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 128

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 128

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August 7. Assessed valuation of real and personal property in Kings eounty, $199,840,551.

August 26. Bridge surveys finished and approaches located.

September 21. The Wallabout Improvement eom- pleted and opened for publie use.

October 21. The War Fund Committee's statue of ABRAHAM LINCOLN was unveiled on the plaza of Pros- pect Park. (See Biography of James P. Wallace, following).

JAMES P. WALLACE is the eldest son of the late Isaac and Fanny Phillips Wallace, of Lansingburgh, N. Y. He was born April 3d, 1816, and reared on a farm fronting the east shore of the Hudson River, eleven miles north of Albany. While the Wallace family owned that place, they called it "Grove Hill."

His mother died when he was a child, but he remembers her love for him, and her prayers, and excellent advice, which he has always cherished. His father did not marry again, and father and son were constant companions during all the years of boyhood. The cardinal doctrines of the Christian reli- gion, the value of a virtuous, useful life, the road to honor- able success, and kindred themes, were often subjects of conversation as they worked together in the fields, or sat in the shade of the great trees which surrounded the homestead, or during the long winter evenings by the cheerful fireside.

Former Awallace

507

CONSOLIDATED HISTORY OF BROOKLYN, 1869.

His father was well educated for his day, and a Christian, and was an inspiration to his son in all his studies, and in the formation of his character.

He was educated, in part, at the Lansinburgh Academy, which was two and a half miles from his home. He often carried one arm full of books, and with the other, rolled a hoop all the way. By this means, and by plenty of work on the farm when not in school, he grew up strong and healthy, which had a powerful influence for good in the success of his after life.

Subsequently, he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic In- stitute at Troy, N. Y., where he graduated as Civil Engineer in 1837.

In 1841, which was as soon as he considered himself estab- lished in business, he married Juliet, only daughter of Uriah and Julia Wright Wallace, of Troy. He has always given credit to his wife for a large share of whatever success and usefulness he has been able to attain, because of her economy when that was most needed, her faithful and loving devotion to him, and her good management, and sound practical advice in all things.

They had but two children-one died in infancy-the other, Emma Francis, died, unmarried, in 1882, leaving them child- less. Verily, the souls of those parents were " knit with the soul" of that daughter, and their constant thought is, that they shall soon meet her in heaven. She was a life-long Christian worker in the church, in the cause of missions, and in the Sunday-School. Rev. DR. STORRS, her pastor, in his funeral address, said of her : "There is every thing for her now to look back upon with joy and delight, with grati- tude to God for the privilege of such a life as she has had. It has been full of the best enjoyments; of pleasure at home, in the love which was its atmosphere; of pleasure in friend- ship, and in society, in books and arts, and in the enjoyment of foreign lands; and yet fuller-far fuller than these-of her enjoyment of the love of Christ; of the serene and steadfast hope, which now has been transfigured and crowned in her beatific and immortal vision."

In 1867, Mr. Wallace's maternal uncle, Gilbert D. Phillips, and wife, celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Wallace was requested to respond to the toast of "Nephews and Nieces." He commenced as follows :

" My dear uncle and aunt-In speaking for the descend- ants of your brothers and sisters, I represent, living and departed, about one hundred and fifty souls. It is cause for devout gratitude to God, and for which I congratu- late you, that I have not been able to discover one black sheep in the flock. In our country's late struggle, we were all found on the side of our flag and the Union. Your nephews were represented on the bloody field, and your nieces, God bless them, did good service in aid of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, and as daugh- ters, wives and mothers, have ever been most exemplary. Not one of our number ever favored the rebellion, not one was ever charged with crime, none have disgraced them- selves or their friends by drunkenness, or by a low or vicious life, but every one is worthy the respect, and countenance of all the others."

Mr. Wallace has often said that a similar statement, in re- spect to his father's family, and the family of his wife, would be true, except that he could not count them in so large numbers.

Mr. Wallace fully intended to follow the profession of civil engineer, for which he had been educated; but, not find- ing ready employment in that line, he accepted, as he sup- posed temporarily, a clerkship in the wholesale grocery and produce store of Hiram Slocum, in Troy. He remained in that position one year, and then, for oue year, he kept a country store in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., on his own ac-

count. In 1839, he removed to New York and formed the firm of Tallmadge & Wallace, with Mr. Slocum as special partner, for the transaction of the Produce Commission busi- ness. Neither member of the firm had served a clerkship in New York. They had but a very small capital, and scarcely any city acquaintance.

