Charles Roome (August 4, 1812 – June 28, 1890) was an American soldier, engineer, and businessman.

Early life

Roome was born on August 4, 1812, in New York City. He was the eleventh of twenty children born to Jemima ( née Lewis) Roome (1797–1854) and Nicholas Roome (1775–1824), a wealthy merchant who served as Superintendent of the "Old State Prison" in New York City. His paternal grandparents were Rachel (née De Groot) Roome and Peter Roome, a descendant of William Jansen Roome, a New Amsterdam settler. His maternal grandparents were Rachel (née Van Benschoten) Lewis and Thomas Lewis, who served during the Revolutionary War in the 3rd Regiment of the Line under Col. Clinton in the invasion of Canada and as

quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land armies, a quartermaster is generally a relatively senior soldier who supervises stores or barracks and distributes supplies and provisions. In ...

under Col.

Henry Ludington Henry Ludington (May 25, 1739 – January 24, 1817) was an American solider in the American Revolutionary War. He aided the effort by providing spies and was associated with John Jay in a ring of spies. Early life Ludington's father, Will ...

Career

After a Normal School education, Roome began in the mercantile business. In 1838, he began working in the engineering staff at the Manhattan Gas Light Company, becoming Engineer-in-Chief in 1842 and president in January 1854, succeeding Henry Young. At the outbreak of the

U.S. Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states t ...

, Roome was a Captain of Company D in the

7th 7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube (algebra), cube. As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion ...

New York State Militia The New York Guard (NYG) is the state defense force of New York State, also called The New York State Military Reserve. Originally called the New York State Militia it can trace its lineage back to the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Th ...

. He then helped organize the

37th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment The 37th New York Infantry Regiment or the Irish Rifles was formed accepted by the State on May 25, 1861, and organized in New York City. The regiment mustered in the service of the United States on June 6 and 7, 1861 for two years of service t ...

of the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

and was appointed Colonel in command in 1861. He led the 37th New York for the entire war and for "faithful and meritorious service", he was

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

ted

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

of the U.S. Volunteers by President Andrew Johnson on March 13, 1865. After the war, Roome again served as the president of the Manhattan Gas Light Company until 1884, when he became president of the new organization, the Consolidated Gas Company of New York, of which he was also a director. He served as president until his retirement in 1886. In 1867, he became the 16th President of the

Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York The Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York is a charitable organization in New York City of men who are descended from early inhabitants of the State of New York. Charles R. Mackenzie is the current president. The organization preserves ...

. In 1879, he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York. Roome, a Knights Templar, was "exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Jerusalem Chapter No. 8, Royal Arch Masons in May of 1866 and served as High Priest in 1882 and 1883." He also served as Grand Master from 1886 to 1889.

Personal life

Roome was twice married. In 1836, he married his first wife, Anna Catherine Wheeler, the daughter of Hezekiah Wheeler. Together, they were the parents of three children, including: * Emilie Frances Roome (1838–1866), who married Theodore Weld Parmele (1833–1893), grandson of Judge

Jonas Platt Jonas Platt (June 30, 1769 – February 22, 1834) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives. Early life Platt was born on June 30, 1769, in Poughkeepsie, Province of New Yor ...

, in 1870. After her death, Theodore remarried to Mary Platt, his cousin and the daughter of

Zephaniah Platt Zephaniah Platt (May 27, 1735 – September 12, 1807) was an American politician and lawyer, and founder of the U.S. town of Plattsburgh, New York. Early life Platt was born in Huntington, Province of New York, to Zephaniah Platt (1705-1778). ...

. * Anna Catherine Roome, who married Louis V. Sutherland in 1867. * Frederick Roome, who died in infancy. After the death of his first wife in 1855, he remarried to Mary Marvin Wells (1823–1904), the daughter of Ann Maria Olcott and Richard Isaac Wells, on June 2, 1857. Mary and Charles were the parents of two more children, including: * Claudius Monell Roome (1860–1920), a

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

graduate and Reverend. He married Mary Flocton Crocker, daughter of Eugene Crocker. * William Harris Roome (b. 1861), a Columbia University graduate and lawyer. He married Louise George. Roome died of

bronchitis Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...

and

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...

at his home, 29 West 52nd Street in New York on June 28, 1890. After a funeral service at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, he was buried at

Green-Wood Cemetery Green-Wood Cemetery is a cemetery in the western portion of Brooklyn, New York City. The cemetery is located between South Slope/ Greenwood Heights, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington, and Sunset Park, and lies several blo ...

in Brooklyn.

Descendants

Through his daughter Emily, he was the grandfather of Charles Roome Parmele and Helen Livingston Parmele, who married siblings, Alice Butler and J. Holmes Butler.

References

External links

*
Portrait of Young Boy, Claudius Monell Roome
1864, by Charles Hine. {{DEFAULTSORT:Roome, Charles 1812 births 1890 deaths Union Army officers People from New York City Presidents of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery