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 70

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 70

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1851 .- D. D. Winant, Pres .; W. T. Leitch (a mer- chant in N. Y.); Daniel Barker (a spice grinder in N. Y.); Alexander Hamilton (builder); Daniel Riley; Har- ris Comstock; James Salters (carpenter and joiner); Fordyce Sylvester (eng. with Norman Francis in the manufacture of saleratus); Dan'l Lindsay; John Maerz (grocer, Meserole street); Benjamin N. Disbrow, Coll .;

303

THE CITY OF WILLIAMSBURGH.

Henry Cornwell, Coll. (a earman in the employ of William Wall); James Murphy, Coll .; W. H. Colyer, Treas .; John Broach, Clerk.

This was claimed to be a reform Board. But its ea- pacity as a whole was far below the Board it super- seded. It brought forward in public life two at least who under the first year of the city became defaulters to the eity for a large amount of money.

The City of Williamsburgh-1852-1854-The first officers of the new eity were Dr. Abraham J. Berry, Mayor; Wm. H. Butler, City Clerk ; Geo. Thompson, Attorney and Counsel ; Jas. F. Kenny, Comptroller ; Horace Thayer, Edmund Driggs, Thos. J. Van Sant, Daniel Barker (First Ward); Richard White, Absa- lom Roper, Jesse Hobley, Harris Comstock (Second Ward); Daniel Maujer (President of the Board); Wm. Woodruff, And. C. Johnson, Edwin S. Ralphs (Third Ward); Aldermen. Dr. Berry, the new mayor, was well fitted for his responsible office by a gentlemanly bearing, courteous and affable manners, liberal eduea- tion, political experience and personal acquaintance with previous village affairs.

This year witnessed the incorporation of the Farmers and Citizens' Bank, with a capital of $200,000 ; the Williamsburgh City Bank, with a capital of $320,000, and the Williamsburgh City Fire Insurance Co .; and the establishment of the Williamsburgh Medical So- ciety, and (April) the Greenpoint Ferry.

The third issue of the Williamsburgh Directory con- tained 7,345 names, an increase of 1,742 over those of the previous year. It estimates the population of the city as over 40,000.

1853, January-The Board of Aldermen was as follows : Daniel Barker; Thomas J. Van Sant; Jared Sparks; Abel C. Willmarth (First Ward). Jesse Hob- ley; Joseph Smith; George W. Ratern; Harris Com- stock, President (Second Ward). William Woodruff; Edwin S. Ralphs; John Maerz; Andrew C. Johnson (Third Ward).

The public-school eensus of persons between the ages of four and twenty-one years, shows 10,907 whites and 214 eolored, total, 11,121 ; the population of Williamsburgh being, at this time, between 40,000 and 50,000. The aggregate number of children attending the public schools of the eity, during any part of the previous year, was 9,372, of which 834 had attended the entire school year. Fifteen private schools were also reported, with an attendance of about 800.

This year showed a rapid growth in institutions; the Fulton Insurance Co., with a capital of $150,000 ; the Mechanics (now the Manufacturers' National) Bank of Williamsburgh, with a capital of $250,000 ; the Williamsburgh Missionary Society ; the Young Men's Association, connected with the Third Presbyterian church ; the Third (eolored) Baptist ; the Grace (Protestant Episcopal); the First Mission (Methodist

Episcopal); the German Evangelical Mission; the (Roman Catholic) St. Mary of the Immaculate Con- ception, and the St. Paul's (German) Lutheran churches.

The New York Sunday School Union's annual report eredits Williamsburgh with twenty-five Sabbath-Schools of every different donomination ; with four hundred and sixty-six teachers, average attendanee 387; 4,600 scholars registered, with average attendanee of 3,239 ; 6,297 volumes in Sunday-School libraries. Infant-class scholars (included in above) 465. Bushwick had, at the same time, ten different Sunday-Schools, ninety-eight teachers, average attendance 84 ; 702 scholars, average attendanee 472 ; 1,190 volumes in libraries ; 55 infant class seholars.

During this year were organized the Children's Aid Society ; the Howard Benevolent Society ; the Young Men's Literary Association ; and the Young Men's Christian Association, of Williamsburgh ; the Bush- wick Avenue Baptist ; Third Unitarian ; Second Congregational Methodist ; Graham Avenue Protest- ant Methodist ; Ainslie street Presbyterian, and Ger- man Evangelical Lutheran churches.

