Person:Daniel Schuyler (3)

"Daniel J. Schuyler has been for a third of a century a member of the Chicago bar, and his name and reputation are far-reaching, like that, of the city. His life has been one of untiring activity, and has been crowned with a degree of success attained by comparatively few men who enter the legal profession. His history is closely interwoven with that of the judiciary of Illinois, for during thirty-four years he has been prominently connected with much of the important litigation of his district.

Daniel J. Schuyler was born on a farm in New York, near the town of Amsterdam, February 16, 1839, a son of John Jacob and Sally A. (Davis) Schuyler. A contemporary biographer has said: "Among the old Knickerbocker families known to fame through history, song and legend, none are more justly celebrated than that of the Schuyler race. Over two centuries and a half ago Philip Pieterson Van Schuyler, the first of the name in this country, was among the Dutch immigrants who, leaving their native Holland, settled where the city of Albany, New York, now stands. The Schuylers took a very prominent part in the conduct of colonial affairs. When Albany became an incorporated city in 1686, the first mayor of the town was a Schuyler, who continued in office eight years, and was afterward president of the king's council in New York, acting governor, a member of the New York assembly and commissioner of Indian affairs. General Philip Schuyler also rendered important service to the nation and endeared his name to every true American by his actions in the struggle for independence, being conspicuous as a soldier and as a statesman during the revolutionary period. A general in the field, a member of the Continental congress, and afterward United States senator from New York, he was noted for his bravery and devotion to the cause of liberty, and did much to lay the solid foundations of our great republic. He has been styled 'the father of the canal system of the United States,' for his life-long advocacy of the development of the resources of the country through a skillfully planned system of internal improvements."

One branch of the Schuyler family, descendants of the noted colonist, Philip Pieterson Van Schuyler, located in New Jersey just before the Revolution, and it is to this branch that our subject belongs. He was born on the farm which had been located by his great-grandfather, and from his father he inherited the sturdy physique, the industry, the integrity and force of character of the Schuylers, and from his mother a correspondingly healthy, vigorous and active intellect. His education was begun in the common schools near his home, and in early boyhood he manifested marked delight in literature, especially in history, travel and biography, and the works of Irving and Prescott's Conquest of Mexico were among his favorite volumes. He also essayed literature, and his essays and poems were frequently published in the village newspaper. When still a young man he also displayed considerable oratorical ability and delivered a thrilling address on John Brown's crusade against slavery shortly after the death of the abolition martyr. He eagerly embraced every opportunity that enabled him to gain advancement in educational lines, and at the age of seventeen pursued a six-months course of study in an academy at Princeton, New York. After an interval of work on the home farm he then resumed his education in an academy in Amsterdam, followed by study in Franklin, Delaware county, New York.. He next matriculated in Union College, Schenectady, that state, where he remained until 1861. His choice of a profession was not hastily made, and the years have proven its wisdom. The analytical trend of his mind led him to take up the study of law, and as a student he entered the office of Francis Kernan, of Utica, New York, one of the most distinguished and able lawyers of the country, under whose direction Mr. Schuyler continued his reading until January, 1864, when he was admitted to the bar.

He wisely chose the rapidly growing city of Chicago as the scene of his professional labors, and at once came to Illinois, where he has now practiced with marked success for nearly thirty-four years. To a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence he added those indispensable characteristics of the successful lawyer, industry, zeal and untiring devotion to the interests of his clients. The public soon passed favorable judgment upon him, and with the passing years his reputation has grown steadily brighter. He practiced alone for several years and then, in 1872, formed a partnership with Judge George Gardiner, an association that was maintained until 1879, when the latter was elected one of the judges of the superior court. Mr. Schuyler then entered into partnership with C. E. Kremer, and the firm of Schuyler & Kremer has since occupied a foremost place at the Chicago bar, where are found some of the brightest legal minds of the nation. The senior member has always given his attention to general practice, and is regarded as one of the foremost trial lawyers of the state, while the junior member makes a specialty of admiralty law. Mr. Schuyler, however, has devoted himself largely to commercial, corporation and fire-insurance law, and in the domain of the last named his opinions are regarded by insurance men as authority. In this branch of jurisprudence it has been his fortune to meet with satisfactory success, both in the argument of questions of law before the court, and the trial of cases before juries, many of which suits have involved large amounts and intricate questions both of law and fact. His keen power of analysis enables him to arrive readily at the strong points in a case, and his logical mind at once arranges points of evidence in natural sequence, gaining thereby an added strength in their presentation to court or jury. His oratorical ability is also manifested with telling effect on certain occasions, and his clearness of thought and expression seldom fail to gain the desired point.

In 1865 Mr. Schuyler was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Byford, second daughter of Dr. William H. Byford, one of the most eminent physicians of Chicago, and to them were born four children, two of whom are living. About two years ago Mr. Schuyler, with other descendants of the Hollanders in this city, organized the Holland society, of which he has since been an active member, and is now vice-president. The object and purpose of this society is the perpetuation of the good feeling between the descendants of the Hollanders in this country and the land of their ancestors, and also to make known to these men the fact that the Hollanders in former times contributed largely to the foundation of the liberty and independence of this country, and many of their forms and customs were adopted not only by our English forefathers and brought to this country by them, but were and have been also instrumental in building up and perpetuating the institutions and privileges which we today enjoy. Mr. Schuyler has always manifested a deep interest in political questions and has stanchly supported the measures of the Republican party. He is a member of the Hamilton Club, and is a citizen whose public spirit has been manifest in the loyal support which he has given to all interests for the general good during his thirty-four years' residence in Chicago."

Name Dan J Schuyler
Event Type Census
Event Date 1880
Event Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Gender Male
Age 41
Marital Status Married
Race White
Race (Original) W
Occupation Attorney
Relationship to Head of Household Self
Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Self
Birth Year (Estimated) 1839
Birthplace New York, United States
Father's Birthplace New York, United States
Mother's Birthplace New York, United States
Sheet Letter B
Sheet Number 192
Person Number 0
Volume 1
HOUSEHOLD

ROLE

GENDER

AGE

BIRTHPLACE

Dan J Schuyler Self M 41 New York, United States
Mary B Schuyler Wife F 35 Indiana, United States
Edith Schuyler Daughter F 8 Illinois, United States
Daniel J Schuyler Son M 6 Illinois, United States
Agnes Marsh Other F 27 New York, United States
CITING THIS RECORD

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXNJ-WJT : accessed 18 February 2016), Dan J Schuyler, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 27, sheet 192B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0186; FHL microfilm 1,254,186.

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UNITED STATES CENSUS, 1880