Josiah Mason Fiske (1823-1892)
Josiah M. Fiske, "The Great Flour Merchant" of New York City
He was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He became a prosperous flour merchant in Boston, but being ambitious headed to New York to seek his fortune. He took offices at 18 South Street and established Josiah M. Fiske & Co., flour and grain brokers. He was soon joined in business by his brother-in-law, Edward M. Smith, and the firm became known as Smith, Fiske & Co. Success came quickly and both partners died worth several million dollars each. Fiske was a director of the American Exchange Bank; New York Guaranty & Trust Company; and, the New York Guaranty & Indemnity Company. In England, he was a director of the Queen Insurance Company of London & Liverpool. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Union League Club and President of the New England Society. In 1849, he married Martha T. Smith. They built a mansion at 884 Fifth Avenue and a summer home in Newport that they named "Masonlea" but is known today as Honeysuckle Lodge. He died without children.
