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 128

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 128

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In 1870 Mr. Pearsall established a photographic gallery at the corner of Fulton and Tillary streets, Brooklyn, removing, two years later, to his present location. Mr. Pearsall, as also his brother, Alva A. Pearsall, may be said to be in a great meas- ure self-taught in his art. To it he has devoted the best years of his life and much careful and well-directed thought; making, from time to time, several important improvements in photo- graphic processes and apparatus. As an artist he takes high rank; he is a member of the National Photographic Association, and his name is known well and favorably to the profession throughout the United States and Canada.

Mr. Pearsall is president of the Brooklyn Archery Club, and in 1881 was secretary and treasurer of the National Archery Association. He is also prominent in the Fountain Gun Club, and is a member of Commonwealth Lodge No. 409, F. & A. M., and of Orient Chapter, No. 138, R. A. M. He was married March 6, 1866, to Elizabeth Conrow, of Brooklyn. They reside at No. 29 Strong Place.

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

MR. FRANK E. PEARSALL'S PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO.

The nature of the true artist is to be dissatisfied with all his attainments. His field, the eternal beauty, is illimitable. Every step in the development of his art suggests another step just beyond his grasp; all the accessories necessary to his work ex- hibit the interior working of his mind. Where our fathers would have been satisfied, and found nothing lacking, we would dis- cover many crudities. The city photograph galleries of twenty-

five years ago, with their bare walls and general uncouth sur- roundings, are to-day relegated to the obscure country village, while in their place are magnificent apartmenta, and the studio of the present keeps well in line with our progress in culture and art. The cut of the establishment of Mr. G. Frank E. Pear. sall, No. 298 Fulton street, Brooklyn, N. Y., aptly illustrates this fact.

The first floor, 22 feet wide by 128 feet deep, contains the reception room, dressing-rooms, offices, studio, laboratory and dark room. The reception room, 22 x 60 feet, ia carpeted and furnished with exquisite taste; the walls are handsomely frescoed, which, with the pictures adorning them, or resting upon easels, makes the entire effect pleasing to the eye, and gratifying to cul- tured visitors. The studio is a model of ita kind, and to an artist an interesting and profitable study. It is 42 feet long by 22 feet wide, perfectly arranged with plate-glass sky and side lights, so located as to afford a right and left-hand light. The ceilings are frescoed, and t hefloor covered with an English Linoleum of appropriate pattern. The furniture is very elaborate, including many pieces not usually seen. The drawing accompanying this article does not convey a full idea of what this studio ia; any effect desired may be attained in this gallery. The second floor is supplied with complete arrangements for printing, toning and finishing.

Mr. Pearsall's work is noted for its delicacy, softness, cleanli- ness and technical beauty. The rank held by him among photo- graphers is evinced by the fact that the majority of portraits illustrating this history are from his studio, and that a large amount of his patronage is drawn from New York City, despite the attractions of its renowned galleries.

BROOKLYN ARTISTS.

TN addition to those mentioned in the foregoing article, we have the following artists, portrait painters, etc., residing in Brooklyn:

Brown & Son, 429 Fulton street.

Wm. M. Brown, 709 President street, painter of fruits, flowers and landscapes; born in Troy, N.Y., 1829; studied portrait painting in the studio of A. B. Moore, of that city; established 1855, in Brooklyn.

Samuel S. Carr, 461 Twelfth street.

Richard Crefield, 628 Myrtle avenue, artist (figure) ; had seven years' study at Royal Academy, Munich, where he received a medal for work.

A. S. Dauber, 307 Navy street. M. F. H. De Haas, h. 148 Taylor street. Carl Frank, 180 Sackett street. P. S. Harris, Garfield Building. C. D. Hunt, 75 St. James place. James M. Hart, 94 First place.

R. W. Hubbard, h. 121 St. James place.

C. W. Jewell, 1 York street.

J. H. Littlefield, 16 Court street.

Clinton Loveridge, 461 Twelfth street, landscape painter, member Brooklyn Art Club; served in army during nearly the entire War of the Rebellion.

