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 151
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He continued these duties until admonished that they would be fstal to him, when he resigned them and adopted a profession which gave him more exercise in the open air. To his experi- ence as a journalist, Mr. Taylor is largely indebted for the fa- cility with which he uses language, both as a writer and speaker. Certainly his written productions have that practical ease, that
unaffected energy and grasp of thought, which is the outcome of constant practice as a writer, the every-day use of his thoughts and pen as a composer.
By judicious medical treatment and constant exercise in tho open air, he regained his health sufficiently to become the in- structor of a class in geometry in the Westerly high school. He successfully pursued this occupation for some time, during which the paramount wish of his life-a desire to become a lawyer-returned, and he finally entered upon his legal studies with Congressman Dixon, an able and experienced lawyer. He never relinquished the study of his profession until called to the Bar, although he divided his time somewhat between his studies and the duties of teaching, always an exceedingly pleasing occupation to him.
In 1864 he removed to New York, and there continued his legal studies. Here he found for a portion of his time, mornings and evenings, profitable and congenial occupation in a printing office, and in that way defraying his expenses while preparing for the Bar. At length his student days ended, and in 1865 he passed a successful examination, and was admitted to practice. He immediately opened an office in the metropolis. He set out on his professional career in the midst of the vast competition around him with energy and activity, determined on success, which came sufficiently for his encouragement for the present and the future. While thus practicing he became a resident of the city of Brooklyn. In 1870 he was united by marriage to Miss Dean, daughter of John Dean, Esq., ex-Corporation Counsel for the city of Williamsburgh. Mr. Taylor was soon identified with the interests and growth of Brooklyn. Politics had attrac- tions for him, as it has with most young men, and he united his fortunes with the Republican party.
In 1871 he was elected Alderman of the Thirteenth Ward of Brooklyn for the term of two years. In 1879 he was appointed a member of the Board of Elections, and when, in 1880, that Board was reorganized and made a strictly non-partisan body, Mr. Taylor was elected its president. During all this time his pro- fessional business was increasing, and he was regarded as a very successful and prosperous member of the junior Bar; in fact, he had attained a reputation as a lawyer which attracted the at- tention of the most distinguished and leading citizens of Brook- lyn, among whom was Hon. Seth Low. We may say without affectation, when that favorite citizen of Brooklyn was by such a decisive voice of the people elected Mayor of the city, on as- suming the duties of his office, he appointed Mr. Taylor Corpor- ation Counselor, the duties of which office for many years had been discharged with singular ability by William C. De Witt, Esq.
Mr. Taylor brought to his office those professional abilities and that practical legal learning which eminently qualified him to discharge the responsible and difficult duties of his office. As the law officer of the city of Brooklyn, he has been brought very prominently before its citizens, before the courts of the city and county and the State courts, and as a legal adviser; and as the conductor of the city litigation, he has gained the respect and confidence of the courts and the public. A history of much of the city litigation conducted by Mr. Taylor as Corporation Counsel appears in another part of this work.
Mr. Taylor's practice has been of a general character; he has no specialty. Two criminal defenses conducted by him brought him prominently and favorably before the people. We allude to the Burroughs case and the Fuchs case. Both were cases which attracted universal interest; both of the defendants were indicted and brought to trial for murder-one of them, Fuchs, for a homicide of startling atrocity. In both cases Mr. Taylor interposed the plea of insanity." In the Burroughs case, Mr .. Taylor was associated with that eminent member of the Kings County Bar, Hon. Abram H. Dailey. The prosecution was con- ducted by Mr. Winchester Britton, then District Attorney. The
* See "Important Trials."
1248
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
prosecution having rested, Mr. Taylor addressed the jury in a speech, which has since made part of a volume entitled " Exon- erative Insanity." The singular incident of this case is, that after one day spent in the defense of Burroughs, the District Attor- ney becoming satisfied of the great merit of the defense, with a candor that was highly commended, requested the Court to find a verdict in favor of the accused, on the ground of insanity; to which Mr. Justice Pratt, who presided at the time, acceded, and Burroughs was sent to the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica.
The case of Fuchs brought on a protracted legal contest, full of interest. As we have said, Mr. Taylor interposed the plea of insanity for his client; though it was strong, and we may well say powerful, Fuchs was convicted of murder in the first degree, and he was sentenced to be hanged; but the Governor commuted the sentence to imprisonment for life at Sing Sing.
