USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Old Sands Street Methodist Episcopal Church, of Brooklyn, N.Y. : an illustrated centennial record, historical and biographical > Part 41
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pastor.) In 1851, with her family, she moved to B'klyn, and j. Sands-st. ch .; after many yrs. of efficient service she rem. by c., with her husband, to Sum'f'd ch., where she manifested the same diligence, zeal, and fidelity, until she d. from congestion of the brain, May 30, 1880. She was bur. in "Greenwood," amid the most eloquent tokens of affection and respect. "Mrs. Fay pos- sessed many eminent and engaging qualities. Her intellect was bright and comprehensive, distinguished alike for feminine delicacy and masculine strength. Her temper was kind and genial, her manner polished, graceful, and winning. Her force of character made her eminently competent for practical affairs. She discharged her trusts with a conscientious fidelity which won the esteem of all who knew her." [Rev. G. F. Kettell, in Ch. Ad.] -* Fellows, Chas. H., S.S.t., one of the original officers of the S. S. miss'y soc .; was b. in Stonington, Conn., Jan. 26, 1819 ; conv. in New. London at 20; came to B'klyn, and j. Sands-st. ch., in 1848, (Dr. N. Bangs, pastor ;) rem. by c., and helped to organize Fleet-st. ch., in 1850; thence went to Central ch .; thence to Gothic; ultimately to S. 3d-st., where he remained nearly 35 yrs., and was S. S. supt. from 1857 to his death, Dec. 18, 1880-23 yrs. " He built for himself a noble me- morial in the character of the young men and women who grew up under his influence." [Rev. A. S. Graves, in Ch. Ad.]- Feltham, Wm., rem. by c., 1849 .-* Fenn, Hannah, rem. by c., 1850 .-* Ferguson, Eleanor, member in 1798 .- Fer- guson, Sarah E., rem. by c., 1880 .- Ferman, Eliza, of Yellow Hook (Bay Ridge) class, 1822 .- Ferris, M. A., rem. -Fichter, Wm. H. and Mary C., rem. by c., 1882 .- Field, Dan'l, exh., and ist Idr. of the Yellow Hook (Bav Ridge) class in 1822 .- Field, Eliza, rem. to Flushing .- Finch, Wm. Stanbury, nephew of the late alderman, John Stanbury, of B'klyn ; b. in South Zeal, Devon, Eng., Nov. 28, 1821 ; baptized in the South Tawton English parish ch., of which his parents, Wm. and Mary Finch, were members; educated in the village school and at Jendle and Vissicks' establishment in Plymouth. At the latter place he worshiped in the Ebenezer Meth. ch .; attended S. S. at Sticklepath ; was conv. under the earnest min- istry of Dan'l Blamey, who afterward came to America ; taught in the S. S. and worked as a loc. pr. until about 1840; then went to London to finish his business training ; was enlisted in the large S. S. of the Queen-st. Meth. ch., of that city ; aided in the circuit work ; listened frequently to eloquent sermons by Dr. Beaumont, Dr. Jabez Bunting, the inimitable " Billy Daw- son," and many others; was present at the ordination of the tst 6 missionaries to the Fiji Islands-Dr. Newton's text that day, "What hath God wrought !" In 1844 he returned to his early home, and mar. Miss Amelia Moore; came as a loc. pr., with letter of removal, to Sands-st. ch., B'klyn, in 1846, (Dr. N.
