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 95
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413ª
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
James Howell, Jr., Wm. M. Shipman; 12th, Daniel O'Reilly, James Donovan; 13th, Demas Strong, Wm. H. Ray; 14th, Patrick Clark, Thos J. Kenna; 15th, John H. Snyder, John T. Parker; 16th, Mathias J. Petry, David Acker; 17th, John A. Connolly; 18th, Horatio N. Balderson; 19th, John N. Zindel; 20th, John French, Chas. H. K. Smith; 21st, George Brown; 22d, Charles E. Vaughan; 23d, Francis B. Fisher; 24th, Wm. C. McKinny; 25th, Robert Hill; Adolph Gubner. New Utrecht; Peter L. Williamson, Flatbush; A. H. W. Van Siclen, New Lots; Jaques J. Stillwell, Gravesend; John L. Ryder, Flatlands; Hon. James Howell, Jr., Esq., President pro tem ; Edward B. Cadley, Clerk ; Thomas A. Gardiner, County Treasurer.
The County Treasurer's receipts were, $4,613,347,04, and his disbursements, $4,448,344,60. Balance, August 1st, 1875, $165,002.46.
1876. SUPERVISORS : Hon. James Howell, Jr., Supervisor- at-Large and President (ex officio); Hon. F. A. Schroeder, Mayor (ex officio); Rodney C. Ward, 1st Ward; Patrick Bres- lin, 2d Ward ; D. S. Quimby, Jr., 3d ; George C. Sexton, 4th ; Andrew P. Coates, 5th; John B. Byrne, 6th; Edward Fry, 7th; Daniel Ryan, 8th; Henry Hawkes, 9th; John T. Moran, 10th; Christian Hohn, 11th ; John Curran, 12th ; Demas Strong, 13th ; James Tierney, 14th ; John H. Snyder, 15th; Victor Eger, 16th ; Stephen Clark, 17th ; George G. Brown, 18th ; A. J. McDonald, 19th; G. W. Harman, 20th ; John M. Phelps, 21st ; Samuel C. Yeaton, 22d ; Ernst Nathan, 23d ; Henry Steers, 24th ; Peter Van Cott, 25th ;. Adolph Gubner, New Utrecht ; Peter L. Williamson, Flatbush ; A. H. W. Van Siclen, New Lots ; Jaques J. Stillwell, Gravesend ; John L. Ryder, Flatlands ; John L. Ryder, President pro tem .; Edward B. Cadley, Clerk; Thomas A. Gardiner, County Treasurer. The report of the County Treasurer gives a state- ment of a balance in the treasury Aug. 1, 1876, of $71,810.80.
1877. SUPERVISORS : Hon. James Howell, Jr., Supervisor- at-Large and President (ex officio); Hon. F. A. Schroeder, Mayor (ex officio) ; Rodney C. Ward, 1st Ward ; John Gal- lagher, 2d ; D. S. Quimby, Jr., 3d ; George C. Sexton, 4th ; Andrew P. Coates, 5th ; John B. Byrne, 6th ; Edward Fry, 7th ; Daniel Ryan, 8th ; Henry Hawkes, 9th ; John T. Moran, 10th ; Christian Holm, 11th ; John Curran, 12th; Demas Strong, 13th ; James Tierney, 14th ; John H. Snyder, 15th ; Victor Eger, 16th ; Stephen Clark, 17th ; George G. Brown, 18th ; A. G. McDonald, 19th ; Alex. Walker, 20th ; John M. Phelps, 21st ; Edward Egolf, 22d ; Ernst Nathan, 23d ; Wil- liam H. Fleeman, 24th ; Peter Van Cott, 25th ; Adolph Gub- ner, New Utrecht; Peter L. Williamson, Flatbush; A. H. W. Van Siclen, New Lots ; Jaques J. Stillwell, Gravesend ; John L. Ryder, Flatlands ; John L. Ryder, President pro tem .; Edward B. Cadley, Clerk; Thomas A. Gardiner, County Treasurer.
