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 152
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He is a native of Western New York, born at Batavia, October 27th, 1838. After receiving a rudimentary education, he was placed under the tuition of a private tutor, Mr. John Fowler, then a resident of Batavia, now one of the professors in Hobert College. Under this able scholar and successful instruetor, Young Bergen made rapid progress in the study of the classics. He remained a pupil of Mr. Fowler until he became a finished scholar. He commenced the study of law at an early age, having decided to adopt the legal profession as his calling in life.
Mr. Bergen was fortunate in choosing his legal preceptors. He first became a student in the office of Harry Wilbur, a prom- inent member of the Genesee County Bar, highly respected in and out of his profession.
After some time he entered the office of the late Hon. Moses Taggart, of Batavia, an eminent member of the Western New York Bar, for many years First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Genesee County, and subsequently one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the State.
Mr. Bergen was a student in the State and National Law School at Poughkeepsie, during one term. At a General Term of the Supreme Court, held at Buffalo, in May, 1860, he was admitted to the Bar. He was twenty-one years of nge the day before his call to the Bar.
Inmediately thereafter he came to Brooklyn, N. Y., and entered upon the practice of his profession, n mere boy. But
his thorough legal education, courteous bearing, diligent at- tention to business, and native endowments, brought their re- ward. His first advent into business was in the office of Ingraham, Midihill & Reynolds. The next year he became a partner of the late General Philip S. Crooke, under the firm name of Crooke & Bergen. This relation could not fail to be advantageous to both parties; the learning, industry and ac- complishments of the young lawyer, united to the acknowledged abilities, large experience and intluence of General Crooke, gave the firm a large and valuable elientage.
In the year 1867, when Bergen had been at the Bar seven years, the firm was changed by adding to it Calvin E. Pratt. This was styled Crooke, Bergen & Pratt. The legal accomplish- ments of Mr. Pratt added largely to the strength of the firm. Nothing strengthens a law firm like diversity of talents and characteristics. Tho different members of this firm, differing in capacity and in intellectual structure, gave it that versatility so necessary to suecess.
So thoroughly were the talents and high standing of Mr. Pratt appreciated that, in the autumn of 1859, he was nominated and clected a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State for the Second Judicial District. This brought another change to the firm. This was effected by adding to it N. H. Clement, Esq., and thereafter the firm was known as Cooke, Bergen & Clement. This relation continued until 1873, when another of its members was summoned to a high official position by the people. In the autumn of that year, the senior member, General Crooke, was elected a representative in Congress, and the firm was dissolved.
Sinee that event, Mr. Bergen has continued his practice alone. He had been in practice thirteen years when he entered upon this sphere of his professional life. The experience which those years of ardent practice gave him were valuable acquisi- tions, combining into a capital of great value, which has had a healthy and continuous growth down to the present time.
The structure of Mr. Bergen's mind peculiarly qualifies him for the contests of the forum. In its devious, exeiting contests, resulting at times in exultation and at times in depression, Mr. Bergen has been and is a distinguished and successful con- testant. With his legal acquirements, he has made himself very familiar with corporation law, especially that branch of i: which relates to railroads, and which opens an immense field of litigation, where legal subtleties, deep and intricate questions, often outside of precedent, confront the practitioner.
To this large and difficult field of practice Mr. Bergen brought rare and peculiarly appropriate qualifications, which, as we have already said, distinguished him.
One of the contests in which he was engaged extended through the long period of seven years. So obstinately was this case coa tested that it went on appeal three times to the Court of Appeals This case involved the right of way over Grove aveune of The Park and Coney Island Railroad Company. Mr. Bergen has been the counsel for that corporation ever since its organization. He conducted this great case for the company single handed, and against some of the ablest lawyers in the State. An exami. nation of the reported case in all its different phases shows con. clusively that it has settled more important questions of rail- rond Inw than all the other railroad litigation in the State.
Mr. Bergen was one of the counsel in the case of Harrold agst The New York Elevated Railroad Company, which is still un settled. Time and space will not permit us to give in detail all the important enses which Mr. Bergen has conducted. Indeed. there is no necessity of referring nt any length to those case, since the cases, as reported in the records of the various courts in which he has appeared, give a far better and far more practical description of them than we could possibly present to the reader.
