Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 40

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

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Seven-ninths of the tea imported is landed at the storcs between Catherine Ferry and Grand street. Its valuc in 1883 was $17,302,849, as against $19,382,102 in 1882. The manufacture of teas here occupies a number of firms. Two-thirds of the tea (the Report on Commerce and Navigation says about one-fifth) imported comes across the Pacific to San Francisco, thence overland. The duty on tea and coffee was removed July 1, 1882.

Under the head of spices arc included cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mace, ginger, pepper, mustard and allspice, which were imported in 1883 to the amount of $1,550,289. Nearly all of these are landed at the stores between Fulton and Wall street ferries. Several firms are engaged in packing, grinding and preparing them for market.

The first among the Brooklyn firms who handle coffees, spices and teas, are the Ariosa Coffee Works (Charles & John Arbuckle), at the foot of Adams and Jay streets. They first established in 1870, in Water street, New York, where they were burned out, and then came to Brooklyn in 1881. Their factory, six stories high, foot of Adams street, was supplemented in 1884, by a large one, nine stories high, at foot of Jay street. They have always dealt in coffees, teas and spices; but, in 1883, they added a general whole- sale groceries department. They employ 500 hands, 48 roasting cylinders in operation each day, and 32 all night, each cylinder of copper, with 300 lbs. capacity, and taking 35 minutes to roast; 2,500 sacks of coffee, of 130 lbs. each are roasted, and 12 car-loads of ground goods shipped daily. They import coffees from all countries where they are grown, and do a business of $8,000,000 per year. William Waring's Brooklyn Coffee & Spice Mills, at 74 Fulton strect, was estab- lished (by Cornelius Van Cott, brother of Judge Joshua M. Van Cott), at Hicks strect, about 1839; was at 46 Fulton street for 21 years, then located at 48 Fulton; then in Nassau, and since 1854 at its present locality. The Germania Coffee & Spice Mills (of Wischman &

Bohn), at 78 Fulton street, was established in 1852, at No. 25, same street, and have been 10 years in their present location. They employ 16 hands, a 12-horse power steam engine; roast 1,500,000 lbs per year; business amounting to $190,000 annually. Mr. Bohu entered the firm in 1879. We present, herewith, the portrait and biography of the senior partner.

HERMANN WISCHMANN .- A prominent member of that class of euergetic men who arc engaged in mercantile life in this city, and who constitute such an important factor in Brook- lyn's commercial importance, is Mr. Hermann Wischmanu. Like many others who have built up large business interests here, Mr. Wischmann is an adopted citizen of this country, having been born August 18, 1831, in the Kingdom of Han- over, now a part of Prussia. His father was a farmer, living near the Baltic sea-coast, who gave his son the educational advantages which were afforded by the village school, as conducted under the well known and thorough German system. The lad lived quietly at home, until he was seven- teeu years of age, never having traveled far, or seen a city. Two brothers had preceded him to America, and their letters awoke in him the desire to leave the quiet farm life, to see something of the world, and to try his fortunes in the Uuited States. He accordingly took passage for America, arriving in New York, as so many others have done, poor in purse but rich in hope, ambition and energy. His stay in the city extended over three years, during which time he was em- ployed as clerk in the grocery business. Then came an op- portuuity to invest in an undertaking which promised welt, and lie put his savings into the New York Submarine Wreck- ing Company, an organization which was formed for the purpose of raising sunken vessels. The Company did not succeed, and recovered neither sunken slips or sunken cap- ital, so Mr. Wischmann lost his all, and was forced to begin again at the bottom of the ladder. Notwithstanding the ebb in his fortunes, he took unto himself a wife, whose acquaint- ance he had made in South Brooklyn, while duck-shooting in the Bay. Casting about for something to do, he remarked upon the crowds of people daily passing over Fulton Ferry, and reached the conclusion that a diniug saloon on the Brooklyn side, near the Ferry, would be remunerative. He therefore opened such an establishment at No. 25 Fulton street, beginning in an humble way, but gradually enlarging his accommodations as he was able. At the end of six years he had accumulated some capital, and, what was better, had won the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. An advantageous offer was made him at this time, to go into the coffec trade as clerk in Waring's house, where he remained four years, giving such satisfaction that a share iu the busi- ness as partner was offered him, of which offer he availed himself. The firm relation existed for ten years, when he decided to start in business for himself, having acquired the necessary experience and some capital. He bought and re- built the stand at 78 Fulton street, with Mr. Hohorst as his partner, who remained for only a year, however. By close attention to liis business, and good management, Mr. Wisch- nianu was able to increase his operations year by year, add- ing to his place of business, putting in a steam engine and requisite machinery, until the small store of a few years since has become a large wholesale establishment, dealing in coffees, teas and spices, employing a number of men and horses, and turning out many thousands of dollars' worth of mnauufactured products annually. Early in his business life he adopted the mnotto, "Pay as you go," which has proved as advantageous in his case as it universally does.