They relied for success on the confidence of friends in the country, who had promised to consign to them produce, to be sold on commission; and on their determination to de- serve that confidence. They paid what seemed to them, at the time, a large price for experience on the first sale they made, by receiving a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill in pay- ment ; but it was a cheap purchase after all, for they were never again victimized by a confidence man, nor by another counterfeit.

In 1842, the firm was changed to Wallace & Wickes, which continued twenty-five years, and both partners acquired a handsome competence. During part of that time, they had James McNaughton for a partner, who died suddenly in 1856. They have had the satisfaction to see several of their former clerks become successful and honorable merchants, two of whom are their successors in business.

Mr. Wallace was President of a convention of merchants, held in Albany, in 1867, to secure the repeal of the much abused contract system for repairing the canals of the State, and to obtain a more efficient service of the canals. He was also chairman of a standing committee for that object. Much hard work was done, and though the Legislature did not grant all that was asked, great improvement was ac- complished.

He was of the original New York Produce Exchange, and has been its president. He was chairman of its committee on Charter, and By-Laws. On occasion of laying the corner stone of the new Produce Exchange, June 6th, 1882, the presi- dent, Mr. Forrest H. Parker, delivered an address, in course of which he said :

"In 1862, the Legislature was asked for, and a charter granted,so comprehensive and far-seeing in its character that, although twenty years have elapsed, no material amendment to it has been found necessary. * * * And now, while we refer with much satisfaction to our material importance, and lay a corner stone of granite, let us not overlook the nobler corner stone of our Institution, namely, our charter, which reads thus : ' The purposes of said corporation shall be to in- culcate just and equitable principles in trade * * * and to adjust controversies and misunderstandings betweeu per- sons engaged in business.' These are the words that should be engraven in letters of gold upon the walls of our Ex- change-who can estimate the influence that these two main principles of our charter have exercised. Many Exchanges, organized since it was granted. have adopted them; and from foreign countries, we have received requests for a copy of our Charter, By-Laws and Trade Rules. for their guidance. As the advantages of arbitration are realized, we find them permeating the whole business community. The committee, who had charge of formulating and procuring. in 1862. of our most admirable charter, consisted of Messrs. James P. Wal- lace, Isaac H. Reed, and George B. Powell. The original draft was made by Mr. Wallace."

He is President of the New York Guaranty and Indemnity Company, which was organized in 1865, by forty prominent and wealthy men, with a paid-up capital of two million dol- lars, as a Banking and Commission house, and did a large and profitable business for ten years. In 1875, the Court of Appeals rendered a decision, adverse to a feature of the char- ter, which was deemed important; and the Board of Directors decided to retire from business, and, within thirty days, all deposits and indebtedness were paid.

A circular to stockholders of February 20th, 1883, says of its President : " It was his lot to receive the capital of this company, at the commencement of business in 1865, and it

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

has been his privilege to pay it back to stockholders with large interest. His relations to the Board of Directors and stockholders have ever been harmonious and pleasant, and during the past eight years, he has given his best attention to the interests of the company without compensation." A small capital has been retained out of surplus earnings, and the organization of the company has been preserved, but not for active business.

He is President of the New York Warehousing Company, which owns stores and docks in South Brooklyn, and tran- sacts a large business in the storage of cotton.

He was one of the original subscribers for the organization of the New York Life Insurance Company, in 1845. His pol- icy in that company is No. 15, and the lowest number but one still in force.

He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of New York ; Trustee of the Central Trust Company of New York ; of the South Brooklyn Savings Institution ; of the Brooklyn Chil- dren's Aid Society ; and of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Insti- tute, where he was educated ; Director of the Hunover Fire Insurance Company ; and connected with a number of other institutions.

He was for many years a director of the Hanover National Bank in New York, and President of the Georgia Southern Railroad Company. He has been executor and trustee of several estates, and occupied other positions of trust, which have been faithfully administered.

He came to Brooklyn to live in 1843, and has been a resi- dent of the First Ward for forty years. He has done consid- erable building, has been connected with many of Brooklyn's institutions, and always a liberal, public-spirited citizen. He has been identified with the Republican party, but never held office, except that he served two terms as Alderman during the war for the Union.

LINCOLN MONUMENT-PROSPECT PARK.

