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 II, Part 111

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345

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 II > Part 111

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He was elected Supt. of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Sunday- school (Rev. Dr. Talmage's); served two years and then in October, 1882, resigned to become Supt. of the Lee Ave. Sun- day-school, then somewhat demoralized, but now numbering 1,500. Mr. Johnson is a man remarkable for activity and energy, which he has a great faculty of infusing into his Sunday-school work.

WILLIAM M. PIERSON .- Born 1808, in Westfield, N. J .; his first recollection of the Sunday-school is the gathering of a class of six on Sunday afternoon, his mother-the teacher- and four brothers and one sister, forming it, the Bible and the Westminster Shorter Catechism the text-books; in 1829 entered the York Street Methodist Sunday-school as a teacher; in 1835 connected himself with the Prince Street Mission; continued here until the Central Pres. Church was organized, Sept. 5, 1847, and in this school (now the Taber- nacle) he has continued up to the present time; Superintend- ent one and one-half years; teacher of Bible class; had charge for four or five years of the Sunday-school of the Protestant Orphan Asylum, in Cumberland st.

HENRY R. PIERCY. Born in 1798; in 1826 entered the Sunday-school Union School, held in district school-house on Concord st .; this school consisted of members of the different evangelical denominations; it soon became too large for the building, and it was deemed advisable to separate and havo the schools in their respective churches; he was Superin- tendent of Sunday-schools thirty-six years; is now teaching in the Union Congregational Church, State st.

SAMUEL L. PARSONS .- Born 1817, in West Springfield, Mass .; entered Sunday-school in 1827 or 1828; removed to Marshall, Mich., in 1837, where he was Secretary of a Sunday-school; for two years he occupied similar positions in Palmyra, Mo .; for two years from 1843 he did the same work in Springfield, Mass .; in 1845 he was for four years Secretary and Superin- tendent; removed to Brooklyn in 1851; served twenty years as Supt. of Church schools, and five in a mission school; was President of the Sunday-school Union from 1867 to 1869. During this period he spent all his Sabbaths in visiting the schools of the Union. In 1879 he opened a school for the Chinese in rooms of Young Men's Christian Association, where he gathered a goodly number of Chinamen to study the Bible.

ISRAEL A. BARKER .- Born in New York City 1820; entered the Sunday-school of the Willet Street M. E. Church in 1827; came to Brooklyn in 1842, and joined the Centenary M. E. Sunday-school; was teacher and secretary until 1848, when, with about one hundred others, left the M. E. Church and organized a Congregational Methodist Church, corner Law- rence and Tillary sts., where he served as trustee of the church and secretary of the Sunday-school; went into the Sunday-school and became Superintendent till 1865; was elected one of the Managers of the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union in 1863; now belongs to the Park Congregational Church, and teacher of a class of young ladies, and still one of the Managers of the Sunday-school Union.

1 THE old Suydam house, of which a cut is given here- with, is still standing, in good repair, and occupied as a residence by Hon. A. M. Suydam. It is on the corner of Evergreen and Woodbine avenues, and was probably built in the early part of the last century, since it was considered an old house in 1760, when Jacob Suydam bought the farm on which it stood, and he re- shingled and repaired it then. During the Revolutionary War it was used by the British troops as their winter quar- ters for a time. It is built of stone gathered from the surrounding fields, which are covered with cement. The door is in two sections, an upper and a lower. The win- dows have the small lights and heavy sash of the olden time. It was erected in the clearing, before any roads werc laid out in that part of Bushwick; afterwards the old "Bushwick road," now Evergreen avenue, was put through from the little village beside East River to Flatbush. The old house has been the home of three generations of Suydams. (See biography of A. M. Suydam, page 291.)

OLD SUYDAM HOUSE.

MISSIONARY, BIBLE, TRACT

AND

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

FOR CHRISTIAN WORK.

T HE practical fruits of Christianity are seen in the many charities of the city, and the benevolent organizations which look after the spiritual and temporal welfare of the needy. Brooklyn, "the city of churches," is well supplied with these charitable societies. One of the oldest is

The Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society, which was organized July 22, 1829, in the Apprentices' Library. It is wholly undenominational, and has steadily pursued its work of ministering to the spiritual, and often to the tempo- ral, wants of the destitute. Up to 1848 the Society main- tained its existence only by hard struggles.