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Record of Members. 435
Bangs, pastor ;) after the great fire, in 1848, rem. by c. to Toledo, O .; afterward to Delafield, Wis .; back to Toledo ; finally settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1854; j. the Richmond-st. ch., and there "organized the first infant-class in the Meth. Ch. of Canada-a wonder in those days, born of recollections of the Sands-st. infant-school, where Bro. Cartwright taught the little ones." For 30 yrs. Mr. F. has taught classes of little children, numbering on an average, 100. Some of these lambs of the flock have grown to maturity, and are now moving in spheres of large usefulness in the ch., while others have passed into the " upper fold." On the erection of the Metropolitan ch. (cathe- dral of Methodism) in Toronto, he rem. by c. to that ch., and taught the infant-class, working with great profit and joy; is still a member of the quarterly board, and "rejoicing in a present and full salvation." He j. about the first total absti- nence society some 50 yrs. ago, and has helped many others to do the same. He is not an ordained minister, but has been a co-laborer in the gospel with the foremost preachers of Canadian Methodism, such as the Rev. Drs. Egerton Ryerson, Lachlan Taylor, Anson Green, and Wm. M. Punshon, and with many princely laymen, of whom John M'Donald is one. He rejoices greatly in a united Methodism, extending from Newfoundland, on the east, to Vancouver's Island, on the Pacific, toiling faith- fully alongside of our mighty M. E. ch. to spread scriptural holiness over these lands .- Amelia, his w., is a dau. of Dr. Denis Moore, of Exeter, Devon., Eng., and sister of the late high-sheriff and mayor of Exeter, Win. D. Moore; rem. by c. from Sands-st. ch. with her husband, and is still active in the ch. and other benevolent associations .- Fink, Wm., rem. by c., 1849 .-* Fish, Elizabeth, sister to Mrs. Jane Vanderveer; j. Sands-st. ch. in 1819, (A. M'Caine, pastor ;) after more than 60 yrs., rem. by c. to Sum'f'd ch .; her home was with Mrs. M. F. Odell, where she d. in May, 1881, age 95: bur. in " Green- wood." She never married .- Fisher, Elizabeth, rem .--- Fisher, Geo. M., rem. by c .- Fisher, Georgiana, w. of Geo. M .; rem. by c., 1868; see Vining .- Fitch, Sarah A., rem. -FLAMMIE, ELIZA .- FOLGER, ELLA, S. S. supt. 14 yrs. -Fonnham, Mary E., rem. - FOSTER, HORACE .- Forbes, Louisa H. S., rem. by c., 1866 .- Forbes, Maria M., rem. by c., 1871 .- Foster, Marsh, rem. by c .- Foster, Mary, rem. to Johnson-st. ch., 1850 .- Foster, Solon C., conv. under the labors of J. N. Maffit; cl. Idr. in Sands-st. ch. ; j. Johnson-st. ch .; went with J. C. Green to Ist Cong. Meth. ch., and remained a short time. Mr. Green boarded with his family. Mr. F. and his w. have for years resided in Hempstead, L. I., and are members of the M. E. ch. in that place .- ** Foster, Wm., member in 1798; made cl. Idr. 1808; after- ward trus. ; by occupation a butcher, and later engaged in the
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lumber business with his son-in-law, B. R. Prince; lost the most of his property. He was regarded as one of the stanch citizens of B'klyn, a thorough Meth., and a member of the Society to Suppress Vice and Crime. [See Stiles' Hist. B'klyn, vol ii, pp. 14, 38.] At his house Meth. preachers always found a good home. He d. in 1846, age 67, and was bur. in the old ch. yard, in the same grave with his ist w., ** Anna, who "d. in the Lord," in 1826. Children : Elijah Woolsey, deceased; Wm. A .; Sarah Ann, who mar. B. K. Prince; Electa ; and Hannah .- ** Catharine, 2d w. of the above, one of the early members of Willett-st. ch., N. York; j. Sands-st. ch. years ago; d. 1870; bur. in Tuckahoe, N. Y .