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 126

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

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > 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 126

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March 23. The board of supervisors resolved "to pay such sums not exceeding the amount heretofore paid to volunteers for the army, if they find it will be ad- vantageous to the county, to recruits in the naval ser- vice, provided that this county be credited on the quota therefor." Finding, on inquiry, that credit would be given Kings county for sailors enlisting to her credit (three years' service being required to obtain credit for one man), naval recruits were paid the fol- lowing bounties : for one year, $100; for two and three years, $200 ; for Marine corps (term of service being four years), $300.

March 25th. A grand entertainment was given at the Academy, by the Muscola Association, for the benefit of the families of the members of the 14th, 48th, and 67th Regiments.

May 15th. A call from the Brooklyn and Long Island Christian Commission, for one hundred minute men, to go to the battlefield and hospital, at the front, for the succor and spiritual comfort of the wounded soldiers, was this day promulgated from all the pulpits of Brooklyn.

May 18th. Appeared the bogus proclamation of the President, calling for an additional draft of 400,000 men, and appointing a day of national humiliation and prayer. This document emanated from two Brooklyn newspaper men.

There being a slight deficiency in the full quota of the county, a draft was ordered to fill the same ; and, on the 17th, the board of supervisors directed their bounty committee to pay out of the funds remaining in the county treasurer's hands, $300 to each and every man held, or that may be held, to service, under this or any subsequent draft made, in the second and third Congressional districts of the State, etc., who may pro- cure an acceptable substitute.

The bounty fund committee of the board of super- visors, were empowered and directed to pay the bounty to all men drafted, and who should enter the army. But few cases, however, occurred under this resolu- tion.

July 9th. At a meeting of the field and staff officers of the 1st Long Island Regiment, held at Delmonico's Hotel, in the city of New York, The Association of Officers of the First Long Island Volunteer Regiment of 1861, was formed, "to keep perpetually green the valor, merits and virtues of our brothers in arms, who have fallen by our side, fighting for God and country," and " to preserve as a living coal, the goodly fellow- ship and brotherly regard felt each for the other, by

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- CONSOLIDATED HISTORY OF BROOKLYN, 1864.

those who survive." Offieers : Col. Nelson Cross, Pres- ident; Lieut. Col. Henry L. Van Ness, Vice- President; Adj't Geo. B. Lineoln, Jr., Secretary.

July 13th. The board of supervisors directed its bounty committee "to pay to any person furnishing an accepted volunteer, or reeruit for three years' United States serviee, the sum not exeeeding $300, the same as paid to any drafted man furnishing a substitute, and to be paid upon the like eertifieate of the United States officer, and without regard to the person furnishing such recruit, being liable to be drafted into the United States serviee, etc." It having beeomc necessary to keep paee with New York eity, in the payment of hand money, as well as bounty, the eommittee determined to pay a premium of $20 for one year men, and $35 for two and three years' men.

July 14th. The corner stone of the new Armory in the Eastern Distriet, was laid.

July 18th. A further call for 500,000 one year men was made by the general government ; and, under resolution of the board of supervisors, passed August 16th, the eommittce commenced to pay one ycar re- eruits and volunteers the sum of $175, and $100 hand money to any person bringing a reeruit. In ease the reeruit presented himself at the office, he received both bounty and hand money. This hand money was made to apply, however, only to one year reeruits.

July 31st. The 151st New York Volunteers (or First Metropolitan Regiment), was, together with the 46th and 51st, newly arrived from the front, honored with a magnificent reception by the authorities of the eity of New York. The 151st was one of the four Metropoli- tan Regiments, raised under the auspiees of the Metro- politan Police, and to its ranks the 45th preeinct, of Brooklyn, contributed one entire company, of which Sergt. Daniel Jacobs was appointed captain. The 46th precinct, also of Brooklyn, furnished a company to the regiment, under the captainey of Mr. George Rudyard, and the organization was largely indebted to the labors of Police Captains Woglom and Mullen. The 51st Regiment was, also, to a still greater extent, a Brook- lyn organization, full one-half of its members having been reeruitcd in this city. Of the 46th Regiment, two entire companies were raised in Brooklyn.

Among those who took part in the reception was a portion of the 13th Regiment, New York State National Guard, of this city, and the poliee to the number of about one thousand, which included the off platoons of the Brooklyn foree.

August 5th. Companies B and C (90 men), 28th New York State National Guards, left for Elmira, on one hundred days' tour of service.