From that time new efforts were made by its friends to enlarge its resources, and extend its operations. The follow- ing year three missionaries were employed ; the number of visitors was increased to 254, and the collections amounted to $2,134.46. In 1850, four missionaries were employed, with 407 visitors, and $3,011.48 were received into the treasury. In 1858, the constitution was amended, and the society was named, in accordance with what it had in fact become, " The Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society." The employment of missionaries, in distinction from the simple circulation of religious tracts, became thenceforth its principal work; and the happy effect of the change upon its resources and opera- tions, and on the interest felt in it by the churches, at once became apparent. It has since gone on with continually in- creasing prosperity and power. The first number of its journal was issued in January, 1862

The society has had as Presidents : Rev. (since Bishop) C. P. McIlvaine, 1829-'32; Rev. I. S. Spencer, D. D., 1832-'8; Rev. B. C. Cutler, D. D., 1838-'45; Jasper Corning, Esq., 1845-'7; Rev. B. C. Cutler, D. D .. a second time, 1847-63; Rev. R. S. Storrs, Jr., D. D., 1863-74; Wm. W. Wickes, Esq., 1874-'80; Alfred S. Barnes, Esq., 1880-'4. Owing to hard times, from 1874 to 1880, the work was suspended, but resumed in the latter year. Fifteen missionaries are now employed, besides a large number of helpers and visitors.

In 1847 Mr. C. C. MUDGE (see biography, p. 1098), became General Agent and missionary of this society. If the Sunday- school work was his hobby, the tract work was his life-work, to which he devoted himself with unfailing love and faith- fulness, winning for himself not only respect and esteem, but the deep affection and love of his visitors and associates.

Soon after his connection with this society, as a natural outgrowth of his work and the Bible work in connection with it, he was appointed Depositary and Secretary of the City Bible Society. In these two societies he served with loyalty

and devotion, till the Master said: "Stand aside and wait awhile." Then followed four years of gentle submission to God's will, when, on the 22d of September, 1888, four days before the completion of his 77th year, the call came and he entered into rest. " And his works do follow him."

The Brooklyn City Bible Society was formed in 1841, as auxiliary to the Long Island Bible Society. Its first OFFI- CERS were : James Ruthven, President ; Edward Corning, David Stamford, Thomas Kirke, Geo. L. Sampson, Adrian Hegeman, D. H. Arnold, David Coope and J. A. Sperry, Vice-Presidents; Rev. M. W. Jacobus, Cor. Sec .; Henry C. Bowen, Rec. Sec .; Henry Young, Treas .; and a board of twenty managers. The first year's receipts were $469.09; expenditures, $466.83, and 1,701 bibles and testaments dis- tributed. In 1849, the Society became auxiliary to the Amer- ican Bible Society; in 1848, 1856 and 1867, the whole city was thoroughly canvassed; and, in 1867, the affairs of the society were committed to the control of an executive committee of twenty. Presidents : Geo. L. Sampson, 1842-'3; A. R. Moen, 1844 ; Daniel Ayres, 1854-'8; Chandler Storr, 1849-'57; Daniel Ayres, 1857-'69 ; Richard P. Buck, 1860-'9; Rev. N. H. Schenck, D. D., 1870-'2; Rev. W. I. Budington, 1873; Rev. David Inglis, 1874-'77; Rev. Dr. A. S. Hunt, 1878-'84. The present Vice-Presidents are: Sidney Sanderson and John Barnier; Cor. Sec., Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke, D. D .; Treas., E. B. Wood. Mr. Chas. C. Mudge was Rec. Sec. from 1864 till mis death.

The Brooklyn Woman's Bible Society, auxiliary to the above, was founded in 1850; also a North Brooklyn Bible So- ciety was established in 1845.

Brooklyn Young Men's Christian Association, designed to improve the spiritual, intellectual and social condition of young men, to bring them under Christian influence, and to stimulate them to Christian effort. found inception at a convention of some three hundred young men connected with the several evangelical denominations in this city, in June, 1853. It was organized September 15, 1853, witlı two hundred and seven members ; a certificate of incorporation was filed, and a suite of rooms rented in the Washington Building, corner of Court and Joralemon sts., the regular monthly and other public meetings being held in the lecture- rooms of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, and the Henry St. Presbyterian Church. Here a library and reading-room was established and opened, free to all young men, irrespective of membership in the association; while a Literary Society, course of free popular lectures by eminent speakers, monthly meetings for social reunions, stated conference and prayer-

1101

MISSIONARY AND TRACT SOCIETIES.

meetings, educational classes, etc., lent their aid to further the ohjects of the association. In 1854, the association inter- ested itself largely and practically in the work of tract dis- tribution and of mission-school enterprises, of which there were, at that time, twenty in operation in this city. In April, 1859, the Association removed to the Brooklyn Institute building, and remained until their removal, in August, 1865, to the building on the corner of Fulton ave. and Gallatin place. After that time, the work of the Association, in all its departments, received a wonderful impetus, and its labors were attended with a commensurate amount of good to the community.