1878. SUPERVISORS : Hon. Samuel Guthrie, Supervisor-at- Large and President (ex officio) ; John T. Moran, 10th Ward, President pro tem; Hon. James Howell, Jr., Mayor (ex officio) ; Allen I. Ormsbee, 1st Ward; John Gallagher, 2d ; Joseph Quick, 3d ; George C. Sexton, 4th ; John Cullen, 5th ; John B. Byrne, 6th ; William J. Rider, 7th ; Daniel Ryan, 8th ; John J. Ladley, 9th ; John T. Moran, 10th : James Hyde, 11th ; John Curran, 12th ; Alden S. Crowell, 13th ; James Tierney, 14th ; John H. Snyder, 15th ; Victor Eger, 16th ; Hugh Zoble, 17th ; George G. Brown, 18th; Albert G. McDonald, 19th ; Alexander Walker, 20th ; George W. An- derson, 21st; Edward Egolf, 22d; Ernst Nathan, 23d; William H. Fleeman, 24th ; Peter Van Cott, 25th ; Adolph Gubner, New Utrecht ; Peter L. Williamson, Flatbush ; A. H. W. Van Siclen, New Lots; Jaques J. Stillwell, Gravesend ; John L. Ryder, Flatlands ; Edward B. Cadley, Clerk.
At a meeting of the Board, July 1st, 1878, Thomas A. Gar- diner, County Treasurer, tendered his resignation, which was accepted.
Subsequently, at a meeting held July 25th, 1878, Mr. Sam- uel S. Powell was duly appointed County Treasurer.
At a meeting of the Board, held December 12, 1878, the Treasurer reported the balances in the Treasury December 1st to be as follows : Tax levy, 1878, estimated expenses for fiscal year ending July 31, 1879, $1,406,886.66 ; cash received and balances from old accounts, $167,097.00 ; payments from August 1st to November 30th, 1878, $490,860.39 ; balance of appropriation unexpended December 1st, 1878, $1,083,123.27.
1879. SUPERVISORS : Hon. Samuel Guthrie, Supervisor-at- Large and President (ex officio); John T. Moran, Esq., 10th Ward, President pro tem .; Hon. James Howell, Mayor (ex officio); Allen I. Ormsbee, 1st Ward ; John Gallagher, 2d ; Joseph Quick, 3d ; George Russell, 4th ; John Cullen, 5th ; John B. Byrne, 6th ; William J. Rider, 7th ; Daniel Lake, 8th : John J. Ladley, 9th ; John T. Moran, 10th ; James Hyde, 11th ; Peter Bennett, 12th ; Alden S. Crowell, 13th ; Hugh Mckeever, 14th ; Jolin H. Snyder, 15th ; Henry .Han- selman, 16th ; Hugh Zoble, 17th ; Geo. J. Armstrong, 18th ; Albert G. McDonald, 19th ; Alexander Walker, 20th ; George W. Anderson, 21st ; Edward Egolf, 22d ; Ernst Nathan, 23d; Samuel Van Wyck, 24th ; Peter Van Cott, 25th ; Charles C. Bennett, New Utrecht ; Peter L. Williamson, Flatbush ; A. H. W. Van Siclen, New Lots ; John Y. McKane, Gravesend: John L. Ryder, Flatlands. Gilliam Schenck was elected County Treasurer, in place of S. S. Powell, deceased, and . Edward B. Cadley, Clerk.
Annual report of the Treasurer of Kings County for the fiscal year ending with July 31st, 1879 :
Balance in Treasury, August 1st, 1878. $80,681 50
Receipts during fiscal year. 3,152,218 94
$3,232,900 44
Payments during the same period. $3,139,428 62
Balance in treasury, August 1st, 1879. 93,471 82
$3,232,900 44
1880. SUPERVISORS : Hon. John B. Meyenborg, Supervisor- at-large and (ex officio) President ; Hon. James Howell, Mayor (ex officio) ; 1st Ward, Allen I. Ormsbee : 2d, John Gallagher ; 3d, Richard Lauer ; 4th, George Russell ; 5th, John Cullen ; 6th, John B. Byrne ; 7th, James H. Pratt ; 8th, Daniel Lake ; 9th, Edward C. Murphy ; 10th, John T. Moran ; 11th, John H. Doscher ; 12th, Peter Bennett ; 13th, Geo. W. Light; 14th, Hugh Mckeever ; 15th, Peter F. Cul- linan ; 16th, Henry Hanselman ; 17th, Stephen Clark ; 18th, Geo. J. Armstrong ; 19th, Alfred Hodges ; 20th, Alexander Walker ; 21st, Geo. W. Anderson ; 22d, Edward Egolf ; 23d, John H. Atwater ; 24th, Samuel Van Wyck ; 25th, James Fitzgerald ; Chiarles Bennett, New Utrecht ; Peter L. Will- iamson, Flatbush ; A. H. W. Van Siclen, New Lots ; John Y. McKane, Gravesend ; John L. Ryder, Flatlands ; George Anderson, President pro tem .; Edward B. Cadley, Clerk ; Gilliam Schenck, Treasurer.
