The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 122

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114

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SETH LOW.

A MONG the useful and honored citizens of Brooklyn, none have left a better record than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was born at Gloucester, Cape Ann, in the county of Essex, Mass., on the 29th of March, 1782. He was fitted for college by the late Rev. Dr. Abiel Abbott, of Bev- erly, in the same county and State. This begat a warm friendship between the teacher and pupil, which con- tinued through Dr. Abbott's life, and led to the baptis- mal name given to the. eldest son of Mr. Low, the present A. A. Low, of Brooklyn.

Mr. Low entered Harvard University at the com- mencement of the college term of the year 1800, and under the pleasantest auspices. He found himself associated, in his class, with young men of congenial spirit, several of whom subsequently became famous in their professions, and all of whom held pleasant places in his memory. Merchants like the late Benjamin Welles, Samuel Swett and William R. Gray, of Boston, were among the former; while the Bar welcomed to its rolls the late able and learned Chief Justice Shaw, and Leonard Jarvis, a distinguished member of Congress from Massachusetts ; the Pulpit, the eloquent Joseph Stevens Buckminster, Dr. Charles Lowell, father of our present Minister at the Court of St. James, both of Boston, and President Bates, of Middleborough Col- lege, Vt .; Art gave one of her highest seats to Washing- ton Allston, and Engineering Science to Loammi Bald- win. It was a great disappointment to Mr. Low to part company with young men of such promise, but after faithfully prosecuting his studies through the freshman and sophomore years, he was compelled in the junior, or third ycar, by a severe attack of ophthalmia, to sacrifice the advantages of a complete university course and leave college. It was to him a great sacrifice. He was ambitious to excel. He had hoped, indeed longed, to make the Christian Ministry, toward which his devout temper, his desire for usefulness, and his high estimate of the profession, as a means for that, naturally led

him; but the same cause forbade him to cherish the hope and longing, and he yiclded. A business life offered itself. He entered the store of a prominent druggist in Salem, Mass., as a clerk. After coming of age, he fol- lowed the business for some twenty years, when misfort- une overtook him, and he failed. This drew forth the universal sympathy, nevertheless, of the community, in which, by his whole deportment and true nobility of character, he had won, and still held, undiminished confidence and respect. In 1807 he had married Miss Mary Porter, daughter of Thomas Porter, of the neighboring town of Topsfield. She was a woman of marked and superior qualities of mind and heart, who in no change of fortune could fail to show how admir- able they were; in prosperity or adversity alike sharing, with her whole warm and strong, yet well-disciplined mature, her husband's lot. She was the true, helpful and devoted wife, the loving, wise and faithful mother. The heart of her husband safely trusted in her; and to this hour her surviving children "rise up and call her blessed."

Such was the partner of his life whom Mr. Low brought with him on his removal from Salem to Brook- lyn, in the year 1828. With the experience he had gained in the former place, he at once began in New York at wholesale, the same business in which at retail he had been unfortunate. For a time he was again to encounter reverse and disappointment, but was never daunted or discouraged. He met difficulty with a high-souled courage, which never flinched-a brave, yet serene temper-an integrity above stain or even suspicion-a calm, resolute, unfaltering faith in a kind and overruling Providence. And when the change came, and the light grew brighter, and hap- pier days broke upon his path, he was the same man in all essential respects as before-honest, upright, high- principled, generous, honorable, and devont. He had become a prosperous and honored merchant in the great mercantile metropolis of the nation ; and a citizen of

514a

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Brooklyn, than whom none was more beloved and respected ; in every private, domestic, social relation -husband, father, friend, neighbor, member of so- ciety, citizen-most faithful ; and highly esteemed and trusted by men of every sect and party he died, universally lamented, in June, 1853, in the seventy-first year of his age.