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

No man achieves success in mercantile life by accident, or accumulates property without faithful, persistent labor. The winner, where many are losers, mnust combine industry, eu- terprise and intelligence with business tact ; at the same time he must be known to men to be honest and reliable in his dealings. These qualities distinguish Mr. Wischman, and have brought him not only wealth, but also the esteem of men for his integrity and manhood. His interest in the affairs of the city leads him to favor those measures that would tend to the public good, and to oppose strongly all forms of dishonesty in municipal matters, though he takes no part in polities beyond voting, and that the Re- publican ticket, generally. He is fond of reading, and well posted in the current events of the day. Affable in manners, his courtesy is genuine, spriuging from a kind heart, that does much in charity towards relieving the misfortunes of others. His church connections are with the German Lu- theran Church, in Henry street, of which organization he has been treasurer for a number of years. Always fond of society, he has been a member of several social organizations and a military company; he is also a member of Joppa Lodge of Free Masons.

His time is still mostly devoted to his large business, which he oversees for himself, although receiving the assist- ance of a younger partner in carrying out the d tails. Mr. Wischmann is to be congratulated upon having won, by his own exertions, a competence and a goul name, both among business meu and in society at large.

The firms of Packard & James ( the portrait and bio- graphy of the junior partner, Hon. Darwin R. James, will be found at page 416ª), of 93 Furman street; E. R. Durkee & Co., 263 Water street, do each an annual business approaching 8500,000 each, and employ some 50 men; Wmn. Borling, 124 Kent avenue, established at 22 Raymond street, employs 5 hauds, roasts about $100,000 annually; Von Glahn, Bischoff & Co., es- tablished 1882, came from Tompkins avenue, corner of Park avenue They roast some 30,000 lbs per month, and their sales amount to $500,000 per year. They make a specialty of wholesale groceries, and do an an- nual business of $100,000 in potatoes. The Von Glahn Bros, commenced the milk business nine years ago with only $250 capital. J. Weidemeyer, Jr., J. J. Suy- der, Henry Watson, and the Bain Tea of Coffee Co., also conduct large concerns.

A few of the foregoing honses have offices in New York city. A large part of the coffee handled by these firms is also roasted by them. After being sorted and picked over, the green coffee runs through pipes into cylindri- cal iron roasters, which are constantly revolving within a heated furnace; each cylinder contains from 150 to 300 pounds of coffee, which, after being roasted, is run into large cooling trays with double ganze bottoms, through which a blower draws a current of cokl air. The smaller houses roast 5,000 lbs, per day, and the larger ones proportionally more. Spices are ground and put in pound and half pound packages; spices of all kinds have been admitted to the ports of the United States duty free, since July, 1883.

dustries, we present the portrait and biography of Mr. S. M. Beard, a long and well known resident of our city, although his business interests are more strictly associated with New York city.

SYLVESTER M. BEARD. - This gentleman, one of the best known and most highly respected residents of Brooklyn, E. D., was born Dec. 11th, 1810, a sou of Samuel and Arter- cretia (Wooster) Beard. His paternal grandfather was an American soldier in the Revolution, and lived in the house in which his son Samnel lived after him, and in which Sylvester M. Beard was born. In 1822, Samuel Beard disposed of the old family homestead in Huntington, Coun., and removed with his family to Oxford, Che- mango county, N. Y., where Sylvester M. Beard passed his time on his father's farm until 1840, in the meantime re- turning to Huntington, Conn , his native place, and marry- ing Miss Lucy M. Cummings.