Strafford Newmarch, 316 Gates avenue.

Julius Ruger, 16 Court street, portrait artist; born in Germany, 1840; came to America, 1847; worked as an engraver on gold until his nineteenth year, when he began the study of portrait drawing and painting, establishing himself in Brooklyn as an artist in 1864. J. B. Stearns, 389 Fulton street.

R. W. Sawers, 375 Pearl street.

Warren W. Sheppard, 281 Ninth street, marine artist; established in Brooklyn, 1872; was born at Greenwich, N. J., 1855; son of Josiah Sheppard, a sail- ing ship-master ; his specialty is that of brilliant moon- light marine effects.

James G. Tyler, 313 Fulton street.

THE

HISTORY OF THE PRESS OF

BROOKLYN AND KINGS COUNTY .*

BY HON. WILLIAM E. ROBINSON.

WITH BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES, ETC., BY THE EDITOR.

T THE HISTORY OF THE PRESS OF KINGS County, like that of other cities and localities, records many early deaths of ambitious jour- nals.

The Long Island Courier t was the first paper published in Brooklyn, by Thomas Kirk, a job printer, book-seller, publisher and stationer. ¿ Its first number appeared June 26, 1799. It was a weekly, and was the second paper published on Long Island. The first was the Long Island Herald, published at Sag Harbor, in 1791, by Daniel Frothingham. The Courier met with an early death seven years afterwards.

The Long Island Weekly Intelligencer was commenced May 26, 1806, by William C. Robinson and William Little. It was the first paper to publish a list of letters remaining in the Brooklyn Post Office ; but was discontinued at the end of the year for want of patronage. In June, 1809, Thomas Kirk, nothing daunted by the failure of the Courier, started

The Long Island Star, which was destined for a longer life and an honorable career. In two years he

sold the Star to Alden Spooner, § formerly of the Suffolk County Gazette. In 1818, it was consolidated with the Long Island Farmer, of Jamaica, and pub- lished by Spooner & Sleight, retaining the name of the Star, the same edition answering for both Brooklyn and Jamaica. This connection was mutually dissolved in 1826. Mr. Sleight revived the Farmer, and Mr. Spooner continued the Star. In 1827, the Star was issued as a daily paper. The daily issue, though at- tempted several times, was not successful for any length of time. In 1832, the weekly was doubled in size; and, in 1835, it was issued semi-weekly. In 1836, Colonel Spooner took his sons, Edwin B. and George W., into partnership, under the name of A. Spooner & Sons. In 1841, Colonel Spooner became Surrogate of Kings county, for four years, appointed by Governor Seward, and succeeding Richard Cornwell; and E. B .. Spooner became sole proprietor. It was afterward published by E. B. Spooner & Son (E. B. Spooner, Jr.), and edited by Alden J. Spooner, recently deceased, and Robert A. Burch. It was discontinued, June 27, 1863,

* In the preparation of this chapter, we have drawn largely upon a very minute sketch of the Local Press of Brooklyn, by Mr. W. A. Chandos Fulton, in the Brooklyn Standard.

1 Furman gives the title of this paper as The Courier and New York and Long Island Advertizer, but Mr. Fulton says that "all the copies and documents relating to it, which he has seen, bear the title of the Long Island Courier.

# Mr. Kirk kept a small job printing office on the corner of Old Ferry (now Fulton) and Front streets. He is supposed to have come to Brooklyn about the close of the Revolution, A shilling pamphlet edition of Maj .- Gen. Lee's funeral oration in honor of Gen. Washingtoo, in December, 1799, was the first book pub- lished from Kirk's press, in Brooklyn. In 1809, he commenced the Long Island Star, and removed his job printing establishment to Main street, next door to Rapelye & Mooney's dry goods store. Here he opened a large stationery and book store, which he kept well supplied with the publications of the day, together with a fine assortment of standard works. Besides conducting his paper, he issned several publications and reprints ; and seems to have done, for the times, a good general business. In ISI1, he sold the Star to Alden Spooner, and his store to Messrs. Pray & Bowen, and devoted himself to his job printing office, which he removed to Fulton, just above Front street. About this time, he published a History of the Adventures and Sufferings of Moses Smith in the Miranda Expedition, etc., etc., at the expense of the author's brother, ex-Mayor Samuel Smith, of this city, a curious little volume, now very rare.