- Foster, Wm., 2d., cl. Idr .; came from Johnson-st. ch., where he was cl. Idr. in 1850 and std. in 1857 ; a zealous, earnest Meth. He and his w., Sarah, rem. by c. to Cal., whither one or more of their children had preceded them .- FOWLER, ABBY J .- Fowler, Corrina, rem. by c., 1868 .-** Fowler, Mary, "d. happy," 1832 .- FOWLER, MRS. SARAH E .- Frazier, Elizabeth, rem .- Frazier, James, rem. to N. York, 1850 .- Frazier, Hannah. rem .- Frazier, Sarah E., dau. of Thos .; mar. Benj. Payne ; rem. to Painted Post, N. Y .- Frazier, Stephen Richardson, std. and cl. Idr. With his w. j. by c., 1866; rem. by c., 1867; and again rem. by c., 1873 .-* Sarah W., his w., d. in Ill., where they had resided for some time .-* Frazier, Thos., cl. Idr. and trus. ; conv. at a camp-meeting, in 1813 ; soon j. the Meth., with whom he remained in fellowship for more than 50 yrs. He was rem. by c. to N. J., in 1849; subsequently j. at Nostrand ave., and was a std. in that ch. at the time of his death, June 9, 1868. He had arrived at his Both yr., but he d. without any premonition. He had led in family prayer, as had been his custom from the day after his conversion, and that morning had prayed partic- ularly for every one of his children. Breakfast over, he was en- gaged in conversation, when his heart suddenly ceased to beat. He was ready. [Ch. Ad.] He was mar. thrice; 10 of his 12 children are living, (1883.) Mrs. Nathan T. Beers, of B'klyn, is his dau. [ See also Frazier, Chadwick, and Powell.] -** Ann, his ist w., sister of Simon and Rev. Marvin Richardson; d. about 1829, age 29; bur. in old Sands-st. ch. yard : afterward in "Cypress Hills," by the side of her husband .-** Frederick, Eleanor, " d. in the Lord." -** Freeman, Fanny, d. 1837 .- Freeman, Matthias, rem. by c., 1866 .- FREY, MRS. AMELIA .- FREY, ANNIE .- Frey, Elizabeth, rem. by c., 1873 .- FROST, SARAH .- Fulcher, Eliza, rem. by c., 1878 .- Fuller, Edwin, rem. by c., 1881 .- Fuller, Wm. J., rem .- Fulton, Margaret, rem. to Gravesend .- FURLONG, MARIA .-** Furman, Elizabeth, d. 1818 .- FURNAVEL, SAM'L .-** Gable, Conklin L., sexton ; was b. in Riverhead, L. I .; conv. about 1836; d. 1859; bur. in "Cypress Hills."-
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Record of Members.
Ellen A. (Cregg,) w. of the above, d. about 1836 .- GABLE, ELLA .- Gable, Julia E., dau. of Conklin L .; rem. by c., 1879 ; now of Hanson pl. ch .--** Gage, Susan, d. suddenly, 1840 .- ** Gale, Addie, w. of Frank A .; d. 1861, age 27; bur. in "Greenwood."-Gale, Frank A., S.S.t. and off. S. S. miss'y soc., rem .- Gale, Andrew D., cl. Idr .; b. in Harrison, West- chester Co., N. Y. ; j. Allen-st .. ch., N. York; then John-st., where he was S. S. supt .; rem. to Sands-st. ch., B'klyn; and finally to Jersey City ; a member of Emory M. E. ch. His w., Susan, rem. by c .-- Galloway, John, withdrew .- Gandi- shand, Mrs. Harriet, mar. Wm. M'Donald .- Gandishand, Mrs. H., d. 1873, age 49 ; bur. in " Greenwood."-GARDNER, FRANK .- Gardner, Stephen H. and Mary A., rem. by c., 1882 .- GARRICK, MRS. MARY .-* Garrison, Jacob, son of John ; cl. Idr. ; a butcher by occupation. It is said that he be- came quite deranged, and d. at the home of his brother in Flat- lands. He left a w. and a number of sons and daughters .- *Huldah, his w., sister of the Rev. Marvin. Richardson, d .- ** Garrison, John, known as Judge Garrison, was an early cl. Idr. and trus. in this ch. He was of Dutch extraction, and a native of Gravesend, but during nearly his entire life-time a res- ident of B'klyn : for some yrs. in a farm-house on Fulton-st.,, opp. Hicks-st., afterward in a large yellow dwelling, cor. Wash'gt'n and High sts. He had some time a stand in the Fly Market, N. York. Having entered the legal profession, he held the office of Judge of the Municipal Court. He was one of the pres- idential electors who cast the vote for Andrew Jackson in 1828. When 29 yrs. of age