USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
He was the owner of a farm a short distance from Richmond village, where he passed the latter years of his life, and where he peacefully passed away, surrounded by his family and friends.
Judge Metcalfe's memory was honored at a bar meeting held at the Richmond county court house October 9, 1881, Hon. Cal- vin E. Pratt presiding. A suitable memorial, presented by Ex-District Attorney Sidney F. Rawson, was entered upon the
472
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
minutes of the court, and addresses were made by Hon. T. Westervelt, E. B. Merrill, Esq., and others.
Among the many lawyers who have from time to time made their homes on Staten Island none have been more worthy of an enduring monument by the nse of the " art preservative of all arts " than the late Alvin C. Bradley, who died at his residence near Castleton Corners, on Wednesday, February 23, 1881, aged 70 years and 7 months.
Mr. Bradley was not a native of Richmond county, having removed hither from the western part of the state about 1851. He purchased the fine farm of Mr. Garrett Martling, located partly in Middletown and partly in Castleton, and removed into the farm house upon the premises. After residing there a few years, le erected a very commodious and tasteful man- sion upon another portion of the farm from designs which were made under his personal direction. In this very comfortable and agreeable home he resided till his death.
During the time of his residence on Staten Island, he con- tinued the practice of law in the city of New York, in which he had been engaged for a number of years previous, and which was of an important character, bringing him often very promi- nently before the public. He took part in many interesting trials and was engaged in arguments of much moment in the higher courts. One of the many cases in which he appeared was that of referee as to the alimony question in the great For- rest divorce case, a matter of great moment to the parties in the suit and involving a large amount of money. He was a lawyer of superior ability and was possessed of an acute and . subtle mind, to the cultivation of which he had brought very extensive reading.
In politics, Mr. Bradley belonged to the old whig party dur- ing its existence, and at one time ran for member of assembly on that ticket in this county. He afterward united with the republican party and continued a very ardent member of that faith. About 1873 he was elected supervisor of the town of Middletown and served for one term. With him from the other towns were gentlemen of much public spirit and intelligence, and the board which they composed was called the "Reform Board," and accomplished very much in the way of regulating the affairs of the county, and bringing matters to a condition wherein the laws were more strictly observed by public officers.
473
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Mr. Bradley gave himself almost withont intermission to the duties of his office and performed an immense deal of hard work in connection with it, for which the public were exceedingly grateful and are still enjoying the benefits of the same. The deceased was an invalid for three years, but found enjoy- ment during his enforced retirement in reading the books contained in his large and valuable private library. At a meeting of the members of the bar shortly after Mr. Bradley's death, at which Hon. Calvin E. Pratt, justice of the supreme conrt, presided, a memorial on the life of Mr. Bradley was pre- sented and ordered entered upon the minutes of the court. Ed- ward B. Merrill, Esq. (now of the New York bar, then of Rich- mond county), delivered a very able address, and remarks were made by Hon. Tompkins Westervelt, George J. Greenfield, Hon. Theodore Frean, Sidney F. Rawson, Isaiah T. Williams, and others-and a letter was read from Charles O'Connor, saying that " his brethren not only recognized the able lawyer but the true and honorable citizen, and as such they deplore his loss and honor his memory."
Hon. Tompkins Westervelt was the son of Doctor John S. Westervelt and Hannah, his wife, the latter being the daughter of Hon. Daniel D. Tompkins. IIe was born and always resided at New Brighton, Staten Island. He graduated at the age of 21 years at Columbia College; was almost in- mediately admitted to the bar and continued in practice to the time of his death.
He was a conrteous gentleman and able lawyer, and perfectly upright in all his transactions. He was for several terms trustee of the village of New Brighton; was a vestryman in St. John's Protestant Episcopal church at Clifton; one of the founders of the S. R. Smith Infirmary; a director in the Staten Island Sav- ings Bank and for many years its counsel. In 1871 he was twice a candidate for the office of district attorney but was defeated each time. In 1875 he was elected county judge, which office he held with honor and distinction for six years. Judge West- ervelt died April 20, 1882, aged 52 years. At the term of the supreme court held in Richmond county in May, 1882, Hon. E. M. Cullen presiding, a meeting of the bar was held and a committee consisting of County Judge Stephens, Ex-District Attorney Rawson and George J. Greenfield. Esq., presented the following resolutions on the death of Judge Westervelt :
474
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
" Whereas, Tompkins Westervelt, a native of this county, who for fifty years resided therein, and who for thirty-one of these years was a practising lawyer, and who was honored by the people of his neighborhood and of the county by being placed in many positions of trust and responsibility, notably that of County Judge and Surrogate, has recently died, and
" Whereas, During all those years, Judge Westervelt has led a blameless life, and has left to his family and friends a precious legacy in his record as a Christian gentleman, an able lawyer, an upright Judge and an honorable citizen; now, therefore,
" Resolved, That the members of the Bar of Richmond County, and the profession generally, have in the death of Judge Westervelt lost an honored friend and an able member of their body;
"Revolved, That the people of this community have sustained a great loss in the death of Judge Westervelt. inasmuch as he was in every respect a good citizen, having at all times in his private, as well as in his public capacities, the best interests and welfare of the community at heart;
" Resolved, Also, that in the Christian life of Judge Wester- velt we find the true attributes of manhood, and that we may all profit by his example;
" Resolved, Further, that the Court be requested to order these resolutions to be entered at length upon its minutes."
Eulogiums were pronounced by Mr. Greenfield, Mr. Rawson, Judge Stephens and others.
Lot C. Clark, who died at his residence in Seventeenth street, New York city, on February 11. 1880, in the 62d year of his age, was well known and highly respected throughout Rich- mond connty. He was born in Chenango county, this state, being the son of Lot Clark, a distinguished lawyer, and at one time a member of congress. He was graduated at Yale, studied law in the office of the late Nicholas Hill, at Saratoga springs, and began his practice in Richmond county. Becoming district attorney in 1841, he filled with distinguished ability the office for eight years, during which time he prosecuted several noted cases, among them that of Mrs. Polly Bodine, who was indicted for the murder of her sister-in-law and her infant niece and for arson. Three times was this case tried, the final trial resulting in an acquittal, but during its continuance Mr. Clark won for himself a lasting reputation as an energetic, well instructed and
475
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
able lawyer. Opposed to Mr. Clark in this case were Clinton De Witt and David Graham, the latter of whom especially became afterward recognized as one of the leading criminal lawyers.
In 1856 Mr. Clark was married to Miss Frances Sutherland Irving, a daughter of Rev. Dr. Theodore Irving, and grand- daughter of the late Jacob Sutherland, a justice of the supreme court. In 1870 Mr. Clark removed to New York city. He was an active lay member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and his funeral took place from Calvary church, New York city. He was at one time at the head of the law firm of De Groot, Rawson & Stafford.
Immediately after the decease of Mr. Clark the members of the bar met at the court house in Richmond county. Honor- able H. B. Metcalfe presided, Mr. George Gallagher was secre- tary, and large numbers of the legal profession were present. A committee, consisting of Honorable Tompkins Westervelt, George J. Greenfield, Esq., and Ex-District Attorney S. F. Rawson, was appointed to submit resolutions, aud the following were presented and adopted, viz .:
" Whereas, The Bar of Richmond County has just sustained a severe loss in the death of Mr. Lot C. Clark, for many years its leading member and brightest ornament, and
" Whereas, We desire to testify publicly our sense of this loss and our estimate and appreciation for our departed brother:
" Resolved, That the Bar of Richmond County have learned with profound sadness that Mr. Lot C. Clark has departed from the scene of earthly activity and usefulness; and recognizing in this event the serious loss sustained by themselves and the legal fraternity at large,
" Resolved, That in Lot C. Clark we see one who combined all the best and highest attributes of the lawyer-purity of life, absolute faithfulness to the trusts confided to him, clear and discriminating intellect, legal erudition, unwearied toil and con- stant study, and great forensic ability; and added to these, those qualities that mark the good citizen-a dutiful son, a de- voted husband and father, a warm and unvarying friend, a good neighbor and a humble, devout Christian,
" Resolved, That the life and example of Lot C. Clark should be studied and followed by his surviving brethren, who,
476
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
if they cannot reach the high rank which he held, can at least do their dnty by striving to attain it by the means which he pur- sued, and can find in his course an encouragement to more earnest efforts.
" Resolved, That these resolutions be presented to the court, with a request that the same be entered upon the minutes:
" Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be prepared, at- tested by the chairman and secretary of this meeting, and trans- mitted to the family of the deceased."
Eloquent addresses were made by Messrs. Westervelt, Green- field, Metcalfe and Rawson and the resolutions unanimously adopted. These addresses may be found in full in the Rich- mond county " Sentinel" of February 21, 1880.
Among thie lawyers of prominence in the profession who are now deceased mention should be made of Hon. Robert Christie, who was state senator from the First senatorial district in 1864-5, and who was one of Richmond county's most active politicians and prominent lawyers. He resided for some time at Clifton in an elegant mansion and died there about 1873. He was a man of imposing personal appearance and had great natural talent, which, added to his legal training, made him one of the most talented lawyers of his day.