On the assassination of President Lincoln, the War Fund Committee, of which Mr. Wallace was a member, appointed him Chairman of a sub-committee, under a resolution that reads: "* * * to open a subscription for the erection of some suitable and permanent memorial in the city, of him for whom the nation is in mourning; no contribution of

more than one dollar to be received from any one person, that all may have equal opportunity to take part in this work of public gratitude." The success of that effort is shown by the beautiful statue of Lincoln, by the distinguished sculp- tor, Henry K. Brown, which stands in the plaza of Prospect Park.

Many similar subscriptions were commenced about the same time in other cities, but this monument was the first that was completed. The amount collected was $13,000, which was invested in United States bonds until needed. The interest and profit on the bonds increased the sum to $15,000, which was the cost of the statue. The Park Com- missioners provided the pedestal.

On the occasion of the unveiling and presentation of this monument to the city, October 21st, 1869, Mr. A. Abbott Low presided, Mr. James P. Wallace delivered the presenta- tion address, Hon. J. S. T. Stranahan accepted the monu- ment on behalf of the Park Commissioners for the city, and Rev. R. S. Storrs, D. D., delivered the oration. There were present many invited guests, the Twenty-third Regiment of the New York State National Guard, the Navy Yard Band, and an immense multitude of interested spectators. The band played national airs, and a salvo of one hundred guns was fired from a hill in the park.

Mr. WALLACE, in commencing his address, said:

"I have the honor, on this occasion, to represent about thirteen thousand citizens of Brooklyn, without distinction of creed or political faith-men, women and children-who, for the love they bore to a great and good man, made up a contribution to honor his memory. From the laborer on the highway, from the workshop, from the counting-room, and store, from the stately mansion of the wealthy, and from the scanty apartments of the industrious poor, wherever love and reverence for ABRAHAM LINCOLN thrilled the heart, or wherever was detestation and horror at the dreadful deed which so suddenly terminated his useful life, thence came the little drops into the treasury-a name with every dollar, and a dollar for every name. Noble men ! Noble women ! Names fragrant to the memory, worthy to be preserved, as they have been preserved, in the archives of the Historical Society, that all who come after may know to whom belongs the honor of building up this monument to Abraham Lin- coln."

Mr. Wallace was one of the originators of the Brooklyn Library, and is a member of its Board of Trustees. In 1857, the Athenaeum, corner of Atlantic and Clinton streets, con- tained the principal library of Brooklyn, about five thousand volumes. Mr. Wallace conceived the idea that, if the library could be turned over to the management of young men, they would increase its growth and make it more useful. After many interviews with stockholders and trustees of the Athenæum, he succeeded in securing their approval, pro- vided an organization of young men could be formed strong enough to give assurance of success.

He then began to labor with the young men. Many pri- vate conversations and a few small meetings were held. In- terest in the project rapidly increased among the young men, until a meeting was held, at which about six hundred were present. Mr. Wallace presided. A resolution was adopted to organize after the model of the Mercantile Li- brary Association of New York ; a subscription was com- menced, amounting that evening to about fifteen hundred dollars; a committee was appointed to prepare a constitu- tion ; and, before adjournment, the Chairman pronounced the new library association to be an assured fact. In recog- nition of the value of Mr. Wallace's services in this matter, the Board of Managers, by a special subscription for that purpose, placed his portrait on its walls. The Brooklyn Li- brary, in all its goodly proportions, is the outgrowth of those efforts.

509

CONSOLIDATED HISTORY OF BROOKLYN, 1869-'71.

He became a member of the Presbyterian Church in Lan- singburgh, at the age of twenty. On coming to Brooklyn, he united with the Second Presbyterian Church, and assisted to build its present edifice, on the corner of Remsen and Clinton streets. Subsequently, he became a member of the Church of the Pilgrims, Rev. R. S. Storrs, D. D., pastor, where he continues. In both those churches he has been a Trustee and an officer, and interested in all the work and charities of the church. He has been a Sunday-school worker from his youth.

Mr. Wallace has traveled much, both in this country and in Europe, when he could spare time from his active life, and has written many descriptive letters for the newspapers at home, which have always been gladly welcomed by the press, and by his friends.

November 2. Hon. MARTIN KALBFLEISCH re-elected Mayor over Wm. Mayo Little by a vote of 27,993 to 18,160.