Annual report of the Treasurer, for the fiscal year ending with July 31st, 1880 :
Balance in Treasury, August 1st, 1779. $93,471 82
Receipts for the fiscal year ending July 31, 1880. 3,751,990 69
3,845,462 51
Payments during the same period .... $3,715,607 98 Balance in the Treasury, August 1, 1880. 129,854 53
$3,845,462 51
4144
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
1881, SUPERVISORS : Hon. John B. Meyenborg, Super- visor-at-large and (ex officio) President ; Hon. James Howell, Mayor (ex officio) ; 1st Ward, Allen I. Ormsbee ; 2d, John Gallagher; 3d, Richard Lauer; 4th, Joel Smith: 5th, John Cul- len ; 6th, Edward Toohill ; 7th, James H. Pratt ; 8th, Daniel Lake; 9th, Edward C. Murphy ; 10th, John Lyman ; 11th, John H. Doscher : 12th, Peter Bennett; 13th, Geo. W. Light ; 14th, John Carroll ; 15th, Peter F. Cullinan ; 16th, Louis Bossert ; 17th, Stephen Clark ; 18th, Geo. J. Arm- strong ; 19th, Alfred Hodges ; 20th, Lewis A. Myers ; 21st, Geo. W. Anderson ; 22d, Theodore H. Babcock ; 23d, John H. Atwater ; 24th, John E. Greany ; 25th, James Fitzger- ald ; Cornelius Ferguson, New Utrecht ; Peter L. William- son, Flatbush ; C. Washington Colyer, New Lots ; John Y. McKane, Gravesend ; John L. Ryder, Flatlands ; George W. Anderson, President pro tem; Edward B. Cadley, Clerk; Gilliam Schenck, Treasurer.
1882. SUPERVISORS : Hon. Wm. A. Fritz, Supervisor-at- large and (ex officio) President ; Hon. Seth Low, Mayor (ex officio) ; 1st Ward, Theodore B. Willis ; 2d, John Gallagher ; 3d, Thomas W. Wood ; 4th, Joel Smith ; 5th, John Cullen ; 6th, Edward Toohill ; 7th, John A. Egolf ; 8th, Daniel Lake ; 9th, Thomas F. McDonald; 10th, John Lyman; 11th, Thomas Harold, Jr .; 12th, Peter Bennett ; 13th, Robert Adamson ; 14th, John Carroll ; 15th, John H. Westervelt ; 16th, Louis Bossert ; 17th, George Rowland ; 18th, Geo. J. Armstrong ; 19th, Alfred Hodges ; 20th, Lewis A. Myers ; 21st, Lester
W. Beasley ; 22d, Theodore H. Babcock ; 23d, John H. At- water; 24th, John E. Greany; 25th, J. Worden Gedney ; Cor- nelius Ferguson, New Utrecht ; Peter L. Williamson, Flat- bush ; C. Washington Colyer, New Lots ; John Y. McKane, Gravesend; John L. Ryder, President pro tem, Flatlands ; Edward B. Cadley, Clerk ; Gilliam Schenck, Treasurer.
1883. SUPERVISORS : Hon. Wm. A. Fritz, Supervisor-at- large and (ex officio) President ; Hon. Seth Low, Mayor (ex officio) ; 1st Ward, Theodore B. Willis ; 2d, Neil F. Dough- erty ; 3d, Thomas W. Wood ; 4th, Edward J. Thomas ; 5th, John Cullen ; 6th ; Henry O. Collard ; 7th, John A. Egolf : 8th, Daniel Lake ; 9th, Thomas F. McDonald ; 10th, John Lyman; 11th, Thomas Harold, Jr .; 12th, Peter Bennett; 13th, Robert Adamson ; 14th, Hugh Rehill ; 15th, John H. West- ervelt ; 16th, Theodore Maurer ; 17th, George Rowland, deceased, and Timothy Y. Lockwood ; 18th, Geo. J. Arm- strong ; 19th, Jacob Bennett; 20th, Lewis A. Myers ; 21st, Lester W. Beasley ; 22d, Frank C. Chamberlain ; 23d, John Atwater ; 24th, John E. Greany; 25th, J. Worden Gedney; Cornelius Ferguson, New Utrecht ; Peter Pigott, Flatbush; Ditmas Jewell, New Lots ; John Y. McKane, Gravesend ; John L. Ryder, Flatlands. Hon. John Y. McKane, President pro tem ; Edward B. Cadley. Clerk.
