Chauncey Depew

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Chauncey Mitchell Depew

Chauncey Depew (April 23, 1834–April 5, 1928) served as a United States Senator from New York from 1899 to 1911.

Depew attended Yale College, where he was a member of Skull & Bones, graduated in 1856. He became active in politics, and served as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1862-63. He then was elected Secretary of State of New York, holding that office from 1864 to 1865.

Depew spent most of his career associated with the New York Central Railroad, where he was General Counsel from 1875 to 1883; Vice President from 1883 to 1885; and President from 1885 to 1898. He resigned as President of the New York Central in 1898, and became chairman of the board of directors for the entire Vanderbilt railroad system, which included the New York, Harlem, Hudson Valley, Central, Erie, Michigan Southern, Michigan Central, Lakeshore, and Canadian Southern Railroads.

Depew served two terms in the Senate, and was was prominent in New York politics. In his later years, Depew served as an advisor and mentor to his fellow New Yorker, future President Theodore Roosevelt.

In 1871, Depew married Elise Ann Hegeman, and they had one son, Chauncey Mitchell Depew Jr., who was born in 1879. Elise died in 1893 and Depew married a second time to May Palmer in 1901. They had no children.

Depew was the paternal uncle of Ganson and Chancey Depew, sons of his brother William Beverly Depew. Ganson Depew was a vice president of the Buffalo & Susquehanna Coal Company; and the personal assistant of his father-in-law Frank Henry "F.H." Goodyear. Goodyear was the president of the Buffalo & Susquehanna Railway. Chancey DePew also worked for the Vanderbilt Railway Systems.

When Chauncey Depew died, he was buried in Peekskill. In his honor, the huge concourse of Grand Central Terminal was draped in mourning.

NOTE: Chauncey Depew was the great-grandson of American founding father Roger Sherman's brother Rev. Josiah Sherman.