Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 173

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY

were recognized by his election as Vice-President of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences, of Port Louis, he being the only foreigner ever elected to that office.

In 1870, there being many things in the dependen- eies, especially relative to American sailors, requiring supervision at the Deschelles islands, he took advan- tage of the kind invitations of the then Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon and Admiral Sir Alex. Cockburn to accompany them in H. M. S. frigate Forte, about to proceed thither. The result was a series of letters on these interesting islands. He left Mauritius in 1873 and settled again in Brooklyn, where, in 1874, he married again, to an English lady who, possessing congenial tastes for natural science, is a cordial assist- ant in his studies.

Since his return he has been actively engaged, first, in collecting, preparing notes, making drawings, ete., of the arachnoids of Long Island, and the large collee- tion, in alcohol, is now in the hands of one of the ablest arachnologists of the day. While this is being worked up, he is eolleeting and figuring all the reptiles of Long Island, and has a work on them nearly ready for the press. This is part of a history of the fauna of the island, which he hopes to live to complete. A check- list is already nearly completed of his collections on the island, from 1839 to the present day.

Of the earlier votaries of Natural Science in Brook- lyn, and of the names, lucubrations and doings of the members of the old Brooklyn Lyceum of Natural History, formed in 1838, onee located in the Brooklyn Institute in Washington street, we have no definite information. We trust some survivor will yet be able to preserve a few of its memorials-taking, as his text, our slight mention of the Lyceum, on page 1302.

In 1864, soon after the ineeption of the Long Island Historical Society, and especially through the personal efforts of ELIAS LEWIS, Jr. (now President of the Brooklyn Bank), one of the Society's earliest members and directors, the foundation was laid in that institute of a Museum of Long Island History and Ethnology. Mr. Lewis was cordially seconded by CHARLES CONG- DON, J. CARSON BREVOORT, Prof. CHAS. E. WEST, HENRY E. PIERREPONT, W.M. GOULD LEVESON, C. H. BAXTER, JOHN AKHURST, ALFRED YOUNG and others of the Society's members. A "Department of the Natural History of Long Island " was established, and special meetings hield; and the result is now seen in the splendid and very complete collection of the fauna, flora, geology, etc., of the Island, so thoroughly arranged in the galleries of the Society's new building. Where all have contributed so much, it seems invidious to name any particular person; yet it is doubtless to Mr. ELIAS LEWIS' persistent interest, his wide acquaintance and influence on the Island, and his excellent judgment and power of systematization that this collection is now so perfect, and that it forms so valuable a portion of the Society's collection.

Geology, mineralogy, paleology, metallurgy, etc., engage the attention of Chas. H. Chapman; Prof. D. G. Eaton, Ph. D., of the Packer Institute; D. W. Fer- guson; G. D. Hiscox; A. W. Humphreys; Dr. R. R. Raymond; Prof. G. S. Roberts, E. M., C. E .; Col. W. A. Roebling, C. E .; G. Scarborough; T. B. Stearns.

Astronomical Science (besides those mentioned in our notice of the American Astronomical Society of Brooklyn, p. 1307) employs the leisure of G. D. His- eox and Henry M. Parkhurst.

Among the chemists, we may mention especially Elias H. Bartley, B. S., M. D., Leeturer on Chemistry at the Long Island College Hospital, Chemist to the Board of Health, who also devotes much attention to microscopy and electrical science; P. Casamajor, the Cor. Secretary of the American Chemical Society; Dr. N. B. De S. Sizer (also histology); P. H. Van Der Weyde, M. D. (also electricity and microscopy); Prof. Cochran of the Polytechnie, and Prof. A. K. Eaton.

Among the botanists, we find Maj. Wmn. S. Beebe, U. S. A. (anthropology, also); Rev. Dr. E. Foster; Rev. Dr. Chas. H. Hall; Dr. Fred. A. Jewett; W. C. Peckham; G. Scarborough; Theo. Schuster; Rev. Wm. Short, and Alfred R. Young. The marine florists, i. e., collectors of alger, are Jos. S. Brown, Gardiner D. Hiseox; Nicholas Pike and A. R. Young.

The ornithologists comprise John Akhurst; John N. Blair; Dr. Wmn. H. Gregg; S. D. Obsorne; T. B. Stearns.

