Robert Scott Lovett

b. 22 June 1860, d. 19 June 1932

Robert Scott Lovett, 1860-1932
  • Robert Scott Lovett was born on 22 June 1860 in Coldspring, Polk (later San Jacinto) County, Texas.
  • William Lovett and Susan Ann Hardy appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Coldspring PO, Polk County, Texas. Other members of the household included Robert Scott Lovett, Laura A. Lovett, Hamlin Lewis Lovett and Frances Lovett. Actual date of enumeration of this family was 28 August 1860.
  • William Lovett and Sarah Elizabeth Hood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Livingston PO, Polk County, Texas. Other members of the household included Robert Scott Lovett, Laura A. Lovett, Hamlin Lewis Lovett, Frances Lovett and Henry Elmore Lovett.
  • He married Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie, daughter of Leonard Anderson Abercrombie and Lavinia Afton Chilton, on 29 October 1890 in Walker County, Texas.
  • Robert Scott Lovett and Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 2019 Main Street. Other members of the household included Robert Abercrombie Lovett, Ruth Lovett Finch and Leonard Anderson Abercrombie. Also in the household were three domestic servants. Niece Ruth Finch also is enumerated with her parents in Huntsville.
  • He was a lawyer, according to the 1900 census.
  • Robert Scott Lovett and Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Manhattan, New York, at 2/4 West 72nd Street as guests in a large hotel.. Other members of the household included Robert Abercrombie Lovett. Also in the household was German-born lady's companion Ana Trilling.
  • He was employed as president of a railroad, according to the 1910 census.
  • Robert Scott Lovett and Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie arrived in the Port of New York on 9 September 1913, accompanied by Robert Abercrombie Lovett aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, having departed Cherbourg, France, on the 3rd.
  • Robert Scott Lovett and Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie arrived in the Port of New York on 11 April 1914, aboard the SS Cincinnati, having departed Naples on 27 March.
  • The following appeared on 29 October 1917 in The Philadelphia Inquirer: William C. Abercrombie, lawyer and brother-in-law of Judge Robert S. Lovett, who has been contesting the lunacy proceedings begun by his brother, Leonard Abercrombie, has been adjudged incompetent by Justice Goff in the Supreme Court and ordered committed to an institution for treatment. During the proceedings the respondent conducted his own case and endeavored to show that a conspiracy had been evolved by Judge Lovett and hhis wife to send him to an institution.
  • The following appeared on 8 July 1918 in the Middletown Times-Press: (Goshen, July 8) William C. Abercrombie, a brother-in-law of Judge Robert Scott Lovett, chairman of the board of directors of the Union Pacific Railway, has failed in an attempt made through his wife, Mrs. Annie S. Abercrombie, to secure his release from Interpines, here, where he was committed as an incompetent by Justice Goff in the Supreme Court on October 27, 1917. Mrs. Abercrombie obtained a writ of habeas corpus for her husband, but after a hearing Justice Greenbaum ordered it dismissed.
         The court ruled that the proceeding was not one which raised the question of whether or not Abercrombie had recovered his mental poise.
         Mrs. Lovett is Abercrombie's sister. At a hearing last year he declared that she was in conspiracy with Leonard Abercrombie, a brother, and Judge Lovett to get him "out of New York" and committed to some institution. He admitted that he had asked them for money when he was under the influence of liquor.
         Abercrombie, who had been a practicing lawyer here for twelve years, conduct[ed] his own hearing and the court decided that what he stated as "facts" were in reality "delusions."
  • The following appeared on 2 April 1919 in The Sun: Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, 739 Park avenue and Villa Vera, Locust Valley, L. I., announced, yesterday, the engagement of their youngest daughter, Miss Adele Quartley Brown, to Robert Abercrombie Lovett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Lovett of Woodfold, Locust Valley. Miss Brown was introduced to society two winters ago, and is a member of the Junior League. Her father is a member of the international banking house of Brown Brothers.
         Mr. Lovett is an only son. His father is chairman of the Union Pacific executive committee and he was appointed for the period of the war Supervisor of Betterments and Equipments. He has recently returned from overseas, where he saw service in the aviation corps of the United States Navy, with rank of Lieutenant-Commander. He has just received his honorable discharge from service. The wedding will take place on the afternoon of april 19 in the home of the bride's parents. Mrs. Peter Cooper Bryce will be her sister's only bridal attendant.
  • The following appeared on 5 April 1919 in the New York Tribune: Lieutenant Commander Robert Abercrombie Lovett, who is to marry Miss Adele Quartley Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, on Saturday, April 19, will have his father, Judge Robert S. Lovett, for his best man. His ushers will be Charles Pl Taft, Artemus L. Gates, Henry H. Landon, Jr., Allen Amers and Henry P. Davidson, Jr. Miss Brown's sister, Mrs. Peter Cooper Bryce, will be her maid of honor and only attendant.
  • He was Chairman of Union Pacific Railroad Company, his office at 120 Broadway in New York City, at the time his wife applied for a passport, 4 June 1924.
  • Robert Scott Lovett and Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie arrived in the Port of New York on 1 October 1925, aboard the SS Reliance, having departed Cherbourg, France, on 23 September.
  • Robert Scott Lovett became a widower at the 18 November 1928 death of his wife Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie.
  • The following appeared on 19 November 1928 in The New York Times: Mrs. Robert Scott Lovett, wife of the Chairman of the board of the Union Pacific Railroad, died yesterday. Before her marriage in 1890 she was Miss Lavinia Abercrombie of Huntsville, Texas. Her father, Colonel Leonard Anderson Abercrombie of the Confederate Army, was one of the leaders of the Texas bar and a State Senator. Her maternal grandfather, William P. Chilton, was for twelve years Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama.
  • Robert Scott Lovett arrived in the Port of New York on 23 June 1930, accompanied by Evelyn Lovett aboard the Ile de France, having departed Le Havre, France, on the 17th.
  • Robert Scott Lovett died on 19 June 1932 at age 71 in New York.
  • He was interred at Locust Valley Cemetery, Locust Valley, Long Island, Nassau County, New York.
  • The following appeared on 20 June 1932 in The Dallas Morning News: (New York, June 19) Robert Scott Lovett, chairman of the board of the Union Pacific Railroad, died Sunday at the Medical Center after a brief illness. His age lacked three days of 72 years.
         Lovett, administrator of the late Edward H. Harriman's estate and former head of the Harriman railroad interests, was removed from his home on Long Island last week for a surgical operation. Private funeral services will be held at Locust Valley, N. Y., on Tuesday.
          He was born in San Jacinto, Texas, the son of a farmer, and attended the Houston High School. He was admitted to the bar in 1882 after studying privately and became one of the leading railroad lawyers in the Lone Star State.
          He was counsel for the Houston East & West Texas Railroad from 1884 to 1889, for the Texas & Pacific from 1891 to 1903, later serving all of the Southern Pacific lines in Texas. He attracted Harriman's attention in 1904 and became general counsel for his system, moving to this city.
         He is survived by a son, Robert A. Lovett, of New York City. His wife, the former Lavinia Abercrombie, died in 1928.
  • Last Edited: 28 Oct 2016

Family: Lavinia Chilton Abercrombie b. 14 February 1863, d. 18 November 1928