Mr. Kirk lived to a good old age, was identified with all the prominent local movements of his day, and was followed to the grave by the respect of all who knew the value of his unobtrusive, but exceedingly useful life.

§ The SPOONER family, so honorably associated with the history of the press in this country, was connected, both by marriage and occupation, with the Greens, of New London, Conn., for several generations prominent as printers and editors in that State. Judah P. Spooner, and his brother, Alden Spooner, early printers in Vermont, were sons of Thomas Spooner (who came from Newport, R. I., to New London, in 1753), and brothers-in-law of Timothy Green. Alden Spooner, so fully and honorably identified with the highest interests and prosperity of Brooklyn, was a son of the first-named brother, and was born at Westminster, Vt., January 23, 1783. Having learned the printing art with his relative, Samnel Green, the well-known printer of New London, Conn., he went to Sag Harbor, L. I., where, 20th of February, 1804, he assumed the charge of the Suffolk County Herald,. then in the thirteenth year of its existence, and changing its name to that of the Suffolk County Gazette, published it until 1StI, when he was obliged to abandon it. Moving to Brooklyn, which, to his far-seeing eye, already gave promise of its future growth, he purchased the Long Island Star from Mr. Kirk, and with this paper his whole subsequent life was honorably identified. He afterwards conducted for a time the New York Columbian, a daily, and with that zeal for public works which always characterized him, was an early advocate of the Erie Canal, and a great admirer and firm friend of its originator, De Witt Clinton, who once remarked that he "never had so true a friend as Alden Spooner ; and what is more (added the Governor), he never asked a favor of me directly or indi- rectly." He indeed avoided public office, until the unfortunate result of certain speculative enterprises, in 1836, induced him to seek the office of Surrogate of Kings county, which was bestowed upon him by Governor Seward, and which he held for four years. In all that pertained to the welfare of Brooklyn, he was ever foremost and active. He was influential in procuring the village charter, in 1816,

1170

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

after a long and honorable life of over half a century. In politics, it was Federal, Whig, and Republican. In its columns may be found the history of Brooklyn and Kings County for the period of its existence. The only complete set in existence-the old office file-is now among the treasures of the Long Island Historical Society.

The Long Island Patriot was started as a weekly on St. Patrick's Day, 1821, by George L. Birch .* It was Democratic, and, for a while, success- ful. It was purchased, in 1829, by Sheriff John T. Bergen, and, for a short time, edited by Samuel E. Clements, a Southerner, who had been a journeyman in Birch's office. In 1832, it became the property of James A. Bennett, who changed its name to the Brooklyn Advocate, and

The Brooklyn Advocate and Nassau Gazette appeared September 13, 1833, as the successor of the Patriot, owned and edited by Bennett & Douglas. It was strongly Democratic and ably edited, and was soon issued in semi-weekly form. In 1836, Mr. Bennett retired, and S. G. Arnold was its editor till its suspen- sion in 1839. During the eighteen years of its exist- ence as Patriot, Advocate and Gazette, Henry C. Murphy was a constant and copious contributor. Mr. Birch was printer to the New York Common Council and the Custom House for many years.

The Brooklyn Daily Advertiser was commenced in August, 1834, by E. G. Chase & Co. It was only a little larger than a sheet of letter paper. It was printed in New York, at the same office with Horace Greeley's New Yorker, and rumor named Mr. Greeley as its editor, and it was frequently mentioned as "Horace Greeley's paper."

