Henry A. V. Post

Colonel Henry Albertson Van Zo Post (May 16, 1832 – January 25, 1914) was an American engineer, American Civil War army officer, manufacturer and banker.

Post was born in New York City, New York, the son of Edwin Post and Lucretia Ann Main, and the grandson of U.S. Representative for New York Jotham Post, Jr.. He was educated at M. Churchill's Military School, at Sing Sing, New York. He was then employed at the Novelty Iron Works, Brooklyn, NY, where he learned his profession of mechanical engineer, and was connected with the firm for eleven years.

In 1861, he was mustered into the US Army as Lieutenant-Colonel, 2nd United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiment, and on January 1, 1862, became Colonel of the regiment. He was wounded at the Battle of Antietam, andrejoined on or about November 6, and commanded his regiment in the Army of the Potomac, until ordered on detached service from headquarters on November 11, 1862. He was honorably discharged on November 16, 1862, upon the tender of his resignation. Colonel Hiram Berdan took over the command.

In 1864 he went to Cincinnati, as a partner in Perkins, Livingston & Post. He established a large manufacturing business of railroad supplies as Post & Co. In 1870, he returned to New York, NY, and later established Post, Martin & Co and Post & Pomeroy.

Post married firstly, Maria Farquhar Taylor (February 25, 1832 – July 27, 1860) on November 22, 1853, in Calvary Church, New York. She died in Newport, Rhode Island.

Post married secondly, Caroline Burnet McLean, of Cincinnati, daughter of General Nathaniel McLean, and granddaughter of Justice John McLean, of the US Supreme Court. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 14, 1843. They married in Glendale, Ohio on October 16, 1865.

They had seven children:

• Albertson Van Zo Post (born July 28, 1866, Cincinnati), a fencer who competed in the 1904 and 1912 Olympics. Later trained as a civil engineer.
• Nathalie McLean Post (born November 3, 1868, Cincinnati)
• Edwin Main Post (born January 6, 1870, Cincinnati). He married Emily Bruce Price, daughter of architect Bruce Price.
• Garrard Post, (November 12, 1871, New York, NY – December 6, 1886)
• Maud Evelyn Post (January 17, 1875 – February 6, 1875)
• Carolyn Beatrice Post (born March 6, 1876, Babylon, Long Island). Married Regis Henri Post (1870–1944) New York politician and Governor of Puerto Rico, on March 6, 1895.
• Henry Burnet Post (June 15, 1885, Babylon, Long Island – February 9, 1914, San Diego, CA), pioneer aviator.

He died at his home at 140 W 77th Street, New York, NY.