This is a document from the Delaware, Lackawanna 

and Western Railroad Company.

The document was signed on February 7, 1890. 

It is a "proxy" document, which delegated 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 Edwin Augustus Wyeth (1840-1917). 

Edwin's great-great grandfather, Ebenezer Wyeth Sr. 

(1698-1754), was the great-great-great grandfather 

of the famous illustrator N. C. Wyeth (1882-1945), 

who was himself the father of the famous painter

Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009).

The name of the witness is Henry P. Stanwood. 

I believe that this was Henry Porter Stanwood (1843-1926), 

who was born in Boston, and is buried in a nearby cemetary. 

The document states that the shareholder does hereby 

"...appoint Percy R. Pyne and George Bliss" 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 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 Bliss 

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.

The number "400" 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 interesting document is about 8" by 7", and is 

in good condition, with a piece about the size of a 

quarter torn out of the upper right corner (see scans), 

and a horizontal crease where it has been folded.

Shipping is FREE via USPS First Class Mail.

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