1854, January-Under a change of politics, the Hon. William Wall beeame Mayor, on the Whig tieket. Commencing life as a journeyman rope-maker, he had become the proprietor of the largest cordage-factory in the vicinity. Shrewd and successful in business matters, he lacked, perhaps, that comprehensive judgment of the complicated interests affecting the government of a eity of 40,000, which would have ensured his official suecess. He soon came in conflict with the Board of Aldermen, and became famous for his frequent exercise of the veto-power. A compilation of these vetoes, made un- der his direction, by John Broach, Esq., then City Clerk, was afterwards printed in a pamphlet of over 100 oetavo pages. Failing, however, to mould the Board of Aldermen to his views by vetoing their do- ings, he eoneeived the idea of annihilating a power which he had cause to esteem so dangerous ; and became, during the first year of his administration, an earnest advocate of the consolidation of the cities of Williamsburgh and Brooklyn.

This was finally accomplished, by Aet of Legislature, taking effeet January 1, 1855.

1854. The Board of Aldermen was as follows: Jared Sparks; Abel C. Wilmarth; John C. Kelly; Sam'l B. Terry (First Ward). Joseph Smith; Geo. W. Baker, President; Caleb Pink; John Linsky (Second Ward). Wm. Woodruff; John Maerz; Thomas Eames; Joseph Nesbit (Third Ward).

City Clerk, Wm. G. Bishop; Comptroller, Joseph W. Beerdon; Commissioner of Streets and Repairs, Leonard T. Coles; Treasurer, Miner H. Keith; Collector of Taxes, Fordyce Silvester; Attorney, John Dean.

The Consolidation of Williamsburgh and Brooklyn was a measure which was twenty years in advance of the time when it might advantageously have

304

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

taken place; and, for a time, it greatly injured the local trade and social prestige of this portion of the present City of Brooklyn. It reduced Williamsburgh to the position of an insignificant suburb of a comparatively distant city, which was in no way identificd with, or informed of the necds, economies, or real interests of its new adjunct. It was said that Williamsburgh, at the time, was bankrupt ; but the more than thirty miles of streets, opencd, curbed, flagged and paved, at a cost of from one to two millions of dollars, was a contribution to the new City of Brooklyn which more than balanced the debts added to the common fund.

The Wallabout Canal .- One of the grandest pro- jects for Brooklyn during the days of the "City of Williamsburgh" was first suggested by the late THOMAS W. FIELD, EsQ., viz .: the extension of what is known as the Wallabout Canal through a strect, first called River street, 150 feet wide, laid out for the purpose, to the junction of Moore street and the present Broadway; and through Moore street to Newtown Creek.

The bridges were proposed to be raised so as to give some eight feet in the clear between them and the surface water of the canal. Lighter-barges would have been towed through without disturbing the bridges. But, if ships with cargoes in bulk were to pass through the canal, the bridges could be turned on the turn-tables. Basins at favorable places could have been constructed by private enterprise where vessels

could lay without encroaching on the use of the canal.

This grand project could have been chiefly con- structed by the owners of the land that would have become water-front along the borders on each side. It would have afforded, when complete, four miles of such water-front that, ere this, would have been crowded with furnaces and factories, requiring facili- ties for heavy freighting to their doors.

Skill and science would have been required to keep this canal clear. But, it would have relieved the section through which it passed, of a large surplus of surface- water that concentrates there. A 50-foot street on each side of the canal would have given room to sewers, with outlets in the open bay, as at present. The waters of the canal might have been locked at the two termini and lighter-barges have been let in only at high tides and the waters have been kept at a uniform height and so not exposed the debris at the bottom, only when, in cold weather, it was undertaken to wash out and clean the channel. This canal was proposed to be excavated fifty fect wide, with wall of stone about a foot above the surface of the water at high tide, and a shelf was to be made about 5 feet wide on each side to serve for a tow-path either for horse or steam power. The bridges at the street crossings were to be about 100 feet in length, weighted at one end, so as to balance on a turn-table on the street outside the tow-path, so as to make the span 60 feet over the channel.

JOHN BROACH was born in Millstone, Somerset County, New Jersey, April 23d, 1812, of American parents, descended directly from Revolutionary stock; his great-grandparents having taken an active part in the struggle for American independence, and sacrificed all their worldly posessions in the cause, except a considerable amount of Continental paper money, which was handed down, and remained in possession of the family, but did not enrich them, at the time of his birth.