Mr. Bergen is a cogent, polished speaker, a master of pointed and vigorous logic. lle is one of those lawyers whose versatility
1249
BENCH AND BAR OF BROOKLYN.
renders them strong and effective before the jury, and success- ful in conducting arguments of a purely legal nature.
His father was Hon. John T. Bergen, who was appointed Sheriff of Kings County in February, 1821, again in November, 1822, and in November, 1828. He represented the 22d Congres- sional District -that composed of Kings, Queens, Putnam, Orange and Westchester Counties-from 1831 to 1833. This was in the stormy days of Jackson's memorable Administration, of which Mr. Bergen was one of the pillars. He enjoyed the con- fidence and esteem of "Old Hickory" in a very large degree.
The mother of the able lawyer under consideration was Maria F. McLeod, a lady of Scotch descent, the daughter of Major Donald McLeod, who was a Major in Tarleton's Legion of the British Army; during the revolutionary war he was captured at York Town with the whole of Cornwallis' army.
As Mr. Bergen is in the prime of manhood, ardent, active ; with a knowledge of the springs of human nature, and abilities rendered effective and practical by much experience at the Bar, a bright and a still more promising professional career is before him.
RODMAN B. DAWSON.
RODMAN B. DAWSON Was born in New York City, February 14th, 1825. His parents were John I. and Rachel (Bowne) Dawson. He was educated at the Mechanics' Society School, New York City. He studied his profession with Morse and Rolf, of Brook- lyn. He underwent his examination for the legal profession at Brooklyn, July, 1848. Having passed his examination, he was called to the Bar, and entered upon his practice at Brooklyn, where he continues a successful business. In the antumn of 1854 he was elected Surrogate of Kings County, and entered upon the duties of his office January 1st, 1855, serving with ac- knowledged ability until December 31st, 1858, when his term of office expired. Since then he has continued his practice unin- terrupted by politics or office.
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Mr. Dawson is not only a respectable lawyer, but a citizen of high repute; one who has taken an active part in the affairs of Brooklyn.
GEORGE H. FISHER.
GEORGE H. FISHER is an active, energetic and successful lawyer of the Brooklyn Bar. He was born at Oswego, May 2d, 1832. His father was George Fisher, a native of Massachusetts. His mother was Elizabeth P. Huntington, of Connecticut.
Mr. Fisher is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied his profession with John Sessions, Esq., of Syracuse; was ad- mitted to the Bar in January, 1854. He came to Brooklyn, opened an office, and soon attained a very reputable position at the Bar, which he has always maintained, as the acknowledged reward of his learning and ability as a lawyer, and his high standing as a citizen.
W. W. GOODRICH.
W. W. GOODRICH, known and distinguished as an admiralty and commercial lawyer, was born August 3d, 1833. He was ed- ucated at Amherst College, where he was graduated.
He studied his profession at the Albany Law Sehool, and in the office of that celebrated law firm of Albany, Hill, Cagger & Porter, and was admitted at a General Term of the Supreme Court, held at Albany, September 15th, 1854.
ISAAC LUBLIN.
AMONG the junior members of the Brooklyn Bar, few are more promising or have a better record than Mr. Lublin. Although he has been in practice but a very few years, his intelligence, his good education, his superior legal acquire-
ments and suavity of manners, and his close attention to business, have given him a very excellent start in his profession, and it is no affectation to say that a bright and prosperous professional career is before him, and that whoever turns these pages in fu- ture years will see the truth of these remarks fully demonstrated.
He was born in New York City, June 19th, 1858. He removed with his parents to Brooklyn in 1863. When old enough, he attended the public schools, in which he continued a student from 1864 to 1871. During these years he devoted much time to the study of the German language, in which he became a proficient.
On leaving school, he became a student in the law office of (". L. Burnett, Esq., with whom he completed his legal education. He was admitted to the Bar in 1879, and with commendable de- termination to succeed, entered upon the practice of his profes- sion in Brooklyn.
HENRY A. MEYENBORG.
HENRY A. MEYENBORG was born at Wremen (Hanover), Ger- many, August 8th, 1838. He received a liberal education in Germany, and when completed he came to the United States, making his home in Brooklyn. In accordance with a decision to become a lawyer, made while pursuing his classical studies in Germany, he entered the law office of N. F. Waring, a counselor-at-law of Brooklyn, as a legal student.