In 1840, Mr. Beard came to New York and soon engaged in the grocery trade, iu partnership with his brother-in-law, William A. Cummings, under the firm name of Beard & Cummings. In 1844, these gentlemen changed their trade to one in tea, coffee and spices, in which they embarked in a sinall way near the foot of East Houston street. Two years afterward they bought the store and mill of William Pren- tice, in Front street, their offices being located at 279 Front street. Their business was prosperous, and steadily in- creased, until their sales aggregated abont $1,000,000 per annum. In 1860, the firm changed its organization some- what, and was known as that of Beards & Cummings until 1872, when it became Beard, Sons & Co. After some inter- mediate changes it became known as the house of Fitz- patrick & Case, Mr. Beard having an interest in the busi- ness, which has assmined such proportions that for sonie years past it has not unfrequently reached an annual ag- gregate of $7,000,000 to $8,000,000 and has amounted to $12,000,000 in a single year. The store and offices of this house were removed to 128 Front street in 1861, and thence in 1862 returned to 279 Front street, whence they were re- moved, in 1879, to numbers 5, 7 and 9 James slip. This important commercial enterprise is extensively known in New York, and throughout the principal business centres of the United States. Its history in detail would be an inter- esting one, as showing how, from a small beginning, an ini- mense enterprise may be built up by the judicious and per- sistent application of those cardinal principles, without which no success, however slight in degree, can be attained. To Mr. Beard is dne, in no small degree, the credit of this gratifying success.

Elsewhere, in these pages extended reference is made to the beautiful Cemetery of the Evergreens. With the his- tory of this celebrated burial place, the name of Mr. Beard is inseparably linked. At the organization of its first asso- ciation in 1852, he was one of the original stockholders. Through the trying years of its early history, he was one of its staunchest supporters, and when, in 1872, difficulties of long duration culminated in its sale by legal process, he be- came the purchaser, and through his influence a stock com- pany was organized, under a special act of the Legislature, to take charge of its interests, with William A. Cummings as president, Sylvester M. Beard as Vice-President, and Winchester Britton as Attorney. Since that time, during the more prosperous years of its history, in which it has taken rank among the leading cemeteries of New York and Brook- lyn, Mr. Beard has been active iu its management, and he is

In connection with this department of Brooklyn In- | its present Vice-President.

of MG Beard

803

THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

Mr. Beard was one of the projectors of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, of New York, and has been one of its directors from its organization. He was one of the originators, and has from the first been a director, of the Brooklyn Cross-Town Railroad Company. He was one of the organizers of the Ross street Presbyterian church; was its first treasurer, and one of its first trustees. From time to time through his busy career, he has been prominently identified with other commercial, religious and charitable interests of Brooklyn and New York. He first came to Brooklyn to reside in 1845, nearly forty years ago, and in 1852 built his residence, No. 10 Bedford avenue. It is prob- able that he has done more than any other man to improve his part of the city, and large sums have been expended by him to that end. He is widely known as an honest, up- right, Christian gentleman, and his home is one of the most hospitable in the city.

SECTION XXXVI. Marble and Stone Work.

The eensus statisties of this industry are: 92 estab- lishments; eapital invested, $738,300; hands employed 731; annual amount of wages paid, $54,858; $554,- 084 material; $1,329,234 annual product. It is safe to say that this estimate is not more than half the truth, considering the steady inerease of those who build fine houses and decorate them expensively, and that our eemeteries exhibit a wealth of monumental expense and taste, far in excess of former years. The great improve- ment, of late years, in stone decoration has called forth some very handsome and artistic work in stone applied to building purposes. The new building of the Dime Savings Bank is an example of this, as are several lately ereeted in the better parts of the eity.

The Italian marble is purchased from the importer in the rough, and dressed at the yards. The dark grey Quiney granite, from Quincy, Mass., is dressed at the quarries, and polished here at the yards. This process, formerly done by hand, is now performed by machin- ery. The stone is laid horizontally on a heavy table, over which swings a vertical revolving shaft, terminat- ing in a eireular disk, 12 to 18 inches in diameter, which is in contaet with the stone. Sand and water are the first dressing, afterwards disks of emery and felt are used. Marble is polished in the same way, ex- cept the mouldings, where hand rubbers are used. Large spherical or oval surfaces are smoothed by close- fitting rubbing tools, pushed forward and back by machinery. Marble is sawed by power drag-saws. The larger firms rough-dress their granite at the quarries, thus saving in the cost of transportation.

We may divide the subject into stone yards (i. e., for the preparation of building and flagging, or paving stone), and marble and granite works, monuments, &e.

The 35 firms who deal in building stone, handle brown stone, freestone, marble, granite, and blue lime- stone, mostly. The increasing amount of building every year, leads to a corresponding increase in the quantity of work ealled for.