He received such educational advantages as the village school of his native town afforded, until about fourteen years of age; when, having lost his parents, he was obliged to do something for his own support, and procured employ- ment as a boy of all work in a country store for a few months, after which he received some additional education; paying for his own tuition by assisting the teacher in the instruction of the smaller scholars.

In the spring of 1827, being then about fifteen years of age, he left his native village and came to the city of New York, an orphan and alone, to seek his livelihood.

He soon succeeded in finding a distant relative who kept a grocery store in the outskirts of the city, on the old Bloom- ingdale road, near what was then called Love Lane, and is now Twenty-first street; a section of the city which was called the "Reef " on account of the peculiar roughness of the locality. With this relative he engaged on trial, at any wages he might prove himself to be worth, as a clerk in his store. His friend and employer was an estimable man, but probably few portions of the city could be found less favor-

able to the moral development of a youth of fifteen years of age, just from the country.

From this time until about twenty-five years of age, he engaged in various mercantile and laboring employments, and experienced the vicissitudes which a youth, left entirely to his own direction in a large city, would naturally be subjected to. In 1835, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Cordelia Knox, a most amiable young lady (his present wife), and they were married in the spring of 1836. He then began to think seriously of preparing himself to fill some more useful and respectable position in society, and attended night schools for the study of book-keeping, and other mercantile knowl; edge. By this means he soon fitted himself for, and obtained employment in more extensive mercantile business.

In the spring of 1845, he removed to the village of Wil- liamsburgh, now the eastern district of the city of Brooklyn, and soon became identified with the customary associations of a growing village. He was active in the formation of the Mechanics' and Workingmen's Library Association, and was its president for some years. In 1848, he was appointed Dis- trict Clerk, and in 1849 was elected Trustee of the Public Schools in Williamsburgh, and was re-elected successively, to the same office, until 1854, when the consolidation with Brooklyn took place, and his business would not permit his attendance at the Board of Education in the Western District of Brooklyn.

In the spring of 1850 he was elected clerk of the Village of Williamsburgh, being the first clerk of the village elected by the people. He was re-elected in 1851, and remained in office

John Kroach

Silvester Chuttle

305

BIOGRAPHIES.

until the city charter of the village took effect in 1852. He was one of the Charter Trustees of the Williamsburgh Dis- pensary, in 1851, and bas remained a trustee and treasurer of that institution up to the present time. He was associated with the founders of the Industrial School Association of this district, in 1854, was one of the first trustees and is still a trustee, and has been twenty-eight years treasurer of that institution.

In 1853, the Williamsburgh City Fire Insurance Company was organized, and he was appointed Assistant Secretary of that company, and in June, 1854, was called from that posi- tion, without any solicitation on his part, to the one he has since that time and still occupies, as Cashier of the Williams- burgh Savings Bank. He was also private secretary to Hon. William Wall, while he was Mayor of Williamsburgh in 1854, and up to the time of the consolidation with Brooklyn.

In 1859, he was appointed under a special act of the State Legislature, together with Hon. Edmund Driggs and George Field, Esq., of his district, and the Mayor, Comptrollor, and City Treasurer of Brooklyn, on a commission to adjust and settle all claims against the late City of Williamsburgh.

By this commission the outstanding claims against the City of Williamsburgh, which had long been a source of much annoyance and litigation, were satisfactorily adjusted and settled, and the Williamsburgh Savings Bank took the bonds of the City of Brooklyn for the necessary amount to pay off the claims allowed by the commission.

He took a deep interest in the war for the Union, and his three sons, all the children he had living, were early under arms in the field. Two of them, one in the 14th Brooklyn and the other in the 8th New York regiments, were in the first battle of Bull Run. He also assisted in fitting out several other young men for the field before the Government ar- rangements were completed for equipping the soldiers speed- ily.

In 1862, his eldest son, John H. Broach, with his father's assistance, raised a company in Williamsburgh, and joining the 173d Regiment New York Volunteers, proceeded to New Orleans and participated in the siege of Port Hudson and the battles leading thereto, and also in the Red River campaign, during which time he was commissioned as Assistant Adju- tant-General.

All of his sons served during most of the war and were honorably discharged. One, however, his second son, James A. Broach, reached home only to die, within a few days after his discharge, of a fever contracted in the army at Savannah, Georgia.

Mr. Broach has been a resident of Williamsburgh thirty- eight years.