August 7th. The 90th New York Volunteers came home on veteran furlough, and returned to the field on September 2d.

September 10th. "Next to the news of the fall of Atlanta," says a Brooklyn paper, "the most eheering

announcement of the week, is that Kings County is out of the draft. The mass of the people rejoice greatly that the city has, for the present, at least, avoided the hardships of eonseription. The navy has taken us out of the draft. The efforts of the committee of Al- dermen and Supervisors to have previous naval enlist- ments credited were successful; General Hays has issued a certificate, by which it appears that on the 1st August, the deficiency under all calls was, in the 2d District, 3,494, and in the 3d Distriet, 2,481, making a total of 5,975. The two distriets are credited, on account of naval enlistments prior to February 24, 1864, with 6,046, leaving as working capital for any future eall, a surplus of 71."

September 12th. The draft found the Seventeenth ward (Greenpoint) with its quota (one hundred and seventy-one men) unfilled. Meetings were at onee called, money raised, a committee appointed, and in about two weeks' time, the ward was out of the draft, and with quite a surplus to its credit. Over $20,000 was raised for this purpose in a short time.

September 19th and 23d. Meetings of a number of our best citizens, at No. 9 Court street, resulted on the 30th, in the formation of a Soldiers' Home Association, having for its objeet the provision of relief for sick, or disabled, soldiers and sailors, and their families. The trustees named in its ineorporation were George Hall, John Greenwood, Moses F. Odell, Jonathan S. Burr, Seymour L. Husted, Geo. B. Lineoln, James M. Sea- bury, L. S. Burnham, Wm. H. Jenkins, James Murphy, Luther B. Wyman, Wm. H. Johnson and Charles J. Lowrey.

September 21. The 48th New York Volunteers re- turned home to Brooklyn.

December 13th. The Female Employment Society acknowledged the receipt of one hundred dollars for the widows and orphans of deeeased soldiers, being the pro- eeeds of a fair held by the "little girls of South Brooklyn."

December 17th. Mrs. Stranahan, president of the Woman's Relief Association, acknowledged the receipt from six little girls, of one hundred and fifty dollars, being a portion of a sum of two hundred and seventy- five dollars, realized from a children's fair, held at No. 84 Joralemon street, on the 2d of the same month, for the benefit of the soldiers. The balance was reserved for the purchase of materials for the making up, by the juvenile donors, of such garments as the society should indieate as most requisite for soldiers' use.

December 17th. A patriotie subseription ball, for the benefit of the destitute families of the soldiers of Brooklyn, held this evening at the Academy of Music, netted the sum of $6,036.26, which was handed over to the Female Employment Society of Brooklyn for dis- bursement.

Deecmber 22d. A meeting of the people of Brook- lyn was held at the Academy, for the purpose of listen-

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ing to an address on the history, patriotism, and suffer- ings of East Tennessee, and to express the sympathy felt with the heroic and unfortunate people of that loyal stronghold. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, the audience was not as large as the object deserved. Mr. A. A. Low presided, and over two thousand dollars was raised for the aid of the suffering Tennessean patriots.

December 28th. The treasurer of the Liberty Soldiers' Aid Society, acknowledges the receipt of $26.57, being the proceeds of a fair held by five little girls.

1865. January 5th. The 173d New York Volunteers (Fourth Metropolitan) from Brooklyn, in camp at Win- chester, Va., received a splendid State flag, with two guidons, donated by citizens of Brooklyn, the War Fund Committee, etc.

March 24th. The Brooklyn Club was organized, and, on the 24th of April following, filed its certificate of in- corporation.

April 10th. The steamer Oceanus, with one hundred and cighty passengers, of both sexes, set sail, under a general permit from the War Department, for a trip to Charleston Harbor, Hilton Head, Fort Fisher, Fortress Monroe, Norfolk, City Point and Richmond. It was a very select and recherche affair, originally conceived by Messrs. Stephen M. Griswold and Edwin A. Studwell, of Brooklyn. At Charleston, the party first heard of Lee's surrender; and, on the 14th of April, they were present at the impressive scene of restoring to its place on Fort Sumter, the stars and stripes. On this occasion the Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs and the Rev. Henry Ward Beccher assisted, the latter delivering one of his im- passioned and thrilling addresses. On the return, ncar Fortress Monroe, the party first heard of the assassina- tion of President Lincoln. Before leaving the steamer, the members of this pleasant party formed themselves into a permanent organization, known as the Sumter Club.

