Irving van Wart (1808-1896)
Founder of the Irving Hardware Company, New York City
He lived with his family at their "fine" home, 33 Lafayette Place in New York City (the same street as the William B. Astor House) in the pillared development called Colonnade Row, then LaGrange Terrace (see images). They spent their summers at Craigville, founded by his second wife's grandfather. It was at the Van Wart's townhouse on Lafayette Place that Irving's famous uncle, Washington Irving, passed the winters during which he was writing and correcting the proofs of his Life of Washington. His first wife (and cousin) died young and he had two sons by his second marriage.
