USA > New York > Essex County > Bloomingdale > The New York of yesterday; a descriptive narrative of old Bloomingdale, its topographical features, its early families and their genealogies, its old homesteads and country-seats, the Bloomingdale Reformed church, organized in 1805 > Part 25
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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
Ichabod Prall joined the Church Feb. 2, 1815, was elected Deacon on April 11th, in place of Deacon Web- bers, and added to the building committee of the second House of Worship. When Elder Hopper died, Deacon
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Prall was selected to fill the vacancy in the Eldership, Aug. 2, 1824, and then began to represent the Consistory at Classis, which he did many times thereafter. He became Clerk of the Board in 1829 after Dr. Gunn's decease. On Dec. 1, 1830, he resigned these offices and took letters of dismission to the Collegiate Church, Mar. 21, 1831. He was a descendant of the Huguenot family of de Prael, of which Arent de Prael, b. 1646, came to America. His (I) wife was Maria, dau. of Peter Billeu. He settled at a place called Morning Star on Staten Island with his (2) wife Trintje (Cath- erine). Because he had abjured Roman Catholicism, he was obliged, according to French records, to slightly change the family coat-of-arms and this modification he had painted on his barn door at his new abode. His will, dated 1725, is of record in Richmond County. His children were, among others, Peter, Arent, Abraham, Antje, and Isaac. Peter, said to be one of seven sons, b. 1672 (?) at Staten Island, d. Oct. 27, 1748, m. Mary - His son Abraham of Staten Island, b. Oct. 15, 1706, d. Sept. 28, 1775, m., May 9, 1731, Alida Hegeman, b. Oct. 16, 1700, d. Sept. 15, 1781. They had Abraham, Benjamin, Peter, Catherine, and Mary. Abraham of Staten Island, b. Jan. II, 1741, d. May 16, 1820, m., May 22, 1768, Mary, dau. of Daniel Stillwell, b. May 28, 1749, d. April 25, 18II. Issue: Abraham, b. 1770, d. Oct. 22, 1807; Daniel, b. 1775, d. Oct. 10, 1817, and Ichabod. Samuel Stillwell, b. at Jamaica, L. I., Oct. 22, 1763, was later a Bloomingdale resident and Stillwell Lane was a landmark for many years.
Ichabod Prall of New York City was b. June 2, 1776, d. in Sept., 1849. He m., Aug. 24, 1801, Hannah, dau. of John Thompson, b. Sept. 26, 1782. She joined the communion the same day as her husband. He was
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2d Major from June 8, 1808, in the Light Infantry Regiment commanded by Lieut .- Col. Edward W. Haight, promoted Ist Major, 4th Regiment, in 1810, serving through the War of 1812. He became Lieut .- Col. of the 106th Regiment of Infantry in 1815 and resigned 1817. On Oct. 12, 1818, Elder Harsen re- ported to the Consistory the absence of Deacon Prall who was "particularly engaged in moving up." In what house he lived at Bloomingdale, is not definitely known except that it was located " just across the road" from the Harsen homestead. At first, the family occupied it during the summer, moving from the city residence at No. 168 Water Street, next door to the store of his brother Abraham at No. 167. The water, then, came up to the door. The latter was one of the wealthiest merchants in the city prior to 1798. "Who does not remember Ichabod?" asks Walter Barrett, clerk. "He was a fine venerable looking man in the time of General Jackson, who, I think, gave him an office in the Custom House, for he had been unfor- tunate in business." Abraham was thrown from his carriage and killed. Ichabod served in the State Assembly. Some of his children were John T., Hannah Maria, Helen S., Ichabod, and Henry Rutgers. His son Abraham Augustus, b. Jan. 13, 1804, d .Sept .Io, 1857, was m. by Dr. Gunn, July 13, 1825, to Joanna Henrietta Harsen, b. Oct. 12, 1806, d. Dec. 8, 1838, and their dau. Cornelia Augusta, m. Dec. 26, 1861, the Rev. Eastburn Benjamin, b. Feb. 5, 1837, son of Col. Meigs de Lucena Benjamin of Bridgeport, Conn., grandson of Asa Benjamin of Stratford, and great-grandson of Col. John Benjamin, wounded at the battle of Redding, Conn. Rev. Mr. Benjamin was a lawyer, but later a clergyman. Being proficient in the deaf-mute language
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he became assistant to Dr. Gallaudet. He started the Home for the Blind at Amsterdam Avenue and 104th Street, and d. at the early age of 36, Sept. 18, 1874. Two of Abraham A. Prall's children were baptized by Dr. Gunn.
Johannah, the widow of Abraham Keteltas Beekman, was received into membership on certificate from the Church at Haerlem, Aug. 1, 1817. She died in 1821, bequeathing some lots to the Consistory which had been a part of the estate of Nicholas Bayard, deceased, and later of Pierre van Cortlandt. Some of this land she devised to her nieces Mary Marx, Amaryllis Laura de Labigarre, and Maria Louise Stewart, daughters of her deceased sister Margaret de Labigarre. Ama- ryllis joined the Church May 3, 1815. Maria Louise was married to William Robert Stewart by Dr. Gunn on Sept. 26, 1816, in presence of Mr. Beekman. Both became members Oct. 3Ist, and he died in the fall of 1818. Abraham K. Beekman died Nov. 27, 1816, and they left no lineal descendants. Be- sides the bequests mentioned in a previous chapter, Mrs. Beekman left other land to Peter W. Livingston and to Cornelia, wife of Isaac B. Cox, her sister-in-law. Said Cox died July 4, 1846, and his widow Jan. 26, 1847. They had two children, viz., Catharine M. and Abraham B. Cox. Others to receive bequests were her cousins Johannah V. B. Ursin, Margaret Thomas, now of the island of St. Croix, W. I., daughters of her aunt Mary Robinson, deceased, and nephew William Livingston and niece Eliza Livingston. Witnesses to the will were Edward H. Livingston, William H. Livingston, and Francis R. Tillou and to the codicil Samuel Borrowe, Samuel Borrowe, Jr., and Abraham K. Fish. John Beekman who served as executor with
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Dr. Gunn was testatrix's brother-in-law and owned land between that of Caspar Meier and Claremont. His residence was on the bluff at present 120th Street. He owned a pew at the Church and both he and his brother Gerard were original subscribers to the building fund. The former's son James was baptized by Dr. Gunn in 1814. When he died, Dec. 8, 1843, his widow, Mary Elizabeth Goad, survived together with these children, viz .: William F., Mary A., wife of William de Peyster; John C., Catharine B. Fish, a widow; Jane, wife of Jacob Hallet Borrowe; and Lydia, wife of Joseph Foulke.
Abraham K. Beekman had these brothers and sisters: William, died Aug. 15, 1808, unmarried; John; James; Gerard; Samuel; Jane, wife of Stephen van Cortlandt; Catharine, wife of Elisha Boudinot; Mary N., wife of Stephen N. Bayard; and Cornelia, wife of Isaac B. Cox. William Beekman's will, dated Oct. 6, 1807, proved Sept. 19, 1808 (L. 47 Wills, 416), left to his brother Abraham K. a suit of mourning and a mourning ring. He had previously received the greater part of the estate on the east side of their uncle Abraham Beekman. His brother Samuel died March 7, 1816, unmarried. Gerard Beekman, a building fund sub- scriber, died July 15, 1833, leaving his widow, Catharine and one child, James William Beekman. His will, dated March 6, 1832, was proved Aug. 21, 1833 (L. 70 Wills, 422). The widow died Oct. 15, 1835. Elisha Boudinot died prior to December 1836, and left, no issue. James Beekman died April 8, 1837, un- married. His will, dated June 12, 1834, proved May 13, 1837 (L. 76 Wills, 268), bequeathed his estate to his nephew James William Beekman. Catharine Bou- dinot's will was dated Nov. 4, 1836, and proved May
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17, 1839 (L. 80 Wills, 22). Jane van Cortlandt died intestate and childless prior to Dec., 1841, her husband Stephen being also dead. William de Peyster and Mary A., his wife, had children, viz. Jane van Cortlandt, Catharine Augusta, Cornelia Beekman, Elizabeth van Rensselaer, and Gerard Beekman de Peyster. The above data were obtained from an old abstract.
