His maternal grandfather[1] was knighted by Frederick VII of Denmark for valuable services rendered to the state, and his father was decorated with the Iron Cross for brave conduct in battle.
He received a discharge from the army and in 1876 arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, only to find out his friend had died.
He spent the next several years working in various occupations, and in 1883 he was employed by an English firm to participate in an exploring expedition in South America.
In 1885, he became the head bookkeeper and auditor of a large industrial firm in Long Island City, New York.
[8] While in the Senate, he helped pass the first certified public accountant law in the United States, signed by Governor Morton in 1896.
He then organized and incorporated the New York School of Accounts, the country's first institution to help students receive a C.P.A.