he heard a JOHN GARRISON. discussion by two clergymen (one a Calvinist and the other a Meth.) which established his belief in unlimited redemption and human freedom, and confirmed his purpose to repent of his sins and cast in his lot with the little band of Methodists. The fol- lowing yr. (1794) he was appointed cl. Idr., probably as the immediate successor of N. Snethen, and retained the office until his death. From the Ist election, in 1794, he was a trus., and some time treas. of the board. He sternly resisted inno- vations and so-called reforms, and used his powerful influence to prevent divisions in the ch. His extreme conservatism led him to withhold sympathy and support from the S. S. long after more progressive men had given their aid and indorsement to
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the cause. Against the name of John Garrison the words "Earnest, strong-willed " may be seen upon the margin of the ch. register, written with pencil, in 1819, by the pastor for the benefit of his successor. Stiles gives the following description of Judge Garrison : " He was 6 ft. 2 in. high, remarkably large, weighing 300 lbs. . . . He was invariably dressed in a suit of ' pepper and salt ' mixed clothing, cut very loose. Many pleas- ant stories are told of his queer ways and sayings. . .. In politics Mr. G. was a violent Democrat of the old school, and was naturally regarded by some as a man of vindictive feelings, while, in fact, a kinder-hearted man never lived." [ Hist. B'klyn, vol. ii, p. 79.] The portrait on preceding page was copied by S. E. Warren from Guy's celebrated " snow-scene," painted in 1820. Mr. G. was overcome by heat and fatigue while visiting the grave of Benj. Abbott, for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of the old hero, and d. shortly afterward (1831) in Christian triumph, pronouncing blessings upon each of his dear ones, and saying, "Farewell; meet me in heaven." His age was 67. [N. Levings, in Meth. Quar. Rev., 1831, p. 258.] He is bur. under the ch .-** Garrison, Mary C. H., wid. of the above, sister to Isaac and Jos: Moser, d. 1839, age 69. She was a woman of great loveliness, one of the early Sands-st. mem- bers, very active, and sometimes led the class. [See notice of her mother, Margaret Moser. ] The names of John and Mary Garrison are inscribed on a memorial tablet on the interior wall of the ch. Of the sons, Jacob, John Fletcher, and Thomas were with the father in the butcher business. [Stiles' Hist. B'klyn, vol. ii, p. 38.] Nelson was a physician, and Sam'l was a lawyer. They are all dead. One dau., Mary, resides in Mechanicsville, N. Y .; another dau., Rachel, mar. a Mr. Stan- ley. She is dead .-- Garrison, Mrs. Mary J., rem. by c., 1874. -GASCOIGNE, FRANK .-** Gascoigne, James B., b. in Yorkshire, Eng. ; conv., and j. the Meth. ; came to Amer. while a young man ; j. John-st. ch., N. Y .; engaged in the hardware trade ; rem. to B'klyn; served the Sands-st. ch. faithfully as S. S. supt. and std. ; highly honored for his integrity and good judgment. His name appears on the list of the ist board of managers of the parent Miss'y Soc'y, elected in 1819. He d. about 1859, age 76. His Ist w., Ann (Taylor), d. His 2d w., *Sarah (Mortimer), survived him about 4 yrs .- Gas- coigne, Joshua I., son of Jas. B., was one of the original off. of the S. S. miss'y soc'y, sec. and treas. of S. S., and std. When a child he was a scholar in the Sands-st. S. S. ; conv. at a camp- meeting in N. J., whither he went with M. F. Odell. In 1872 rem. by c. Now a std. in Nostrand ave. ch .- Lavinia, w. of the above, sister of Mrs. H. G. Fay and Abia B. Thorn; rem. by c., 1872 .- Gascoigne, Mrs. Phœbe, rem. by c., 1881 .- Gascoigne, Phœbe B., dau. of Jas. B., a S.S.t., rem. by c.,
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Record of Members.
