This is a document from the Delaware, Lackawanna 

and Western Railroad Company.



The document was signed on January 28, 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 witness was Charles Francis Roe (1848-1922). 


Charles F. Roe was born in Highland Falls, New York.

His father was Capt. Stephen Romer Roe (1808-1885),

a famous steamboat captain of the time.


A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy in 1868,
Charles F. Roe served in the Calvary in the Indian 
Campaigns until 1888. It was a column under Roe's 
command that was the first to arrive at Little Big Horn 
after General Custer's devastating defeat in 1876. 


Roe later entered real estate, but in 1889 he 
organized Troop A, a cavalry for the State militia 
in New York. When the National Guard reorganized 
in 1898, Governor Frank Black appointed him 
Major General, in charge of all citizen soldiers 
in New York. Charles Francis Roe held that rank
until his retirement in 1912.



The stockholder was Josephine Augusta Roe (1821-1894).


She was the mother of Charles Francis Roe.


Charles Roe lived with his family, including

his mother Josephine A. Roe, at his house

at 40 Fifth Avenue in New York City. This

address is written near the top right corner

of the document.


Both Charles and Josephine are buried in 

Woodlawn Cemetery, in Bronx 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 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 "730" 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