a few days before his death he charged his sons not to forget an old friend in Scotland, to whom for many years he had made a yearly remittance. His liberality, although unobtrusive, was proverbial, and not a few could arise and call him blessed. His integrity and uprightness, no less than his generosity, were universally known and appreciated. In his family relations a kinder husband or more affectionate parent was not to be found. His children not only highly respected, but ardently loved him. They sought his counsel and clung around him to the very end, and when he breathed his last their breaking hearts attested that they began to realize their orphanage. But notwithstanding all these estimable traits of character, our departed friend was not self-righteous. So far from this, he placed no dependence upon any amiable traits he might have possessed, or any works of generosity or liberality he may have performed. He felt himself a sinner, and needing with all others the mercy of God in Christ. "
Mr. Masterton was married, in New York, to Miss Euphenius Morrison,, a native of that city and a daughter of William and Jean Morrison. They became the parents of seven sons and one daughter, two of whom died in early life. Those who lived to attain years of maturity were as follows: William James and Robert Morgan, both of whom are now deceased; Alexander, Jr., concerning whose life a memoir is given in appending paragraphs; Mary M., who became the wife of Elias Dusenbury and now resides on the old homestead; Joseph Tucker, who is now deceased; and John, who married and resides at Mount Vernon, New York. The devoted wife and mother survived her husband by only one year, her death occurring January 24, 1860. She was a woman of deep piety and noble character, being a devout member of the Reformed church at Bronxville, with which the family have been, identified from the time of its organization.
True biography has a nobler purpose than mere fulsome eulogy. The historic spirit faithful to the record, the discerning judgment unmoved by prejudice and uncolored by enthusiasm are as essential in giving the life of the individual as in writing the history of a people. Indeed, the ingenuousness of the former picture is even more vital, because the individual is the national unit, and if the unit be justly estimated the complex organism will become correspondingly intelligible. To the most careful study are the life, character and services of the late Alexander Masterton pre-eminently entitled. His entire life was an example of exalted integrity, honor and kindly virtues, and though his death, pitiable and untimely, came as the result of the cowardly assassin's bullet, making him a martyr to his generous spirit and abiding kindness, yet he was called in the plenitude of his powers, with his labors well rounded and symmetrical, and with an earthly record whose final page could well be turned down with the Master's word of commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In these thoughts there must remain to those upon whom the shadow rests most deeply a measure of compensation, for the veil was lifted to gain the new glory of a pure and noble life when death sets its seal upon his mortal lips.
Alexander Masterton, one of the able financiers of the national metropolis and one of the most honored citizens of Bronxville, Westchester county. New York, met his death on the 3rd of May, 1899. He was a native of the city of New York, where he was born on the 4th of September, 1825, a son of Alexander and Euphenius (Morrison) Masterton, to whom individual reference has been made in preceding paragraphs. His early boyhood years were passed in New York city, in whose schools, and in those of Westchester county, his educational discipline was secured. Of alert mentality, self-reliant and imbued with the highest principles, it was but natural that the young man should give clear definition to his plans for a future career and that he should succeed in finding opportunity for advancing himself in connection with the practical activities of life. At the age of eighteen years he gave inception to his business career by accepting a position in a banking institution in New York city, and it is interesting to revert to the fact that with this all-important branch of industrial economics he continued to be consecutively identified throughout the course of his long, useful and honorable life.
From 1861 until 1867 Mr. Masterton was secretary of the New York Clearing House Association, and for six years prior to his demise he had held the important and exacting office of president of the' Manufacturers & Merchants' Bank of New York, in which institution he had previously served as cashier. This bank is one of the oldest and most substantial monetary institutions of the metropolis, and much of the success which attended its operations was due to his executive ability and keen discrimination as a financier, his policy having been distinctively, one of wise conservatism. He was also a director and secretary of the Broadway Insurance Company, of New York, and had served as director, vice-president and president of the Bankers' Insurance Company of the same city. Success in any line of occupation, in any avenue of business, is not a matter of spontaneity, but is the legitimate offspring of subjective effort in the proper utilization of the means at hand, the improvement of opportunity and the exercise of the highest functions made possible by the specific ability in any case. The subject of this memoir was a man to whom was not denied a full measure of success, and he stood forth distinctively as one of the representative and honored business men of Greater New York, his acumen and discrimination in the conduct of extensive operations giving him high prestige as a financier and man of affairs. The great measure of success which attended the efforts of Mr. Masterton from the time he started out in life on his own responsibility stands not only to his honor and credit, but also in evidence of his ability, his assiduous application and his absolute singleness of purpose. Such success is worthy the name, and while he was content to hold aloof from the greater notoriety and entanglements of public life, his reputation and his labors had an even more potent influence and represented deeper values than they could possibly have done had he dissipated his forces and talents in various directions instead of holding closely to one line. He was a man above reproach, and his record was one untarnished by wrong or suspicion of evil. Quiet and unostentatious in manner, he was honored and esteemed by all, his force of character and his sterling manhood making themselves quietly yet strongly felt. That he had enemies cannot be denied. What man of individuality and unwavering integrity does not ? Honor ever antagonizes dishonor, and the manner of his death stood as the impious protest of fanatical and profligate