Abraham K. Beekman was the son of James and Jane (Keteltas) Beekman and his wife Johannah, the daughter of Gerard William Beekman. Holgate (1851) says the latter's residence was at the corner of Sloat Lane and Hanover Square and became during the Revolution the abode of many of the British officers, and among others of Admiral Digby, who had as a protégé Prince William Henry, late King of England. Many of the oldest residents of New York still remember that King, while still a youth, skating on the Kolch Pond, surrounded by a crowd of city boys. Gerard William Beekman was born at Jamaica, L. I., Dec. 13, 1718, and was an importing merchant in New York city. He married Mary Duyckinck, who died June 4, 1791, aged 63 ; he had died at Philadelphia Oct. 6, 1781.
Following the order of the records we now reach Lavinia Striker. She was the second of the three children of the Elder by his first marriage, and was married to Jordan Mott in 1801 at Striker's Bay by his brother-in-law, the Rev. George Strebeck, then a Lutheran minister, who later founded St. Stephen's P. E. Church at Chrystie and Broome Streets, of which he became the first rector. As a girl she was familiarly called by the Dutch diminutive Wyntje and as Winifred Mott she became known in the legal annals of the city. Her husband was the great-great-grandson of Adam Mott, whose arrival in New Amsterdam from Essex
Portrait of Jordan Mott, Esq., from a wax miniature, 1796, in possession of the author
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County, England, tradition fixes at 1642, and where he is known to have been living two years later. He became a Dutch citizen and was granted by the govern- ment in 1646 twenty-five morgens (50 acres) of land "lying on the west side of the Kill of Mespachtes" (Newtown Creek L. I.), and was married in the church at the Capital July 23, 1647, to Jane Hulet of Bucking- ham, England, neither having been previously married. They became residents of Hempstead, on the north shore, about 1655. In Book A, the oldest extant an- nals of the town, he appears as one of the five Towns- men, chosen March 17, 1657. His descendants have been living on Cow (Great) Neck ever since. He be- came an important individual in the new settlement and as a "proprietor" was a large land-owner at Cow Neck, Rockaway, Merrock Neck, and Hungry Harbor, among other places. An instance of the confidence placed in him by the town was his selection for the post of deputy to meet a committee from the Dutch towns to determine the manner of future intercourse between the nationalities. This meeting took place at Hempstead. The Dutch delegates were Oloff Stevensen (van Cortlandt), Jacobus Backer, and John Lawrence; and those representing the English, Daniel Denton, John Underhill, and Adam Mott. A condi- tional agreement was signed Feb. 24, 1663-4 whereby it was determined that neither nationality should exercise jurisdiction for twelve months while the King and the States-General endeavored to effect a settle- ment of the "whole of the difficulty about the island and places adjacent." It was because of the uncertain
conclusion of this meeting that the great "Landtdag," referred to on page 112, was called. It assembled April 10, 1664, deputies from all the Dutch towns being
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present. Nothing of import was accomplished and it dissolved without doing anything to avert the impend- ing fate of the colony. In 1683, Governor Dongan required the town to take out a new patent. Ten individuals, of whom one was Mott, were chosen Octo- ber 9th of the following year "to go to York, the 20th inst. and endeavor the purchasing of a patent." The trip proved successful and the patent was issued April 17, 1685. Mott was Lieutenant of the Town Militia and lived somewhere on the line of fence which parti- tioned off the Neck for common pasturage, between the present villages of Manhasset and Roslyn. All through the records he is frequently mentioned either in actions at law, in conveyances, in town matters, or in an official capacity. He m. (2) Elizabeth, dau. of Ann Parsons, wife of John Richbell, original patentee of Mamaroneck in Westchester County, probably by a previous husband whose name was Redman. By these unions he had a large family. He was not a Friend, as so many of his descendants became, but seems to have been a Presbyterian, although his son Joseph was a vestryman of St. George's, Hempstead, from 1708 to I7II and was a petitioner for its charter June 27, 1735. Adam Mott d. circa April 5, 1690. His will, of record in New York County, devises much land and arranges for the division of his "four proprietorships" in the un- divided lands of Hempstead, half to each family of children.