Mr. Low had lived in Brooklyn, and in the public eye, long enough to enable his fellow citizens to under- stand and rightly estimate his character. At the time of his removal to that city, and, indeed, for years after, so sharply drawn were the lines of the different orthodox sects, and so bitter their common animosity towards those of a more liberal faith, that one of the prominent Presbyterian churches refused him participation in the Lord's Supper because of his Unitarianism. That day has passed, we trust, forever. A better and more Christ- like spirit pervades the churches. The Christian walk of such a man would in our day ensure him fellowship, except among the most narrow-minded and bigoted. If ever there was a man in whom, in the words of his Pastor in a sermon preached the Sunday following his burial, " the largest and noblest traits of human nature were developed and moulded by the benign and potent influences of a Christianity enthroned in the heart, as the fountain whence all that was good flowed, as the grand central principle which guided, inspired, and con- trolled the entire character, and were everywhere con- spicuous in the life " -- that man was Seth Low.

Mr. Low was one of the leading spirits in originat- ing, in 1843, the Brooklyn Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor-its first president, and for several successive years holding the same office-an in- stitution which has from year to year illustrated the wisdom and benevolence of its founders, and steadily gained on the affections and patronage of the com- munity. How would his heart have rejoiced to see the handsome and commodious building designed for its permanent home, just erected and opened for a charity in which he was so deeply interested, and which his children and grand-children have joined their fellow citizens to secure ! He was not only a sincere and earn- est Christian, of the largest and most catholic spirit, wisely and generously benevolent and beneficent toward the poor, but deeply engaged in promoting popular ed- ucation in every form. He was a member of the Board of Education, and prominent in sustaining and im- proving the public schools. Public-spirited, and ever ready to serve the public welfare, he was elected for successive terms alderman of the Fourth Ward in Brooklyn, and one of the supervisors of Kings County; into both of which offices he carried the same high and pure principles which characterized his private life, and from which he brought the reputation of having had a single eye to the conscientious performance of duty, and the just demands and expectations of his constituency.

HENRY SHELDON.

T THIS gentleman is one of the best known of Brook- lyn's resident New York business men, and a leading importer and jobber of tea and coffee, his office being located at 109 Front street.

It is now (1883) forty-five years since Mr. Sheldon established himself in New York, and he is one of the oldest merchants in his section of the city.

He was born in Charleston, Montgomery County, New York, in 1821. His father, Judge Alexander Sheldon, was a well-known physician who had come into that section of New York State from Connecticut, as early as 1790. He was a graduate of Yale College, a man of much force of character, was first judge ; in association with De Witt Clinton, he was appointed one of the Regents of the University of the State; was a member of the Convention which formed the State Constitution of 1821, and chairman of the committee with respect to the executive department. He took an active part in politics, being a member of the Legisla- ture for about eight years. Upon taking his seat the first time, in 1804, he was chosen Speaker of the House, a position he occupied with but a brief intermission

during the succeeding eight years; and it is worthy of note that he was the last of the speakers who, when presiding, wore the chapeau or cocked hat which, with the accompanying coat, was the insignia of the offiee. His term of service as a legislator was during the ex- citing political contests in which Burr, Hamilton, Clin- ton, Livingston, Lewis and Tompkins bore a con- spicuous part.

Mr. HENRY SHELDON has been a resident of Brook- lyn since 1849, and has been long and prominently identified with many of its important interests in the departments of Christianity, Literature and Art. He was an early friend of the Brooklyn Library and the Long Island Historical Society, and one of the first directors in each of those institutions, as also a trustee in the Brooklyn Art Association.

To the financial success of these institutions and to the benevolent objects of the City of Brooklyn, he has been a friend and a liberal contributor.

Mr. Sheldon's standing in mercantile and commer- cial circles is high; and, besides attending to the duties devolving upon him from day to day in the manage-

Henry Sheldon

AMHumphreys

ASAHEL WILLARD HUMPHREYS.

515a

ment of his extensive business interests, he finds time to devote to the affairs of such well-known institutions as the Merchants' National Bank of New York, and the Standard Fire Insurance Company of New York, in both of which lie is a Director, and from time to

time he has been more or less prominently identified with other well-known institutions of a similar char- acter. Mr. Sheldon married Miss Cclia E. Farrington, danghter of Dr. S. H. Farrington, of Ashtabula, Ohio, by whom he has had five sons and two daughters.

ASAHEL WILLARD HUMPHREYS.

A SAHEL WILLARD HUMPHREYS was born in Winchester, New Hampshire, October 30th, 1838, a son of Asahel Jewell and Mary Hinds Humph- reys. His grandfather was one of the early settlers of that town, to which he came from Dorchester, Mass., and of which the family were prominent and honored citizens from its formation.

