Barney, Hiram

American engineer.

Hiram Barney (1811-1895) acquired the land in the Half-Breed Tract that would become the White Elk Vineyard in the 1840s. The vineyard was established in 1869 when Barney sent his son, Lewis Tappan Barney, a Civil War veteran, to develop and manage the vineyard. Within years, the White Elk vineyard was producing from 15,000 to 30,000 gallons of Concord, Ives, Norton, and Clinton wines a year; the wines were sold as far south as New Orleans and as far west as Denver. In 1880, the White Elk vineyard was incorporated, with John H. Craig as the president, Lewis T. Barney, the vice-president, and Hiram Barney as a director. In 1903, the vineyard was purchased by Chester P. Cory, a teetotaler who switched to producing grape juice. It was closed down in 1914.

Hiram Barney (1811-1895), lawyer and collector of the port of New York, began practicing law in 1836 in New York City, specializing in debt collection. In 1848 he formed a partnership with Benjamin F. and William A. Butler, which lasted until 1874. A militant anti-slavery Democrat, Barney joined the Republicans in 1854 and earned a reputation for political acumen. In 1857 he won the confidence of Abraham Lincoln, who as President appointed him collector of the port of New York. Barney held the office until resigning in 1864. The remainder of his life was devoted to private business and family affairs

Hiram Barney (1811-1895), lawyer and collector of the port of New York, began practicing law in 1836 in New York City, specializing in debt collection. In 1848 he formed a partnership with Benjamin F. and William A. Butler, which lasted until 1874. A militant anti-slavery Democrat, Barney joined the Republicans in 1854 and earned a reputation for political acumen. In 1857 he won the confidence of Abraham Lincoln, who as President appointed him collector of the port of New York. Barney held the office until resigning in 1864. The remainder of his life was devoted to private business and family affairs.

Biography

Hiram Barney, lawyer and collector for the Port of New York, was born in Henderson, New York, on May 30, 1811. After graduating from Union College in 1833, he held a law clerkship and was admitted to the New York bar in 1836. Barney's legal career began with the firm of William Mulligan in 1836. In 1838, he entered into a partnership with William D. Waterman and in 1841, with William Mitchell. During the early years of his career, Barney, largely engaged as a "collections" lawyer, did much of his business in the West, especially Iowa. In 1849, Barney formed yet another partnership with Benjamin F. Butler and his son, William Allen Butler. After the retirement of the elder Butler and the arrival and departure of James Humphrey, the firm became known as Barney, Butler, and Parsons. Barney remained with his firm until 1874, when he was retained as special counsel. Barney's final legal partnership began in 1878 with Edward D. Cowman.

In addition to carrying out his legal obligations, Barney became active in the anti-slavery movement and related political parties. Possibly he was influenced by his marriage to Susan Aspinwall Tappan, the daughter of Lewis Tappan, a prominent abolitionist. In 1840, Barney was nominated for Congress by the Anti-Slavery Party, but received only 350 votes. Barney attended the Free Soil Party Convention in 1848, and in 1852, he headed the electoral ticket on behalf of Hale and Julian. Following the organization of the Republican Party in 1856, Barney served as a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention, but voted for Sumner instead of Fremont. In 1860, he attended the convention in Chicago which nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. Barney was said to have collected $35,000 in New York to further Lincoln's candidacy. His association with Lincoln was close and constant.

Lincoln's appointment of Barney to the post of Collector of the Port of New York in 1861 proved anything but rewarding. Barney inherited a collector-ship bogged down with political patronage and graft. As Collector, he was overwhelmed with applications, testimonials, and office seekers. The Civil War intensified his responsibilities. In addition Barney attempted to continue with his professional business, much of which demanded his absence from the state. Duped by those he trusted, Barney proved unequal to the demands of the office. Following investigations by the Treasury Department, Barney resigned. His personal integrity seems never to have been questioned and he retained the respect and affection of his friends and business associates. However, his health broke under the strain.

Having overextended his business interests, hard times in the 1870's dogged Barney year after year. The death of his first wife, Susan (Tappan) Barney, added to his burden. On August 26, 1880, Barney married Harriet E. Kilbourne, the daughter of one of his Iowa business associates, by whom he had several children. He seems never to have fully recuperated, either in business or health. When he died on May 18, 1895, he was attempting to dispose of the family estate, Cedar Knolls, at Kingsbridge, New York.