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 37

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 37

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Charter was obtained, and the bounds included the 8th and 9th wards, which brought his home again within the lines. In 1837 he was elected mayor of the city of Brooklyn, and re-elected in 1838 and 1839. As a public officer he was faith- ful, prompt and indefatigable, while his punctuality was proverbial. In 1840, and again in 1841, he was elected again a member of the State Legislature. At one time, also, he was judge of the Common Pleas. In 1848 he was chosen the first president of the St. Nicholas Society of Nassau Island, an office which he held until his death. In 1849 he was unani- mously elected an honorary member of the American Insti- tute (having been a member since 1836), and at the time of his death was chairman of its board of agriculture. As chairman of this committee he was quite active in urging to its final passage the act for the encouragement of agriculture in the State of New York. Besides all these there was hardly an occasional or incidental duty in the business of agricul- ture, of education, of improvements, of reference, of man- agement, to which he was not summoned, by reason of his business capacity and experience, as well as the reputation and high confidence he maintained amidst the community. He made no pretensions to literature, and seldom wrote any- thing for the public eye ; henevertheless wielded an efficient pen, when his feelings were aroused, or his sense of justice and propriety were violated by official malpractices, or the wrong-doing of others. He was fond of putting down mem- oranda and scraps of history, and interesting facts which his observation and experience had gathered ; though in an in- cidental way, rather as materials for a more labored attempt. Well acquainted with the language of Holland, he was fond of making translations from its writers ; as, for example, his excellent translation of Von der Donk's History of New Netherland. Indeed, there has not been an author meditat- ing a work upon Long Island, or publishing one, who has not conferred with General Jeremiah Johnson, or who has not borrowed and used his communications and his notes, and made grateful mention of him and his assistance. He was a modest, consistent, obedient, habitual, conforming Christian. He belonged to the old Dutch Reformed congre- gation, in Brooklyn. In that congregation for fifty years he was a communicant ; and a standing member of the consist- ory, in and out, alteruating, according to the parish method, continually ; and the clerk of its consistory for forty years, until his resignation in 1843. Gen. Johnson was remarkably active, prompt, decided ; never idle ; of indefatigable indus- try ; kindly to all, warm-hearted and affectionate ; generous in all his instincts, sympathizing with the young. He was of a social, genial mood ; was fond of his pipe, even to the last, and handled it from his seventeenth year to within a quarter of an hour of his death. He was fond of his gun, of walking, and of manly exercise ; from youth up an early riser, and early to bed. His free, easy, unreserved manners, made him ever a welcome and delightful guest. He could give information upon the gravest and most important themes ; he could sympathize with the most common. If there was an ancient tree, or stump, connected with some memorial of the past, he knew of it, and he was the one to mark it by a monumental stone. His perception was quick and clear, and his tact admirable ; and well nigh to the last, his eye was not dim, nor his uatural force abated, and his voice continued full and strong. His death, which occurred on the 20th of October, 1852, was in harmony with his life - calm, trustful and serene-and caused a wide-spread and profound sensation of sorrow throughout the city of Brooklyn.

May. The three banks of the city, in accordance with the advice of a public meeting of citizens, sus-

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THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN, 1834-1854.

pended specie payment. It was a season of great pressure in the money market, and small bills or shin- plasters, issued by corporations and individuals, were extensively circulated.

1838. General Johnson was re-elected Mayor of Brooklyn. The year proved a very dull one for the city, in which business was prostrate, because of the financial crash of the previous year.

Greenwood Cemetery was this ycar incorporated as a joint-stock company, and in April, 1839, was incorpor- ated as an association of lot-owners.