Mr. Humphreys was educated primarily at the pub- lic schools of Winchester, New Hampshire, and subse- quently at Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass., and at Kimball Union, Meriden, New Hampshire. After leaving school, he entered the counting room of Little, Brown & Co., the well-known publishers of Boston, where he remained until 1861, when he was made as- sistant cashier of the Ocean Bank of New York. The latter position he resigned to connect himself with the iron interests, entering the service of the Sterling Iron and Railway Company, of which he soon became the treasurer and subsequently the president. In 1864 this company acquired the ownership of the twenty -five thousand acres of land, with all the mines and furnaces upon it, which constituted the Sterling estate in Orange and Rockland Counties, New York, and on which were erected almost the earliest iron works in this State; where Peter Townsend made the first cast steel in this country, the great chain put across the Hudson river to prevent the ascent of the British during the Revolution, all of the anchors for the first navy of the New American Government, and for a long term of years the charcoal iron which was required in the con- struction of the steam engines of the United States Government. The Sterling Iron and Railway Com- pany, with Mr. Humphreys as its principal business official, largely extended the operations carried on at Sterling, by developing new mines, building railways, and making other important improvements; and so

well known did Mr. Humphreys become in connection with the iron interests, that he was urgently requested by the late Hon. Horace Greeley, then an active mem- ber of the American Institute, to prepare an address on iron and its manufacture, which he delivered at the American Institute, in October, 1870, and which was published in full in the Daily Tribune, covering a page of that paper, and reprinted in all the journals and peri- odicals devoted to metallurgy and engineering in this country and Europe.

Mr. Humphreys was for several years one of the Board of Managers of the American Iron and Steel As- sociation, and was the third member in the United States of the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain. The degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the faculty of Williams College, in 1872, and he is a director of several corporations and railways. Hc came to Brooklyn to live in 1867, and later, became in- terested in its social and benevolent institutions and enterprises. He. was chosen chairman of the member's committee of the Long Island Historical Society, and subsequently became the treasurer and a director of that institution. He was also chosen a member of the Board of Managers of the Brooklyn Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, and a director of the Union for Christian Work. In 1879, lic was ap- pointed one of the trustees of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge.

Always a thorough-going Republican, Mr. Hum- phreys has never had any liking for politics, and con- sequently has not been active as a politician. He is a member of the Union League Club of New York, and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 1863 he married Miss Mary L. Cunning- ham, of Boston, and has one son, named Willard Cull- ningham Humphreys.

ANNALS

OF THE

CONSOLIDATED CITY OF BROOKLYN,

1855-1883.

Army Refiles. A.M.M.J BY

U NDER THE CHARTER granted by the Leg- islature, on the 17th of April, 1854, providing for the consolidation of the eities of Brook- lyn and Williamsburgh and the township of Bushwick, Brooklyn (1855, January 1st) entered upon a new phase of its civic existence. By a singular eo- ineidence, GEORGE HALL, who had been the first Mayor of the original city of Brooklyn, was the first Mayor of the consolidated city. From his inaugural address to the common council of the new municipality, we extraet the following succinct comparison between its past and present :

"It is now twenty-one years," says Mr. HALL, "since I was called by the common council to preside over the affairs of the late city of Brooklyn, then first ushered into existence. The population of the city, at that time, consisted of about 20,000 persons, residing for the most part within the dis- tance of about three-quarters of a mile from Fulton Ferry. Beyond this limit, no streets of any consequence were laid out, and the ground was chiefly occupied for agricultural purposes. The shores, throughout nearly their whole ex- tent, were in their natural condition, washed by the East River and the bay. There were two ferries, by which com- munication was had with the city of New York, ceasing at twelve o'clock at night. There were, within the city, two banks, two insurance companies, one savings bank, fifteen churches, three public schools and two weekly newspapers. Of commerce and manufactures it can scarcely be said to have had any, its business consisting chiefly of that which was requisite for supplying the wants of its inhabitants. Sixteen of its streets were lighted with public lamps, of which num- ber thirteen had been supplied within the then previous year. The assessed value of the taxable property was $7,829,684, of which $6,457,084 consisted of real estate and $1,372,600 of personal property.

