JAMES McGOVERN.
BY MR. JOHN G. O’KEEFFE OF NEW YORK.
James McGovern, a life member of this Society, was born of Irish parents in Brooklyn, N. Y., on the 31st day of August, 1854. When but fourteen years of age he began his business life in the employ of Coleman Benedict, a stock broker. His progress was remarkable. In twelve years he became a partner in the firm. He was elected a member of the New York Stock Exchange in 1880 and during his long business career he was universally regarded as one of the ablest and most honorable men on ’Change. He was honored time and again by election to its Board of Governors, serving on its most important committees. Because of his high character and broad knowledge of values his judgment on investments was widely sought. For example, he was for years a prominent member of the Finance Committee of the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank and a director in the Kings Co. Trust Company, the Corn Exchange National Bank and the Home Life Insurance Company. He was also a member of the Chicago Stock Exchange, the New York Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Catholic and a number of other clubs in which he took an active and prominent interest.
Mr. McGovern’s charities were most liberal and carried on quietly, without ostentation. He was a benefactor of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (a member of its Finance Committee) the Ozanam Club for Working Boys and many similar Societies. He was the President and best friend of the Dominican Sisters of the sick poor, a charity that appealed directly to his generous heart.
Mr. McGovern was especially proud of his Irish ancestry and never failed to respond to any call for help from the land of his forefathers.
He died on November 6, 1909, and in his death the community at large suffered a great loss.