1870 .- Jan. 1. Mayor Kalbfleisch's message reports new buildings erected during the past year, as follows: 2,749 dwellings, with accommodations for 20,000 peo- ple; 30 churches, 25 schoolhouses, over 100 storehouses and manufactories; also 11 miles of new streets graded and paved, Washington avenue extended, 22 miles of sewers and 22 miles of water-pipes laid; also, that the improvements of Wallabout Canal, Kent avenue and Gowanus Canal added largely to the water-front ; $6,500,000 were borrowed by the city, making the ag- gregate of the city debt over $23,000,000, of which $8,000,000 is for Prospect Park and $8,000,000 for the water-works. The Board of Health reports the deaths for 1869 at 8,759, as against 8,750 for 1868. The num- ber of patrolmen in the city was 466, who made 18,730 arrests.

The Union Ferry Company carried 42,720,000 pas- sengers; the Roosevelt, Grand and James Slip, 7,028,- 000; the Greenpoint, 1,622,250 ; the Thirty-fourth Street, 2,250,550.

Jan. 3. Work on the Brooklyn Bridge was com- menced by clearing ground for the reception of the cais- son, which was then building in Williamsburg.

Jan. 7. A public meeting was held and a bill drafted providing for the re-organization of the City Court.

Jan. 11. Brooklyn Dental Infirmary inaugurated at 260 Washington street.

Feb. 4. The Paid Fire Department makes its first annual report, showing 13 engines and 6 trueks in eon- dition for usc, and asking $290,000 for its maintenance during the coming year. Prince Arthur, of England, entertained by the Brooklyn Club.

Feb. 7. Hon. Samuel E. Johnson buried. He had been Master in Chancery, County Judge, Corporation Counselor, and member of the Legislature. Hc planned the first City Hall building.

Feb. 25. Improved code of fire signals introduced.

Feb. 26. General MeClellan presided at a meeting of consulting engineers to consider the best means of

traveling through, under, or over Brooklyn streets by steam power.

March 28. The Twenty-eighth Regiment Armory inaugurated.

Mareh 30. The Legislature passed the bill giving the control of the Brooklyn police forec to the Mayor and two Commissioners.

May 4. The eaisson for the Brooklyn Bridge tower was placed in position.

May 25. Governor Hoffman appoints J. F. Barnard. to be Presiding Judge, and J. W. Gilbert and A. B. Tappan, Associate Justices, of the Supreme Court for the Second District.

May 28. The terms of the new lease to the Union Ferry Company include one cent ferriage between five and half-past seven, night and morning.

June 26. Hamilton Market fell, crushing two ehil- dren in the ruins.

Aug. 3. The Central Bank suspended payment.

Aug. 14. Hon. GRENVILLE T. JENKS died.

Sept. 30. The Brooklyn City Railroad Company re- dueed its fares to five cents.

Oct. 1. Funeral of Admiral Farragut.

Nov. 1. Stoves introduced into street ears.

1871 .- Jan. 3. Mayor Kalbfleisch's message gives the population of Brooklyn in 1870 at 400,000; the taxes levied in the year $8,000,000 ; eity debt, $36,- 000,000.

Jan. 16. The demolition of St. John's P. E. Church, corner of Johnson and Washington streets, was com- menced, to make way for the new Brooklyn Theatre.

Jan. 28. The Brooklyn City Gas Works' reservoir collapsed, and killed the engineer.

Feb. 13. An ice-bridge formed in the East River, over which thousands of people passed. This occurrence was repcated on the 14th.

March 30. The new wing of the Long Island Col- lege Hospital completed.

May 2. The Park and Vanderbilt line of strcet-cars opened for travel.

May 3. Bedford avenue opened south from Fulton street.

May 9. The New York caisson of the bridge suc- cessfully sunk.

June 3. The Board of Charities and Corrections took the place of the Superintendents of the Poor.

June 12. The Brooklyn Steam Transit Company projects an elevated railroad from the bridge to Flat- bush.

Streets were renumbered this year.

June 21. Laying of the corner-stone of the Church Charity Foundation cdifice at Albany and Herkimer avenues.

July 1. A Bust of Washington Irving was unveiled at Prospect Park.

July 12. Several Brooklynites killed in the Orange riot in New York.

510

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

July 30. The Staten Island ferry boat Westfield ex- plodcd, killing and wounding a number of Brooklyn people.

Aug. 15. The Board of City Assessors reports the number of new buildings crected, during the year end- ing June 30, at 2,214, at an assessed value of $4,930,900, affording accommodations for 18,000 people.

Oct. 2. The new Brooklyn Theatre was opened with the play of "Money."

Oct. 10. Brooklyn's gift to burned Chicago, $100,- 000, the first sent from the East.

Nov. 28. The Grand Duke Alexis given a reception at the Navy Yard.

Dec. 15. Small-pox declared epidemic.