" Williamsburgh was incorporated as a village in 1827. Its growth was comparatively slow until after the year 1840. At the taking of the census in that year, it was found to contain 5,094 inhabitants, and since that time it has ad- vanced with almost unparalleled rapidity, having attained a population of 30,780 in 1850. It was chartered as a city in 1851.

"Within the comparatively short period of twenty-one years, what vast changes have taken place. Bushwick, from

a thinly-settled township, has advanced with rapid strides, and yesterday contained within its limits two large villages, together numbering a population of about 7,000 persons. WILLIAMSBURGH, from a hamlet, became a city, with about 50,000 inhabitants. Brooklyn, judging from its past in- crease, yesterday contained a population of about 145,000 persons, and on this day the three places consolidated into one municipal corporation, takes its stand as the third city in the Empire State, with an aggregate population of about 200,000 inhabitants.

"The superficial extent of area included within the city limits is about 16,000 acres (or 25 square miles). The extent in length of the city along the water front is 8} miles, along the inland bounds, 13} miles, and between the two most dis- tant points in a straight line, 74 miles, and its greatest width 5 miles. Within these limits 516 streets have been opened for public use. * * * Thirty miles of railroad tracks, ex- clusive of those of the Long Island railroad companies, have been laid, and are in use upon the streets of the city ; be- sides twelve lines of stages or omnibuses. The city, to a great extent, is lighted by gas, supplied by the Brooklyn and Williamsburgh Gas-Light Company, using 95 miles of pipes along the streets. The streets are lighted with public lamps, numbering in the aggregate 3,766, of which 2,609 are gas lamps. Thirteen sewers have been constructed, extending in length five miles. There are 157 public cisterns and 547 wells and pumps. There are two public parks, one of which will rival in magnificence, as respects its natural position and commanding prospect, that of any other city in the Union." Reference was also made to Greenwood and Ever- green cemeteries; to 113 churches within the city; to 27 pub- lic schools, containing 317 teachers and about 30,500 scholars; to the Packer Collegiate Institute, the numerous private schools, the Brooklyn City Hospital, the Orphan Asylums, the Old Ladies' Home, Industrial schools, dispen- saries, etc .; also, to nine banks, four savings institutions, eight insurance companies, five daily and two weekly pa- pers, etc. The assessed value of taxable property during the previous year was estimated : In Brooklyn-of real estate, $64,665,117; of personal property, $8,184,881; Williamsburgh- of real estate, $11,242,664; of personal property, $11,614,559; Bushwick-of real estate, $3,106,864; of personal prop- erty, $109,000; making the aggregate in the whole city, $88,923,085.

Thirteen ferries, keeping up a constant communication with the city of New York, and the almost continuous line

485

CONSOLIDATED HISTORY OF BROOKLYN, 1855-'57.

of wharves between Greenpoint and Red-Hook, as well as the commercial facilities furnished by the Atlantic docks, and the expensive ship-building at Greenpoint, were also alluded to. The police of the new city, under Chief JOHN S. FOLK, comprised seven districts, with an aggregate of 274 men; the 8th, 9th and 18th Wards not being included, they having a special police at their own expense. The fire de- partment was also on a good footing, the western district having 20 engines, 7 hose-carts and 4 hook and ladder com- panies; the eastern having 10 engines, 4 hose-carts, 3 hook and ladder, and 1 bucket companies.

The new city was divided into eighteen wards, to which a nineteenth was soon after added.

Yct, although Brooklyn had thus, at a single bound, jumped from the seventh to the third position among the cities of the American Union, it could by no means claim the same relative position in point of wealth, business or commercial importance; being outranked, in these respects, by several cities of less population. Nor had it risen to its eminence by virtue of its own inherent vigor and enterprisc. Candor certainly com- pels the acknowledgment that it was chiefly attribut- able to the overflowing prosperity and greatness of its giant neighbor, New York. Many thousands of its counted population were scarcely more than semi-deni- zens. They were the merchant princes, and master artisans doing business in the metropolis, employing other thousands as clerks, accountants, journeymen and apprentices, in numerous and varied capacities, and who resided here. Thus, Brooklyn held the ano- malous position of out-numbering, at night, its day population by tens of thousands. Brooklyn's position, however, as regards business, commerce and influence, has so rapidly increased since then, and is developing with such wonderful promise, that the burden of re- proach that she is only a sleeping apartment for New York, is undeniably passing away.