ASSISTANT CLERKS OF THE BOARD. 1867-1874, James L. Connelly, Messenger ; 1874, James L. Connelly, Clerk's As- sistant and Messenger ; 1875, James L. Connelly and Robert Nelson, Clerks : 1876-1883, James L. Connelly and Jaques S. Stryker, Clerks.
District. Congress.
Years.
Henry C. Murphy.
2d
30th
1847-1849
David A. Bokee.
2d
31st
1849-1851
Thomas W. Cummins
2d
33d 1853-1855
James S. T. Stranahan
2d
34th 1855-1857
George Taylor ..
2d
35th
1857-1859
James Humphry.
2d
36th
1859-1861
M. F. Odell.
2d
37th
1861-1863
Moses F. Odell
3d
38tlı
1863-1865
Martin Kalbfleisch.
2d
38th
1863-1865
James Humphry.
3d
39th 1865-1862
Demas Barnes.
2d
40th
1867-1869
Wm. E. Robinson.
3d
40th
1867-1869
Henry W. Slocum.
3d
41st
1869-1871
John G. Sehumaker
2d
41st
1869-1871
Henry W. Slocum.
3d
42d
1871-1873
Thomas Kinsella.
2d
42d
1871-1873
Philip S. Crooke
4th
43d
1873-1875
John G. Schumaker
2d
43d
1873-1875
A. M. Bliss
4th
43th
1875-1877
John G. Sehumaker
2d
44th
1875-1877
Simeon B. Chittenden
3d
44th
1875-1877
Simeon B. Chittenden
3d
45th
1877-1879
Archibald M. Bliss.
4th
45th
1877-1879
Wm. D. Veeder
2d
45th
1877-1879
Joshua Sands.
2d
8th
1803-1805
John Lefferts
1st
13th
1813-1815
Henry Croeheron
1st
14th 1815-1817
Jeromus Johnson
3d
19th 1825-1827
William E. Robinson
2d
47th
1881-1883
Joshua Sands.
2d
19th
1825-1827
J. Hyatt Smith
3d
47th
1881-1883
Jeromus Johnson
3d
20th
1827-1829
Archibald M. Bliss
4th
47th
1881-1883
John T. Bergen.
2d
22d
1831-1833
William E. Robinson
2d
48th
1883-1885
Abraham Vanderveer.
2d
25th
1837-1839
Darwin R. James
3d
48th
1883-1885
Henry C. Murphy.
2d
28th
1843-1845
Felix Campbell.
4th
48th
1883-1885
Representatives in Congress of the U. S .- The House of Representatives is composed of members elected by districts from each State, for the term of two years. The number varies with each federal eensus; as soon as practicable after each eensus, the State is di- vided by the Legislature into Congressional Districts for the election of Representatives in Congress. The Con- stitution of the United States direets an actual enumera- tion of inhabitants to be made every ten years, which has been fixed at those ending with a eipher (Art. 1, Sec. 3). The Constitution of the State of New York directs a similar census to be taken at the same inter- vals, but midway between the former (Art. 3, Sec. 4).
The State of New York entered the Union by adopt- ing the Constitution of the United States, July 26, 1788, and the first Congress under the Constitution assembled at Federal Hall, in the City of New York, Mareh 4, 1789. There was no member of Congress elected from Kings County until the 8th Congress, which assembled in March, 1803. The Representative to this Congress was from Brooklyn, then in the 2d Congressional distriet.
District. Congress.
Years.
Daniel O'Reilly.
2d
46th
1879-1881
Simeon B. Chittenden
3d
46th
1879-1881
Archibald M. Bliss
4th
46th
1879-1881
Frilig Complice
415ª
BIOGRAPHY OF HON. FELIX CAMPBELL.
HON. FELIX CAMPBELL was born in Brooklyn, February 28th, 1829. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction, his father hav- ing been John Campbell and his mother Jane Corr. He atten- ded the common schools of the day until he was twelve years of age, when he entered the Brooklyn Eagle office to learn the printer's trade. There he remained two years, when, under the inducement of an increase of wages from $1.50 to $2.50 per week, he entered the service of the old time printer, Mr. C. Alvord, at the corner of John and Dutch Streets, New York. Three years later, he connected himself with the House of Walworth, Nason & Guild at No. 79 John Street, New York, to learn the mysteries of engineering and steam-heat- ing. After his term of apprenticeship, he worked at the bench and lathe for nearly two years, and was then made foreman in recognition of his skill as a workman and his devotion to the interests of his employers.
