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1887); and “Life of Gouverneur Morris,” in the “American Statesmen Series” (1888); also “Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail” (New York, 1888). — Cornelius's brother, James John, jurist, b. in New York city, 14 Dec., 1795; d. there, 5 April, 1875, was graduated at Columbia in 1815, admitted to the bar in 1818, and became the partner of Peter Jay. He early identified himself with the Democratic party, and was active in the canvass of Gen. Jackson for the presidency in 1828. He retired temporarily from professional life in 1830, went to Europe, and was in Paris during the disturbances that followed the revolution. He resumed practice on his return in 1831, was a member of the legislature in 1835 and 1839-'40, and in 1841-'3 sat in congress, but declined renomination in 1844. He then went abroad again and studied foreign law in the courts of England, Holland, and France. He became a justice of the state supreme court in 1851, during one term was ex-officio judge of the state court of appeals, resigned in 1859 to become U. S. district attorney for southern New York, and retired in 1860. — His wife, Cornelia, was the daughter of Cornelius P. Van Ness, of Vermont, and a leader in New York society. She did good service in organizing hospital and charitable associations for the aid of the National troops during the civil war, and was subsequently active in benevolent enterprises in New York city. —

Cornelius's cousin, James Henry, philanthropist, b. in New York city, 10 Nov., 1800; d. there, 30 Nov., 1863, was graduated at Columbia in 1819, and studied law, but was prevented by delicate health from practising. He never married, and the fortune that he inherited was not large, but by investments in real estate, and a simple and unostentatious manner of living, he accumulated the sum that he intended from his early manhood to leave for some charitable object. By the terms of his will he left the principal part of his estate to found a noble hospital in New York city which bears his name, and was formally opened, 2 Nov., 1871. The property left by him was valued at about $1,000,000, but, in the interval of eight years between his death and the opening of the hospital, the estate had been so administered by the trustees that the principal aggregated at least $1,000,000 exclusive of the ground upon which the buildings were erected in West 59th street, and, as the buildings themselves represented an expenditure of about $950,000, the property is now (1900) worth $2,000,000. On the tablet that is placed to his memory in Roosevelt hospital is inscribed: “To the memory of James Henry Roosevelt, a true son of New York, the generous founder of this hospital, a man upright in his aims, simple in his life, and sublime in his benefaction.” — Cornelius's grandson, Hilborne Lewis, organ-builder, b. in New York city, 21 Dec., 1849; d. there, 30 Dec., 1886, entered an organ-factory in early youth, and subsequently studied his trade in Europe from an artistic standpoint, especially in regard to electric inventions as applied to organ-manufacture. On his return to New York he engaged in business to a large extent, established factories in that city, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and built some of the largest organs in the United States, including that in Garden City cathedral, Long Island, Grace church, New York city, each of which contains twenty miles of electric wire, that in Trinity church, New York, and the organ in the main building of the Philadelphia centennial exposition. He was widely known among electricians, invented several important details of the telephone, enjoyed a royalty for many years in the telephone-switch, and was largely interested in the Bell telephone company.

ROOT, David, clergyman, b. in Pierniont, N. H., 17 June, 1791; d. in Chicago, 111., 30 Aug., 1873. He was graduated at Middlebury, entered the min- istry, and was pastor successively of Presbyterian churches in Georgia and Cincinnati, Ohio, and of the Congregational church in Dover, N. H. In the latter city he identified himself with the Anti- slavery party, which he served with such devotion that he suffered persecution both there and in YV'a- terbury, Conn., whence he subsequently removed. He then held pastorates in Guilford and New Ha- ven, Conn., till 1852, when he retired. He gave $10,000 to endow a professorship in Beloit college, Wis., $20,000 to Yale theological seminary, and $5,000 to the American missionary society.

ROOT, Elihu, lawyer, b. in Clinton, Oneida co., N. Y., 15 Feb., 1845. His father, Oren, was pro- fessor of mathematics in Hamilton college. The son was graduated there in 1864, adopted the pro- fession of law, and settled in New York city, where he has attained high reputation, and is president of the Union League club. In 1883-'5 he was U. S. dis- trict attorney for the southern district of New York.

ROOT, Erastus, congressman, b. in Hebron, Conn., 16 March, 1773; d. in New York city, 24 Dec., 1846. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1793, studied law in his native town, and in 1796 settled in practice in Delhi, N. Y. He was in the legislature in 1798- 1K02, and a mem- ber of congress in 1803-'5, in 1809-'!!, in 1812-'15, and in 1831-3. Hewassub- sequentlyreturned re- peatedly to the as- sembly, was lieuten- ant-governor in 1820- '2, and state senator in 1840-'4. For many years he was major- general of state mili- tia. Mr. Root was an

ardent Democrat of

the George Clinton school and an able and popu- lar politician. Halleck celebrated him in one of the " Croakers." Mr. Root published " Addresses to the People " (New York, 1824).

ROOT, George Frederick, musician, b. in Sheffield, Mass., 30 Aug., 1820 : d. 6 Aug., 1895. While working on his father's farm he found opportunity to learn unaided to play several musical instruments, and in his eighteenth year he went to Boston, where he soon found employment as a teacher of music. From 1839 till 1844 he gave instruction in the public schools of the city and was also director of music in two churches. He then went to New York and soon was occupied in teaching mu-