In August, 1872, the Association removed to the opposite corner of Fulton and Gallatin place, which was fitted up with a large gymnasium, a lecture-room seating 500, a libra- ry of 6,600 volumes, and a reading-room containing two hundred current journals and magazines, with cheerful par- lors, reception and class rooms.

Of the great work that has been accomplished by the Young Men's Christian Associations in this country, the Brooklyn society has done its full share. It now provides a course of lectures, literary entertainments, instruction in French, German, penmanship, book-keeping, phonography, elocution, vocal music, and other subjects.

In 1869, a charter was obtained, framed with a view to the erection of a large building for the uses of the Association, on the plan of the Cooper Institute in New York.

The bequest of the late Frederick Marquand, Esq., gave to the Association $200,000 for a new building, on condition that the further sum of $150,000 should be raised by the members as an endowment for the Association. The condi- tion is so nearly met that plans have been adopted for a new building, to be erected during 1884, on Bond st., near Fulton, with an entrance on the latter street. It will be of brick, four stories and basement, 100 by 125 feet, with a 25 feet wide extension to Fulton, conveniently arranged and espe- cially adapted to the uses of the Association.

Its Presidents have been: Andrew A. Smith, 1853-'56; James McGee, 1856-'57; George A. Bell, 1857-'58; John M. Double- day, 1858-'59; Henry H. Lloyd, M. D., 1859-'60; Robert S. Bussing, 1860-'61; James M. Ives, 1861-'62; O. Vincent Coffin, 1862-'63; O. Vincent Coffin, Charles A. Righter, 1863-'64; William Edsall, 1864-'68; Wm. W. Wickes, 1868-'69; Joseph T. Duryea, D. D., 1869-'70; D. G. Eaton, 1870-'73; William Edsall, 1873-'74; D. H. Cochran and Tasker H. Marvin, 1874-176; D. D. McWilliams, 1876-"77; John P. Adams, 1877 -'78; B. H. Dillingham, 1878-'79; D. D. Mc Williams, William Taylor, 1879-'80; R. Fulton Cutting, 1880-'82; Edwin Pack- ard, 1882-'84.

OFFICERS, 1884 : Pres., Edwin Packard; Vice-Presidents, Henry Dalley, Jr., F. H. Stuart, M. D .; Treas., Daniel W. Mc Williams; Ass't Treas., Henry G. Fay; Rec. Sec., F. A. Parsons; Gen. Sec., Thos. J. Wilkie; Ass't Sec., Wallace McMullen; Librarian, J. Harry Gould.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Silas M. Giddings, Alanson Trask, A. A. Raven, Henry G. Fay, E. W. Hawley, Wm. Peck Smith, Edwin Packard, Alonzo Alford, A. J. Newton, J. H, Righter, M. H. Dorman, David A. Boody, F. A. Parsons, Willoughby Powell, Jas. R. Cowing, F. E. Bassett, Edw. A. Lovell, Noah Tebbetts, D. W. McWilliams, Jobn J. Vail, F. H. Stuart, M. D., A. Augustus Low, Henry Dalley, Jr., Oliver G. Gardner, W. P. Gill, R. E. Beers, Chas. L. Bonnell, M. D., Geo. F. Peabody, F. B. Schenck.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Alanson Trask, A. S. Barnes, John T. Martin, John A. Tucker, George I. Seney, Thomas S. Moore. The East Brooklyn Young Men's Christian Association, Library and Free Reading Room, held its first meeting,

October 9, 1866, at the residence of Dr. Alexander Hutchins. Its first rooms were at 675 Myrtle avenue, whence in May, 1868, it removed to No. 693. The first number of the East Brooklyn Gazette (monthly) was issued by the Association in October, 1867. Presidents : 1866, Alex. Hutchins, M. D .; October, 1867, Rev. John W. Leek; January, 1868, C. H. H. Pannell; March, 1868, Alex. Hutchins, M. D .; July, 1868, Rev. D. O. Ferris; June, 1869, Edgar A. Hutchins.