1839. Cyrus P. Smith, Esq., was chosen mayor by the aldermen.

CYRUS PORTER SMITH, born at Hanover, N. H., April 5th, 1800, spent his boyhood on his father's farm. Later, by teaching district-schools every winter, from his eighteenth year, he paid his way through college, graduating from Dartmouth in 1824, with honor. He then commenced the study of law with chief-justice Williams, in Hartford, Conn., and was admitted to practice in 1827. Locating in Brooklyn, he connected himself with Dr. Cox's (Presbyterian) church, of which he was chorister from that date until 1859. In 1828 he began to come into notice as an active Whig, in the Jack- son presidential campaign; from 1833 to '35 was clerk of the village board of trustees; corporation counsel of the new city 1835 to 1839, enjoying, meanwhile, a fine legal practice. Chosen (the fourth) Mayor of Brooklyn by the Board of Al- dermen in 1839; he was re-elected by the people in 1840, and held office until 1842. In 1836 and '37 he was supervisor, and city alderman in 1848. He was deeply interested in public education, the whole system of Brooklyn's public schools being put into operation during his thirty years' connection with the Board of Education, twenty-one of which he was its president. In 1856 and '57 he represented the city in the State Senate, holding the chairmanship of the committees on commerce and navigation. At an early date he became one of the associates of the Union Ferry Co., of which, from 1855 to the time of his death, he was managing di- rector, superintending its vast interests with rare skill and fidelity. In January, 1869, he became acting president of the Brooklyn City R. R. Co .; nor must it be forgotten that, in 1839, during his first year of Mayoralty, in connection with Gen. Robert Nichols, he founded the City Hospital. He is further mentioned in Chapter on Bench and Bar.

This year was memorable for the completion of the labors of the commission, which had been appointed in 1836, for laying out the city. These commissioners were Samuel Cheever, Isaiah Tiffany, and Alonzo G. Hammond. Fulton and South ferries were this year consolidated.

1840. April 14th. The first election of the mayor by the people, in conformity with an act of the legis- lature, resulted in the choice of Cyrus P. Smith, Esq.

The city of Brooklyn, at this time, covered a district of twelve miles square, having a population of 30,000; thirty-five miles of regulated, paved and lighted streets; two markets; a large police; an efficient fire-department, a good government; twenty-three churches; three banks, whose united capital was $1,000,000; one savings-bank; two lyceums (one for apprentices, the other at the Navy- yard); good schools; libraries, etc.

The Atlantic Dock Company was this year incorpor- atcd, with a capital of $1,000,000.

1841. Mr. Smith was re-elected mayor. In this year the Brooklyn Eagle was established.

1842. Henry C. Murphy was chosen inayor. His biography will be found in our chapter on The Bench and Bar. The grounds occupied by Greenwood Ceme. tery were purchased, and several churches were estab- lished.

1843. At the charter clection, Joseph Sprague (democrat) was chosen mayor.

JOSEPH SPRAGUE, born in Leicester, Mass., 1783, was the son of a wealthy farmer; at the age of twenty-one he became clerk in a wholesale store at Boston. Two years after he commenced, on loaned money, as a country merchant, but the unsettled condition of business, arising from the Euro- pean war, rendered the effort unsuccessful. He sold out, paid his debts, and occupied his temporary leisure in enlarg- ing his education at Leicester Academy. Next he tried farm- ing, on a small farm given him by his father; but soon real- izing that this was not his forte, sold out, and invested the proceeds in wire cards for carding wool and cotton, with which, in 1809, he came to New York. There he immedi- ately engaged as school-teacher, quickly disposing also of his little stock of cards. Two years later (1811) he married into the De Bevoise family, of Bedford, and for several years thereafter resided partly in Bedford and partly at New York. The war of 1812 increased the demand for domestic manufact- ures, and woolen cards rose to an unprecedented price. His father and brothers established a card-factory at Leicester. and he managed their sales in New York city, with varying profit, for some years. In 1819 he purchased a home in Brooklyn (now 115 Fulton street); in 1822 he was one of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church; in 1823 his per- sonal efforts at Albany secured a charter for the Long Island Bank, and the Brooklyn Fire Insurance Co. In 1825 he was chosen a village trustee, and, in 1827, its president, being re- elected annually until 1832, when, worn down with his ard- uous duties during the cholera season, he was superseded by George Hall. In 1826, with Col. Alden J. Spooner, he secured Fort Greene for the village. In 1833 he was the means of procuring a city charter for Brooklyn; and became, 1834, first president of the Long Island Insurance Co., holding the office for ten years. During this time speculation and politics ran high, and he had to contend persistently against the making of loans on property, then rated far above its normal value, for which action he was often soundly berated. But the fi- nancial crash of '37 proved his sagacity, inasmuch as, through his foresight and caution, the capital of the company ($200,000) was saved entire. In 1834 the Brooklyn Bank went into operation, but received a severe blow in the dishonesty of its first teller. It was, however, upheld by the exertions of several individuals, among whom Mr. Sprague was con- spicuous. In 1843 he was elected Mayor of the city of Brook- lyn, and again in 1844, over George Hall (temperance candi- date), and Hon. William Rockwell (whig). During his first term the whig members of the common council refused to attend the meetings of the board, whereupon Mayor Sprague had them arrested upon the charge of misdemeanor in the neglect of public business, and compelled their obedience. In 1848 he was one of the foremost advocates for the opening of Washington Park on Fort Greene. He was repeatedly, and as late as 1851, a member of the board of supervisors, al- ways commanding a large amount of influence. He was one the most zealous and efficient members of the board of con-