SYLVESTER TUTTLE .- The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Patchogue, L. I., September 5th, 1806, the son of Rev. Ezra Tuttle, who was an active and zealous minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, widely known and respected in his time. The son inherited his father's strong religious feeling, which became the controlling ele- ment in his character. Before he was twenty-one Mr. Tuttle entered upon a business career in New York City. Industri- ous, careful and shrewd, he rose rapidly, and in a few years became sole proprietor of a large hat and fur store in Chat-

ham Square, which was one of the only two houses in the trade that was able to withstand the panic of 1837. He be- came interested in the coal trade in the Eastern District of Brooklyn in 1846, and soon afterwards sold out his business in New York, associating his son with him in 1855. He rap- idly extended his trade until it assumed large proportions in the city of Brooklyn.

After many years of active business life, Mr. Tuttle made a tour of Europe in 1871. While abroad he contracted a malarial disease, a recurrence of which proved fatal May 25, 1874, in his 68th year. Mr. Tuttle's energy. activity and in- tegrity enabled him to acquire a fortune, of which he made noble use. He was called to fill many responsible positions. In politics he was an active Republican. But he was best known as a sincere Christian man, whose daily walk and conversation proved him to be an earnest servant of God. In early life he became a member of the Forsyth Street M. E. Church, in New York, then an active member of the South Fifth M. E. Church. He was also a large contributor to- wards the erection of St. John's M. E. Church, at the corner of Bedford avenue and Wilson street, and, until his death, served as one of its Trustees. He was greatly interested in the North Third Street Mission, and devoted much of his time to personal religious work. A man of fine feelings, be responded heartily to the cry of distress, and gave freely in charity. A public-spirited citizen, he used his means for the good of the city and of his fellow men, and his memory is cherished in the hearts of all who knew him.

EZRA B. TUTTLE .- Ezra B. Tuttle, a son of the late Syl- vester Tuttle, a biographical sketch of whom appears next preceding this, was born in the city of New York, May 31st, 1834. He was educated in private schools in New York and in New Haven, Conn., and at Doctor Gold's once popular agricultural school, at Cream Hill, Litchfield County, Conn.

At the age of eighteen he was placed in charge of one of his father's offices, and when he attained to his majority he became associated with his father as a partner in his busi- ness.

In the summer of 1857, Mr. Tuttle was married to Miss Frances R. Day, of New Haven, Conn., daughter of Zelotes Day, Esq. They have two sons. The elder, Winthrop M. Tuttle, was educated at the Polytechnic Institute and is now assisting his father in his business. The second son, Frank Day Tuttle, graduated with honors from the Polytechnic In- stitute, and has recently entered Yale College as a student.

Mr. Tuttle has long been prominently identified with the leading commercial, religious and charitable interests of Brooklyn, holding at the present time the positions of vice- president of the Brooklyn Cross-Town Railroad Company, trustee of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, director of the Kings County Fire Insurance Company ; president of the board of trustees of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church, of Bedford avenue ; vice-president of the Brooklyn Church Society ; trustee of Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, N. J. ; trustee of the Brooklyn Homeopathic Hospital : trustee of the Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society ; trustee of the Brooklyn Bible Society, and a member of the Missionary Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF NEW LOTS.

le. Yarın Hamilton BY

School Commissioner of Rural District, Kings County.

0 RGANIZATION .- New Lots was organized, as a town, on the 12th day of February, 1852. Prior to that date, the territory was included within the limits of the town of Flatbush, and was known as "The New Lots," in contradistinction to "The Old Lots," near the present village of Flatbush. In area, it is the smallest of the five county towns, although the largest in population, numbering, according to the cen- sus of 1880, 13,681. It contains only about six square miles. Its seniors in age, Flatbush and Flatlands, were early settled by the Dutch, the honest, hardy sons of toil, who have made Long Island what it is often rightly called, the "Market Garden of America." As years rolled over our ancestors of those neighboring town- ships ; and, as their available lands became tilled and their families increased, they turned their eyes toward the wilderness, that then lay between them and the cypress-crowned hills of the northeast. There they be- held arable lands in abundance, and thither went their sons to till the plains, where now stand thickly popu- lated villages.

Early Settlers .- The names of some of the old settlers are still perpetuated by descendants, who now stand in the front rank of honorable citizens, increasing the prosperity and controlling the interests of New Lots. Among those who bear the names of the early settlers, and who in some instances occupy the old family mansions, are the Vandervcers, Van Siclens, Wyckoffs, Van Sinderens, Rapaljes, the Lotts and Schencks.