Jordan Mott was b. at Hempstead Harbor (Roslyn), Feb. 6, 1768. At the age of twenty-one, he became an importer on Pearl Street, whereon at this date (1789) and for many years thereafter was located the finest trade in the city. On the founding of St. Stephen's Church he was the first Treasurer, and was an original
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stockholder of the Mechanics' Bank. In 1829, he retired from business and removed permanently to Bloomingdale, where he became largely interested in the charities and the upbuilding of the locality. He had a number of slaves, as was usual at this period, who were employed around the farm. Of his seven sons only two, James Striker and Samuel Coles, both of whom sang in the church choir, were born at "Mott's Point, " which was at first used as a country-seat only. From a boy the latter's interest was much centred on horticulture and sylviculture, and although he was for some years a member of the wholesale drygoods house of Revo C. Hance & Co., at 174 Pearl Street, and later travelled in Europe and Central America, he found time to assist his mother in planting the broad acres around their home and in interesting his neighbors in his hobby. The few remaining trees yet standing on the Hopper farm are examples of the many placed along the sidewalks and in the grounds of cottages by his exertions. In laying out the grounds surrounding the homestead, Mrs. Mott was greatly assisted by the thick growth of forest trees which towered above the landscape in all their natural beauty. Lilacs formed a hedge on the water front along the retaining wall, and steps led down to the rocky shore and the bathing house. Advantage was taken of the supply of re- markable plants, shrubs, and trees which Lewis Morris, Minister to France, had imported from Holland, France, and Germany circa 1792, and distributed be- tween Montressor's (Ward's) and Randall's Islands and Morrisania. From the former island Mrs. Mott selected the vegetation which in later years so charmingly embellished her home. The garden was further adorned with the magnolia and the fig and among other
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trees should be mentioned the persimmon, Madeira- nut, and splendid specimens of the Canton mulberry, the latter relics of Samuel's experiments in silk culture. The house was situated on the river's bank and was approached by Mott's Lane, once a shaded and grav- elled way leading from Eleventh Avenue, a portion of old Hopper's Lane which debouched therefrom and turned northwesterly just south of what came to be known as 54th Street. Here Domines Kip and van Aken were ever welcome.
Mr. Mott retired as Treasurer of St. Stephen's when Mr. Strebeck resigned the charge in 1809 because of ill-health (vide History of St. Stephen's Parish, by Rev. J. Newton Perkins, 1906) and thereafter attended his wife's church. The portrait reproduced is from a wax miniature made in 1796 and placed in a locket which he presented to Lavinia Striker before marriage. The new Dutch church in Market St. was organized in 1810 and on October 30th he bought a pew there. His wife became a member of the Church at Harsenville, August I, 1817, and a pew was acquired there. Mrs. Mott took her dismissal from Domine Kip January 3, 1830, to the Reformed Church in Broome Street, and in 1829 they occupied pew No. 121 in that edifice. Jordan Mott d. Jan. 8, 1840, in his seventy-second year, at Mott's Point. His obituary recites that his generosity to his fellow-creatures, mildness of temper, and for- bearance associated about him friends with more than ordinary ties. As a citizen he was just, as a husband ever kind and affectionate, and as a parent exemplary and indulgent. He enjoyed retirement to his late residence at Bloomingdale, blessed with earth's best gifts, in the society of his family and surrounded by friends to whom his house was ever open. His ob-
"MOTT'S POINT ON THE HUDSON, " 1884 From an oil painting by W. L. Sonntag, N. A., in possession of the author