At a General Term of the Supreme Court, held at Poughkeep- sie, in May, 1866, he received the credentials as an attorney and counselor-at law. He immediately opened an office in Brooklyn, where he soon controlled a highly respectable general law busi- ness. Reliability, industry, and adaptation to his profession brought their sure rewards, placing Mr. Meyenborg in an ex. eeedingly respectable position, not only as a lawyer, but as a citizen. He has never had any desire for office, and has never held any official position, although he has held offices of high military grade, and is said to be an admirable tactician.
SAMUEL M. MEEKER.
SAMUEL M. MEEKER occupies a highly reputable position at the Kings County Bar, and is a valued citizen of Brooklyn; active in promoting its growth and prosperity, and in founding several of its fiscal institutions.
He was born at New Brunswick, N. J., August 26th, 1820. His parents were David and Elizabeth Meeker.
He was educated at the Mechanics' School in Crosby street, in the city of New York, in which institution he was known as an ardent, ambitious and successful student.
Deciding upon the legal profession for his future calling, hie entered the law office of Samuel Campbell, Esq., of the city of New York. Having completed his legal education, he took his degree as an attorney-at-law in the year 1841, in that city.
As the laws of real property, and the duties of excentors and administrators, seemed singularly adapted to his mind, he has given those branches of jurisprudence particular attention; with Mr. Meeker real property law is a specialty. He began his prac- tice in the city of New York, but in 1847 he removed to the village of Williamsburgh. He was soon elected Trustee of that village, Counsel for the Board of Trustees and, subsequently, a member of its Board of Education. In the year 1851 he organized the Williamsburglı Savings Bank, procuring its incorporation. He afterwards organized the Williamsburgh City Bank, now the First National Bank of Brooklyn. He also organized the Wil- liamsburgh Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Meeker has been connected with these several incorpora- tions since their organization, and is now President of the Wil- liamsburgh Savings Bank, one of the most reliable and prosper- ous institutions in the County of Kings.
1250
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
CHARLES J. PATTERSON.
MR. PATTERSON, though one of the youngest members of the Brooklyn Bar, has already attained a high position as an advocate in the active conduct of trials at the Bar, particularly actions brought for the recovery of damages arising from forts or wrongs.
He was born in the city of New York, May 19th, 1853, received a good education at the schools in the city, and entered the law office of General Charles W. Sanford, of New York, under whose instruction he prepared for admission to the Bar. He was ad- mitted to practice at Poughkeepsie in May, 1876. Soon after that event he removed to Brooklyn, opened an office, com- menced his practice, the success of which has already been described.
JAMES TROY.
JUDGE TROY has not only attained distinction at the Bar, but has gained judicial honors. He has been particularly success- ful in the defense of criminals. He is a man of impressive and etlective eloquence, always riveting attention in whatever place, or before whatever andience, he makes an address. He was born at Asbourne, near Dublin, Ireland, in the year 1835. He was educated principally at Simonton Institute, Dublin. He is of the same family as the Rev. Dr. Troy, a contemporary of O'Con- nell and Archbishop of Dublin.
At the age of twelve he went to sea, entering the service of the Peninsular and Oriental Company as a cadet. Leaving the service of that company, he came to New York in 1851. Having decided to enter the legal profession, he immediately began the study of law with the late Judge James W. White, and afterwards with S. D. Lewis, in Brooklyn. He was admitted to the Bar in 1856. In 1862, he was appointed Assistant District Attorney of Kings County, serving until 1867. It was while discharging the duties of this office that he exhibited his un- usual powers as a criminal Inwyer. In the autumn of 1867, he was elected County Judge of Kings County, for the term of three years.
After the expiration of his official term, he discharged the duties of counsel for the Sheriff of Kings County for about six years. In the fall of 1880, Judge Troy was nominated for District Attorney of Kings County, by the Democrats; but Gen. Isaac L. Catlin, the late incumbent of that office was his successful opponent.
Judge Troy's practice is by no means confined to criminal law; he has a large civil law practice.
HUGO HIRSH.
Hrao Hinsu is a rising and one of the most promising lawyers of the city of Brooklyn. He was born in Germany on the 22d day of December, 1848, and came to the United States with his parents in the year 1857. Hugo attended the public schools in New York City. Soon after he became thirteen years old he was taken from school and became engaged in mercantile pursuits. After continuing in mercantile business for some time, he con- cluded that he was not fitted for the business, and thereupon left it and entered the office of Anthony Barrett, Esq., and com- meneed the study of Inw.