The Old Village of New Lots is situated on the main road leading from the village of Flatbush, and familiarly known as the "Old New Lots Road." Here are stately mansions of recent erection adorned with modern embellishments. Here, too, stands the Reformed Church, the oldest in the town, and a two- story frame school-house. The village is noted as a pre-eminently healthy place; nearly all its inhabitants being connected with families remarkable for their longevity. Besides this, the town includes three other

villages, viz .: East New York, Cypress Hills and Brownsville.

East New York is the largest village in the town, both in population and area. Prior to the year 1835, the residents of the territory now embraced within the limits of the town were farmers, and most of their dwellings were situated on the New Lots road. And, where East New York now stands, there were but three or four houses; one known as the "Half Way House," and kept for many years by the Howard family. The old tavern still stands at the junction of Broadway and the Jamaica turnpike. It has stood there for over one hundred years ; and, past its doors, marched a part of the British army in the eventful battle of Long Island. It was the favorite stopping-place for the farmers on their way to market, and many a merry tale has been spun within its walls, mute witnesses of the many changes in the several generations that have passed away. It is showing signs of decay and must soon give place to more modern improvements. [A view of this historic tavern-so intimately connected with the Battle of Brooklyn-will be found upon the map of that battle, opposite page 53 .- EDITOR]. Another old landmark was situated at the corner of Pennsylva- nia and Atlantic avenues. It was a three-story dwell- ing, built of stone, and known as the " Old Stone Build- ing." It was torn down a few years ago, and on the site were erected buildings of more modern structure.

Such was the place in 1835, when the late John R. Pitkin, Esq., a wealthy merchant of Connecticut, passed through it. The land was level, with just enough in- clination to the Great South Bay to make the problem of sewerage easy of solution. Its nearness to the cities of New York and Brooklyn, and the general appear- ance of the place, impressed him so favorably, that he conceived the idea of founding a city to rival that of New York. He purchased the Linington, Wyckoff, Van Siclen and Stoothoff farms, containing a tract about two miles in length and about one mile in width. He had the land laid out into streets and city lots. He

307

BROWNSVILLE-CYPRESS HILLS-FIRST TOWN ELECTION

named the place EAST NEW YORK, because it was situ- ated east of New York City. Lots were sold varying from $10 to $25. The panic of 1837 proved disastrous to Mr. Pitkin's enterprise, and he was obliged to relin- quish all the property to its original owners, except that portion lying between Wyckoff and Alabama avenucs, which still retained the name of East New York. In July, 1853, the late Horace A. Miller and James Butler purchased about fifty acres of land lying east of Wyck- off avenue, and commenced the crection of neat and comfortable dwellings, and sold them at reasonable rates and on easy terms : thus adding largely to the population and growth of the village, which contained, according to the census of 1880, about 8,000. There are six railroads terminating at East New York : two steam and four horse roads. The Brooklyn and Ja- maica steam road, running to Jamaica, connecting with the Long Island road from Hunter's Point to all parts of the island. Rapid-transit trains are run on this road from Flatbush avenue depot, at intervals of about twenty minutes, stopping at the Howard House and other stations in the village.

Brownsville .- This village is situated at the ex- treme westerly portion of the town. It takes its name from its founder, Mr. Charles S. Brown, who purchased the original land title about eighteen years ago ; laid the land out into city lots and sold them to the present owners. Its streets are well laid out at a uniform width of about fifty feet. There are about three hun- dred and fifty frame buildings in the village, most of them comfortable cottages, occupied by a worthy and industrious class of mechanics. The close contiguity of the village to the city of Brooklyn will cause it to share largely in the rapidly increasing prosperity of the city wards adjoining it. During the past two or three years, a number of fine stores have been erected, and its business interests largely increased. Its present popu- lation is about 2,000.

Cypress Hills .- The village of Cypress Hills is situated in the north-easterly portion of the town. Fulton avenue is now extended, from East New York, throughout its entire length to the Queens County line. A horse-car road is in operation upon it, greatly facili- tating travel between the village and the City of Brooklyn. The nucleus of Cypress Hills was formed around the once famous hotel of John I. Snediker, about forty years ago. The Jewish and Cypress Hills Cemeteries being soon after founded, extensive marble works followed, adding largely to the business of the place. The establishment of the Brooklyn Water- Works, buildings, pump-wells and machinery, near the village, also enhanced its material prosperity. The population of the village is about 3,000.

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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 70

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