150

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

solidation which perfected the plan of union between Brook- lyn, Williamsburgh and Bushwick, and, also, chairman of of the police committee in that body. He was, at the time of his death, a director of the Mechanics Bank, a member of Ilohenlinden Lodge of F. and A. Masons, and for many years Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of the State. Ren- dered independent by the industry of his earlier years, crowned with the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and occupied in the duties of the many offices of trust and honor which they conferred upon him, he passed pleasantly and gently down the vale of years. In politics he never allowed his conscience to become subservient to the claims of party. In his public duties he was rigidly honest, evincing a firm de- termination to have every department of the municipal gov- ernment carried out with efficiency and economy ; and, while these duties fully occupied his days, his own work, in his factory, was performed at night. As a Christian he was a most sincere believer in the truth and mercy of God, and a humble and conscientious follower of his word. Life closed to him on the morning of the 12th of December, 1854, in the seventy-second year of his age. The universal expression of sorrow, which was heard on every hand, testified to the re- spect which was felt for his public services, and his eminent personal character.

A bill was prepared and presented to the legislature during this year, by the Common Council of New York, for taxing the property of citizens of Brooklyn doing business in that city. Against the passage of this law the Common Council of Brooklyn remonstrated. A line of omnibuses was established, in September of this year, between Fulton Ferry and East Brooklyn.

From a report made to the Common Council (in Jan- uary, 1844), it appears that the whole number of build- ings erected and in process of erection during the year 1843, was 570. These buildings were chicfly of brick, and stores were in seventy-five of them. Fourteen were in the places of buildings destroyed by fire, and four were church edifices.

1844. Joseph Sprague was re-elected mayor, over two opposing candidates.

April 4th was rendered memorable by a riot between the native Americans and the Irish in the neighborhood of Dean and Court and Wyckoff streets. The disturbance was finally quelled, but two compa- nies of uniformed militia were kept under arms during the night, and the public feeling continued in an ex- cited state for some time thereafter.

On the twenty-fourth of May the corner-stone of the Long Island Railroad tunnel was laid, and the tunnel was opened for travel on the third of the following December.

1845. The ferry question, and the establishment of a permanent city hospital, were, at this time, the leading topies of interest and public discussion among the citizens of Brooklyn : resulting in the passage of an act (May 14), vesting the power of granting ferry-leases in an independent board of commissioners; and the incor- poration (May 8th) of the Brooklyn City Hospital.

April 8. The charter-election resulted in the choice of Thos. G. Talmadge (democrat) for mayor.

THOMAS GOIN TALMADGE, born in Somerset, N. J., in 1801, came, in 1819, to New York city, where he became a clerk in the mercantile establishment of Mr. Abraham Van Nest, and from 1823 to 1836 was engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- ness. In 1823 he married a sister of Hon. Jacob W. Miller, United States Senator from New York, who died in 1834; and, in 1835, he married a daughter of Cornelius Van Brunt, of Brooklyn. In 1836 he was a foremost supporter of Van Bu- ren, and was elected a representative from New York city, in the State legislature. From 1838 to 1839 he was a member of the New York Common Council, and at one time, presi- dent of the board of aldermen of that city. In 1840 he be- came a citizen of Brooklyn, and, at once took a prominent position in public life, from 1842 to 1843 representing the 8th ward, and from 1844 to 1845 the 6th ward, in the board of aldermen of that city. From 1845 to 1846 he was (democratic) Mayor of Brooklyn, and, in 1846, was appointed judge of the county court by Gov. Wright. In 1848 (his second wife hav- ing died in 1843) he married the youngest daughter of Judge Teunis Joralemon, of Brooklyn. In 1845 he was appointed by Gov. Bouck, and without his previous knowledge, as Loan Commissioner of the United States Deposit Fund, for Kings county, and, in 1858, became the president of the Broadway Rail Road Co. of Brooklyn. He was, also, a member of the Chamber of Commerce. During his mayoralty the new City Hall was erected, and the 8th ward (Gowanus), to which he removed after his third marriage, was much indebted to his enterprise in developing its progress and growth-the Third avenue being the first one opened, about 1840, along the bay, and the second one being the Fifth avenue, both of which passed through the Van Brunt and Talmadge farms. Build- ings soon commenced in that vicinity, and its subsequent growth was rapid. He was a politician of the old school, latterly a National Democrat and chairman of the Demo- cratic National General Committee. Upright and sincere in his dealings, dignified and courteous in bearing, he held the esteem of all who knew him. He died May 4th, 1863.

