History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
In person he is tall, of a vigorous build, with grayish-blue eyes, an aquiline nose, and a firm, solid jaw, which feature in him resembles that of General Grant. His favorite in-door relaxations are reading and whist, of which game he is an excellent player. He has formed a large and well-selected library, and has a familiar and constant ac<(uaintauce with the best books in it. He is a lover of poetry and a student of history, particularly of modern history, and has known admirably how to use his scant leisure. He has also gathered a large and very valuable collection of paintings, and is pretty certain to be seen at any notable sale of pictures, not only in New York, but in other Eastern cities, bidding judiciously, but unhesitatingly, paying a long price for a good work of art. He was, until recently, not only a skillful, but a very daring horseman, and while he was building the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, parts of which run through an extremely ditticult country, he was noted for his horsemanship, even among the people of that region of horsemen. Friends and business acquaintances know him as the ])ossessor of a shrewd wit. He is an admirable story-teller, and knows how to settle a dispute with an apposite illustration almost as well as the late Mr. Lincoln. His years and labors have not told heavily upon him, and have not robbed him either of his physical activity or of his gay humor, which makes him a pleasant companion and friend. He i has always had the capacity to bind friends to him I