1881 .- GASNER, MARY .- GILBERT, HELEN .- Gill, Jos. Hamilton, was b. in Londonderry, N. of Ireland, where in early life he united with the Meth. He came to this country when about 21. Having been engaged in the dry-goods business in Belfast, he followed the same occupation in N. York and B'klyn. Following the advice of Bp. Foster, he went to Evans- ton, Ill., and was graduated at the N. Western Univ. and Garrett Bib. Inst. Ministerial Record : 1871, (E. Maine Conf .; trans- ferred to Rock River Conf.,) no app't named ; 1872, (India Conf.,) Moradabad and Sambhal, with F. M. Wheeler; 1873, Moradabad; 1874, ord. deacon ; 1874-75, Paori; 1876, ditto, with T. S. Johnson, sup'y ; 1877, ord. elder-( North India Conf.,) Paori; 1878, Gurhwal; 1879-80, ditto, with F. W. Greenwold ; 1881-82, sup'y ; 1883, Moradabad cir., with I. Fieldbrave .-- Gillen, Cordelia F. and Mrs. Harriet E., rem. by c. to Fleet-st. ch., 1879 .- Glendenning, Wm., rem .- "Gold, Ellen, w. of James; one of the original members of Yellow Hook (Bay Ridge) class, 1822 ; d. a Meth. in Bay Ridge .- Goodell, Oliver, rem. by c., 1882 .- GOODWIN, EMILY A. -- GOODWIN, MRS. E. A., (one Mrs. Emily A. Goodwin rem. by c., 1867.)-Goodwin, Maria, mar. ; see Furlong .- Good- win, Michael and Jane E., rem. by c. to Simpson ch .- Goodwin, Susan, mar. Mr. Bassett .- Goodwin, Wm. J., rem .- Gould, Brewster, rem. to Cal., 1849 .- GOULD, DEB- ORAH .- Gould, Eliza, rem. to Huntington, L. I., 1849 .- GRACE, VICTORIA .- GRAHAM, ISABELLA .- Graves, Milo A., ren. by c .- Green. Jas. H., withdrew .- Gray, Anna, mar. ; see Sheriden .- Gray, Jacob M., cl. Idr., 1843. -""Gray, Mary L., d. May 27, 1872, age 23 .- GREEN, CHAS. E-GREEN, JOANNA .- Green, Mrs. Catharine C., mar. ; see Henderson .- Greener, Ann, rem .- Gregory, Geo. E. and Elizabeth, rem. by c., 1866 .-- GRIFFIN, HENRY E .-** Griffin, Jemima, "d. in the Lord," 1842 .- GRIFFIN, ORLANDO; (a person of the same name rem. by c.)-GRIGGS, A .- GRIGGS, ARTHUR L .- GRISWOLD, BESSIE. - GRITMAN. MRS. JANETTE. - GRUMAN, MRS. PHOEBE J .- Gurley, Mrs. Ella, rem. by c., 1871 .- Guhraner, Addie, rem. by c., 1883 .- GUHRAUER, HENRY H., S. S. sec. and lib'n .- GUMBLE, LINAS .- GURLITZ, AUGUSTUS T., cl. Idr., std., and S.S.t. ; a Russian by birth ; lawyer in N. York .- GURLITZ, AMY, w. of the above; dau. of Dr. D. S. Landon.