News of Gen. Lee's surrender was received, and the city, as indeed the whole country, was overflowed with joy.

April 15th. The announcement of the assassination and death of President Lincoln, plunged the whole community in mourning. All party rancor, all political bitterness was forgotten in sorrow. The thousands of flags which the day before floated joyfully upon the breeze, were silently taken down, or put at half-mast, or draped in funeral serge. Alderman D. D. Whitney, as acting mayor, issued a proclamation directing the public offices to be closed, the flags to be displayed at half-mast, and the bells to be tolled from twelve to one o'clock P. M., etc., ctc. Courts, theatres and places of public amusements were closed; and everywhere a deep pall of sorrow seemed to have fallen upon the whole community. On the evening of the 17th, an immense gathering of citizens took place at the Academy of Music, under the auspices of the War Fund committee;

and was one of the most solemn and impressive de- monstrations that had ever taken place in Brooklyn. The interior of the beautiful edifice was draped in mourning, while the vast audience, filling every avail- able spot, exhibited feelings in perfect consonance with the mournful occasion which had brought them to- gether. Speeches were delivered by Hon. James Humphrey, Judge Birdseye, Rev. Dr. Thomas Vinton, S. B. Chittenden, and Rev. Dr. Willits. Numerous other meetings also held in other parts of the city testi- fied to the general sorrow.

The municipal and county authorities, public bodies, military, loyal leagues and citizens generally of Brook- lyn, joined in the great procession by which the city of New York, on the 26th, celebrated the obsequies of the martyred president.

September 6th. The ladies of the Seventeenth ward gave a splendid entertainment and supper to the returned Greenpoint soldiers at the M. E. Tabernacle, on Union, near Noble street. Greenpoint contributed largely to the make up of the 131st, 158th, 170th, 127th, 159th, 132d, 62d, 51st and other regiments, besides many men contributed to the navy.

1866. With the 1st of January, Samuel Booth en- tered upon the duties of the mayoralty.

SAMUEL BOOTH, elected in the fall of 1865, as the six- teenth mayor of the city of Brooklyn, was born in England upon the 4th day of July, 1818; and, with his parents, Thomas Booth and Rebecca, came to this country while yet an infant of only three weeks of age. He spent the first ten years of his childhood in the city of New York, since which time he has been a constant resident of Brooklyn. His first residence in this city was in Tillary street, where his father erected a small house upon land which at that time formed a part of a large and almost unbroken farm, called the John- son farm.

Mr. Booth's early training was such only as could be ac- quired at the best of the common and select schools of that day. Up to the time of his leaving New York city, he was under the able instruction of Professor Griscom, then in charge of the high school in that city. After leaving there he pursued his studies, until fourteen years of age, in Brook- lyn, at the school of the late Adrian Hegeman, afterward the clerk of Kings county. Immediately after leaving this school he became a clerk in the wholesale grocery busi- ness, in the establishment of the late Thomas M. McLean, in Maiden lane, New York. Here Mr. Booth acquired the basis of sound business habits, which has only become strengthened since, throughout his exceedingly busy and not altogether uneventful life.

At the age of sixteen he concluded, however, to abandon the chances of success in that direction, and apprenticed himself to Elias Combs, to learn the trade of carpenter and builder, which he accomplished, and in the pursuit of which, he has been successfully engaged in Brooklyn up to the pres- ent time. As an index to the character of his mind, it is stated that while most of his associates were engaged during their otherwise unoccupied evenings in the pursuit of such unprofitable recreation and amusement as offered themselves, Mr. Booth applied himself constantly to his books, and sought to make amends in this way for his early lack of more com- plete educational advantages. At the age of twenty-five Mr.

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CONSOLIDATED HISTORY OF BROOKLYN, 1866.

Booth started business for himself ; and, since that time, his history has been, to a great extent, identified with the pros- perity and advancement of the city of Brooklyn.