Union for Christian Work was formed in 1866, under the name of the Brooklyn Liberal Christian Union, for the pur- pose of uniting all denominations of Christians, without ex- ception, in the work of mutual improvement and practical beneficence. It first established its head-quarters in the Hamilton Buildings, corner of Court and Joralemon streets, where it opened a free reading-room, with a good library of six hundred volumes, mostly the gifts of friends, and a large variety of religious and secular magazines and papers; also with suitable means for innocent, rational amusement. As the institution grew in favor with the public, it was found necessary to seek for it ampler accommodations. Its head- quarters were accordingly transferred, Feb., 1870, to the new and handsome edifice, known as Baxter's Building, 131 Fulton ave., opposite Elm place, the second, third and fourth stories of which it devoted to the purposes of library and reading-rooms, and apartments for gymnastics and various other kinds of recreations. These quarters were dedicated to the work of the union by public exercises on the evening of February 14, 1870, when the organization assumed its present name and adopted a new constitution.

In the spring of 1870, the Union rented and fitted up the "Smith Mansion," on Smith st., near Fulton; a library and reading-room were provided, also separate rooms for games, conversation and correspondence. On the second floor are the rooms for boys' evening school and girls' sewing school. An employment bureau, industrial and relief departments have been successfully conducted, and various courses of lectures given from time to time. The Union is entirely un- sectarian and undenominational, inviting all to enter its membership, and at an annual fee so low as to be within the means of the poor. Consequently, its rooms are largely fre- quented by young and old, while its general operations have become much extended. The first President was Isaac H. Frothingham; his successors have been : Rohert Foster, Charles P. Gerrish, Ripley Ropes, Josiah B. Blossom, and Robert Foster; the OFFICERS for 1883-'84 are: Robert Foster, Pres .; Joseph R. Blossom, Alex. Forman, Vice-Presidents; Wm. C. Gardner, Sec .; Isaac H. Cary, Jr., Treas .; Wm. A. Butler, Supt.

The German Evangelical Aid Society .- A number of Christian German ladies organized September 21st, 1877, a Ladies' Mission Society, to alleviate the misery of destitute Germans in the city. In their work they found many per- sons who were too old and feeble to work, friendless, and without means in a strange land. These ladies determined to found a Christian Home for the aged, helpless, worthy German Protestants of both sexes. They issued an appeal for contributions, which met with a hearty response. Soon a meeting of the German Evangelical Pastors of Brooklyn was held to further the object. An organization was perfected and incorporated in April, 1877, as the German Evangelical Aid Society of Brooklyn. Fourteen lots, at the corner of Bushwick ave. and Fairfax st., were purchased for $45,000, on which suitable buildings are in course of construction. Meanwhile, the house, No. 79 Himrod st., was rented, and is occupied by 15 inmates. The society is governed by a council of Pastors of German churches and a Board of Managers, consisting of ladies.

1102

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ELI ROBBINS.

ELI ROBBINS .- Among the men who have helped to | make Brooklyn respected as a residential city of merchant princes, a high rank is due to the memory of Eli Robbins, the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Robbins came of a stock in which some of the best qualities of the New England character existed in their happiest combination. Towards the close of the last century Puritanism in New England had laid aside much of its sternness and intolerance, and had com- menced to reconcile itself with the milder charities of life; retaining, however, amidst all classes of the popu- lation, as much patriarchal simplicity of manners as probably ever existed in a modern civilized community. The Robbins homestead was situated in West Cam- bridge, now Arlington, Massachusetts, on the road rendered historic by the celebrated ride of Paul Revere. The patriotism of the family is indicated by the fact that the name of Robbins is found four times on the roll of Captain Parker's company of "embattled farmers," who faced the British at the famous Concord fight. After the Revolution and the restoration of social order, the qualities above mentioned speedily adapted themselves to their new environment, especially in the vicinity of Harvard College. The original Colonial custom of providing variety for the table, by a neighborly interchange of agricultural commodities, called "barter," gave place to a more systematic method of distributing produce, and public markets were substituted for the primitive pork-barrel and private poultry-bin.

Nathan Robbins, the father of the present genera- tion of that name, was among the earliest to engage in the regular market business, by exchanging meat for other merchandise, such as shoes, snuff, cigars, choco- late, and Continental money. In accordance with the domestic regulations of those days, his home was en- livened by the successive advent of nine children, the youngest of whom was Eli, who was born September 22, 1821. He was not a strong child, but being healthy and self-reliant, he soon mastered the rudiments of such knowledge as was convenient to his circumstances, and began his business career at an early age, by pro- viding a horse and wagon for himself, and purchasing poultry of the neighboring farmers, which he dressed with his own hands and carried to Boston for customers. Meanwhile, his brothers had established themselves in Faneuil Hall market, and were building up a profitable trade in the same kind of produce.

