century association biographical archive

Earliest Members of the Century Association

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John T. Agnew

Merchant (Tobacco)/Banker/Trustee

Centurion, 1867–1899

Full Name John Thomson Agnew

Born 13 October 1815 in New York (Manhattan), New York

Died 29 November 1899 in New York (Manhattan), New York

Buried Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York

Proposed by Stephen P. Nash

Elected 7 December 1867 at age fifty-two

Archivist’s Note: Brother of Cornelius R. Agnew; uncle of David Paton, Stewart Paton, and William Agnew Paton

Century Memorial

John T. Agnew was a resident of New York during the whole of his long and useful life, and has been identified with its development in many ways. He was a sagacious, honorable business man, warm in his friendships, wise in his counsel, interested in public affairs and earnest in his adherence to a cause. He was prominent in commercial, social and political circles for fifty years, and had held many public positions and been connected with many charitable institutions. He was a member of the Dock Department, a trustee of the Brooklyn Bridge during the period of its construction, a trustee of the Presbyterian Hospital, and of the Eye and Ear Infirmary, and a member of many clubs and artistic societies. He was a devoted friend of the late Samuel J. Tilden. His calm, dignified, reticent manner was very impressive, and his gentle courtesy denoted the true gentleman.

Henry E. Howland
1900 Century Association Yearbook