In the year 1851, the various wards of the city were repre- sented by two aldermen instead of one, as at present, one of which, designated by lot, officiated also in the capacity of supervisor in the county board. Mr. Booth having been in that year elected alderman of the Fourth ward, it fell to him to occupy both positions; and, from that time to the present, he has been almost constantly engaged, in one way or an- other, in the public service. His first election was character- ized by his receiving, with one exception, a larger majority of the suffrages of his fellow-citizens than any otlier candi- date for official honors has received in that ward, either be- fore or since that time. He served as alderman for four years, during which time the fine building known as the Kings County Penitentary was built, the entire charge of which, for the most part, was placed under the control of Mr. Booth. After four years, declining a re-election as al- derman, he received an unsolicited appointment as a mem- ber of the Board of Education. He filled this position two years.

In the year 1857, the office of alderman and supervisor hav- ing been separated by an act of the legislature, Mr. Booth again consented to become a candidate for office, and was elected supervisor of the Fourth ward, which position he oc- cupied with the almost unanimous approbation of his con- stituency, up to the time of his election to the chief executive office of the city, in the fall of 1865.

During his last term as supervisor the splendid building known as the New County Court House was erected. His fel- low members lost no opportunity in taking advantage of his practical knowledge in such matters, and he was made chair- man of the committee upon its erection. As a proof of his fidelity to the interests of the county, it remains only to be said that this fine building, with all its appurtenances, the fin- est of its kind in the country, cost the sum of only $550,000.

But perhaps the most important of the duties which de- volved upon Mr. Booth during his term as supervisor, were those which arose from his connection with the Bounty Com- mittee, during the progress of the late war. For the most part, with the exception of one year, the chairman of this committee, its most arduous duties devolved upon him; and in this, as in all other positions in which it has been his for- tune to be placed, he was always found at his post and never failed to meet its most urgent responsibilities. In looking after the raising of troops to meet the various calls for them by the government during the war, his watchfulness never ceased regarding the heavy burden which of necessity fell upon Brooklyn, and he never deemed his work accomplislied so long as any opportunity remained whereby that burden might be liglitened. Nearly all of the money expended by the county in the payment of bounties to volunteers, amount- ing to the large sum of $3,800,000, passed through his hands; and none of the Boys in Blue who represented Brooklyn in the war, or of the widows and orphans left by its casualties to seek themselves for justice at the hands of the Bounty Committee, has ever questioned the honesty of purpose which actuated it under the chairmanship of Mr. Booth.

As mayor of Brooklyn, Mr. Booth, at the commencement of his term, found that the political party, to the suffrages of which he was indebted for his election, was in a minority in the board of aldermen. He felt, therefore, that he must de- pend, to a great extent, upon political opponents for the carrying out of any policy which might occur to him as be- ing for the best interests of the city. His honesty of pur- pose, however, and his direct and unequivocal bearing to-

ward all questions relating to city affairs, soon won for him the confidence of all parties, and during his administration almost all recommendations made by him were favorably considered, and acted upon by the common council. He brought with him to the position the experience of a life- time, almost, in city and county matters, and dishonesty and corruption met in him a formidable antagonist at the outset. His judgment upon all questions was unaffected by political or personal friendship or dislike; and at the close of his administration all parties joined in the almost univer- sal expression of the able and impartial manner in which he had fulfilled its duties. To his credit, and that of the board of aldermen, it is said that no veto which he ever sent to that body was overruled.

No one, unless intimately acquainted with the every day surroundings of the office of mayor, can appreciate the de- mands for assistance and pecuniary aid, in all manner of dis- tress, which are constantly made upon it. To all of these ap- peals Mr. Booth lent an attentive ear, and he was ever ready, with his purse and by his own personal efforts, in some way to aid every unfortunate, who came to the office with any just claim for relief.

In April, 1869, Mr. Booth received the appointment of Post master of the city of Brooklyn.

February 14th. A splendid reception was given to the 90th New York Volunteers.

February 26th. The legislature passed an act, cre- ating a Metropolitan Sanitary District and Board of Health therein, for the preservation of life and health, and to prevent the spread of disease. The Sanitary Dis- trict thus created was the same as that already known as the Metropolitan Police District ; and the Board of Health was composed of the commissioners of said Met- ropolitan police, and of four Sanitary commissioners (appointed by the governor) and the Health Officer of the port of New York. This board (wherein Brooklyn was represented by James Crane, M. D., as sanitary commissioner, and Thos. G. Bergen, police commission- er) organized on the 5th of March; and, on the 10th, Dr. John T. Conkling was elected Assistant Sanitary Superintendent, and Dr. R. Cresson Stiles as Deputy Registrar of vital statistics, and detailed for duty to the city of Brooklyn; and to the same city, also, were as- signed six sanitary inspectors.