A line of omnibuses was established, in July, be- sween Fulton and South ferries, by George Van Brunt.

1846 and 1847. Francis Stryker (whig) was elected mayor of the city, April 14, 1846.

FRANCIS BURDETT STRYKER, son of Burdett Stryker, was born in Brooklyn, December 11th, 1811, and was educated, partly at the primary department of Erasmus Hall, at Flat- bush, and partly by other teachers in his native village. At the age of fourteen, shortly after his father's death, he be- came an apprentice to Jeremiah Wells, carpenter, doing busi- ness in Poplar, between Henry and Hicks streets, who was, also, at that time, the chief-engineer of the village fire-de- partment. Having served his time, he continued at his trade as a journeyman until 1838, when he was elected one of the three tax-collectors of the city. In April, 1839, he commenced working at his trade for his brother Burdett, until, in 1840, he was chosen sheriff (on the whig ticket), serving for three years; returning then to his trade in his brother's employ. While thus working as journeyman, at twelve shillings per day, in the spring of 1846, he received the whig nomination for mayor, to which office he was elected over the then in- cumbent (T. G. Talmadge), and re-elected the next year, 1847, (against Thos. J. Gerald), and the year following, 1848, (against Wm. Jenkins). During the first term of his mayor- alty the only noticeable event was the purchase and erection of Washington Park (Fort Greene) as a public park. In Jan- uary, 1847, the ship-fever broke out in Hudson avenue, near Tillary street, having been imported by a ship-load of Irish emigrants, and continued to rage in that and other localities,

151

THE FIRST CITY OF BROOKLYN, 1834-1854.

in the 1st, 2d, 5th and 6th wards, during 1847 and 1848. Though the mayor and the board of aldermen, at this time, constituted the board of health, Mr. Stryker did not call them together officially to act upon the matter, not deeming it best to arouse any alarm in the public mind, or to raise any ques- tions as to the legal propriety of making appropriations for the sick. Calling into practice the lessons of active practical benevolence, which he had learned from his father in the earlier epidemics which visited the village, he took upon him- self the burden of personal visitation, superintendence and relief of the sick and dying. Unsupported by the medical faculty, who, indeed, dissuaded him from exposing himself to contagion, Mr. Stryker, during the long continuance of this epidemic, unremittingly visited the sick, watched with them, cared for them, defrayed all expenses from his own pocket, so that no costs accrued to the city; and, aided only by voluntary exertions of William Hewitt (then one of the street inspectors), and Staats Dawson (mayor's marshal), carried on in his own person all the functions of a health board. In the cholera season of 1849, during the term of his successor, Mayor Copeland, Mr. Stryker devoted himself largely to the relief of the sick, and in the fall of that year was elected county-clerk (on the whig ticket), which office he held for a three-year terin. In 1860 he received from the commissioners the position of superintendent of sewers.

These years were not rendered memorable by any unusual events. The steady growth of the city con- tinued, churches, societies and industries were estab- lished, and the march of improvement kept its regular pace.

1848. In March gas was for the first time intro- duced into Brooklyn.

July 4th was rendered memorable in the annals of Brooklyn, by the munificence of its venerable and worthy citizen, Augustus Graham. The Brooklyn City Hospital, sorely crippled by lack of means, and strug- gling wearily against the apathy of the public, was unexpectedly placed upon a permanent foundation by a donation, from Mr. Graham, of bonds and mortgages amounting to $25,000 ; and the Brooklyn Institute was endowed with the ownership of the elegant granite building, in Washington street, which had been origi- mally erected for the Brooklyn Lyceum.

August 8. The Cypress Hills Cemetery was ineor- porated under the general cemetery act.

The principal event of the year was the disastrous conflagration of the 9th of September, which is still remembered, and spoken of as the great fire of Brook- lyn. Three church edifices (the First Universalist, Baptist, and the Sands street Methodist-Episcopal); two newspaper offices (the Star and Freeman); and the post-office building, were burned in this great con- flagration, which was finally only stopped by blowing up several buildings (by marines from the U. S. Navy- yard), and which devastated a thickly-settled part of the city, of several aeres in extent, and destroyed property to the amount of $1,500,000. The accom- panying map shows the area over which this eonflagra- tion swept.