In 1835, it was purchased by Francis G. Fish and enlarged. It was first a morning paper, then an even- ing, and again a morning paper. The evening issue

was resumed as a native American organ, under the name of the Native American Citizen and Brooklyn Evening Advertiser; but it went down with the party in all its editions.

The Williamsburgh Gazette was commenced on the 25th of May, 1835, as a weekly, by Mr. Fish, who soon left it to the care of his brother Adrastus. In February, 1838, Levi Darbee became its publisher, and pushed it with energy and success. It was independ- ent in politics till 1840, when it was struck with the Log Cabin "boom," and became the Whig organ in Williamsburgh. Its success led to its publication, in 1850, as a daily, and it was edited in part by Rev. Nathaniel N. Whitney. It was suspended in 1854, after a career of nineteen years.

The Brooklyn Daily News was started March 2, 1840, by S. G. Arnold and Isaac Van Anden, with the first named gentleman and Dr. W. K. Northall as editors. It soon collapsed and fell into the Long Island Daily Times.

The Williamsburgh Democrat was started in June, 1840, by Thomas A. Devyr and William H. Colyer, as a weekly, and lived for eight years.

The Long Island Daily Times was issued Octo- ber 19, 1840, as a daily morning paper, by F. G. Fish & Co., and edited by Dr, Northall. It was Whig in its politics. It absorbed the Daily News, and contin- ued under the title of

The Brooklyn Daily News and Long Island Times, first number March 2, 1841, as an afternoon daily. Dr. Northall bought out Fish and took John C. Watts as a partner. Watts soon retired, and Northall, in 1842, sold to John S. Noble. In January, 1843, its title was abbreviated to the old name of Brooklyn News, and it was issued as a morning paper, but it died in December of the last named year.

and in promoting its incorporation as a city, in 1834. He was one of the founders and trustees of the Brooklyn Apprentices' Library, and was Second Lieutenant in the Fourth Regiment of the Fourth Brigade of N. V. State Artillery, in 1810; Quartermaster of the Thirteenth Regiment, N. V. State Artillery, in 1819 ; Cap- tain of the same, in 1819, and Colonel of the same, in 1826. He was one of the founders of the Lyceum of Natural History, and of the Female Seminary of Brooklyn, and the noble free school system of our city is deeply indebted to his ardent championship. "It was his unfaltering energy and perseverance that secured to the city the Fort Greene property as a public park. It was not his fault that the entire of the beautiful Heights was not laid out as a park, to be free to the inhabitants as a place of resort and recreation forever. The old man wrote for it, talked for it, almost begged for it-all in vain." At an age when he might reasonably have sought for retirement and repose, he was yet active in works of public utility. For the last two years of his life, he was earnestly engaged in organizing a company for lighting Brooklyn with gas, and nn its incorporation, was noanimously chosen its President. In agriculture, Col. Spooner took : deep and active interest, and was especially urgent in calling public attention to the feasibility of improving the vast sand and pine barrens of Long Island ; and to him we are mainly indebted for the introduction of the Isabella grape. His little treatise on the cultivation of the grape, which passed to a second edition, is per- haps the best extant. His life realized the ideal of a model citisen, whose place was not easily filled. In private life, "a simplicity, cheerfulness, and genuine kindness endeared him to every one : " his integrity was spotless ; he was liberal to the utmost extent of self-sacrifice, and foremost in acts of benevolence. As a politician, he endeavored to divest partisanship of its bitterness and illiberality ; as an editor, he was plain spoken, yet eminently courteous.

He died on the 24th of November, 1848, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, being then, with one exception, the oldest editor in the United States.