Ten years Mr. Campbell was thus employed; then he engaged in business for himself, in the store in which he had learned his trade, and is still carrying on the business at the same place. The development of this branch of trade and industry is remarkable. At the date of the beginning of Mr. Campbell's apprenticeship, the establishment with which he connected himself was the only one of the kind in New York. They are now so numerous as to render them im- possible of enumeration. But Mr. Campbell, though one of the pioneers in the business, has always kept ahead rather than abreast of the times, and has continuously led the van in the march of improvement. Lighting, heating, and ventilation, as applied to architecture, must be regarded as the three most important factors in securing health, comfort and convenience. To these objects, Mr. Campbell has devo- ted the well-directed and systematic study of years, and he is justly credited with being especially well informed in all matters of art and architecture. Apropos of this genius for sanitary engineering, Watson's Art Journal, speaking of Mr. Campbell's appointment as a member of the New York State Advisory Board of the Centennial Commission, in 1876, said :
" Hon. Felix Campbell, the commissioner from Brooklyn, is the only member of the State Board who has any practical knowledge of a kind to be used in preparing the designs and specifications for a building, to be paid for by. and intended to represent worthily, the great State of New York. * * * He has for many years been a member of the Brooklyn Board of Education, and Chairman of the impor- tant committee on lighting, warming and ventilation. * * Mr. Campbell made a visit to the Vienna Exposition for the purpose of perfecting his knowledge in these Departments of Architecture, in the interests of education. He has erected a large, sensible and commodious residence at 1315 Pacific street, Brooklyn, which is lighted, warmed and ventilated more perfectly and scientifically than any other building, public or private, we have ever seen ; and the immense school edifices in which his plans have been adopted, are models and examples of what such buildings should be, where thousands of teachers aud children are assembled daily throughout the year. There is not a school building in New York that can compare in these respects. The Clerk of the Assembly, Hon. Hiram Calkins, to whom was delegated the duty of improving the ventilation of the Senate and Assembly Cham- bers of the old Capitol, has found in Mr. Campbell's plans the most effective remedy possible to be applied to improve these pest holes, where mephitic air and carbonic acid gas hold high revel with the skull and marrow bones of Death, when the Legislature is in session. Mr. Campbell has also been invited to look after the lighting, warming, and ven- tilation of the new Capitol Building at Albany. He has a plan which he proposes to carry out at his own expense, for the lighting, warming and ventilating of our State Centen- nial Building, designed to illustrate the advance of our knowledge on these important subjects involving the health, comfort, convenience and life of every man, woman and child, in every civilized community under the sun. Among the illustrations he proposes to give, is one perfectly carried out in his own residence, which will be duly appreciated by all anti-tobacco smokers and by the smokers of the filthy weed themselves. This is the preparation of a smoking-room, where gentlemen may use the weed to any extent, while the
escaping smoke is constantly passed out from the room, leaving the air comparatively pure and unincumbered with the fumes and dead smoke so disagreeable and poisonous to the lungs."
The facts set forth in the above extract fully attest Mr. Campbell's eminence as a sanitary engineer. The increasing magnitude of his very extensive business is sufficient evi- dence of his ability as a man of affairs.
It will be seen that Mr. Campbell is conspicuous among the self-made men of the city and country. He literally made his own way in the world, during a number of years, when boys of his own age more fortunately situated were in school and in pleasant homes, without toil and without care. His career has been that of the man whose honest and persistent endeavor has won its legitimate reward. With the strug- gling poor his sympathies have always been strong, and the amelioration of their condition as a class, their material ad- vancement, and their general education have long been his most ardent wishes. Everywhere in Brooklyn he is known as the workingman's friend. He knows the trials and troubles incident to the life of the man who earns his bread by the sweat of his brow, and has shown by his own exer- tions what an American boy can accomplish. He has been in every sense a Brooklyn boy and mau. All that he cher- ishes and holds dear is among the people of his native city. His views in regard to the relations of labor and capital are that they are and must be reciprocal-progress to either is impossible without the aid of the other, and they must ne- cessarily go hand in hand, the causes for any antagonism between them being imaginary or artificial rather than real. For years he has been a large employer of labor, and his ex- perience has not been without its lesson to him of the mu- tual duties and interests of employers and employed. Since the day he began business, every one of his hundreds of em- ployes has received his salary weekly, without fail. Monopo- lies of all kinds have long had in Mr. Campbell a stern and unyielding foe. Upon questions of finance and mercantile affairs he is so thoroughly informed that he is regarded as a valuable counsellor in legislation or national questions. His financial position is such as to place him beyond the influ- ence of pecuniary considerations in connection with political affairs, and his character for strict integrity is unimpeacha- ble. His social position is excellent, and he is always promi- nent in good works, and liberal in his subscriptions to all deserving charities.
