James Jewett Stillman (June 9, 1850 – March 15, 1918) was an American businessman who invested in land, banking, and railroads in New York, Texas, and Mexico. He was chairman of the board of directors of the National City Bank.[1] He forged alliances with the Rockefeller family, Standard Oil and Kuhn, Loeb & Co. to lay a foundation that made it, arguably, "the greatest bank in the Western Hemisphere."[2] He engaged in an expansion policy that made National City the largest bank in the United States by 1894, the first to open foreign branches, and a leader in foreign exchange.[3] By 1902, the bank was able to pay any sum of money to any city in the world within 24 hours.[4] He was worth approximately $77 million at the time of his death, making him one of the wealthiest people in the country at the time.
Biography
Stillman was born on June 9, 1850, to Charles Stillman (1810–1875) and Elizabeth Pamela Goodrich in Brownsville, Texas, a town founded by his father. Both of his parents were born in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Charles Stillman had significant business interests which James acquired in 1872. He expanded those to control of sixteen Texas banks and a significant land holdings in the Rio Grande Valley, particularly Corpus Christi and Kerrville, Texas.[5]
1906 Fractional Warrant certificate issued by the B&O railroad in favor of James Stillman
Isabel Goodrich Stillman (1876–1935), who married Percy Avery Rockefeller (1878–1934) in 1901. Percy was another son of William Rockefeller
Charles Chauncey Stillman (1877–1926), who died aboard the RMS Aquitania[9] and who married Mary E. White (1870–1925).[10]
Ernest Goodrich Stillman (1884–1949), who married Mildred Margaret Whitney (1890–1950)[11]
Stillman was an intimate friend of both James O. Bloss and John William Sterling. After the death of James Gordon Bennett Jr., it was learned by the administrators of his estate that he had appointed Stillman one of the administrators and trustees. Stillman had little or no opportunity to act under the authority of Bennett's will, as he died a few weeks after Bennett's death. Stillman named Sterling one of his executors. Sterling could hardly have begun his duties under Stillman's will when he too died suddenly. The Bennett estate, the Stillman estate and the Sterling estate totaled about $76,000,000. After Sterling's death it was learned that he had appointed his long time intimate companion, Bloss, one of the executors. And a few weeks after Sterling's death, Bloss died.[12]
In 1928, the C.O. Stillman was named in his honor. At the time, it was the largest oil tanker in the World.[15] Stillman is considered to have been one of the 100 wealthiest Americans, having left an enormous fortune.[16]
References
^ abc"James Stillman, Head Of City Bank, Dies Suddenly". New York Times. March 16, 1918. Retrieved September 16, 2012. James Stillman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National City Bank, the Presidency of which he resigned in 1908, when he was succeeded by Frank A. Vanderlip, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at 5:30 O'clock at his home, 9 East Seventy-second Street. ...
^Bovykin, V.I. and Cameron, Rondo International Banking 1870–1914 pp. 67-69 (1994).
^"James S. Rockefeller, 102, Dies; Was a Banker and a '24 Olympian". New York Times. August 11, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2012. James Stillman Rockefeller, who helped capture an Olympic rowing title for the United States before a banking career with a company that eventually become Citigroup, died yesterday at his home in Greenwich, Conn., his family announced. He was 102. ...