* GEORGE L. BIRCH, born in Limerick, Ireland, August 15, 1787 ; came to this country in 1798, with his parents, who settled first in Providence, R. I., then In Brooklyn. After completing his education, he was bound apprentice to Messrs, Arden & Close, shipping merchants of New York ; afterwards became a book- keeper for a large distiller, and then first clerk in the Columbian Insurance Com- pany. At the dissolution of this company, he became the cashier and business manager of the National Advocate, a leading Democratic newspaper, edited by the late M. M. Noah, in partnership with whom he afterwards started a printing office. Shortly after, he became printer to the Common Conocil and to the Custom House, both of which positions he held until 1828. Io 1819, he was an active member of the Kings County Agricultural and Domestic Manufacturing Society, and, on the 17th of March, 1821, be issued the first number of the Long Island Patriot, a weekly family newspaper. In October of the same year, he joined the fire department, with which, as foreman of Engine No. 2, he was iden- tified for a long period. On the 3Ist of December, 1821, he received the appoint. ment of Postmaster of Brooklyn, which office he occupied for four years, being sneceeded by Thomas Kirk. In 1822, he established a monthly, the Minerva, in New York, and during this year, at his suggestion, a branch of the Columbian Order, or Tammany Society, was established in Brooklyn. He was a member of the Mechanics' and Tradesmen's Society of Brooklyn, the Mechanics' Society of New York, and was also largely instrumental in the organization of the first Sunday-school in the village ; the Erin Fraternal Association, the Apprentices' Library, and various other valuable institutions, which have greatly contributed to the welfare of Brooklyn. In 1829, he received an appointment in the Custom House, and sold out the Patriot. In 1843, he became the custodian aod librarian of the U. S. Naval Lyceum, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which position he retained until his death, which occurred on the 27th of July, 1864. In all bis rela- tions of life, he was respected and beloved.

1171

THE PRESS.

The Brooklyn Daily Advertiser was started on the 1st of January, 1844, by H. A. Lees and William A. Foulkes, with Dr. Northall as editor. In 1846, Mr. Lees became its editor, and was succeeded for a year by W. J. Bryce; and afterwards, in 1850, Mr. Bryce resumed the editorship, and the paper was enlarged and improved; but, in 1851, he left the paper, and it fell off in circulation and influence. After Mr. Lees' death, it was sold at auction, in 1853, to David A. Bokee, a prominent Whig, who had been State Sena- tor, Naval Officer of the Port of New York, and Mem- ber of Congress, succeeding Henry C. Murphy, 1849- '51. For a time it was edited by John Lomas. In 1854, it was purchased by R. D. Thompson, formerly of the Troy Daily Times, with John N. Tucker as its editor, and came out as the organ of the Know-Noth- ings, with a corresponding change of name to United States Daily Freeman; but, in the same year, its editor went down in disaster with the paper.

The Brooklyn Morning Post made its appear- ance October 25, 1844, under the management of John F. Birch, a son of George L. Birch. It was a Demo- cratic sheet, printed at Mr. Birch's printing establish- ment in New York, but issued in Brooklyn at the cor- ner of Atlantic and Columbia streets, and lived only for a few months.

The Brooklyn Saturday Evening Bee was started in 1847, by A. Spooner & Son, as a family paper, made up from matter of the Daily Star. It lived for a year or two.

The Brooklyn Freeman was started April 25, 1848, by Judge Samuel E. Johnson, as a Free Soil paper, with Walter Whitman as editor, and in a few months was published as a daily morning paper. Mr. Whitman was succeeded by Samuel F. Cogswell, and the paper was published in the Freeman buildings, in Fulton street, near Myrtle avenue. Mr. E. R. Colston became its owner, and several able writers were en- gaged on it. It met with rapid success, and became the largest penny paper in the United States. It pro- fessed to be independent in politics, but espoused the cause of Conklin Brush for Mayor of Brooklyn, and became identified with the Whig party. Its rapid success led to its early destruction; and, in 1852, it fell into the hands of Sheriff Hodges, who kept it alive several months, issuing only about a dozen copies to complete the publication of some advertisement, and then let it drop into its early grave.