In 1856 and 1857, Mr. Campbell was Supervisor of the Elev- enth Ward, Brooklyn, and though the youngest inember, was chosen President of the Board at its second yearly meeting. He also served a full term as member of the old Volunteer Fire Department, and was for thirteen years President of the Board of Trustees of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund Asso- ciation, connected therewith. He is a director of and large stockholder in the Mechanics' Insurance Co., Brooklyn, and was one of its incorporators ; is also a director of the Brook- lyn Life Insurance Co., and connected with the American District Telegraph Co., Brooklyn, of which he was one of the incorporators, and with the Brooklyn Safe Deposit Co. He was also a Fire Commissioner under the old regime. His life-long residence in the city has compassed the period of Brooklyn's advancement from that of a village to that of the third city in the United States in point of population, and he is a member of the Society of Old Brooklynites, one condition of admission to which is that the applicant must have been for fifty years a resident of the city.
Another question in which Mr. Campbell takes a profound interest is that of public education. For twelve years he was an influential and untiring member of the Board of Educa- tion of the City of Brooklyn. His record in this connection is too well known to require much attention in this sketch. From first to last he labored assiduously and unceasingly for the advancement of the best interests of the public schools, and his achievements concerning the sanitary condition of the various school buildings are referred to in a preceding paragraph. In 1882 Mr. Campbell was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the Forty-eighth Congress in the Fourth District of Brooklyn, comprising the county towns and the Ninth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Twenty-fourth Wards. His nomination awakened great enthusiasm among all classes, and was fol- lowed by his triumphant election, having received the larg- est majority ever given in that district. If public approba- tion of the course of a popular representative assures his advancement to still higher trusts, it is confidently believed that Mr. Campbell's political star is still in the ascendancy.
416ª
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
DARWIN R. JAMES was born at Williamsburg, Mass., May 14, 1834, of parents whose ancestors were among the early settlers of that State, on his father's side, dating back to 1639. In the year 1847 his family removed to Williamsburg, now Brooklyn, E. D., leaving the subject of this sketch at Amherst, Mass., where he was attending a boarding-school, in which he remained for three years, receiving an education to fit him for a business career, in accordance with his fath- er's plans.
At the age of 17 he was clerk in a large wholesale house in New York city, rapidly acquiring a knowledge of mercan- tile affairs, and advancing in his career, until, at the early age of 23, he formed a co-partnership with his friend, Mr. Mitchell N. Packard, under the firm name of Packard & James.
This business union has proved a highly successful one, the trade of the firm having developed to enormous proportions during the ensuing twenty-six years, reflecting the greatest credit upon the wise and honorable management that has characterized its existence.
It is engaged in the importation of indigo, spices, and other East India goods, and owns a large drug and spice mill in Brooklyn.
Its trade is very widely extended, and for many years it has been the leading house in this line in the United States.
In 1868-9, Mr. James made the tour of the world in the in- terests of his firm ; crossing the continent before the com- pletion of the railroad to the Pacific, he sailed from San Francisco to Japan, carefully studying the social and com- mercial features of interest in these two great nations.
Thence he visited the Phillippine Islands, Singapore, Pe- nang, etc.
In India he traveled extensively ; finally crossing the country to Bombay, he next touched at Aden, then Suez, and passing through Egypt to Alexandria, he pursued his journey, through France and England, homeward, having greatly benefited by this extended tour of observation.
As a business man Mr. James has been very successful ; not that he has accumulated much money, for that never was his aim; but, for honorable dealing, integrity, and strict con- formance to the unwritten law of equity, few business men in the city stand higher.
But not alone in mercantile life has his career been marked; of an active temperament, imbued with the cardinal virtues of industry and perseverance, few business men have given so much time to outside matters as he.
Possessed of an unusually clear and logical intellect, with broad intelligence, varied sources of knowledge being laid . under contribution by him; his views of the great questions of the day, and his influence, have been sought upon many occasions in the public interests.
Of this more anon. Being held in high esteem by his fel- low men for his sterling qualities as a citizen, he lias been honored by being chosen to fill many important positions of trust.
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