Fuchs, after a comparatively short imprisonment, died in prison. An autopsy announced the fact that his brain was, and must have been for some time previous to the homicide, dis- eased to an extent producing insanity. Few criminal trials are more important, interesting and instructive than those of Bur- roughs and Fuchs. We have only briefly alluded to them here, as they are fully reported in another part of this chapter.
On the second election of Mr. Low as Mayor, in the fall of 1883, in recognition of the able and faithful manner in which Mr. Taylor had discharged the duties of Corporation Counsel for two years, he reappointed him to that office, the duties of which he is, at the time of this writing, discharging.
Such is the life and career of Mr. Taylor-a career which com- pares favorably with that of any of the members of the profession of his age. As it may be said that he has hardly entered middle age, the prospect of a very successful and brilliant future is before him. Mr. Taylor possesses many of those social elements of character that so admirably set off the life of a lawyer.
JOHN H. BERGEN.
JOHN H. BERGEN is a lawyer of highly respectable standing, socially and professionally. With his professional accomplish- ments he unites the advantages of a finished education, large and liberal reading. He has distinguished himself as a success- ful contestant at the Bar. The history of the important cases he has tried at nisi prius, the arguments he has conducted before the court, are interesting and instructive.
He is a native of Western New York, born at Batavia, October 27th, 1838. After receiving a rudimentary education, he was placed under the tuition of a private tutor, Mr. John Fowler, then a resident of Batavia, now one of the professors in Hobert College. Under this able scholar and successful instructor, Young Bergen made rapid progress in the study of the classics. He remained a pupil of Mr. Fowler until he became a finished scholar. He commenced the study of law at an early age, having decided to adopt the legal profession as his calling in life.
Mr. Bergen was fortunate in choosing his legal preceptors. He first became a student in the office of Harry Wilbur, a prom- inent member of the Genesee County Bar, highly respected in and out of his profession.
After some time he entered the office of the late Hon. Moses Taggart, of Batavia, an eminent member of the Western New York Bar, for many years First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Genesee County, and subsequently one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the State.
Mr. Bergen was a student in the State and National Law School at Poughkeepsie, during one term. At a General Term of the Supreme Court, held at Buffalo, in May, 1860, he was admitted to the Bar. He was twenty-one years of age the day before his call to the Bar.
Immediately thereafter he came to Brooklyn, N. Y., and entered upon the practice of his profession, a mere boy. But
his thorough legal education, courteous hearing, diligent at- tention to business, and native endowments, brought their re- ward. His first advent into business was in the office of Ingraham, Midihill & Reynolds. The next year he became a partner of the late General Philip S. Crooke, under the firm name of Crooke & Bergen. This relation could not fail to he advantageous to both parties; the learning, industry and ac- complishments of the young lawyer, united to the acknowledged abilities, large experience and influence of General Crooke, gave the firm a large and valuable clientage.
In the year 1867, when Bergen had been at the Bar seven years, the firm was changed by adding to it Calvin E. Pratt. This was styled Crooke, Bergen & Pratt. The legal accomplish- ments of Mr. Pratt added largely to the strength of the firm. Nothing strengthens a law firm like diversity of talents and characteristics. Tho different members of this firm, differing in capacity and in intellectual structure, gave it that versatility so necessary to success.
So thoroughly were the talents and high standing of Mr. Pratt appreciated that, in the autumn of 1859, he was nominated and elected a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State for the Second Judicial District. This brought another change to the firm. This was effected by adding to it N. H. Clement, Esq., and thereafter the firm was known as Cooke, Bergen & Clement. This relation continued until 1873, when another of its members was summoned to a high official position by the people. In the autumn of that year, the senior member, General Crooke, was elected a representative in Congress, and the firm was dissolved.
Since that event, Mr. Bergen has continued his practice alone. He had been in practice thirteen years when he entered upon this sphere of his professional life. The experience which those years of ardent practice gave him were valuable acquisi- tions, combining into a capital of great value, which has had a healthy and continuous growth down to the present time.
The structure of Mr. Bergen's mind peculiarly qualifies him for the contests of the forum. In its devious, exciting contests, resulting at times in exultation and at times in depression, Mr. Bergen has been and is a distinguished and successful con- testant. With his legal acquirements, he has made himself very familiar with corporation law, especially that branch of it which relates to railroads, and which opens an immense field of litigation, where legal subtleties, deep and intricate questions, often outside of precedent, confront the practitioner.
To this large and difficult field of practice Mr. Bergen brought rare and peculiarly appropriate qualifications, which, as we have already said, distinguished him.