He was an earnest student, careful and attentive, and was ulmitted to the Bar in December, 1873. He immediately "struck out" for himself, and by patience, perseverance and close attention to the interests of his clients he soon established a lucrative practice, and became known as one of the most active practitioners at the Bar.
In the year 1876, he began to write a book on the subject of juries, he believing that a practical work on that subject would enure to the benefit of the Bar and the public. He continued his Inbors on this work for nearly three years, frequently work- ing night and day, and in the fall of the year 1879 the book was
published by Diossy & Co., of New York, under the title of Ifirsh on Juries. It was a success from the start, and received the eulogiums of the Bench, the Bar and the Press.
In politics Mr. Hirsh is a Republican, and has been active in the councils of his party. The only public position he has filled was that of counsel to the Board of Police and Excise of the city of Brooklyn.
Mr. Hirsh is of good presence, gentlemanly and pleasing in his manner, courteous and fair in his intercourse with his brother members of the Bar, strictly honest in his dealings with his clients, and bears an unsullied reputation.
JOHN P. ROLFE.
MR. ROLFE is one of the oldest lawyers in Brooklyn. He has witnessed its growth from a village of 1,200 people to a position as third city in the Union. When the city was chartered in 1834, the father of Mr. Rolfe, who was a civil engineer, took great interest in forming a plan for mapping it and laying out its streets. At this time young Rolfe was engaged in the study of law in the city of New York, but owing to the grent activity in real estate operations he was inclined to follow his father's profession, but finally decided to continue his legal studies. He pursued the last year of his studies in the office of that dis- tinguished lawyer and much esteemcd citizen, Cyrus P. Smith, then Corporation Counsel. Mr. Rolfe was admitted to practice as an attorney at law und a solicitor in chancery at Albany, in 1837. The following year he entered into partnership with Hon. N. B. Morse, then First Judge of Kings County, Master in Chan- cery. This relation continued until Judge Morse was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court, under the Constitution of 1846, when it was dissolved.
Mr. Rolfe early devoted himself to the study of the Inw relat- ing to real estate, and to him that important branch of practice had greater attractions than the trial of causes; to this he has confined his practice, and he stands deservedly high as a real estate lawyer.
Jacob I. Bergen, the present Surrogate of Kings County, and Wm. D. Snediker, werc students in his office, and subsequently became his Inw partners.
Mr. Rolfe has been attorney for the Brooklyn Savings Bank for upwards of forty years, and during that time he has ap- proved the title to many millions' worth of real estate upon which that institution has held bonds and mortgages.
Mr. Rolfe continues in the practice of his profession, because he is attached to it by many years' practice.
JACOB I. BERGEN.
MR. BERGEN is a native of Kings County, born at Bay Ridge. He was educated at the Dutchess County Academy, N. Y., after which he entered the office of John P. Rolfe, Esq., of Brooklyn, where he was duly entered as a student at law. Win. D. Snedi. ker was a student in the same office.
Mr. Bergen was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State in the spring of 1858, and when Mr. Snediker took his degree as an attorney at law, the two former students of Mr. Rolfe became his law partners, under the firm name of Bolje, Bergen & Snediker.
The firm at once took a high position, and entered into an ex- tensive practice as real estate lawyers, and it inny safely be said that no legal firm in this part of the State enjoyed the confidence of the people in a higher degree than did this.
In 1867, Mr. Bergen was elected one of the aldermen of Brook- lyn, from the Tenth Ward. He continued to hohl that office down to 1875, with the exception of the year 1873. He was President of the Board of Aldermen from 1868 to 1875, with the exception of 1873.
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1251
BENCH AND BAR OF BROOKLYN.
Under the charter of 1873, he was Supervisor of the Tenth Ward and of the county for the years 1874-'75.
Whatever attention Mr. Bergen has given to polities, he never forgot his business, his friends or social relations in the political strife; he entered into it more as a matter of duty than any - thing else. In the fall of 1882, he was nominated and elected Surrogate of the County of Kings. The judicial mind and method of Mr. Bergen prepared him to enter upon the dutics of this office, and to continue it with much acceptability to the people. In a county like Kings its duties are laborious, requir- ing a peculiarly constituted mind to discharge them. We bc- licve it is generally conceded that Mr. Bergen has this kind of a mind. Officially, professionally and socially, he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens and the public generally to a very high degrce.