The brothers John and William Henry Anthon (sons of John Anthon, an eminent lawyer of New York city), were for many years residents of Richmond county, and for a time controlled a large part of the legal business therein. John became grand master of the Masonic fraternity of New York state. William Henry was member of assembly from Richmond county in 1851, and judge advocate general of the state of New York in the early part of the civil war. Both of them were lawyers far above the average. John died about 1873, and William H. about 1875.
Theodore C. Vermilye, who died about 1879, was a lawyer of considerable ability. He was member of assembly in 1860, connsel to the board of supervisors of Richmond county for many years, was justice of the peace, town clerk and police justice of the village of New Brighton.
Lawyers residing in Richmond county, in 1886 :
Acker, Augustus, West New Brighton ; Alston, Lot C., Port Richmond.
Benedict, Charles L., New Dorp post office, United States
477
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
district judge, Eastern district ; Birmingham, D. Walton, Stapleton ; Bonner, George W., New Brighton ; Boardman, Albert B., New Brighton ; Butler, Aaron, New Brighton ; Butts, Thomas W., Mariners' Harbor.
Collins, William A., New Brighton ; Clark, Lester W., New Brighton ; Crook, John, ex-district attorney, Port Richmond ; Crowell, E. B., New Brighton ; Cary, Melbert B., New Brighton.
Davison, C. Stewart, New Brighton ; DeGroot, Alfred, ex- district attorney, Port Richmond ; DeKay, Sidney, New Brighton ; Delavan, Edward C., New Brighton ; Delavan, Ed- ward C., Jr., New Brighton ; Duer, John, New Brighton.
Everett, William, Tompkinsville ; Elliott, Walter T., Totten- ville.
Finch, Richard L. N., Tompkinsville ; Fitzgerald, Thomas W., Mariners' Harbor, Fitzgerald, Daniel H., Mariners' Har- bor ; Frean, Theodore, Stapleton.
Gallagher, George, district attorney Richmond county, West New Brighton ; Greenfield, George J., Stapleton.
Hnbbe, Edward S., Stapleton ; Heydenreich, A., Tompkins- ville ; Hornfager, W. S., Stapleton ; Huebner, Max C., Staple- ton.
Johnston, George H., Port Richmond ; Jones, Patrick H., Port Richmond.
Kenney, John I., New Brighton ; Killian, B. D., Totten- ville ; King, J. Travis, Port Richmond.
McNamee, James, Stapleton ; Maccafferty, Augustns, Tomp- kinsville ; MacFarland. William W., Stapleton ; Mackellar, George M., West New Brighton ; Marsh, Nathaniel, Stapleton; McCarthy, John A., Tompkinsville ; McMahon, Thomas, New Brighton ; Middlebrook, Charles T., New Brighton ; Mullen, William M., Stapleton ; Martin, John M., Port Richmond ; McNamee, Charles, Stapleton ; Mckeon, Joseph I., Stapleton.
Openshaw, Edward, New Brighton.
Powers, William J., West New Brighton ; Prentice, Augus- tus, New Brighton.
Rawson, Sidney F., ex-district attorney, Port Richmond ; Robinson, Robert E., New Brighton ; Rawcliffe, Henry Alonzo, Stapleton ; Robinson, George W., Stapleton.
Stafford, Dewitt, Port Richmond ; Scofield, George S., Jr., Stapleton ; Stewart, William A. W., New Brighton ; Stephens, Stephen D., Richmond county judge, New Brighton.
478
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
Talbot, John E., Stapleton ; Telfair, Jacob E., Tompkins- ville ; Thompson, E. G., New Brighton ; Townsend, William B., Stapleton ; Townsend, Henry D., Stapleton.
Ulman, H. C., Stapleton ; Ullman Percival G., Huguenot, Rossville post office.
Vermilye, Theodore C., Tompkinsville ; Van Hoevenburgh, James D., Tompkinsville; Van Name. C. D., Mariners' Harbor; Van Ness, William E .. Mariners' Harbor.
Welch, Joseph A., New Dorp ; Warner, John Dewitt, New Brighton ; White, Elias M., Stapleton ; Willcox, David J. H., New Brighton ; Wyeth, Nathaniel J., New Dorp ; Whitehead, A. P., New Brighton ; Winsor, Thomas, Rossville.