The Independent Press, a daily paper, was started in Williamsburgh, in 1850, by the Municipal Reform Association. It was afterward sold to Conrad Schwackbamer, and later to Bishop & Kelly, and an establishment was erected for it, at present the Times building. It also issued a weekly edition. It was Democratic in its later years. It was suspended in 1857.

The Independent, a weekly paper, was started in 1851, by George Hall, Secretary of the Municipal Re-

form Association, printed by William H. Hogan, and edited by Mr. Shannon. It lived three or four years.

The Brooklyn Standard commenced in the fall of 1859, by James Del Vecchio, was a Douglas Demo- cratic paper, but afterward supported Abraham Lin- coln. It kept its place for thirteen years.

The Brooklyn City News, commenced November 29, 1859, by William G. Bishop, rose rapidly and seemed destined for permanent success; but suspended Novem- ber 10, 1863, and was merged into the Union.

In June, 1861, Mr. Del Vecchio started a Daily Stand- ard, but it died in six months.

December, 14, 1861, Harry C. Page started the Era, as a literary paper, and virtually a revival of the New York City Metropolitan Era; but not thriving in Brooklyn, it was transferred to New York, where it was published as the New York Era.

Quite a number of periodicals, daily, weekly and monthly, were started in Brooklyn, but most of them had such a short-lived existence that they scarcely im- pressed themselves on the public mind and left no history. Among these we may simply mention, with names, dates and editors,

The Brooklyn Monthly Magazine, 1835, by Rev. Gilbert L. Hume.

The Tyro, a child's paper, 1841. "Joe" Howard, Jr.

The Age, 1844. James G. Wallace and General Sutherland, the Canadian patriot.

The Greenpoint Advertiser, 1847. L. Masqueria. The Orbit and Excelsior, 1848.

The Messenger Bird, 1849, Edited by the Alumni of the Brooklyn Female Academy (Packer Institute) and T. D. Smith.

The Kings County Chronicle, 1851. E. R. Swackhamer.

The Union Ark, 1851. J. Schnebly.

The Daily Journal, 1852. Joseph Taylor and J. M. Heighway.

The Brooklyn Morning Journal, a continuance of the foregoing. By Joseph Taylor and William H. Hogan.

The Long Island Family Circle, 1852. By J. E. Gander, for C. S. Schroeder & Co.

The Brooklyn Atheneum Magazine, 1854. Mr. Marsh.

The Signal, a daily; 1855. By Smith & Co.

The Brooklyn Independent, 1855. By John H. Tobitt, who sold to Thomas A. Devyr, who changed its name to the Brooklyn Taxpayer, and then discon- tinued it.

The Leuth Thurm, 1856. Charles Henseler.

The Kings County Advertiser and Village Guardian, 1857. Published in East New York, by C. Warren Hamilton.

The Ecclestonid, 1857. James S. Rogers.

The Portfolio, a child's monthly magazine, 1858. By Master Robert Buckley.

1172

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

The Brooklyn Volks Blatt, 1858.

The Brooklyn Daily Transcript, 1859, a Re- publican campaign sheet, Sonth Brooklyn.

The Literary Casket, 1860. Issued two numbers. The Neophyte, 1861. (Packer Institute for young ladies.)

Der Apologet, a Catholic weekly, 1861. John Meserole.

The Once a Week, 1863. Wm. G. Bishop.

The Drum Beat, published, under the editorship of Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs, during the great Sanitary Fair.

The Brooklyn Monthly, 1869. Horace W. Love. Issned four numbers.

The Brooklyn Daily Register, 1869.

The Index, 1869. A. H. Rome & Brother.

The Packer Quarterly, 1868-'9; Packer Insti- tute for young ladies.

The late J. J. O'Donnell published for some time The Brooklyn Standard, as a campaign paper.

The Brooklyn Argus. In 1866, John P. Kenyon, a native of England, residing in Williamsburg, started a weekly paper under the above name. It was inde- pendent in politics, and devoted to reform. Daniel Donovan was associated with Mr. Kenyon, and Henry

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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 128

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