Among the stone yards, which are grouped along the water-line of the Wallabout district, is that of Gill & Baird, who are the largest firm of stone cut- ters in the city, owning two yards on Wythe avenue, corner Keap street, each 200 feet square, and a large yard on 65th street, New York, which is soon to be re- moved to 105th street. They deal mostly in brown stone, which is quarried at Portland, Conn .; also in blue stone, from Pennsylvania. The stone is shipped here in the rough, and dressed by machinery as far as practicable. A gang of saws supplied with water and chilled shot separates the stone into slabs, each of which is then smoothed by friction on horizontal iron plates some 12 feet in diameter. Saws with diamond points are also used. The carving and decorating is, of course, done by hand. This firm, in the summer, gives em- ployment to 180 men in Brooklyn, and about the same number in New York. Their annual production amounts to $200,000. Their portraits adorn our pages, and their biographies are appended to this section; I. P. Christmas, Wythe avenue; C. Rutledge and Matthias Bindrim, his partner; Henry Kemp, Wash- ington avenue, near Wallabout bridge; Julius Bin- drim, 476 Flushing avenue, and Charles S. Lynans, 172 Flushing avenue. James D. Rankin & James Ross, corner of Bond and Carroll streets, from a small beginning in 1873, at corner of President and Bond streets, now do a large business in free-stone for build- ings; John Barney, Third avenue and Union street, es- tablished 1867 (firm of Barney, Morton and Canda), on Gowanus Canal, foot of Bond street, deals largely in blue stone from Albany, and along the Hudson River, and has supplied the Mercantile Library, and many other prominent Brooklyn edifiees ; he handles $60,000 worth of stone annually. Curran & Cooper, Third street, near Third avenue, commenced in 1866 with hand labor alone, and have now a large establishment, replete with all the necessary machinery; they deal largely in free-stone. Thomas II. Dixon, Baltic street, corner Third avenue, deals in brown, Dorchester and Ohio stone; established 1849, Hamilton avenne, South Brooklyn. William Bradley & Son, free-stone, Nevins, corner of Butler street, established 1868; capital, 860,- 000; annual produet, $80,000. James Mc Laren, at foot of Court street, free-stone eutting, established 1873; employs an average of 40 men; capital, $45,000; annual amount of produet, about $70,000. A. D. Baird, 130 Hewes street; A. H. Anderson, 24 Second street; Burns & Johnson, Third avenue; E. & F. Conk- lin, Fourth avenue and St. Mark's place, 15 years in business; S. Dean & Bro., 140 Second street; C. F. Hommel, Grand street; Peter Lyman, Clinton avenue; J. Mc Pherson, Court street; J. W. Moran, Hamilton avenue; J. W. Osborne, 77 Penn street.

The marble, or monumental works, are naturally found in the neighborhood of the cemeteries, for which our city is noted. In the vicinity of Greenwood are the establish-

804

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ments of Ducid S. Arnott, John S. Dulot, John Wade, John Wilson, Thomas Pitbluddo, Carl Peterson (211 25th street, granite and marble, established 1877, by Janson & Peterson; number of employes 7; amount annually paid for salaries, $4,500; amount of annual sales, $10,000).

James Sharkey, dealer in monumental granite and marble, 25th street, near Greenwood, is, also an importer of fine statuary. with annual sales to the amount of $50,000, employing some 75 men. Before the abolition of the Morrill tariff and the imposition of thirty per cent. duty on imported marble, a large export trade was done to the West Indies and Mexico, but the high duty had the effect of driving all this trade to other countries. The total amount of capital invested in this branch of business is about $400,000; Ouchter- loney d' Tandy, have been in business sinee 1852, and in their present location since 1858; their establishment has furnished many of the most exquisite monuments in Greenwood, and forms one of the attractions of this locality. The above are all on Fifth avenue, near 24th and 25th streets. In fact, the streets which approach the main entrance to Greenwood, seem to pass through a forest of granite shafts and sculptured figures; espe- cially is this true of the upper end of 25th street, where dealers in granite and monumental work have located side by side.