1872 .- Jan. 8. Mayor Powell's message gives the number of men on the police force as 450, supported at an annual expense of $500,000; the total liabilities of the city at $30,669,768.50; the total county debt $3,- 733,712; twenty-one miles of strects were graded and paved in 1871, 1,944 gas lamps set, and 2,596 buildings of all kinds crected.

April 5. The American District Telegraph Company in Montague street commenced operations.

June 1. The Mechanics' Savings Bank opened at Fulton and Main streets.

July 6. Piers and warehouses for first line of Eu- ropean steamers from Brooklyn, to Havre and Baltic Sea, building at Martin's stores.

July 16. East New York voted, by 3 to 1, for an- nexation with Brooklyn.

July 31. The burning of the Standard Oil Works at Hunter's Point, destroyed 25,000 bbls. of oil, and some shipping at the wharves. Estimated Loss, $300,000 to $500,000.

August 12. The Commissioner of Police authorized to add 50 men to the force of patrolmen.

September 3. Justice Barnard grants an injunction against laying car-tracks on Lee avenue.

1873 .- January 7. Mayor Powell's message reports the Water Department as more than self sustaining; the total length of streets, 546 miles, of which 283 are paved, 20 during 1872; the county debt, $3,654,712; the city's obligations, $32,012,884.

January 18. The Committee of One Hundred report a new charter for Brooklyn.

January 23. Work commenced on the Brooklyn Anchorage of the Bridge.

Feb. 13. Death of Ex-Mayor MARTIN KALBFLEISCH.

March 6. The building corner of Montaguc and Clinton streets, fitted for the use of United States authorities.

April 18. Mass meeting to favor the establishment of High Schools.

April 27. A Board of United States engineers recom- mended extending the pier line from Fulton Ferry to Atlantic Docks.

May 8. New State Line of steamers inaugurated bc- tween Brooklyn, Belfast and Glasgo .

May 12. Postal cards introduced into general use.

May 16. Brooklyn's new city charter passed by the Assembly, by which the Mayor, Auditor and Controller are elective, the mayor and Aldermen appoint the heads of departments, the Excise and Police are consolidated, and the departments stands as follows: Finance, Audit, Treasury, Collection, Arrears, Law, Assessment, Police and Excise, Health, Fire and Buildings, City Works, Parks, Public Instruction.

May 21. Bill passed to issue bonds of $150,000 for building Thirteenth Regiment Armory.

June 2. East River Bridge Company reorganized under a modified charter.

June 18. Telegraphic communication established with Flatbush.

June 19. The remains of the Revolutionary martyrs in the British Prison Ships were removed to the Mauso- leum on Fort Greene.

July 20. Brooklyn Trust Company suspended payment; resumed operations Aug. 11th.

July 26. The Mercantile Library's new building was opened to the public.

August 9. The Police force was reorganized.

September 17. The taxable property of Brooklyn, as given by the Board of Assessors, is $216,073,170; of the entire county, $227,699,043.

September 27. A Bust of John Howard Payne was unveiled in Prospect Park.

October 1. Charles C. Talbot becomes Postmaster; the offices are consolidated; the main office being in Washington street, with branches in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and on Marcy avenue, near Fulton street.

November 4. John W. Hunter (Dem.), elected Mayor by a vote of 32,115 over Dwight Johnson (Rep.), whose vote was 24,311.

JOHN W. HUNTER, Mayor of the city of Brooklyn, was born 1807, in the then village of Bedford, a locality now covered by the streets of the city. His father, an industrious farmer, had removed hither from Monmouth county, New Jersey, a few years prior to the birth of the subject of our sketch. On his mother's side Mr. Hunter claims descent from some of the earliest Holland families of Long Island. His early education was obtained at the neighboring schools, and as soon as his age permitted, he entered the employ of a wholesale grocery house of New York city, where, with several promotions, he remained many years, laying the foundation of that character and integrity, which so highly distinguishes him. Meanwhile his home was in Brooklyn; and, as early as 1835, he began to interest himself in improv- ing the school system of his native city. In 1838 he was as- sociated with Mr. Seth Low (the grandfather of our present mayor) as trustee of the public school now known as No. 1, and he was largely instrumental in securing the erection of the present edifice on the corner of Adams and Concord streets, having to overcome the very strenuous opposition to educational progress, which existed in that early time, as well as at present. He has been an active member of the Board of Education for many years, during which time he has largely contributed to the excellent system of education which Brooklyn now possesses. Mr. Hunter filled the im-

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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 128

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