Edward Howland Robinson Green
Encyclopedia
Edward Howland Robinson "Ned" Green (August 22, 1868 – June 8, 1936), also known as Colonel Green, was an American businessman, the only son of the notorious miser
Hetty Green
(the "Witch of Wall Street"). He was also noted for his stamp
and coin collections
.
, called Sylvia, was born in 1871.
When Ned was a child, he broke his leg. Hetty tried to have him admitted in a free clinic for the poor. According to biographer Charles Slack, the oft-repeated story that when she was recognized, she stormed away vowing to treat the wounds herself is only half true. He relates that having been found out (and perhaps also after procrastinating about seeking treatment for the boy in the first place), Green paid her bill and thereafter brought him to other doctors (while also trying home remedies). Similarly, Slack relates that it is not true that the leg had to be amputated
because of gangrene
. Rather, it was amputated after years of unsuccessful treatment. In any case, Ned ended up with a cork prosthesis
. Despite this mishap, he grew to 6'4" (1.93 m) and 300 lb. (136 kg).
He attended Fordham College and later studied real estate law. In 1893, his mother sent him to Terrell, Texas
to manage the Texas Midland Railroad, which she had acquired by foreclosure
. He turned the ailing enterprise into "a model railroad boasting the first electrically-lighted coaches in the State." This was only one of many business ventures in which he succeeded.
Green was also active in state politics. In 1896, he began a long lasting partnership with African American William Madison McDonald
, a leader of the "Black and Tan" faction of the Republican Party. In 1910, though a Republican, he was made "a Colonel on the staff of a Democratic Governor of Texas".
In stark contrast to his mother, Ned spent lavishly and partied. He also surrounded himself with attractive young women, who were well paid for their services. As Hetty strongly opposed the idea of him marrying, he had to wait until after her death in 1916 to wed his longtime companion Mabel E. Harlow, a prostitute.
He and his sister Sylvia each inherited half of their mother's fortune of $150 million. In addition to the various other homes he owned, he built a mansion in Massachusetts, Round Hill
, and another on Star Island
after his mother's death. The Round Hill mansion was designed by architect Alfred C. Bossom and completed in 1921 at a cost of $1.5 million dollars.
After his death in 1936, his widow and his sister fought over his estate, estimated at $44,384,500. Ned had gotten Mabel to sign a prenuptial agreement
which limited her to a $1500 monthly stipend, but she challenged it in court. She eventually settled for $500,000.
s of the early 20th century, exceeded in size and value only by that of King George V
. In 1918, he purchased the sheet of Inverted Jenny
stamps from the dealer Eugene Klein
for $20,000. On Klein's advice, he broke the sheet up into blocks. He put one stamp in a locket he gave to his wife.
To numismatists, Green is known for his extensive coin collection. Most notably, he was one of the original owners of all five of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel
s known to exist.
He brought one of the first automobiles into Texas, "a two-cylinder St. Louis Gas Car
surrey, designed by George Norris [sic - the correct name is Dorris]", and is reputed to have been involved in the first car accident in the state, when the car was forced off the road into a ditch by a farm wagon in October 1899. He eventually owned a large fleet of cars, many modified with special transmissions on account of his prosthetic leg.
In 1924, Green rescued the last American wooden whaling
vessel of the 19th century, the bark
Charles W. Morgan
, and exhibited her, embedded in sand, at Round Hill. Green was the grandson of Edward Mott Robinson, one of the ship's earlier owners. The Marine Historical Association bought her in 1941, when she became a showpiece of Mystic Seaport
Museum, Mystic, Connecticut
.
Miser
A miser, cheapskate, snipe-snout, penny pincher, piker, scrooge, skinflint or tightwad is a person who is reluctant to spend money, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities...
Hetty Green
Hetty Green
Hetty Green , nicknamed "The Witch of Wall Street" , was an American businesswoman, remarkable for her frugality during the Gilded Age, as well as for being the first American woman to make a substantial impact on Wall Street.-Birth and early years:She was born Henrietta Howland Robinson in New...
(the "Witch of Wall Street"). He was also noted for his stamp
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
and coin collections
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
.
Biography
Edward Green was the first of two children of Hetty and Edward Henry Green. His sister Harriet Sylvia Ann Howland Green WilksHarriet Sylvia Ann Howland Green Wilks
Henrietta Sylvia Ann Howland Green Wilks was the daughter of Hetty Green and the sister of Edward Howland Robinson Green and one of the wealthiest women in the United States.-Biography:...
, called Sylvia, was born in 1871.
When Ned was a child, he broke his leg. Hetty tried to have him admitted in a free clinic for the poor. According to biographer Charles Slack, the oft-repeated story that when she was recognized, she stormed away vowing to treat the wounds herself is only half true. He relates that having been found out (and perhaps also after procrastinating about seeking treatment for the boy in the first place), Green paid her bill and thereafter brought him to other doctors (while also trying home remedies). Similarly, Slack relates that it is not true that the leg had to be amputated
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
because of gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
. Rather, it was amputated after years of unsuccessful treatment. In any case, Ned ended up with a cork prosthesis
Prosthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
. Despite this mishap, he grew to 6'4" (1.93 m) and 300 lb. (136 kg).