The entomologists (besides those mentioned under the head of Brooklyn Entomological Society, p, 1307), are John Akhurst (taxidermist, also); A. W. Asquith; J. Carson Brevoort; A. E. Brunn; Jacob Dole; Robert W. Chambers; Edw. L. Graef; Rev. Wm. Short; Prof. F. G. Schaupp.

Among the ichthyologists, Mr. J. Carson Brevoort led the van, until deelining health, some ten years since, obliged him to relinquish its active pursuit; Nicholas Pike (see p. 1327), and Eugene G. Blackford (see p. 966), now bear his mantle worthily; also Dr. Wm. H. Gregg.

Prof. ASANEL K. EATON, M. D., practical and ana- lytieal chemist, 65 Henry street, has been a resident of this eity since 1861. Ile was born at East Windsor, Conn., in 1822; graduated at Hamilton College, N. Y .; was for some years Principal of the Academies at Little Falls and Fredonia, N. Y., and afterwards Professor of Chemistry at the Eelectie Medical College, at Rochester, N. Y. He then settled in New York city, as an analytical chemist; discovered and patented a process for making steel directly from the iron ore, and also a quick process of tanning leather. Ilis atten- tion was then directed to the gold mines in North Carolina, and le invented and patented several im- proved processes of amalgamation and separation; and shortly after, in connection with Charles C. Spencer, of Canastota, N. Y., entered into the manufacture of

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LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

optical instruments, microscopes, telescopes, etc., at that place; and constructed for the Litchfield Observatory, Hamilton College, the large telescope, then one of the largest ever manufactured in this country. In 1856, he was engaged in New York city, in the refining of kerosene from the coals of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio-this being before the discovery of petroleum. During the early part of the Civil War, Prof. Eaton was largely engaged in the preparation (by processes of his own invention) of the peculiar green and other colored inks required by the Bank Note Companies in the printing of the Government "greenbacks." In 1864, he went to Montana Territory, where he was engaged in gold and silver mining, per- fecting several new processes and machinery for that work. Returning, in 1877, to Brooklyn, he invented a new kind of prism, using bi-sulphide of carbon, and also, a direct-vision spectroscope. When the telephone was brought into publie notice, he made and patented several valuable improvements, and organized a tele- phone manufacturing company, which, however, was ultimately forced to succumb to the superior financial strength of the Bell Telephone Co. Prof. Eaton has since been actively engaged in forwarding the interests of a new form of storage-batteries for electricity, invented by himself. He published, several years ago, a small elementary text-book on Agricultural Chemistry. Prof. Eaton is thoroughly versed in his chosen science of chemistry, as well as in Geology, Mineralogy, Metallurgy and Opties; few men have read more extensively, or have enjoyed so wide a range of practical observation and experience; and, as an expert in matters of medical jurisprudence, he has also done the State some service.

Oology claims among its votaries, S. D. Osborne; John N. Blair; T. O. Callender; R. M. Mitchell, and T. B. Stearns. Histology, Pathology, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology are the favorite pursuits of Dr. Geo. R. Cutter; Dr. Wm. Bates; Franklin W. Hooper, Professor of Natural Science at the Adelphi Academy; and W. Le Conte Stevens, also Professor at the Adelphi, has a specialty of Acoustics and Physical Optics. Dr. S. Edward Stiles gives particular atten- tion to Pathological Microscopy, Infusoria, and En- tomology.

Herpetology, Jos. S. Brown; Crustacea, J. H. Droge; Articulates, Invertebrates, Carl F. Geisler, Ph. D.

NELSON SIZER, PHRENOLOGIST AND AUTHOR. --- Bio- graphy is the cream of history, and man's real character the soul of biography. One person with but medium talent, bravery and patriotism, may, through favoring conditions, win a battle for liberty ; while another, a real hero and patriot, suffers nominal defeat in checking the advance of the enemy which threatens the common cause.

In a country like ours, riches and culture in a family can not confer continued prominence and influence, or

shed luster on a raee willing to sit idly in the waning light of departed greatness; for nations and families find their strength in the worth, talent and deeds of their living sons. The death of some men of mark is as disastrous to their heirs, as the sinking of a tow-boat would be to its seore of helpless but richly laden barges.