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sequies were attended on the 12th by a large concourse. The widow, familiarly called Wyntje, the Dutch diminutive of Winifred, continued to live at the home- stead with her children and grandchildren. Although she kept up on occasion her attendance at the Church, in later years she became a regular communicant of Dr. Hutton's church in Washington Square. She gave much time to charitable endeavor, being especially interested in the Orphan Asylum, the Colored Orphan Asylum, and that instituted for the care of the blind, exuding good cheer and bounty on her rounds. As a life-tenant of one third of the Hopper Farm, and after her sister Ann's death in 1860 of one half, she was immersed in business to a considerable degree and, though her sons attended to the details, she was thoroughly posted in all matters of consequence relating thereto. Idolized by her children her home life was ideal, and she was fortunately compelled to suffer but two breaks in the direct family circle-the passing of her sons Samuel and Jacob. Rounding out a good old age, it may be stated that her life lines were cast in pleasant places. She d. at the age of eighty, at "Mott's Point," March 16, 1862, attended by Dr. Alexander E. Hosack. Services were held there on the 18th and her remains were deposited in the family vault in the churchyard at Harsenville, where those of her husband had preceeded her. The Christian Intelligencer of April 3d commented thus of her character:
Mrs. Mott was one of the few who, in passing away, leave a void not easily filled. Exemplary as a wife, de- voted as a mother, true as a Christian, she left behind the memory of the just. To her the veil that hides the future from all mortal eyes was softly lifted. She has passed the inevitable Gates leaning upon the protecting arm of the
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God who was her stay all her days andgher support in the hour of her death. It remains to usto imitate her virtue and emulate her example.
The only one of her children baptized at Blooming- dale was Matavus Hopper Mott, which function Dr. Gunn performed on May 3, 1816, it being the last baptism in the original church edifice. He was b. Sept. 23, 1815, at "Rosevale" the residence of General Striker, during a temporary visit. Early in life he abbreviated his christian name to "M" and in this way was known throughout life. He accompanied two of his elder brothers to the Mechanics' Society School and in 1830 attended a private school carried on by Adams & Parker at 41 Barclay Street. On Dec. roth of that year the principals wrote to his father that they took pleasure in informing him that Matavus had of late met with admirable success in his studies, which they thought was owing to his foundation of a proper habit of mind. "He has," they continued, "we now believe, learnt how to study and we trust that his future success will be equal to his past perseverance." In 1836 he was with Samuel Hicks & Sons, merchants at 80 South Street, and in 1840 at 23 Maiden Lane. During his cousin Dr. Valentine Mott's absence in Europe he had charge of his property interests, begin- ning in 1837. At the age of 21 he was Lieutenant of the 2d Company, 82d Regiment, 58th Brigade, in which command he was promoted to Captain Aug. 4, 1838. The book of military ritual of that day was entitled, "Tactics and Regulations for the Militia by Brevet Capt. S. Cooper, aid-de-camp to and super- vised by Maj. Gen. Alexander Macomb, commanding the army of the United States; Phila. 1836." After serving his time he resigned, and was honorably dis-
W. Hopper Mott
Portrait and signature of M. Hopper Mott, Esq., from a water color in possession of the author
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charged Sept. 13, 1843. Early imbued with politics of the Whig order he entered eagerly into the struggles of his ward and was delegated to city, State, and national conventions on numerous occasions. A personal friend of Henry Clay he worked for his election night and day, and in an effort to prevent fraudulent voting was assaulted at the polls, which action was denounced by The American of Dec. 17, 1844, as a "case of brutality inflicted upon one of our most esteemed citizens." The assailant was both fined and put under bonds. In his 29th year Mr. Mott began to serve on the grand jury, then composed of seventeen members, becoming foreman soon thereafter. He was an organizer of the Broadway Savings Bank in 1851 and served it as director and secretary, a trustee of the Public School Society, and a member of the American Institute. He ran for Congress on the People's ticket but failed of election. In 