James Newbegin Jarvie (1853 – June 21, 1929) was a British-American merchant and philanthropist who was known as the "Coffee King".[1]

Early life

Jarvie was born in Manchester, England, in 1853, a son of William and Isabella Jarvie. He had two sisters, only one of whom married.[1] At the age of two in 1855, he came to the United States with his family and grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and Bloomfield, New Jersey.[2][3]

Career

Jarvie became interested in the coffee business, joining and eventually becoming partner in Arbuckle Brothers, a New York-based coffee and sugar commodities firm, eventually withdrawing in 1906 to focus on his other concerns.[1] Jarvie was an adviser to many corporations and served on the boards of the Central Hanover Bank & Trust Company, Guarantee Trust Company, Mutual Alliance Trust Company, and Southern Pacific Company, and the National Bank of Commerce in New York, among others.[4]

He also invested in New York real estate, owning properties in the "Old Dry Goods District", including 332 Broadway (bought from the Henry Dolan estate), which was occupied by a five-story building adjoining the Tefft-Weller building (on the site of Broadway Theatre),[5] at 326-330 Broadway (which he leased to the Tower Manufacturing and Novelty Company) which gave him a combined 100 feet frontage on Broadway between Worth and Pearl Streets.[6][7]

Personal life

On August 28, 1909, Jarvie was married to Helen Venderveer Newtown, a daughter of Bloomfield coal dealer John Newton. His best man was his nephew James Turner. Upon his marriage Jarvie reportedly gifted his sister, May Scott Jarvie, who lived with him, $1,000,000 with which she purchased her own home to live in after his marriage.[8] In 1912, his wife was killed in an explosion on a yacht at New London, Connecticut.[9][10]

Although he lived in Brooklyn for many years, Jarvie lived the last twenty-five years of his live in a mansion at 159 Upper Mountain Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey, which was referred to as "one of the largest and most beautiful in Montclair", and was robbed of all its silver in 1912.[11] Jarvie died at sea on the Homeric en route to England, on June 21, 1929. His body was returned to American and he was buried at Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.[1]

Philanthropy

Jarvie was known for his generous philanthropy. He donated significant funds to the Presbyterian Church and to Presbyterian-affiliated entities.[12] He was an incorporator of the Presbyterian Board of National Missions and made substantial contributions toward the renovation and rebuilding of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield, New Jersey.[13] In addition, he donated $1,000,000 to Columbia University so the school could open a Dental School,[14] and $50,000 to the Bloomfield Public Library.[15]

In 1925, Jarvie created and endowed the $14,000,000 Jarvie Commonweal Service,[16] known today as the Jarvie Program, which was established to "aid temporarily handicapped 'white-collar' workers".[17] From its inception until his death, Jarvie personally directed the program. After his death in 1929, "the Service was led by a board of directors, and in 1934, responsibility for managing the endowment fund and operating the Service was transferred" to the Presbyterian Board of National Missions.[2] From 1973 until 1987 it was handled by the Program Agency; in 1987 it became part of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Unit.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Times, Special to The New York (22 June 1929). "J.N. JARVIE DIES AT SEA ON VACATION; Philanthropist Sailed on the Homeric for Holiday and Golf in Britain. HELD MANY DIRECTORATES Known as "Coffee King" and Gave a Fund to Care for Aged-- He Was 75 Years Old. Lived Long in Brooklyn. Gave Fund for the Aged". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 "About James N. Jarvie". www.jarvie.org. The Jarvie Program. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Guide to the James N. Jarvie Commonweal Service Records". www.history.pcusa.org. Presbyterian Historical Society. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "CONSOLIDATION OF BANKS; The Bank of Commerce and Union Directorates Take Action. TALK OF GREATER COALITION J. Pierpont Morgan and the Mutual Life Interested -- National City Bank Mentioned". The New York Times. January 11, 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Will Jarvie Buy Tiny Corner Plot?" (PDF). The New York Times. November 24, 1912. Mr. Whiting, in his day, was a large owner of realty in that locality. He bought the old Broadway Theatre, which stood on the former Tefft-Weller Building site, 326 to 330 Broadway, and erected the structure soon after 1859, when the theatre was torn down.
  6. ↑ "LATEST DEALINGS IN REALTY FIELD; James N. Jarvie the Buyer of the Old Tefft-Weller Building on Broadway". The New York Times. 31 December 1911. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "THE REAL ESTATE FIELD; James N. Jarvie Increases His Holdings in the Old Dry Goods District -- Nassau Street Loft Figures in a Trade -- Riverside Drive Dwelling Sold -- Tenement Property in Good Demand". The New York Times. 22 November 1912. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Times, Special to The New York (29 August 1909). "$1,000,000 NUPTIAL GIFT IS REPORTED; James N. Jarvie Said to Have Commemorated His Marriage with Present to Sister. WEDS MISS HELEN NEWTON Montclair Banker and Bride's Romance Began on a Tour Abroad with Friends Last Winter". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Times, Special to The New York (22 June 1912). "MRS. JARVIE KILLED IN YACHT EXPLOSION; Wife of New York Banker Blown Through Partition of Pleasure Craft at New London". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  10. ↑ TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (24 June 1912). "Mrs. Jarvie's Funeral To-day". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Times, Special to The New York (22 September 1912). "STEAL JARVIE SILVER.; Burglars Visit Montclair Home of Retired Sugar Merchant". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "JARVIE AND JARVIE". The New York Times. 13 July 1929. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "JAMES N. JARVIE'S GIFT.; Annex Building to Cost $100,000 for a Bloomfield Church". The New York Times. 17 November 1900. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "$100,000 GIFT TO COLUMBIA; J.N. Jarvie's Donation Makes Opening of Dental School Possible". The New York Times. 20 August 1916. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  15. ↑ Times, Special to The New York (20 September 1902). "JAMES N. JARVIE'S GIFTS.; Wealthy Coffee Merchant Endows Bloomfield (N.J.) Public Library with $50,000". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "J.N. Jarvie Left $15,000,000 to Aid Aged Poor; Montclair Capitalist's Estate $37,573,905". The New York Times. 27 July 1930. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  17. ↑ "JAMES TURNER DIES; PHILANTHROPIST, 80; Retired Coffee Firm Executive Had Headed Jarvie Fund". The New York Times. 7 May 1939. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
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