JESSE JOHNSON.
MR. JOHNSON was born at Bradford, Vt., February 20, 1842. His parents were Elliot Payson Johnson and Sarah Taylor John- son.
After an excellent preparatory course, ho entered Dartmouth College, from whenee, in 1863, he graduated, and immediately afterward became a student in the Albany Law University, where he remained until 1864, when he was called to the Bar. Ile subsequently decided upon Brooklyn as the field for his pro- fessional career. He has continued a member of the Kings County Bar from the time when his name first appeared upon its rolls : how honorably and conscientiously he has discharged the constantly increasing duties of his profession, is so well known to a large and influential clientage that no mention of it is needed on these pages. Suffice it to say, that Mr. Johnson is an advocate of acknowledged ability, distinguished for the learning, energy and success with which he conducts the trial of causes at the Bar, and for the ability, candor and fairness with which he discharges all the duties of a counselor-at-law.
He has given much attention to railroad law, and hence much of his business has been confined to railroad causes -- perhaps the most difficult that engages the attention of gentlemen of the Bar.
He was the attorney and counsel for the Commissioners ap- pointed to organize a system of rapid transit railroads for Brooklyn, under authority of Chap. 606 of Laws of 1875, com- monly called the "Rapid Transit Act." The two companies organized under this act were the "Kings County Elevated Railroad Company," and the "East River Bridge and Coney Island Transit Company ; " the history of these organizations bears indubitable evidence of the executive abilities of Mr. Johnson.
He was Assistant Corporation Counsel for Brooklyn from Jan- uary 1, 1869, to January, 1877. Though he was then one of the younger members of the Brooklyn Bar, he discharged the duties of his office with much acceptability to the public.
Mr. Johnson devotes all his time and attention to his pro- fession; indeed, so extensive has his practice become that it dc- mands every moment of his time.
Mr. Johnson's legal business is conducted in partnership with Albert E. Lamb, and with his brother, A. R. Lamb, Esq., under the firm name of Lamb & Johnson. This relation, at this writ- ing, has existed some time, and we believe is fortunate for all partics, combining a versatility and strength of talent which renders success certain. This firm has an extended reputation, ranking first among the legal firms in Kings and tho adjoining counties.
In the autumn of 1883, Mr. Johnson was nominated by the Republicans of the 2d Judicial District for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. This nomination was tendered him largely by his professional brethren, solely in re- cognition of his acknowledged fitness to discharge its duties.
Political considerations did not, we believe, in any sense, lead to his nomination. Though tho Republican party was largely in the minority in his district, such was his popularity that he greatly reduced the usual Democratic majority; indeed, for a timo dur- ing the canvass his election was believed to be certain, but the result proved otherwise.
Mr. Johnson is still young and energetic; inspired by a laudable ambition, he has a right to look forward to tho incrcas- ing honors which a successful professional career is sure to bring.
NATHAN B. MORSE.
IN tho year 1827-fifty-seven years ago- there was a law firm in tho village of Brooklyn, known under the name and stylo of Morse & Rockwell. Tho senior member of that firm was Hon. Nathan B. Morse. Tho junior member was William Rockwell, afterwards a distinguished judgo of the Supreme Court of the State, whose biography appears in tho Bench and Bar of Kings County. The Kings County Bar, at tho time this firm was doing business, consisted of only fourteen members, and we believo Judge Morse is the only one of them now living. Morsc, like Rockwell, rose to high distinction in his profession, and, like him, received high judicial honors. He was appointed District Attorney of the county, April 20, 1830.
Nathan B. Morse was born at Canterbury, Conn., Nov. 14, 1799; his father was Peter Morse, and his mother's maiden name was Ducenor Brewster. After receiving a good prepara- tory education, he began the study of law with Hon. Ebenezer Young, of Killingly, Conn. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar, and went into partnership with Mr. Young for a timc. Early in October, 1825, he moved to Brooklyn, and was immedi- ately admitted a counselor of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and commenced the practice of his profession under favorable circumstances. After practicing two years alone, he became, as we have seen, the law partner of Judge Rockwell, the successor of District Attorney
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