Prominent among these establishments is that of Mr. John J. Green, 237 Twenty-fifth street, near 5th avenue. Mr. Green is a native of New York. In 1835, when a young man, he began to learn the art of monumental stone cutting, and in due time became a proficient. In October, 1854, desiring to start in business for himself, he joined with two other young men, John Farrell and William Holden, in opening a granite yard. An old blacksmith shop stood at the corner of Third avenue and 25th street, of which the owner, Mr. Hatfield, gave the young men the use by way of encouragement. The three parties had but $75 a pieee for their start, but they worked hard and gradually built up a good busi- ness; they were able to take a more eligible location on 36th street, and also to buy out the stock of Edwards' yard to manufacture and dispose of it. After working together three years, Mr. Holden retired from the firm, leaving Mr. Green and Mr. Farrell to continue. The latter died in 1861, since which time the former has carried on the business alone, which he removed in that year to its present location on 25th street, near 5th avenue. His establishment covers six lots, and contains a large stock, mostly of Quincy granite, with some fine monuments, worth about $25,- 000. An average number of twenty men is required to carry on the work of the establishment. Mr. Green has done his share in the great improvement visible in mortnary sculpture during the last twenty years. His son now produces original designs for the father's use, some of which possess great artistic merit.

GREEN

JOHN J. GREEN

JOHN J. GREEN'S MONUMENTAL WORKS.

In the Eastern district we find many firms, the more important of which are Alexander Eschenbach, 338 South Twelfth street; Patrick R. Carrell, 272 Division avenue; Jordan & Son, corner of Division avenue and Tenth street; R. Cocroft's Sons, Bushwiek avenue; Jno. Benisch, E. N. Y .; Thos. Ellson, Broadway; Thomas McLaughlin, 204 Flatbush avenue, and around the entrance to the Cemetery of the Evergreens, on Conway street, near Broadway; John Moriarty, John Murphy, and Conrad Noll; Gurity Bros., Meeker avenue, corner of Gardiner street, have their quarry and workshops at West Quincy, Mass., established 1870, and give constant employment to 40 hands.

Among other firms we may mention Jno. Klein, 9th avenue; B. II. Kelley, Reed avenue; A. Leckey, Van Brunt street ; F. Mc Donald, 822 Atlantic avenue ; HI. McKnight, Macon street; Me Grayne's Sons, 601 Pacific street; J. Ryan, Flatbush avenue; Scott & Smith, 159 Court street.

ROBINSON GILL was born at Oatley, Yorkshire, Eng- land, December 17th, 1829, and eame to America in 1851, at the age of twenty-two, having previously learned the stone-cutters' trade, at which he was em- ployed in New York and Brooklyn for about two years. In partnership with his brother, Edward Gill, he established a stone yard at the corner of Kent ave- ne and Rodney street, Brooklyn. Edward Gill dying in 1853, the entire business fell into the hands of Mr. Robin- son Gill. In 1862, Mr. Gill removed to Troy, N. Y. and was in business there until 1869. In the meantime, in 1866, in company with Charles Peacock, he estab- lished a stone yard at Boston, Mass., which was suc.

Andrew O. Baird

Robinson Gill

805

THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

cessfully operated by Messrs. Gill and Peacock for four years. In 1866, Mr. Gill formed a co-partnership with Mr. Andrew D. Baird, under the firm name of Gill & Baird, and they cstablished their present stone yard at the corner of Wythe avenue and Keap street. Mr. Baird had learned the business with Mr. Gill, and hav- ing been for a considerable time in his employ, managed the concern during the next two years, when the busi- ness having largely increased, and Mr. Gill's interests at Troy not promising satisfactorily for the future, he returned to Brooklyn to give his undivided atten- tion to the affairs of Messrs. Gill & Baird in that city.

Long practically acquainted with all the details of their business, Messrs. Gill & Baird advanced it to more than double its former magnitude, introducing, from time to time, varions improvements, nntil their yard was supplied with every modern facility in the line. In 1879, the firm established a second yard on Sixty-fifth street, New York, Mr. Gill taking entire charge of the samc. So long has been Mr. Gill's busi- ness career, and so extensive has his trade become, that he cannot but be reckoned as among the oldest and best known men in his line in New York and Brooklyn, and his record is that of an honorable, straightforward man of business, who, by the exercise of energy, tact and perseverance, aided by courtesy and fair deal- ing, has made himself an enviable place in the city of his adoption.

An ardent Republican, Mr. Gill takes a deep and abiding interest in the measures of that party, though he is not in the usual acceptation of the term a politi- cian. His standing in business circles has led to his identification with various commercial enterprises and public improvements, and at this time he is a director of the Commercial Bank and the Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn, and of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railroad Company. He was married, February 25th, 1856, to Hannah Thorpe, of Brooklyn.

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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 40

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