It has been facetiously said, that in Philadelphia, publie sentiment asks of a stranger, " Who are you ?" in Boston, " What do you know?" in New York, " What can you do ?" Though these qualities are all desirable, their order of precedence should be reversed, since the ability to do is the basis of both knowledge and reputation. Who asks if Horace Mann came from a rich and distinguished family ? He is known as the promoter of the public school system of Massachusetts and America, and his work will live in the culture of coming generations, and keep his name fragrant for- ever. Every man ought to do worthy work of some sort, and the reputation he wins should depend on his motive, on the talent employed, and on the quality of the result.

NELSON SIZER, the subject of the present sketch, has been so many years in the field as an author and practitioner in Phrenology, that the mention of his name is sufficient to awaken a lively interest in thousands who have profited by his professional coun- sels. The newness of his theme and its vital import- ance to those who seek its aid in rightly shaping their lives for success, health and harmony of character, las given him unequalled opportunity to make thic publie his debtor for the eminent services he lias been able to render.

His portrait indicates strong elements of eliaracter, at the basis of which is an excellent physiology. His brain measures about twenty-three inches in cireum- ference, and his weight being nearly two-hundred pounds, his nervous system is fully supplied with nutri- tion. Having been thoroughly temperate and orderly in his habits, he has confirmed in its integrity a constitution robust by inheritance, which enables him to accomplish a lage amount of work. The head is relatively high, showing fullness in the moral organs, while the intellectual developments are particularly large in the perceptive region. He has a capital memory of whatever he has experienced, and with his large comparison he is able in conversation, or while addressing an audience, or describing a character, to employ illustrations drawn from every side of nature and experience, which are both rich and vivid. Indeed he seems to think pictorially.

Nelson Sizer, for more than thirty years a well-known citizen of Brooklyn, was born in Chester, Hampden county, Mass., May 21st, 1812. On his father's side he is of Portuguese extraction, his great-grandfather having emigrated to America from the Island of Ter- ceira, one of the Azores, in 1726. He settled, married

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

NELSON SIZER.

and spent his life in Middletown, Conn. His neighbors desired to make the colony seem to be English, and persuaded those having a foreign prefix to their names to drop it. His name being Antonio De Souza, when spoken quickly, sounded like Sizer, so the astute town clerk invented and put on record the name as Anthony Sizer. All who bear the name in this country trace their origin to this man. Anthony married a lady of Scotch descent; hence our subject imites Portuguese and Scotch elements in his character, liveliness and sociability on one side, with prudence and integrity on the other. Ifis father, Fletcher Sizer, the fourth of a family of sixteen children, married Lydia Bassett, of Westfield, Mass., whose father was an Englishman. In this way Nelson Sizer attained an English impression in the direction of stability and personal dignity. His father being a ear- penter, he early became familiar with tools, and also practically acquainted with all the work of a farm. At fourteen he was engaged in the wool mill, at Bland- ford, Mass .; at seventeen he commenced, in association with an elder brother, the manufacture of cloth; from eighteen to nineteen he worked at the carpenter's

bench; from nineteen to twenty-two was again en- gaged in the woolen business. He was then offered inducements to take a position in a new paper-mill in the place, and in two years he became a partner and had charge. In this business he continued five years, doing eighteen hours work a day. While attending the paper mill at night he read extensvely in the litera- ture of Phrenology, and wrote articles for the local press.

In 1839, his wife having died, he gave up the paper business, which was becoming very profitable, to enter the practical work of a phrenologist. Ten years he travelled and leetured, mainly in New England. In 1840 he joined Mr. P. L. Buell in a phrenologieal partnership, and they gave extended courses of lectures in Wash- ington, and in leading towns in Maryland, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hamp- shire and Vermont. In 1843 a joint work, entitled " A Guide to Phrenology," was published by the asso- ciates and used as a chart in making examinations.

Mr. Sizer aimed from the beginning to give Phrenol- ogy an elevated place in the estimation of the public,

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LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

and not to make the new science a mere instrumental- ity of gain, and thus won the respect of his audiences and patrons. He usually obtained the use of churches for his lecture-rooms, and was commended by letter from one clergyman to another. Believing that man's moral nature is the strongest and highest element, and that the best success must come from addressing him- self to this element, he aimed to develop clearly in his teachings the moral and religious aspects of phreno- logical science.