AUGUSTUS PRENTICE was born in New London county, Connec- ticut, September 30, 1826. A genealogy of the Prentice family in America, published in 1883, shows his ancestors on the father's side to have emigrated from Essex county, England, in the year 1631, and to have settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In the year 1700 one branch of the family settled in the town of North Stonington, Conn., and from this branch Mr. Prentice is a direct descendant. His father (Asa Prentice) was born in New London county, Conn., February 13, 1792, and at this date (1887) is still living and in the enjoyment of good bodily health and all his faculties. His ancestors on the mother's side were also among the earlier settlers of New England. His great- grandfather on the mother's side was a wholesale merchant and extensive real estate owner in Newport, Rhode Island, at the time the English bombarded that place during the revo- Intionary war, and had several houses nearly destroyed by English cannon balls.
Until he arrived at the age of about 10 years his father was engaged in the dry goods business in Springfield, Mass., and Montpelier, Vermont, and in both places Mr. Prentice attended the public school. His father then retired from the mercantile business and purchased and moved to a large farm in Tolland county, Conn., where Augustus continued attending the public school for several years, after which he was sent for a year or two to a private school. Here his inclination to study began to show itself and he made rapid and thorough progress in the more substantial branches. From this private school he went, at about the age of 17 years, to Wilbraham academy, at Wil- braham, Mass. His attendance at this academy extended over
ยท
Auguste Pratico
479
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
a period of three or four years. During the winter months he taught school at West Hartford, Farmington and Old Windsor, in Conn., and one winter on Cape Cod. Having prepared him- self for college and made all his arrangements, even to packing his trunk preparatory to leaving the following day for college, he was brought to a sudden halt in his course. He was seized with violent hemorrhage which returned at periods for several months. Medical aid seemed of little avail, as the doctors pro- nounced his case one of enlargement of the heart. In the fall of that year he came to New York city for the first time in his life to procure further medical advice. He was advised that his trouble arose from the lungs and that he must at once leave for Florida, which was then just coming into favorable notice. This advice was followed and though he had left home expecting to return, he immediately changed his plans, and late in Deceni- ber was rowed from the Battery to a Maine vessel anchored just below bound up the St. John's river, Florida, for lumber. He remained in Florida that winter, the following summer and the second winter before he left the state. About May of the second year he made a visit home and remained in New Eng- land during the summer and in the fall returned to Florida and spent his third and last winter in that state. Upon his return he commenced the study of the law in the office of Thomas W. Clerke, who was subsequently judge of the supreme court for the city of New York. He continued in Judge Clerke's office until his admission to the bar in the fall of 1851. In the spring of 1852 he commenced practice in the city of New York. He was married at Gales Ferry, Connecticut, in June, 1855, to Catharine A., daughter of William Browning, Esq., and they commenced their married life in a house Mr. Prentice had just purchased in the city of New York. His attention having been accidentally called to Staten Island, and being much pleased with the place they determined to rent their city home and move to the island, which they did in the spring of 1858, when he built the house ou Tompkins avenue in the village of New Brighton, where he has long resided. At that time there were no incorporated villages on the island, the usual govern- ment of towns alone existing. In the summer of 1865 Mr. Prentice, having come to the conclusion that village govern- ment was desirable for that end of the island, proceeded to draft such a charter as he thought was suited to the wants of
480
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
the community. Late in the fall he issned invitations to many of his neighbors and gentlemen active in public affairs to meet at the St. Mark's hotel and hear the proposed charter for the proposed village of New Brighton read, which was done, the charter approved, and a committee appointed to go to Albany and procure its passage. The village government first organ- ized in 1866.
Jannary 30, 1866, their only child was born to them and was named Augustus Browning Prentice. Mr. Prentice has steadily continued in the practice of his profession, through which he early formed the acquaintance of a large circle of business men in the city of New York. Through many years he has retained the legal business of most of them. Various corpora- tions have at different times come under his control as counsel, among them the Artizans' Bank, the St. Louis and St. Josephi Railroad Company, the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad Company, which he formed by consolidating several smaller companies. In the construction of this railroad he formed one of the executive committee. These corporations materially in- creased his already well established practice. Mr. Prentice's financial success has been due largely to his business tact and his ability to make good investments, which he has confined largely to real estate, and of which he is an owner both on Staten Island and in New York city. He has a large income from his real estate, to say nothing of his income from his profession, from which alone he has made his fortune. as it is said he never speculates. Though often requested to become a director in different corporations, he has invariably refused. He did, how- ever, after much solicitation, accept the position of president of the Bank of Staten Island, which position he holds at present.