Serious as was the ealamity which thus befell this

young and growing city, it afforded but another op- portunity of developing that peculiar elasticity of the

WASHINGTON

SANDS

MAIN ST.

HIGH

NASSAU

FULTON ST.

POPLAR

MIDDAGH

CRANBERRY

ORANG

TAEAPPLE

MAP OF BURNED DISTRICT, 1848.

American mind and character, which not only leads to the inception of great undertakings, but enables it to surmount all obstacles and every disaster. Scarcely had the ruins ceased to smoke before the burned district became the scene of the busiest activity. New buildings were erected. Fulton street was widened by setting back the building-line, on the west side, from Henry to Middagh streets ; and, on the east side, from Sands to Concord streets; and in every direction were seen the well-directed labors of citizens to retrieve their losses.

In November of this year the idea of a union between the two cities of Williamsburgh and Brooklyn appears to have been, for the first time, broached. A meeting of the citizens of the former place was held, at which the subject was discussed ; but, aside from some news- paper sparring, it seems to have been unproductive of result.

The benefits accruing to that portion of the city, known as South Brooklyn, from the erection of the Atlantic docks, began to make themselves apparent, in the rapid progress, and increase of population, in that vicinity. In March, 1848, Mr. Daniel Richards, the originator of that magnificent enterprise, petitioned the common council for permission to open thirty-five streets in its immediate vicinity. During this year and the next, a plan was also devised by Mr. Richards and others, and received the legislative approbation, for the construction of a large navigable canal, from Gowanus bay to Donglass street, through the centre of the mead- ows, into which the sewers from the elevated ground on either side should empty. It was to be five feet deep below low-water mark, four feet above high-water mark, 100 feet in width, and 5,400 feet (or about a mile) in length, draining some 1,700 acres of land in the southern part of the city.

The great objeet to be attained by this improve- inent was the removal of the marsh-miasma which hung about Prospect hill, and other portions of the city, making them liable to intermittent fevers and other diseases, and thus shutting them out from improve-

152

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ment ; also to lay the lands open to use, and to render that portion of the city valuable for commercial and mechanical purposes. The estimated expense of this canal was $78,600, and at its termination it was proposed to construct a large basin for vessels, costing $8,000 additional. Other basins, along the course of the canal, were to be erected by private enterprise, furnishing large and ample depots for timber, coal, lime, cement, brick, etc.

These liberal provisions and plans so stimulated the growth of.Brooklyn that, during 1848 and '49, it was estimated that no less than 2,100 buildings had been erected, 700 of which were in the Sixth ward, or South Brooklyn.

1849. April. Edward Copeland was elected mayor.

EDWARD COPELAND commenced business in Brooklyn, as a retail grocer, on the corner of Front and Main streets. He was a graduate of Columbia College, and first introduced to public notice by his efforts and speeches in aid of the Greek and Polish revolutions, in the years 1828 and 1830. He be- came a member of the village board of trustees in 1832, and established so fair a reputation as to induce his fellow-citi- zens to tender to him the presidency of the village, in 1833 ; and a nomination to Congress, in 1834, which, however, he declined. In 1844, he was elected city-clerk, without solici- tation on his part, and by the special request of the whig and native American members of the common council. To this office he was re-elected in 1847 and 1848. In the mayoralty to which he was called in 1849 he carried the same urbanity, dignity, decision and careful attention to the details of official business. As a scholar, especially in polite literature, few in our city surpassed him in varied acquirements. Through his official papers, and in his frequent contributions to literature and science, he fully sustained this reputation ; while he was a most pleasing speaker, polished and winning in manner, of an eminently social disposition, liberal, accessible at all times and by all persons ; and in habits, refined and unosten- tatious. As chairman of the Whig General Committee he was largely instrumental in contributing to the success of 1837, '38, '39 and '40 ; and, as a judge of the Municipal Court, from 1839 to 1840, aided by such men as Judges Eames and Rushmore, he gave to that tribunal a degree of force and dignity which made it everywhere respected. He was, for many years, a member of the Board of Education, aiding powerfully by his efforts and influence to give character and efficiency to the system of public instruction, and to establish the reputation of the board. He died June 18, 1859.

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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 37

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