1853 he was a founder and first president of the St. Nicholas Insurance Co. at 65 Wall St., and director of the Knick- erbocker Bank. One of the notable lyrics, Washing- ton's Birthday, by the well-known lawyer-poet William Ross Wallace, was dedicated to Mr. Mott. In these days the songs of the composer of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Keep Step to the Music of the Union, and of the author of the line which was not born to die, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world," have been resurrected and their beauty and patriotism again recognized. Mr. Mott was married to Miss Ruth A., youngest daughter of John J. Schuyler of Amsterdam, N. Y. The family with which he thus became allied descended from the Hon. David Pieterse Schuyler of Holland, who was at New Amsterdam Oct. 13, 1657. He was Justice of the Peace at Albany
23
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1683, Schepen 1686, Member of Convention 1689, and Magistrate 1693. He m. Catalina, dau. of Abram Isaac Verplanck, one of the "Twelve Men." The line de- scends as follows:
Pieter Davidse, b. at Albany April 18, 1659, Judge of Oyer and Terminer there 1685, lived at Claverack 1694, m. Alida van Slechtenhorst in Beverwyck, widow of Gerrit, son of Goosen Gerritse van Schayck, d. March 7, 1696. Her father, Brandt Arent van Slech- tenhorst, first Director of Rensselaerwyck, was from Nieukirke in Guilderland. He was also President of the Court of Justice and superintendent of all the bouweries, farms, and other property belonging to the Patroon. He sailed from Holland with his family and servants for Virginia Sept. 26, 1647, proceeding thence for the Manhattans Dec. 12, where he arrived Feb. 7. He reached Rensselaerwyck March 22. His son Gerrit became Officier or Schout-Fiscaal. The father re- fused to recognize the superior authority of Stuyvesant within the patroonship and the controversy waged between them for four years, during which he man- fully defended the rights of his "orphan patroon." This was Johannes, a minor at the time of his father's death, a son of Killaen by his first wife Hellegonda van Bylet. Van Slechtenhorst was intrusted with the management of the estate by the minor's uncle Johan- nes van Wely and Wouter van Twiller, executors of Killaen's will. Eventually his house was burst open and he was placed under civil arrest and taken to Fort Orange to be later conveyed to Fort Amsterdam. Some of his time was passed on Staten Island, some at Breuckelen. He returned to Nieukirke and d. there in 1668.
Davidt Pieterse, b. Dec. 26, 1688, at Albany, m. (I)
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July 17, 1720, Anna Bratt; was of Canojoharie 1764. His will mentions his "second wife" and son Jacob.
Jacob Davidse, b. March 24, 1734, of Albany, later of Florida, Montgomery Co. N. Y., m. Eve Swackhamer of German Valley, N. J. They had thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters.
Jacob Jr., sixth child of the above, b. Feb. 2, 1764. His farm was situated two miles back on Schooley's Mountain from Stanhope, N. J., 40 miles from Morris- town, at a place called Springtown. He m. Martha Fancher and had fifteen children, six sons and nine daughters. He moved to Florida, N. Y., where he died.
John Jacobse, their third son, b. May 26, 1791, at Florida, m., March 25, 1813, Susan Shaw. He died at Amsterdam Jan. 22, 1865, where he was a merchant and Vice-President and director of the Farmers' Bank. They became the parents of Mrs. M. Hopper Mott, the mother of Alexander Hosack Mott and of the author.
Personally Mr. Mott was a man of fine mind and engaging presence, standing fully six feet in height and of large physique; he was of sandy complexion, with blue eyes. All his life a resident of Bloomingdale, with the exception of three years (1853-5) when he lived at 31 West 22d St., where both his children were born, he made his mark in the District. He served his party well, never seeking office, and when prevailed upon to run for Alderman and for Congress he ascertained what so many have before and since, that this is a Democratic town. His voice was not far-reaching and this failing caused him to act more largely as adviser, while others did the orating. An organizer and financier of ability, he was endowed with a gracious and
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