Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/152

120 and is now in its fourth year of usefulness. Ilyman and liis brother Simon owned the house on the soutliern corner of Seventh and Market streets, in which Jefferson wrote the fii-st draft of the Uec- hiration of Independence. — His sister, Rebecca, philanthropist, b. in Philadelpliia, 4 March, 1781; d. there, 39 Aug., 1869. She had every advan- tage of education afforded by the best schools and private instruction of her native city. Her parents were strict adherents to the Jewish faith, and most of the daugh- ter's energies were devoted to the im- provement of her own people. She established in 1835 the first Hebrew Sunday - school in the United States, and continued its active superintend- ent until 1864. Miss Gratz was one of the founders of the Jewish Poster home in 1853, and secretary of the Hebrew benevolent society from its inception in 1819 until her death. She was also active in many Christian charities; her name appears on the first list of managers of the Philadelphia orphan a.sylum, 1814, and as secretary of the board from 1817 to 1865. She is believed to be the original of Rebecca of York in " Ivanhoe." She was intimate with Washington Irving and the lady to whom he was engaged. In 1817 Irving visited Abbotsford, and the dignity of character of Rebecca Gratz as de- scribed by him impressed Scott, and doubtless in- fluenced him in depicting a Jewess, beautiful, noble, and true to her faith, sacrificing her affections to •' doing good amongst her own people," as Rebecca describes her future life to Rowena. There is pre- served a beautiful miniature of Miss Gratz by Mal- bone (1806) and two portraits by Thomas Sully (1831), from one of which, belonging to Mrs. Clay, of Kentucky, the aocompanying vignette is copied.

GUAU, Maurice, operatic manager, b. in Brunn, Austria, 20 Dec, 1849, and came to New York as a child. He was graduated at the Free academy, afterward attending the Columbia col- lege law-school, and wastwoyears in a law office. In 1873 he became manager for Aimee, and since that time has continued his career as a successful oper- atic and theatrical manager, conducting seasons for Patti, Sarah Bernhardt, Sir Henry Irving. Re- jane, and other stars. He is now managing direc- tor of the Maurice Grau opera company. New York, and of the Royal opera-house, London. In August, 1899, he was made a knight of the Legion of honor, in recognition of his work on behalf of French art. The cross was conferred on Mr. Grau by special desire of M. Delcasse, the minister of foreign affairs, being, with 'a single exception, the first instance of the distinction being conferred on a foreign impressario, in view of his thirty years' valuable service to operatic music in France.

GRAYBIEL, Mary, missionary, b. in Williams- ville, Erie co., N. Y., 6 Feb., 1846. She was grad- uated at the classical institute of her native town in 1864, taught for five years, and in 1883 she be- came a missionary to Ilindostan under the care of the foreign missionary society of the denomination of Disciples. She settled in the mission at Bilas- pur, and havingsecured an appropriation of IJ4!0(X) built a stone and wood church for the use of the natives, herself planning and superintending the erection of the building. Under her care the mis- sion has greatly prospered, and she has established a successful native school.

GREEN, Andrew Hasnell, lawyer, b. at Green Hill, Worcester, Ma.ss., 6 Oct., 1820. He received his education in the schools of his native slate, adopting the law as his profession. During his career in New York city he has filled many posi- tions as trustee and executor of estates, and among the latter that of Samuel J. Tilden. He was a commissioner of education and president of the board in 1856, president of the Central park board from 1857 to 1870, and comptroller of the city from 1871 to 1876. His entrance upon this office was at the time of the Tweed ring's peculations. The finances of the city were in con- fusion, and the claims urged upon the treasury amounted to millions. Against much opposition, Mr. Green labored for the solution of the problem of the city's finances, which the ring's frauds had ushered into existence. He introduced new meth- ods of checks into the system of the comptroller's office, which are still continued in that depart- ment. He may be called the " father of Greater New York," for in 1868 he conceived the plan for the amalgamation of the cities and towns which, in 1897, were constituted the Greater New York, and lor which he, in 1899, was presented in the city with a gold medal. Mr. Green was the originator of the plan which has resulted in the consolidation of the Astor, Lenox, and Tilden libraries under one head as the New York public library, of which he is a trustee. He has published various important reports touching on public and educational topics relative to New York city.

GREEN, Edward Rowland Robinson, capi- talist, b. in London, England, 23 Aug.. 1868, is the son of Mrs. Hetty H. R. Green, reputed to be one of the wealthiest women in the world. The family came to New York in 1872, and he received his education in the schools of that citv and at Fordham college, where he was graduated in 1888. He then took up the study of law, and secured his admission to the bar. Instead of entering into active practice of his profession, he became a clerk in the office of the Connecticut river railway. Later he became more deeply interested in rail- ways, serving as director of several, and as presi- dent of the Texas Midland railway, in which he has a controlling interest, since 1893. He made his home at Terrell, Tex., and took an active part in the politics of the state, .serving as chair- man of the Republican state central committee.

GREEN, Henry Woodhull, jurist, b. in Law- renceville, N. J., 30 Sept., 1804; d. in Trenton, 19 Dec, 1876. He was graduated at Princeton in 1830, studied law in the office of Chief-Justice Ewing, was licensed as an attorney, and began the practice of his profession in Trenton, where he thereafter resided. He was recorder of that city tor several years, later reporter of the court of chancery, and a member of the legislature in 1843. In the convention that nominated Clay and Frelinghuysen, in 1844. he advocated the latter's nomination, and he was a member of the conven- tion which framed the present constitution of New Jersey. The legislature of 1845 named him, with Peter I). 'Vroom and William L. Dayton, a commission to revise the laws of the state, the re- sult being the revised statutes of 1846, the only systematic code ever attempted in New Jersey.