While lecturing he was a frequent contributor to the Phrenological Journal, and also its agent. In 1843 he married Mrs. Sarah Hale, of Suffield, Conn., and resided there for a year, then removed to Avon, Conn., still continuing to lecture. Here was born to them, in 1846, a son, Nelson Buell Sizer, who became an alumnus of the "University of the City of New York," and a physician, now settled in Brooklyn, N. Y. By the former marriage there were two children, George W., settled in the West, and Julia E., the wife of Francis Wood of Brooklyn.

In 1849 he was invited to take the position of Phre- nological Examiner in the office of Fowler & Wells, in New York, and from that time has remained thus related, and a resident of Brooklyn. Meanwhile he has contributed largely to the Journal, his diverse expe- riences and extended observations rendering him a val- ued writer on topics connected with human nature. In 1859, '60, '62, and '63 he had sole editorial charge of the Journal, the proprietors being absent on a pro- fessional tour in America and Europe. Since 1864 he has been associate editor, besides being Vice-President of, and principal teacher in, the " American Institute of Phrenology," incorporated in 1866. He has made more than 250,000 professional examinations, and many thousands confess that his advice guided them to right pursuits, or saved them from mental and moral wreck. He has published several books of great value; one en- titled " Choice of Pursuits, or What to Do and Why;" another, " How to Teach, or Phrenology in the School Room and the Family," and, " Forty years in Phrenol- ogy, embracing History, Anecdote and Experience." These works, more than any other, serve to bring the science of human nature home to practical use in every relation of life.

As a phrenological examiner no man in any country has a higher and purer reputation for usefulness, his merits being warmly acknowledged by thousands who have received the benefit of his professional skill. As a lecturer he is well known in New York, Brooklyn, and vicinity, his services being in frequent demand for as- sociations, lyceums, and churches. IIe speaks extem- poraneously, is animated, direct, earnest, highly in- structive, abounding in illustration, and is often in a high degree amusing. His most telling lectures arc those which treat of temperance and moral reform, based on Phrenology and Physiology.

ADDENDA.

While these pages were passing through the press, there occurred (May 30, 1884) the death of another Brooklyn literary man:

AUGUSTUS ELY SILLIMAN. He was born in Newport, R. I., about seventy years since, but came to this city when a small boy, and has resided here ever since. He retired from business in 1868, and spent the remaining years of his life at home engaged principally in literary pursuits. He was never married. He was a brother of Benjamin D. Silliman, the well-known lawyer, with whom he lived. Mr. Silliman for a long period was prominently known in financial and social circles. Hc was for many years connected with the Merehants' Bank in Wall street, New York, as its president. He resigned from the position sixteen years ago, in conse- quence of ill health, leaving the bank in a prosperous condition as proof of his financial ability. It was said of him at the time that he was " a sonnd political econo- mist, thoroughly conversant with the true principles as well as the best practice of banking, and having a char- acter for truth, uprightness and integrity which is per- fectly unsullied." Mr. Silliman co-operated actively and efficiently in establishing the Clearing House. At a meeting of bank officers August, 13, 1853, a commit- tee, consisting of Messrs. Edmonds, of Mechanics' Bank; Silliman, of Merchants' Bank; Punnett, of Bank of America; Berry, of Tradesmen's Bank; and Everett, of Broadway Bank, was appointed to devise a plan for simplifying the method of making exchanges and set- tling the daily balances. These gentlemen founded thic great establishment, and remained as the regular Clear- ing House Committee for six years. When Mr. Silli- man went out of business tlic presidents of the banks in the Clearing House passed resolutions expressing their good wishes and attesting to the uniform courtesy and kindness which had characterized his intercourse with them and the zeal and consistency with which he had always supported sound and conservative measures, and the influcnec which he had exerted in establishing and giving character and dignity to the association. Mr. Silliman was a man of fine literary ability. He read much and also wrote freely. He was author of "A Gallop Among American Scenery," principally con- sisting of military sketches of the war of 1812. It had a large sale and was very popular with the cadets at West Point. He was a member of the Century Club and of the Long Island Historical Society. He was independent and self-reliant in his opinions; his truth and sincerity were absolute and unvarying, alike in matters of importance and in the smallest affairs and conventionalities of life. He was a gentleman of pol- ished manners, of warm affections, of great refinement and of large mental culture.