RICHMOND COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. - On the 10th of July, 1806, five physicians met at the court house in the village of Richmond, for the purpose of organizing the first medical society in this county. Their names were Benjamin Parker, Isaac Stewart, Richard Henderson, I. B. Halsey and John R. B. Rodgers. This organization was the consequence of the enact- ing of certain laws of the state (April 8 preceding) which were deemed necessary to regulate the practice of physic and surg- ery, pronouncing none but members of county societies whose diplomas must have been filed in the office of the county clerk
481
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
to be regularly authorized physicians. Meetings of the society were regularly held down to 1832, since which time there are no records of the meetings until a reorganization was effected. The records do not state who the first president was, but at a meeting held July 17, 1807, Benjamin Parker was chosen pres- ident.
On the evening of January 17, 1855, a meeting was held at the Tompkins Lyceum, Tompkinsville. for the purpose of tak ing preliminary measures to reorganize the " Medical Society of the County of Richmond." The meeting was composed of the following physicians : John S. Westervelt, James Harcourt, Isaac Lea, John W. Sterling, William C. Anderson, James R. Boardman, F. Campbell Stewart, Joseph Feeny, E. W. Prender- gast, . Y. Hestizka, C. G. Rotha, H. R. Baldwin, Theodore Walser, J. C. Cavelti and Edward C. Mundy. A committee was appointed to prepare or revise the constitution and by-laws and report at a subsequent meeting. The chairman of this meeting was Doctor Westervelt. At the next meeting, held at the same place, February 2, 1855, the report of the committee was presented and accepted, and the constitution and by-laws prepared by them were adopted. Dr. John W. Sterling was chosen president of the society.
The officers in 1886 were ; R. Henry Golder, president ; F. U. Johnston, vice-president; E. D. Coonly, secretary and treasurer; J. Walter Wood, Herman Beyer, T. J. Thompson, censors.
The members are : J. K. Ambrose, Clifton; Frank Anderson, U. S. N .; J. A. Andrews, Clifton; Herman Beyer, Stapleton; A. L. Carroll, New Brighton; F. E. Clark, West New Brighton; J. G. Clark, West New Brighton; E. D. Coonly, Mariners' Harbor; J. L. Feeny, Stapleton; R. H. Golder, Rossville; II. R. Harrison, Port Richmond; G. C. Hubbard, Tottenville; F. U. Johnston, Stapleton; I. Lea, Stapleton; Anna Lukes, West New Brighton; F. E. Martindale, Port Richmond; I. L. Mills- paugh, Richmond; Jefferson Scales, Stapleton; Thomas J. Thompson, Clifton; J. J. Van Rensselaer, New Brighton; T. Walser, New Brighton; W. C. Walser, Port Richmond; E. J. Westfall, Tottenville: Rudolph Mautner, Stapleton; Mary R. Owen, Eltingville; F. Walter Wood, Port Richmond; W. E. Bowne, Tompkinsville.
In addition to those belonging to the medical society the fol- lowing physicians are registered in the county : Henry E. Earl,
31
482
HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
West Brighton ; Alice Avery, Nursery and Child's Hospital : S. V. R. Bogart, New Brighton; Samuel Adams Robinson, West New Brighton ; Caleb Lyon, Rossville ; Robert Rogerson, Port Richmond ; David Emory Holman, Stapleton (Seaman's Re- treat) ; Eugene B. Sanborn, Quarantine : Alva D. Decker. Pleasant Plains ; James Oliver Van Hoevenberg, Eltingville ; Gottlieb Stein, Stapleton ; William M. Smith, Clifton ; Thomas Washington Donovan, New Brighton ; Ferdinand Gustav Belime, New Brighton ; Thomas B. Newby, Stapleton ; George Milton La Rue, Tottenville; James J. O'Dea, Stapleton; Thomas Sheppard Goodwin, West New Brighton ; Theodore D. Lyons, Port Richmond ; Edward Francis Arnoux, N. Y. city ; A. C. Montgomery, West New Brighton ; Henry Mitchell Rogers, Tompkinsville; Frank E. Wilson, Stapleton; Albert D. Jaupet, West New Brighton; L. L. Doolittle, Stapleton; William Bryan, West New Brighton ; William Francis Bowne, Tompkinsville ; Edwin A. Hervey, Rossville ; Henry W. Sawtelle, Stapleton ; Robert P. M. Ames, Stapleton ; William Rose, Stapleton ; David Coleman, Tottenville ; Charles Wooster Butler, Port Richmond ; Joseph Henry McDougall, New Brighton; Walker Washington, Tottenville.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.