One of the contests in which he was engaged extended through the long period of seven years. So obstinately was this case con- tested that it went on appeal three times to the Court of Appeals. This case involved the right of way over Grove avenue of The Park and Coney Island Railroad Company. Mr. Bergen has been the counsel for that corporation ever since its organization. He conducted this great case for the company single-handed, and against some of the ablest lawyers in the State. An exami- nation of the reported case in all its different phases shows con- clusively that it has settled more important questions of rail- road law than all the other railroad litigation in the State.
Mr. Bergen was one of the counsel in the case of Harrold agst. The New York Elevated Railroad Company, which is still un- settled. Time and space will not permit us to give in detail all the important cases which Mr. Bergen has conducted. Indeed, there is no necessity of referring at any length to those cases, since the cases, as reported in the records of the varions courts in which he has appeared, give a far better and far more practical description of them than we could possibly present to the reader.
Mr. Bergen is a cogent, polished speaker, a master of pointed and vigorous logic. He is one of those lawyers whose versatility
1249
BENCH AND BAR OF BROOKLYN.
renders them strong and effective before the jury, and success- ful in conducting arguments of a purely legal nature.
His father was Hon. John T. Bergen, who was appointed Sheriff of Kings County in February, 1821, again in November, 1822, and in November, 1828. He represented the 22d Congres- sional District-that composed of Kings, Queens, Putnam, Orange and Westchester Counties-from 1831 to 1833. This was in the stormy days of Jackson's memorable Administration, of which Mr. Bergen was one of the pillars. He enjoyed the con- fidence and esteem of " Old Hickory" in a very large degree.
The mother of the able lawyer under consideration was Maria F. McLeod, a lady of Scotch descent, the daughter of Major Donald McLeod, who was a Major in Tarleton's Legion of the British Army; during the revolutionary war he was captured at York Town with the whole of Cornwallis' army.
As Mr. Bergen is in the prime of manhood, ardent, active ; with a knowledge of the springs of human nature, and abilities rendered effective and practical by much experience at the Bar, a bright and a still more promising professional career is before him.
RODMAN B. DAWSON.
RODMAN B. DAWSON was born in New York City, February 14th, 1825. His parents were John I. and Rachel (Bowne) Dawson. He was educated at the Mechanics' Society School, New York City. He studied his profession with Morse and Rolf, of Brook- lyn. He underwent his examination for the legal profession at Brooklyn, July, 1848. Having passed his examination, he was called to the Bar, and entered upon his practice at Brooklyn, where he continues a successful business. In the autumn of 1854 he was elected Surrogate of Kings County, and entered upon the duties of his office January 1st, 1855, serving with ac- knowledged ability until December 31st, 1858, when his term of office expired. Since then he has continued his practice unin- terrupted by politics or office.
Mr. Dawson is not only a respectable lawyer, but a citizen of high repute; one who has taken an active part in the affairs of Brooklyn.
GEORGE H. FISHER.
GEORGE H. FISHER is an active, energetic and successful lawyer of the Brooklyn Bar. He was born at Oswego, May 2d, 1832. His father was George Fisher, a native of Massachusetts. His mother was Elizabeth P. Huntington, of Connecticut.
Mr. Fisher is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied his profession with John Sessions, Esq., of Syracuse; was ad- mitted to the Bar in January, 1854. He came to Brooklyn, opened an office, and soon attained a very reputable position at the Bar, which he has always maintained, as the acknowledged reward of his learning and ability as a lawyer, and his high standing as a citizen.
W. W. GOODRICH.
W. W. GOODRICH, known and distinguished as an admiralty and commercial lawyer, was born August 3d, 1833. He was ed- ucated at Amherst College, where he was graduated.
He studied his profession at the Albany Law School, and in the office of that celebrated law firm of Albany, Hill, Cagger & Porter, and was admitted at a General Term of the Supreme Court, held at Albany, September 15th, 1854.
ISAAC LUBLIN.
AMONG the junior members of the Brooklyn Bar, few are more promising or have a better record than Mr. Lublin. Although he has been in practice but a very few years, his intelligence, his good education, his superior legal acquire-
ments and suavity of manners, and his close attention to business, have given him a very excellent start in his profession, and it is no affectation to say that a bright and prosperous professional career is before him, and that whoever turns these pages in fu- ture years will see the truth of these remarks fully demonstrated.