In a very interesting and appreciative article in the Brooklyn Eagle, June 1, 1884, " Clericus" gives an

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account of Rev. HENRY WARD BEECHER's library, art- collections, literary habits and tastes. Although Mr. Beecher's library does not strictly come within the scope of our definition on page 1319, yet we can- not forbear quoting somewhat from the article in question.

" The library comprises perhaps six thousand volumes. It is miscellaneous in character and without special precision of arrangement. It lacks the completeness of a collection, but covers with reasonable fullness almost every department of thought. The religious department of course predominates, the varied phases of modern religious thought being espe- cially full. Physiological books are numerous, while law, science, philosophy, history, political economy are represented largely upon the shelves. The intellectual hospitality of Mr. Beecher's mind is seen in the fact that on controverted topics both sides are almost equally well represented. * *

* * Mr. Beecher's intense love for living things, animals, plants, fishes, and especially birds, would be noticed by the casual visitor, even if he was without previous knowledge of his tastes in these directions. "Everything that has life," he quaintly remarked, "is related to me. I am its Dutch uncle." The books on fishes and birds were everywhere; crowded in among the mustiest folios of the Fathers were books curiously illuminated, describing the habits of the birds, while the flowers and ferns, trees and fruit, kept company with the dreariest quartos and the moth-eaten relics of mediæval days. In the earlier years of Mr. Beecher's ministry he was an enthusiast in botanical studies, doing some of his earliest writing on the subject of floral culture, and from the evidence given by his books, the love of his youth has not passed away, for, side by side with the old floral books of his earlier life, are the recent publications of the press, telling the story of the flowers.

" The library is especially rich in the literature of art, and the number of illustrated books is very large. * * In * looking over the library of Mr. Beecher one could easily im- agine that he had determined, like Bacon, to 'take all know- ledge for his province.' A young lawyer could from his shelves select a law library of reasonable completeness; the young medical graduate would feel rich with the professional outfit he might obtain, and the student in science, philosophy, natural history, botany, fishes, buds and insects could revel here. The key to the vast fund of illustration possessed by Mr. Beecher is found by even a cursory glance at this strangely diversificd collection. *

* Mr. Beecher has never becn * in any sense a collector. Though a man of hobbics, he has rarely had any of the bibliographical crazes that have unset- tled so many men of literary promise. Perhaps the nearest he has ever come to the dangerous amusement of collecting has been in the direction of art. * * * Another singular fact which has been but seldom noticed by the press is his

peculiar love of gems. He delights in finely polished stones, finding rest, when weary, in looking at these things. During his memorable war addresses in England, when beset on every side, with every faculty strained to its utmost tension, he found peculiar usefulness in two rich opals, which had been loaned him, for the purpose of making a selection, by a Glasgow jeweller. In the days of his more active ministry, he used to have a little box filled with unmounted brilliants of every kind, and when at his work he felt the need of some calming influence, he was wont to spread his treasures before him, and in their eternal fires find calm and rest. He used laughingly to deride this strange love as a peculiar and sense- less whim, but it is not difficult to trace its origin to his peculiarly sensitive love of beauty, which finds satisfaction in that which of all things beautiful has most of beauty, Among other singular hobbies is a love of rugs. * * * A case of pottery gives even now significant hint that ceramics may yet be the coming bee in the parson's bonnet. Unlike most men, Mr. Beecher rarely outgrows his old loves. The new hobby is added to the others, but it does not displace them; as he quaintly puts it, 'his recreations are like an irrigating stream, to be cut off in one direction for a time, that it may be turned on in another.' * * * As an author, Mr. Beecher may, by the number of his works published, justly rank among the most prolific writers. He is the literary father of thirty-five volumes, and if the writings published without his sanction should be added to the list, the number would increase to over fifty. The stress of his times, his intense sympathy with the living questions of the hour, have been, perhaps, an inevitable hindrance to literary finish and completeness. His work has been largely fragmentary, yet he cherishes the hope, not without reason, that some of his sermons, which have touched the unchanging spiritual needs of men, may have a permanence beyond his own personal life and fame. * *

* The variety of his writings, his mental vigor and originality, his unquestioned spiritual vision, together with his complete command of all the re- sources of the English language, cannot fail to give him a lasting place among the foremost literary workers of this period of American history."

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Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 173

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : Munsell Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360