Habberton, E. S., rem .-- Habberton, S. F., rem. by c. to Flushing, L. I., 1850 .- HACKETT, AMELIA .- Haddon, Mary, rem .- Haff, Benj. A., bro. of Mrs. Egbert Acker ; S.S.t. ; conv. in 1846 ; now an official member of the Hempstead M. E. ch .-* Haff, Amelia, sister to Mrs. E. Acker; mar. W. S. Wright; rem. by c. to Johnson-st. ch. ; d. a member of Carlton
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ave. ch. in 1857; bur. in "Cypress Hills."-Haff, Amelia M., S.S.t .; mar. John J. Welsh; now of 18th-st. ch .- "Haff, Elizabeth E., mar ; see Acker .- Haff, Esther A., sister of Mrs. Egbert Acker; rem. to Centenary ; thence to Warren- st. ch .; now of Ist Pl. ch .; wid. of Jas. S. Shutes .- Haff, Olive D., rem. to Hempstead, L. I .; wid. of Ebenezer Haff .- *Haff, Sarah, sister of Mrs. E. Acker ; mar. Geo. W. Johnson ; d. 1862 ; bur. in "Cypress Hills."-Hagenback, Frank, rem. by c., 1875 .- HALBERT, MRS. MARY E .- Halderan, Abram, withdrew .-** Hall, Edward, d. 1873 .- Hall, Jean- nette, rem. by c., 1867 .- Hall, Mrs. Mary E., rem. by c., 1870 .- Hall, Rebecca, rem. by c., 1864 .- Halldom, Jane,
mar. ; see Mattesen .- HALSTED, £ FRANCES .- HAM- ILTON, MRS. CHARLOTTE .- HAMILTON, ELLEN .- ** Hamilton, Watson, d .- Hammond, Amelia, rem. by c., 1866 .- Hammond, Anna, rem. by c., 1867 .- Hammond, Eliza, rem. by c., 1866 .- HAMMOND, MRS. FRANCES .- Hammond, Geo. P. and Frances M., rem. by c., 1872; (persons of the same names were previously rem. by c. ) -** Ham- mond, Miss Maria, d., after a long illness, 1850. - Hammond, Mary E., rem. by c., 1866 .-** Hammond, Sam'l, d., after a long and painful illness, July, 1850 .- Hammond, Sam'l J., rem. by c., 1868 .- Hammond, Wesley A. and Eliza, rem. by c., 1870 .--* Handley, Benj., S.S.t. and cl. Idr .; said to have d. not a member of the ch .-* Hanford, John E., son of Andrew Hanford ; b. in Peekskill, N. Y. ; conv. in early life ; j. Allen- st. ch., N. York ; rem. to old John- st. ch .; afterward to Sands-st., where he was cl. Idr. in 1846. He became one of the founders of the Fleet-st. ch. in 1850; supt. of its S. S. from its beginning till his death, a period of 13 yrs. He served the Fleet-st. ch., also, as std. and trus. There was scarcely a man at the head of any S. S. in B'klyn more beloved or more suc- cessful. He d., greatly lamented, J. E. HANFORD. Apr. 5, 1863, age 39. An elegy was written and published, as an expression of the ardent love of the Fleet-st. S. S. for their de- parted friend and supt. [See My S .. S. Scrap-Book, p. 23.] Mr. H. is bur. in "Greenwood."-Maria A., his w., was also one of the founders of Fleet-st. ch. ; now a member of Sum'f'd ch. Their sons are: Solomon, Farrington, and Wm. Stone .- Hanford, Solomon H., older bro. of John E., was cl. Idr. in Sands-st. ch. before 1839. He has been a member successively
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Record of Members.
of Allen-st. and John-st. chs., in N. York, and of Sands-st, Wash'gt'n-st., Fleet-st., and Sum'f'd chs., in Brooklyn. He was one of the most energetic and liberal of the founders of Fleet- st. ch .; pres't of the ist board of trus. . His w., Hannah (Wright), rem. by c .- Hannah, Lillie, rem. by c., 1871 .- ** Hannah, John, d. 1883 .-** Hannah, Elizabeth, w. of the above d. 1883 .- HANSEN, ABIGAIL .- HARDMAN, MRS. GRACE .- Hare, Mrs. E. Ann, rem. by c., 1865 .- Hare, Mrs. Elizabeth W., rem. by c., 1868 .- Hare, Jos. Knowles, rem. by c., 1868 .- Harman, John, withdrew .-** Harker, Benj., d. 1865 ; member 1 yr .-** Harker, Demaris, d. 1863, age 68; unmarried. "Her memory is like ointment poured forth." [L. S. Weed, in Ch. Ad.]-Harker, Elizabeth, rem. by c., 1866 .- Harley, Mary, rem .-- Harman, John, with- drew .- Harper, Augusta, rem .- Harper, Emma, mar .; see Dodge .-** Harper, James, native of England; father of Joseph; grandfather of the 4 original Harper bros .; trus. of Sands-st. ch. in 1800, and some time treas, and sec. of the board. His connection with this ch. began in 1799. He had previously been a Meth. for a number of yrs., and was pre-eminent among the founders of the denomination on L. I. When a resident of Newtown, ( Middle Village,) in 1768, at the age of 26, he wel- comed Capt. Thomas Webb into his house, where the Meth. soldier preached and formed a society, which still exists, the oldest on L. 1. ; and it may be presumed that the name of James Harper was the first on the list of members. [See Bangs' Hist. M. E. Ch., vol. i, p. 298, and Life of Abbott, p. 179.] His home was the home of the preachers. Mrs. J. W. De Grauw informed the author that Jas. Harper kept the B'klyn town poor-house on Sands-st. His tombstone in the old ch. yard contains the record of his death, in 1819, at the age of 77 .