The prevalence of cholera in various parts of Europe, and the almost absolute certainty of its appearance in this country during the year, stimulated the new Board of Health, immediately upon its organization, to prepare the metropolitan district for the arrival of the epidemic. On the 18th of April, the steamer Virginia, from Liverpool, arrived at quarantinc, with the cholera on board, it having appeared among the steerage passengers on the 12th of that month. On the 1st of May, the first case occurred in New York city, and the epidemic continued to prevail to a very moderate extent during the month of June, in- creasing during July; and, from the 15th of August, decreasing until October 15th.

In Brooklyn the first case occurred on the 8th of July, and its increase then was not rapid, and was

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

mostly confined to localities in different sections of the city where there was the greatest amount of filth; espe- cially in the Twelfth ward, in which occurred 288 of the total 816 cases in Brooklyn. A hospital was opencd at the corner of Hamilton avenue and Van Brunt street, on the 22d of July, in charge of Dr. Wm. H. Thayer, and was closed on the 6th of September. A new hos- pital was built in the City Park, opened on the 15th of August, under Dr. W. F. Swalm, and closed October 1st, at which time the cholera had disappeared from the city. The entire mortality from cholera, in Brooklyn, was 573; to which might undoubtedly be added, if all the facts were known, many of the 142 cases of cholera morbus which proved fatal. The full details and sta- tistics of this epidemic may be found, at length, in the report of the Metropolitan Board of Health for 1866.

June 13. Hon. MOSES F. ODELL, naval officer of the port of New York, four years a member of Congress, and twenty-one years superintendent of the Sabbath- school of the Sands street Methodist church, died, aged 48 years.

October 13th. Celebration of the completion of the Erie Basin Dry Dock.

October 25th. Was rendered memorable by the presentation of medals, prepared by order of the Com- mon Council, to every Brooklyn soldier who had re- turned alive, and with an honorable record, from the many battle-fields of the South. The event was made the occasion of a fine military display, and was graced by the presence of the Governor of the State, Reuben E. Fenton, Admiral Farragut and other eminent citizens. The proces- sion moved to Fort Greene, where the medals were pre- sented by Mayor Booth, with an appropriate speech. MAC

DRACHT

TEEN

MACHT

The organizations of veter- ans that appeared in column, were the following :

"Col. E. Schnapf, of the 20th New York, commanding, as- sisted by Capt. F. W. Ober- meyer, 46th New York, and SOLDIER'S MEDAL. Capt. Henry Wills, 133d New York, and comprising 700 men and 50 officers of the following named organizations: United States Navy ; the 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th, 7th, 20th, 46th, 52d, 54th, 58th, 99th, 103d, 133d, and 173d regi- ments of New York Volunteer Infantry.

" The 158th New York Volunteer Infantry, 170 men, 10 officers, Major Wm. M. Bennett, commanding ; the 5th New York Artillery, 115 men, 13 officers, Col. Samuel Graham commanding; Taft's 5th New York Independent Battery, 32 men, 3 officers, Capt. E. D. Taft, commanding; 1st Long Island, 145 men, 3 officers,

Brevet Col. G. W. Stillwell, commanding; Company F, 10th Regiment National Zouaves, 40 men; 48th New York Volunteer Infantry, 209 men; Col. W. B. Barton, commanding; 87th Regiment, Brooklyn Rifles,

1866

REVERSE OF SOLDIER'S MEDAL.

ENTEORI

BROOKLYN

TOON

RANS

1866

REVERSE OF SAILOR'S MEDAL.

51 men, 6 officers, Col. R. A. Bachia, commanding; 159th New York, 68 men, 7 officers; 174th New York, 60 men, 7 officers; 98th New York Infantry, 70 men, 15 officers, 51st New York, 40 men; the 14th of Brooklyn also paraded with this regiment, 100 uniformed men.

"There were, also, about 300 men and 20 officers, not represented by any organization, but sons of Brooklyn, who had belonged to other organizations throughout the state and the union. These were or- ganized by Brevet Lieut. Col. William Hemstreet, 18th Missouri Infantry, and placed under command of Col. Olmstead, 139th New York. All of the above, ex- clusive of the 14th Brooklyn, consisted of uniformed veterans and numbered in the aggregate, 2,049 men, and 148 officers. In addition to these, were probably as large, or a larger number, within the uniformed militia organizations.

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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 126

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