This is a document from the Delaware, Lackawanna 

and Western Railroad Company.

The document was signed on February 2, 1888. 

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 executor for the estate of the stockholder, 

and the witness.

The stockholder was Harriet Wilson (1798-1886) 

of Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York. 

The executor for the estate of the stockholder was 

Martha Wilson, of Mount Vernon, New York. 

Unfortunately, I cannot identify this woman with 

any significant degree of certainty. Presumably 

she was closely related to Harriet Wilson.

The witness was named Maria A. Maher.

Possibly this was Maria A. Maher (1834-1910),

although I am not certain of this identification.

She was married to Michael E. Maher (1841-1900).

They are buried in the United States Military Academy 

Post Cemetery, in West Point, Orange County, New York

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 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.

"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 "104" 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