About the year 1836, Simeon Boyden, who kept the Tremont House in Boston, and had a high appreciation of these industrious young men, became proprietor of the Astor House, then the principal hotel of New York

city. He made overtures to Nathan, the eldest, by remarking on the dearth of first-class poultry in Fulton market, and suggesting that there was a fine opening for some New England man, who could attend to busi- ness and keep out of bad company. This was exactly what the Robbins boys knew how to do; and Amos, the next older than Eli, at once departed for the metropolis. Three years later, in 1839, Eli followed his brother to Fulton market, at first as an employee; but in 1841 they entered into partnership, under the firm name of "A. & E. Robbins," which has since become familiar to all frequenters of the streets of New York. It was a small beginning-two country boys, aged 18 and 21, with a capital of only 236 dollars each. But they had an advantage in the superior style in which they dressed their poultry, and they were not ashamed to work. Add to this their deter- mination not to speculate nor run into debt, and the result might easily have been predicted. They soon distanced all competitors, and for more than forty years have stood at the acknowledged head of that line of business in the United States, thus affording a notable instance of conspicuous success, attained solely by honorable enterprise and strict integrity.

On the 13th of May, 1845, Mr. Robbins married Miss Maria C. Farmer, of his native town, a young lady with whom he had been acquainted from childhood, and whose subsequent devotedness, as wife and mother, amply justified the prophetic foregleams of his youth- ful affection. Her love, like a jewel, hung for eight and thirty years about his neck, yet never lost its lustre. Possessed of a modest dignity, which created an atmosphere of sweet content, and artless as a child, she sought her own delight in making all around her bright and happy. The abundant means which her husband furnished enabled her also to gratify every hospitable impulse and refined taste. Their first home in Brooklyn was on Washington street, where two dear children came to' work their mission of love; Warren, born September 21st, 1846, and Clinton, December 27th, 1848. The birth of these children was a joy which could only be adequately measured by the terri- ble grief that followed their early departure. Clinton died April 26th, 1864, and Warren November 12th, 1869.

Mr. Robbins had already become a rich man, and saw in his offspring an adequate shrine whereon to lavish all his paternal love and care. To this end he erected the spacious and elegant mansion on the corner of Smith and Livingston streets, which, although de- prived of its expected chief attraction, has remained the charming residence of Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, as

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Engª by H.B. Hall & Sons, New York

1103

BIOGRAPHIES.

well as a welcome resort for a host of relatives and choice acquaintances.

[ Eli Robbins was, by nature and early training, in- clined to economy and careful in his investments. Yet he was not indifferent to any wortby cause. His bene- factions to private families and individuals were so secret and unostentatious, that none but those who were the recipients of it can compute the sums which he an- nually bestowed among them. In religion, he was a Universalist. On removing to Brooklyn, while yet a young man, he became a member of the First Uni- versalist Society, and remained ever after loyal to that form of Christian faith. This furnishes the key to his whole moral character. He never sought for novelty, nor shrank from the dictates of duty. He had the two things which make men strong-an intelligent con- science and the quiet courage to obey it. True courage is not noisy. It does not find its expression in defiant manners or vapory speech ; but it does consist in a quiet determination to do right, because it is right, and in traveling in a straight though unpopular pathway.

With such a conscience and with such a courage, Eli Robbins entered upon the career which lay before him and followed it successfully to the end. The end came

while he was yet far from being an old man. He died on the morning of June 21st, 1883, in the 62d year of his age, leaving, as the result of his life, a character for business integrity, against which no word of suspicion was ever breathed; a fortune approximating two mil- lions of dollars, no portion of which was obtained by questionable means; a wide circle of associates who honored and trusted him; and a wife who, having passed with him through every grade of society, is peculiarly qualified to be the almoner of his generous intentions.

His will, which was written ten years before his deatlı, disposes of some three hundred thousand dollars in various bequests, among which are legacies to the Church of our Father, of this city, the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum, the Blind Asylum of New York, the Unitarian and Universalist Churches of Arling- ton, Mass., and his native town, to which his body was taken for interment.

The Montauk Fire Insurance Co. and the Firemen's Trust Insurance Co., of both of which he was a trustee, together with the religious society with which he was long and intimately connected, passed appropriate res- olutions of regret, and all who knew him were sincere mourners.

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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 II, Part 111

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co Number of Pages: 1345

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345