This is a document from the Delaware, Lackawanna 

and Western Railroad Company.

The document was signed on February 4, 1888. 

This is a "proxy" document, which delegates the 

voting powers of a stockholder to a third party, such 

as an attorney. This person, having received a signed 

proxy document, would then be authorized to vote 

on behalf of the stockholder at a company meeting. 

The document was signed by two people, 

the stockholder and the witness. 

The stockholder was either William Russell White 

(1809-1892) of Danbury, Connecticut, or his son,

William Russell White, Jr. (1857-1921), who was 

born in Danbury, Connecticut, but seems to have 

lived part of his life in New York and possibly also 

in Massachusetts. 

The father was a hat manufacturer. I do not know

what the son's occupation was. Both of these men 

are buried in Wooster Cemetery, in the city of Danbury,

in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

The witness was James Lloyd White (1862-1944).

He was the first man's son, and the second man's brother.

James is buried in the same cemetery as above.

The document states that the shareholder does hereby 

"...appoint Percy R. Pyne, George Bliss, and E. S. Higgins" 

to be their "lawful proxies and attorneys for me and in my 

name, place, and stead, to appear at a Meeting of the 

Stockholders of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western 

Railroad Company...."

These three notable men were as follows:

"Percy R. Pyne" was probably Percy Rivington Pyne I 

(1820-1895), although he might possibly have been his son 

Percy Rivington Pyne II (1857-1929). The father was the

president of City National Bank, a director of the Delaware, 

Lackawanna and Western Railroad, and a director of the New 

Jersey Zinc Company. The son was a director of the same bank,

as well as manager of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western 

Railroad, and treasurer of the New York Zoological Society.

"George Bliss" was Colonel George Bliss (1830-1897). 

Colonel Bliss was an attorney who practiced law in New 

York City. In 1859 and 1860 he was private secretary of 

New York Governor Edwin D. Morgan. In 1862 Bliss became 

paymaster general of the state, with the rank of colonel.

During the Civil War he was appointed captain in the 4th 

New York heavy artillery. In 1862/1863 he organized the 

20th, 21st and 26th regiments of African American troops. 

In 1866, he became the attorney of the metropolitan board 

of health. In 1873, he became the United States attorney 

for the southern district of New York.

"E. S. Higgins" was Elias Smith Higgins (1815-1889).

Higgins was the president of E.S. Higgins & Co., Carpet 

Manufacturers, of New York. During the Civil War, Higgins

and his brother secured a contract to supply army blankets 

for the government, which led to a large expansion of his

company. Higgins became a director of both the Delaware, 

Lackawanna & Western Railroad and the Chesapeake & 

Ohio Railroad. He was a director and the largest stockholder 

in the Consolidated Gas Company, as well as a director of 

the Central National Bank. 

The number "200" is written in red ink at the top 

right corner. This is the number of shares of stock 

that the stockholder owned at that time.

This handsome document is about 8" by 7", 

and is in very good condition, with a horizontal

crease where it has been folded.

Shipping is FREE via USPS First Class Mail.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact