USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. > Part 140
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Sinee 1866, the Commanders-in-Chief have been: Gens. Hurlburt, Burnside, Devins, Earnshaw, Merrill Hartrauft, Robinson, Wagner, Vandervoort, and Beath, some of whom served two years, others only one. It is important to mention that the organization is gov- erned by regular military formulas, the National or- ganization being subdivided into State and Territorial Departments, and they, in turn, into Posts; in praetiee, however, to avoid complication, the district organiza- tions have been eliminated, and the Posts report to the Departments, and they to National Head-quarters. There are Staff Offieers of the National Department, and of the Posts, who are called by the same titles as in the field. There are quarterly reports from each Post to its Department, and from the Departments to the National Department, so that the place of each mem- ber of the order ean be definitely aseertained. When a man dies, his record of service is often best ascertained from the rolls of the order, his wife and ehildren frequent- ly being ignorant of the company in which he served, and of other details in his service of the country. A good measure, which was originated and earried through by the G. A. R., provides for the separate burial of indigent soldiers and sailors, upon the production of their record and certificate of diseharge. This aet has spurred the comrades to place their records in better shape.
The organization in New York State was made in December, 1866, Post No. 1 being started in Rochester The first in Kings county was Post No. 4, organized in the same month. Among those ehiefly instrumental in introducing the order in this State were Gens. BARNUM, GEO. F. HOPPER, and EDWARD COLE. The first Com- mander of the New York State Department was Gen. MCKEAN. The Department Commanders since have been: Gen. Siekles, Col. Lansing, Gens. J. C. Robinson, Barnum, Corlies, Jardine, Palmer, Rogers, Tanner, Me- Quade, Young, Merritt, J. S. Fraser, Reynolds and Hedges. Comrade Dr. JAMES W. FARLEY, of this city, has been Adjutant-General of the N. Y. Department,
under Gen. Siekles, and Adjutant-General of tlie Na- tional Staff, under Gen. Robinson; Comrade GEo. B. SQUIRES was Adjutant-General under Commander Tan- ner, and is now Adjutant-General under Commander Hedges.
In the early days of the order it mct with great op- position in this county. The fact that its ery was, "a place for everybody, and everybody in a place," brought an antagonism which almost crushed it; everybody re- garded it as a one-sided political organization; what few Demoerats had joined it soon left, and the Posts were redneed to a dire extremity, when the better ele- ment sueeeeded in electing Gen. JAMES JOURDAN as Commander, upon the platform that politics should be rooted out of the order. Although he was not com- pletely sueeessful in accomplishing this, a good start was made; then Col. E. A. PERRY was chosen, and through his influence a number of leading and influen- tial Democrats like Gens. Sloeum, Woodward, and Meserole joined the order, in token that it was not to be swayed entirely by the Republican element, but that partizanship should be banished. The Eagle, from being unfriendly, beeame its ally, and from that time, no responsible authority has elarged the order with being a political organization. The growth of the Grand Army in this eounty has been through difficulties; no appropriations for its benefit have been made by the eity, in contradistinction to what has been done by other cities; but lately, a room in the City Hall has been set apart for its use; the use of the Council Chamber for meetings has been given. A Memorial and Executive Committee of the G. A. R. has been appointed, and a Bureau of Employment opened, where all indigent soldiers and sailors, or their widows and orphans, if worthy, may find relief and be helped to a livelihood; and a Relief Fund has been started to aid those unable to provide for themselves. Through the efforts of the G. A. R., aided by Mayor Low and Engineer C. C. Martin, twenty per cent. of the appointments to the Bridge service were given to the order, and ably filled from its ranks. Other legis- lation seeured by the organization is the bill to provide a perfect record in the Adjutant-General's office at Al- bany of all the soldiers who went out from New York State; while other States have seenred snel records of their defenders, and ean point to each man's history, the details of his service, whether he was wounded, where and when, New York State has only the original muster rolls to show the names of those who enlisted in her service. The most important, however, was the Soldiers' Home, which had its birth in Brooklyn. There had been desultory attempts to turn over the property which had been set apart for the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphan Home in Manhattanville, but the conditions were such as to place its control entirely outside the pale of the Soldiers' organization, and it was looked upon with alarm by the representatives of the people as
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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
a scheme to assist the order in aggregating property, so that it failed. But from Brooklyn went up a delega- tion in 1875 to the Department Encampments, which asked to have a committee appointed for the purpose of raising money to establish a Soldiers' Home, and in speaking for the resolution, " Corporal " JAMES TANNER pledged Brooklyn for $10,000, which, in view of the difficulty before experienced in raising money for the purpose, caused a ripple of astonishiment. After their return, they called upon the soldiers' friend, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, who delivered an address in the Academy of Music, for the purpose of raising funds for a Soldiers' Home. A committee secured some pledges, and the enthusiasm awakened by the meeting swelled the amount to $14,000, contributed by Brook- lyn's most generous citizens. This meeting gave an impetus to the movement throughout the State, which culminated in the erection of the Soldiers' Home at Bath, Steuben county. Since that time they have never appealed in vain to the State for aid in carrying on the institution; it contains 600 inmates, and needs larger quarters, for which an appropriation of $50,000 has been made. In connection with Corporal Tanner, the names of E. C. Parkinson and Judson A. Lewis, of the Grand Army, and of J. B. Murray and John F. Henry, citizens, may be mentioned, as having worked night and day to bring about the success of the project.
The first Post established in Kings county, was Wadsworth Post, No. 4, in December, 1866; Rankin Post, No. 10, was started shortly after; next were Lyon Post, No. 33; Mansfield Post, No. 35; Thatford, No. 3; it is impossible to give them in their exact order, but the Posts as at present constituted are as follows:
"Thatford " Post, No. 3 .- Commander, Chas. J. Kinsey; org. in Fallasen's Hall, cor. Third ave. and Twenty-second st., May 9th, 1865; not incorporated: original membership, 10; first OFFICERS: Jno. Q. Adams, P. H. O'Beirne. J. Howard Young and James Woodhead. Present membership, 81.
" Rankin " Post, No. 10 .- Commander, T. B. Rntan.
" Barbara Fritchi- " Post, No. 11 .- Commander, H. Pea- sell.
" Frank Head " Post, No. 16 .- Commander, C. H. Grant.
" Harry Lee " Post, No. 21 .- Commander, J. B. Menden- hall.
" Mansfield " Post, No. 35 .- Commander, Martin Short.
" Mallery " Post, No. 84 .- Commander, T. M. K. Mills.
" J. H. Perry " Post, No. 89,-Commander, Geo. H. Jack- Hon; org. Jan. 23, mustered into G. A. R., Feb. 13th, 1879; in- corp. Feb. 28. 1881, nnder State laws; The original member- ship was 22; first OFFICERS: Henry W. Hughes. Comm .; Robert B. Kepler, Senior V .- Comm .; Charles M. Hartmann, Junior V .- Comm .; Fred E. Lockwood. Adj. Present member- ship, over five hundred; OFFICERS (same order as above), Geo. 1l. Jackson, Samuel Davis, John Merritt and Charles G. Cur- tis. In 188], this Post appointed a committee to draft a bill and present it to the Legislature, to provide that where a
veteran of the " War of the Rebellion " died without sufficient means to bury him, he should be buried at the expense of the county in which he last lived, in a public grave, and not in a plot set aside for the pauper dead; this bill was passed, and is now a law of the State. In 1882, this Post appointed a com- mittee petitioning Congress to make an appropriation to pur- chase more land at Cypress Hills, that the National Cemetery may be enlarged; the bill is now in the hands of J. Hyatt Smith, and the Military Committee is prepared to report favorably upon it. This Post takes its name from Rev. JAMES H. PERRY, a graduate from West Point, and a veteran of the Texan War for Independence. He recruited the 48th Regt., N. Y. S. Vols., and took it to the front in September, 1861. in the War of the Rebellion; he died suddenly in June, 1862, while in command at Fort Pulaski, at the mouth of the Savannah river, Georgia.
" German Metternich " Post, No. 122 .- Commander, C. Fredericks.
" Devin " Post, No. 148 .- Commander, Louis E. McLough- lin.
" Kerswill " Post, No. 149 .- Commander, J. W. Werner; org. March 11, 1880, with fifteen charter members; first OFFI- CERS were: Patk. H. McCarthy, James S. Jordan, John D. Anderson, John W. Werner and John Norton; present mem- bership is 27. .
" Hamilton " Post, No. 152 .- Commander, J. W. Fox. "Ford " Post, No. 161 .- Commander, W. H. Rogers.
" Dupont " Post, No. 187 .- Commander, J. W. Platte.
"Winchester" Post, No. 197. - Commander, E. H. Sinsa- baugh; org. at 160 Clermont ave., Feb. 2d, 1881: not incor- porated; original membership, 13; the first OFFICERS: C. W. Cowtan, Jos. W. Kay, and Wm. R. Harding. Present mem- bership, 81; officered by E. H. Sinsabaugh, A. M. Clark, and William Warren.
"Dakin" Post, No. 206 .- Commander, J. F. Sias, org. March 31st, 1881; not incorporated; members originally, 14; members at present, 140; first OFFICERS: B. Jacobs, Comm. Wm. S. Duryea, V .- Com .; E. G. Hamblin, J. V .; D. W. Hol- lock, Chaplain ; John Foley, Adjt .; present OFFICERS: John F. Sias, Comm .; John Foley, S. V. C .; Geo. Shepherd, J.V.C .; William Bishop, Chaplain ; C. G. Hall, Adjt.
"Wm. Lloyd Garrison " Post, No. 207 .- Commander. J. P. Johnson Howard.
" Cushing " Post, No. 231 .- Commander, D. J. Pillsworth; org. Oct. 8. 1881, at Greenwood Hall. Fifth avenue, cor. 9th street; incorporated; original membership, 16; the OFFICERS: D. J. Pilsworth, Comm .; Jno. A. Duncan, S. V .- Comm .; N H. Ross, Jr. V .- Comm .; H. L. Hunt, Adj .; present member- bership, 73; the OFFICERS are, in same order as above: D. J. Pillsworth, Thos. W. Lindsay, John H. Van Liew, Walter E. Nason.
"G. K. Warren " Post, No. 286 .- Commander, J. W. Cun- ningliam.
" Post No. 327," of Brooklyn .- Commander, Geo. F. Tait; org. Jan. 30, 1883, incorporated March 26, 1883: original mem- bership, 105: present number, 136; first OFFICERS were: Gieo. B. Squires, Comm .; Geo. F. Tait, S. V .- Comm .; Jas. P. Ilowatt. Jr. V .- Comm .; John H. Stoothoff, Adj. The present officers are the same.
"C. D. Mckenzie" Post, No. 399 .- Commander, P. T Hubbard.
" Abel Smith " Post, No. 435 .- Commander, F. Cocheu.
THE
BENCH AND BAR OF BROOKLYN.
BY
T THE history of the Bench and Bar of KINGS COUNTY, (sec page 339 of this work,) mostly relates to a period prior to the removal of the scat of justice from Flatbush to Brooklyn. It con- sists largely of the biographies of those who had been active in making that history; most of whom are at rest in lionored graves. Since the removal of the county seat, the history of the BENCH AND BAR OF BROOKLYN, upon which we are about to enter, embraces that of the Bench and Bar of the County. Both thesc historics re- call a number of widely dissimilar, but deeply interest- ing characters, cach one in his own identity a prominent dramatis personc on the legal stage. But every insti- tution has its defects ; cvery order of men its unworthy members; and so, doubtless, has the legal profession everywhere.
Speaking on this subject, Hon. HENRY S. FOOTE, a Senator in Congress, and one of the ablest American lawyers, said : "Were I to indulge in indiscriminate commendation of all those whom it has been my fortune to mect in the contests of the forum, or the ineidents of whose professional career have been brought to my notice, I should greatly wrong my own self-respect and do injustice to other professions and to the public at large ; but I am certain that I do not go too far in declaring that in the various States which I have from time to time visited, in the progress of a now somewhat protracted professional career, I have found my brethren of the Bar, with a few exceptions, intelligent, astute, laborious, upright and manly in their conduct, cherishing a high and delicate sense of individual honor, and displaying, on all occasions, a proper regard for the dignity of their own calling, as well as profound respect for the example and counsels of those illustrious sages embalmed in the forensic annals of our own country and of England."
It is certainly no extravagance to say, that this lan- guage of Senator Foote applies most appropriately to the members of the Brooklyn Bar.
No saying has been more universally quoted than that of Dionysius of Hclicarnassus, "History is philosophy teaching by example." With equal truth it may be said that biography is a chief clement of his- tory, less formal and stately, displaying the characters of men whosc actions largely create history. Biography derives its value from its moral and personal parallels
and contrasts, which are developed in relating the his- tory of those whose lives and careers are prominent in nations, States, municipalities, and in those institutions which have a bearing upon society. We shall, there- forc, give the lives and carcers, the contrasts and paral- lels in the characters of some of the members of the Brooklyn Bench and Bar; with a description of some of the important trials that have taken place at that bar, as its truest and best history. We shall begin with
JOHN GREENWOOD,
the oldest, and one of the most highly esteemed represent- atives of the Brooklyn Bar, and of Southern New York. Although he has reached his eighty-sixth year, he is vigorous and active, physically and mentally. His knowledge is pro- found, his judgment clear, and his quickness in apprehending a truth or the fallacy of a proposition or an argument is surpris- ing. He retains in a remarkable degree the scholarly accom- plishments and habits of his earlier years; few men are more interesting conversationalists; few speak with a clearer cxpres- sion, or a more simple grace of diction. He abounds in anecdote and incident which his tenacious memory brings up, not only from the present, but from the long ago, with vivid and truthful precision.
His acquaintance with illustrions men of the past was large, his remembrance of them lively, and his description of them is given with biographical accuracy.
Judge Greenwnod evinces the truth and beauty of Lord Lyt- ton's remark, that "Nothing is more interesting and pleasing than an old man who has gone successfully through life's battles, retiring from the field, strong, sunny-hearted and happy, old in years, but young at heart."
There is, however, this exception in Judge Greenwood's case to Lord Lytton's remark: he has NOT RETIRED from the field. He still vigorously holds it with his armnor on, "with his visor up," a prominent and successful contestant in many of the lines of legal warfare; for he loves his profession with all the, ardor of his young manhood, and since retiring from the beneh, has devoted himself to it, though in the enjoyment of ample fortune.
Judge Greenwood can now look back upon the world as from an elevation from which he has seen life in all its changing phases. He has seen families rise and fall; has seen the great brought low, and the low elevated to the places of the great. He has seen peace and war succeeding in their turns; he has seen the very city in which he dwells rise from a small town into magnificent proportions, that threaten to rival the great metropolis to which it is united by the most wondrous cause- way in the world. He has seen chancellors, judges, illustrious jurists, statesmen and great advocates depart, as it were, in long procession from the scenes of the'- ambition and their triumphs, to join "the majority in the shadowy world." Hence, we may well say of him that he is one of the few "through
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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
whom one generation speaks its thoughts, feelings and appeals to another."
John Greenwood was born at Providence, R. I., November 6, 1798. At the ago of ten years he removed with his father to the city of New York, where he soon commenced preparing for col- lege. He was an industrious, untiring student, early exhibit- ing a love of the natural sciences, which was gratified by his attending chemical and philosophical lectures. He became a proticient in Latin and Greek, acquired a practical knowledge of French and German, and a critical acquaintance with English Belles-Lettres. It was the desire of his father, a desire in which the young man ardently coincided, that he should become a lawyer. There was very much in the organization of his mind, in his love of polemies and of subtle distinctions, which indi- cated that in the altercations of the Bar he would find in the future his appropriate sphere of action.
In those days Col. Aaron Burr, so conspicnous in American history, though no longer prominent as a statesman, was still tho acknowledged leader of the American Bar.
One of tho amiable characteristics of Aaron Burr was his love of the young. With that quick insight into character which characterized him, he saw in young Greenwood qualities which attracted his attention, and he encouraged his desire to become a lawyer, inviting him to enter his office as a student. The invitation was accepted, and the young man became a pupil in the othice of Aaron Burr.
Under the superintendence of Mr. Burr, young Greenwood made rapid improvement in his legal studies. One of the most important branches of Mr. Burr's extensive business, at this time, was his immense chancery business. When the young student had been in his office two years and a half, this branch of the business, in its preparation, was committed to him. To the legal practitioner, this of itself sufficiently attests the abili- ties of Greenwood.
The diligent, careful study of the cases that were thus com- mitted to him, stored his mind with practical, living legal princi- ples. Whatever was thus acquired was firmly rooted in his memory, and with the passing of each day, he grew learned and experienced.
With the aid of his accomplished preceptor, who devoted much time to him, he learned to unfold with ease and per- spicuity the subtleties and dithiculties of legal questions; to strip sophistry of its disguises, and to maintain with direct strength the views he desired to enforce.
Young Greenwood truly enjoyed extraordinary advantages for attaining a legal education. In the office of Colonel Burr he came in contact with many of the great legal and political lumi- naries of the day ; and thus he had rare opportunities for study- ing men as well as books. It was his privilege to see how justice was administered by Chancellor Kent, Chief Justices Spencer and Savage, by Colden, Morris, Yates and Van Ness. He saw Josiah Ogden Hotfinan, Thomas Addis Emmet, Aaron Burr, William Lampson, Griffin, Wells, and other illustrious lawyers, in the contests of the forum, and learned how forensic questions were managed by those master minds.
and the extent of his power and influence. "His manner on the Bench," says Judge Greenwood, " was grave, dignified, some- times austere, always decided and impartial. Lawyers who ad- dressed him did so in the most respectful language and manner, while he, in turn, observed a high-toned courtesy toward them. In demanding and observing these amenities, Chief Justice Spencer did not stand alone. The judges, as well as the lawyers, of that period maintained a dignity in the court-room that be- spoke their consciousness of being in the Temple of Justice."
Immediately after his admission to the Bar, Mr. Greenwood opened an office in New York City, in Nassau strect, near Maiden lane. IIe came to the labors of his profession with the advan- tages we have described, having laid a foundation of solid and useful learning, with a classical and scientific superstructure. He had applied himself to the study of the law, not merely as a series of precedents and arbitrary rules, and statements without principles of reason or induction, but as a science applied te rational government, the action of men subordinate only to the laws of God. At first business came slow to him ; but he busied himself with his books, becoming every day a more profound and appreciative student.
His industry and ability soon cleared the obstructions which impeded his way to professional distinction. Laborious, pains- taking and keen-sighted, he carefully studied and managed every matter committed to him, whether important or nnimport- ant, determined to bring it to a successful termination.
In the history of most distinguished lawyers there is one cir- cumstance which, " taken at the flood, leads to success, " and it was so with Judge Greenwood. While slowly working his way te suc- cess, a lawyer of some eminence in the city, but perhaps not a per- fect special pleader, was engaged to bring an action against a man for slander of title, an action peculiar and difficult in its nature, especially in those days, when books of form and precedent were almost unknown. Finding it difficult to draw up the "Narr.," or declaration, he consulted several lawyers, with but little success. At last, a gentleman who knew of Mr. Greenwood's devotion to his studies, and the depth of his research, referred the gentle- inan to him. It so happened that Greenwood was deeply read in that subtle and profound work, Clericalies, written in the old Black letter, now known to but few of the profession. One of its departments contained a treatise on slander and tho slander of title, with instructions as to drawing a declaration in that tech- nical form of action,
When the lawyer was told to seek the advice of Green wood in a matter of so much importance he exhibited much surprise. " Why, my dear sir," said he, "is he not too young and inexpe- rienced to know anything about actions of this kind?" " Go and see him," said his adviser, "and I am quito certain he will give you all the information you desire." The lawyer obeyed, and went directly to Greenwood's office. " Do you think, " he said, as he entered, " you can draw a declaration in a case for slander of title against a very wealthy and powerful man ?" " Sit down and tell me the circumstances," said Greenwood. The Inwyer complied, and in a few moments the young attorney was in possession of all tho facts in the case. "I think I can," was his modest reply; "call to-morrow afternoon, and I will show you the best I can do in the matter." And tho lawyer took his leave. As soon as the door closed upon him, Greenwood took down his old Clericalies and went to work at his declaration. "I labored closely all that day," said the Judge, "and till quito late at night, resuming my labors tho next morning, and when the gentleman called in the afternoon I laid before him a very complete and well drawn declaration. Tho lawyer, after care- fully reading it over, expressed both his astonishment and grati fication at tho complete and well-drawn document. 'I believe,' said he, 'you are the only lawyer in the city that could prepare such a declaration. '"
Mr. Greenwood completed his legal education in the office of Colonel Burr, and was called to the bar at a General Term of the Supreme Court of the State, held at the City Ifall, in the city of New York, in October, 1819. That illustriousjurist, Ambrose Spen- cer, had recently been appointed Chief Justice of the State, and presided at the term at which young Greenwood took his degree as nu attorney-at-law. Hestill retainsn vivid recollection of the Chief Justice, who at that time was one of the controlling minds in the State of New York, and up to the time of his ascending the Bench, his voice was potent as one of the great politicians of the nation. Ile was a brother-in law of De Witt Clinton, whom he opposed or with whom he coincided, as ambition or policy dictated. That he often successfully opposed his illustrious and powerful Young Greenwood was fortunate in making the acquaintance brother-in-law sufficiently attests the strongth of his character, 1 and friendship of David S. Jones, Esq., son of Chancellor Jones.
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BENCH AND BAR OF BROOKLYN.
This matter of the successful declaration was soon noised about the city among the profession, and, to use the language of Judge Greenwood, "put him upon his feet, professionally."
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