-** Rebecca, his w., was one of the excellent of the earth. She d. in 1821, age 82, and sleeps beside her husband .-** Harper, Joseph Wesley, grandson of the above, was made cl. Idr. in this ch in 1837. He was std. also, and for many yrs. sec. and treas. of the board of trus. Smith's " Pillars of the Temple " contains an extended biography, from which some of the facts recorded in this brief sketch are taken. Wesley Harper, as his friends always called him, was b. in Newtown, L. I., Xmas day, 1801-third child of Jos. and Elizabeth Harper, whose names will be ever fragrant in the annals of I .. I. Methodism. They were hard-working farmers, in comfortable circumstances, and Wesley always cher- ished fond recollections of the quiet, rural home of his boyhood. J. C. Derby, in "Reminiscences of Authors and Publishers," says : " Joseph Wesley Harper, the 3d of the 4 brothers, was of slighter physique than the rest. He was fond of telling, with quiet humor, that when he was a child an old presiding elder said to his mother: 'Sister Harper, why don't you give one of
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your boys to the Lord to be a preacher ?' 'Why,' said she, ' that is just what I expected to do, and I have already selected one of them.' 'Which one have you selected?' inquired the gratified elder. 'I have selected Wesley,' was the reply. 'And why Wesley, rather than James, or John, or Fletcher?' 'O, well,' replied Mrs. Harper, 'Wesley seems to be the most feeble and delicate in health, and he is rather lazy-' Then, perceiving from the elder's perplexed and rather mortified look that he had put a wrong interpretation on her motives, she hastened to add, 'I thought that if I gave Wesley to the Lord, he would take him and make him over again, so that he would be all right.' . . . As a young man, Wesley Harper visited a , theater but once, and his experience, as described by himself in later life, was any thing but agreeable. 'One evening,' he said, 'some of the boys persuaded me to go to the theater with them. We went together and took our seats in the pit. The perform- ance had not begun. The people were assembling, and my companions sat joking and laughing; but I could not enter into their fun. A dreadful feeling came over me. It seemed as though all the prayers of my mother, all the instructions of my father, rushed across my mind at once. I felt as though I was at the very mouth of perdition, and that I could hardly hope to escape alive. At length I could endure it no longer, and, re- membering that the hour of family prayer was approaching, I seized my hat, and fled from the house.'" This incident strikingly illustrates the reverent simplicity and filial devotion of the son and the powerful influence of the pious parents. Before he was 20 he was apprenticed, with his younger bro., Fletcher, to their older bros. of the firm of "J. & J. Harper, Publishers." He learned the printer's trade, and as proof-reader of the excellent reprints of the house, he became familiar with much of the best English literature. In a few years Wesley and Fletcher had both become partners in the house, and the style was changed to " Harper & Brothers." He was a most thor- ough Meth. from his youth; his money and influence were at the service of the ch. He was a wise counselor of his official brethren, and a useful cl. Idr., but so shy and unobtrusive that he was never heard in the public assembly. Once, indeed, at the ist Xmas celebration by the S. S., it being the anniversary of his birth, he felt moved to whisper in the ear of the supt. that he had a word to say, and the announcement that Wesley Harper was about to speak was received as a signal for the most pro- found and respectful silence. "Soon after joining the firm he mar. and settled in B'klyn, and gradually a large family clustered around him. The business prospered. As the correspondent of the house he was brought into contact with men of every kind, and his acquaintance was very wide. His shrewd observation, his retentive memory, and his genial humor made his rem-
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