Mayor Hall had been clected mainly on a temper- ance and sabbath observanee platform, and, on the 14th, his proclamation in regard to the closing of stores, etc., on the sabbath, went into effect, and was very generally observed. On the 31st, the new build- ing of the Brooklyn City Hospital was first opened to the inspection of the public.

Feb. 21st. The first meeting of the new Board of Education of the consolidated city was held, and offi- cers elected.

March 28th. The Fire Department of the City of Brooklyn was incorporated by act of legislature.

April 12th. The Nassau Water Company was in- corporated by legislative enaetment; was at once or- ganized, and promptly petitioned the Common Council to authorize a subscription to its eapital stock, to the amount allowed by its act of incorporation.

On the same date an act was passed defining the limits of the fire district of the Western District.

July. The Brooklyn Central Dispensary was insti- tuted ; the Hunt Horticultural and Botanical Garden

incorporated, and the Brooklyn Sunday School Union reorganized.

Nov. 15th. The Common Council passed a resolu- tion, by 27 to 7 votes, authorizing a subscription of $1,000,000 to the stock of the Nassau Water Com- pany, on condition of the two million capital stock being paid up. In June, they voted to increase the amount to $1,300,000.

1856. Mayor Hall's address to the common council, in January, stated that during the year 1855 there had been 1,034 new buildings erected, and 518 then in course of erection; about fourteen miles of new streets opened, and nine miles graded and paved; 426 new gas lamps and posts set, 16 public cisterns, etc., etc.

July 31st. Operations upon the Nassau Water Works were formally commenced by the breaking of the ground for a reservoir on what is now known as Reservoir Hill, on Flatbush Avenue, and within the present Prospect Park. On a commanding point of this eminence, and around a platform covered with an awning of American flags, assembled the Common Council of the city, the Water Company, and a number of prominent citizens, in all some 1,000 persons, who had been brought to the spot, from the City Hall, in a long procession of omnibuses and carriages. The exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, after which Mr. John H. Prentice, President of the Board of Directors, gave a brief history of the inception and progress of the Nassau Water Company's operations in securing a supply of water for Brooklyn ; and concluded by introducing the Hon. George Hall, Mayor of the city, who, after a few pertinent remarks, proceeded to break ground by digging a spadeful of earth, amid the cheers of the multitude. The Rev. Dr. Kennedy, the Hon. N. B. Morse and the Rev. Dr. Bethune, then delivered speeches replete with elo- quence, cordiality and humor.

This year was signalized by the appearance of yellow fever, on Long Island. ( See chapter on Medical Pro- fession of Kings County).

1857. With this year commenced the mayoralty of Mr. Samuel S. Powell.

SAMUEL S. POWELL, a descendant from some of the earli- est settlers of Long Island, was born in the city of New York, on the 16th day of February, 1815. He enjoyed the usual advantages of school education until the age of thirteen, when family reverses rendered it necessary for him to seek his own livelihood. After serving in a store in New York for some time, he came to Brooklyn in 1838, and engaged with S. B. Stilwell, at that time the leading tailor and clothier of the then village, and, after four years, commenced a busi- ness on his own account. Having always taken a lively in- terest in politics, he was elected in 1845, by the Democracy of the Second ward, as their representative in the Common Council, where he served one term, declining a renomination. Tradition says that he first made himself known by a clever speech at a Sunday-school celebration, and was suggested as a good man for Alderman. He held no other office until 1857, when he was chosen Mayor ; and at the expiration of his

486

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

first term was re-elected, It is said that he was the first Democratic Mayor who was not under obligations to the political firm of Lott, Murphy & Vanderbilt ; in fact, suc- ceeded through a revolt against it.

After Mayor Kalbfleisch's three terms of office, the politi- cal managers resolved to displace him. Ex-Mayor Powell was remembered as a "candidate who had never been de- feated," and they elected him. He never resorted to " work- ing" for his election. He was a strong party man; well-read and cultured, full of anecdote and information; regular in habits, hours for sleep, exercise and reading.

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 122

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1114

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114