He attended Fordham College and later studied real estate law. In 1893, his mother sent him to Terrell, Texas
Terrell, Texas
Terrell is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States, and a southeastern suburb of Dallas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13,606...
to manage the Texas Midland Railroad, which she had acquired by foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
. He turned the ailing enterprise into "a model railroad boasting the first electrically-lighted coaches in the State." This was only one of many business ventures in which he succeeded.
Green was also active in state politics. In 1896, he began a long lasting partnership with African American William Madison McDonald
William Madison McDonald
William Madison McDonald , nicknamed "Gooseneck Bill", was an African American politician and businessman of great influence in Texas.-Early life:...
, a leader of the "Black and Tan" faction of the Republican Party. In 1910, though a Republican, he was made "a Colonel on the staff of a Democratic Governor of Texas".
In stark contrast to his mother, Ned spent lavishly and partied. He also surrounded himself with attractive young women, who were well paid for their services. As Hetty strongly opposed the idea of him marrying, he had to wait until after her death in 1916 to wed his longtime companion Mabel E. Harlow, a prostitute.
Round Hill, Massachusetts
Round Hill is a location in Dartmouth, Massachusetts of historical significance.- History :Edward Howland Robinson Green, known as "Colonel" Ned Green, the only son of the renowned female tycoon and miser, Hetty Green, built his home on Round Hill after his mother's death in 1916 left him with a...
, and another on Star Island
Star Island
Star Island is one of the Isles of Shoals that straddle the border between New Hampshire and Maine, seven miles from the mainland in the Atlantic Ocean. Star Island is the largest of the four islands in the group that are located in New Hampshire...
after his mother's death. The Round Hill mansion was designed by architect Alfred C. Bossom and completed in 1921 at a cost of $1.5 million dollars.
After his death in 1936, his widow and his sister fought over his estate, estimated at $44,384,500. Ned had gotten Mabel to sign a prenuptial agreement
Prenuptial agreement
A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement, commonly abbreviated to prenup or prenupt, is a contract entered into prior to marriage, civil union or any other agreement prior to the main agreement by the people intending to marry or contract with each other...
which limited her to a $1500 monthly stipend, but she challenged it in court. She eventually settled for $500,000.
Interests
Green is known to philatelists for forming one of the great collections of postage stampPostage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s of the early 20th century, exceeded in size and value only by that of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. In 1918, he purchased the sheet of Inverted Jenny
Inverted Jenny
The Inverted Jenny is a United States postage stamp first issued on May 10, 1918 in which the image of the Curtiss JN-4 airplane in the center of the design was accidentally printed upside-down; it is probably the most famous error in American philately...
stamps from the dealer Eugene Klein
Eugene Klein
Eugene Klein is the name of:* Eugene V. Klein , American entrepreneur and sportsman* Eugene Klein , American philatelist* Gene Simmons , aka Gene Klein, American Rock musician...
for $20,000. On Klein's advice, he broke the sheet up into blocks. He put one stamp in a locket he gave to his wife.
To numismatists, Green is known for his extensive coin collection. Most notably, he was one of the original owners of all five of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel
1913 Liberty Head Nickel
The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is an American five-cent piece which was produced in extremely limited quantities without the authority of the United States Mint, making it one of the best-known and most coveted rarities in American numismatics...
s known to exist.
He brought one of the first automobiles into Texas, "a two-cylinder St. Louis Gas Car
St. Louis Motor Company
St. Louis Motor Carriage Company was a manufacturer of automobiles at 1211–13 North Vandeventer Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri founded by George Preston Dorris and John French in 1898, with French taking charge of marketing and Dorris heading engineering and production. St. Louis Motor Carriage was...
surrey, designed by George Norris [sic - the correct name is Dorris]", and is reputed to have been involved in the first car accident in the state, when the car was forced off the road into a ditch by a farm wagon in October 1899. He eventually owned a large fleet of cars, many modified with special transmissions on account of his prosthetic leg.
In 1924, Green rescued the last American wooden whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
vessel of the 19th century, the bark
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
Charles W. Morgan
Charles W. Morgan (ship)
Charles W. Morgan was a U.S. whaleship during the 19th and early 20th century. Ships of this type usually harvested the blubber of whales for whale oil, which was commonly used in lamps...
, and exhibited her, embedded in sand, at Round Hill. Green was the grandson of Edward Mott Robinson, one of the ship's earlier owners. The Marine Historical Association bought her in 1941, when she became a showpiece of Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, in Mystic, Connecticut, is notable both for its collection of sailing ships and boats, and for the re-creation of crafts and fabric of an entire 19th century seafaring village...
Museum, Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic is a village and census-designated place in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 4,001 at the 2000 census. A historic locality, Mystic has no independent government because it is not a legally recognized municipality in the state of Connecticut...
.
Further reading
- Bedell, Barbara Fortin, Colonel Edward Howland Robinson Green and the World He Created at Round Hill 2003 ISBN 0-9743731-0-9
- Lewis, Arthur H., The Day They Shook the Plum Tree. New York: Harcourt Brace. (1963); Buccaneer Books, Cutchogue, NY (1990) ISBN 0899666000