He was born in New York City, June 19th, 1858. He removed with his parents to Brooklyn in 1863. When old enough, ho attended the public schools, in which he continued a student from 1864 to 1871. During these years he devoted much time to the study of the German language, in which he became a proficient.
On leaving school, he became a student in the law office of C. L. Burnett, Esq., with whom he completed his legal education. He was admitted to the Bar in 1879, and with commendable de- termination to succeed, entered upon the practice of his profes- sion in Brooklyn.
HENRY A. MEYENBORG.
HENRY A. MEYENNORG was born at Wremen (Hanover), Ger- many, August 8th, 1838. He received a liberal education in Germany, and when completed he came to the United States, making his home in Brooklyn. In accordance with a decision to become a lawyer, made while pursuing his classical studies in Germany, he entered the law office of N. F. Waring, a counselor-at-law of Brooklyn, as a legal student.
At a General Term of the Supreme Court, held at Poughkeep- sie, in May, 1866, he received the credentials as an attorney and counselor-at-law. He immediately opened an office in Brooklyn, where he soon controlled a highly respectable general law busi- ness. Reliability, industry, and adaptation to his profession brought their sure rewards, placing Mr. Meyenborg in an ex- ceedingly respectable position, not only as a lawyer, but as a citizen. He has never had any desire for office, and has never held any official position, although he has held offices of high military grade, and is said to be an admirable tactician.
SAMUEL M. MEEKER.
SAMUEL M. MEEKER occupies a highly reputable position at the Kings County Bar, and is a valued citizen of Brooklyn; active in promoting its growth and prosperity, and in founding several of its fiscal institutions.
He was born at New Brunswick, N. J., August 26th, 1820. His parents were David and Elizabeth Meeker.
He was educated at the Mechanics' School in Crosby street, in the city of New York, in which institution he was known as an ardent, ambitious and successful student.
Deciding upon the legal profession for his future calling, he entered the law office of Samuel Campbell, Esq., of the city of New York. Having completed his legal education, he took his degree as an attorney-at-law in the year 1841, in that city.
As the laws of real property, and the duties of executors and administrators, seemed singularly adapted to his mind, he has given those branches of jurisprudence particular attention; with Mr. Meeker real property law is a specialty. He began his prac- tice in the city of New York, but in 1847 he removed to the village of Williamsburgh. He was soon elected Trustee of that village, Counsel for the Board of Trustees and, subsequently, a member of its Board of Education. In the year 1851 he organized the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, procuring its incorporation. He afterwards organized the Williamsburgh City Bank, now the First National Bank of Brooklyn. He also organized the Wil- liamsburgh Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Meeker has been connected with these several incorpora- tions since their organization, and is now President of the Wil- liamsburgh Savings Bank, one of the most reliable and prosper- ous institutions in the County of Kings.
1250
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
CHARLES J. PATTERSON.
MR. PATTERSON, though one of the youngest members of the Brooklyn Bar, has already attained a high position as an advocate in the active conduct of trials at the Bar, particularly actions brought for the recovery of damages arising from torts or wrongs.
He was born in the city of New York, May 19th, 1853, received a good education at the schools in the city, and entered the law office of General Charles W. Sanford, of New York, under whose instruction he prepared for admission to the Bar. He was ad- mitted to practice at Poughkeepsie in May, 1876. Soon after that event he removed to Brooklyn, opened an office, com- menced his practice, the success of which has already been described.
JAMES TROY.
JUDGE TROY has not only attained distinction at the Bar, but has gained judicial honors. He has been particularly success- ful in the defense of criminals. He is a man of impressive and effective eloquence, always riveting attention in whatever place, or before whatever audience, he makes an address. He was born at Asbourne, near Dublin, Ireland, in the year 1835. He was educated principally at Simonton Institute, Dublin. He is of the same family as the Rev. Dr. Troy, a contemporary of O'Con- nell and Archbishop of Dublin.
At the age of twelve he went to sea, entering the service of the Peninsular and Oriental Company as a cadet. Leaving the service of that company, he came to New York in 1851. Having decided to enter the legal profession, he immediately began the study of law with the late Judge James W. White, and afterwards with S. D. Lewis, in Brooklyn. He was admitted to the Bar in 1856. In 1862, he was appointed Assistant District Attorney of Kings County, serving until 1867. It was while discharging the duties of this office that he exhibited his un- usual powers as a criminal lawyer. In the autumn of 1867, he was elected County Judge of Kings County, for the term of three years.
After the expiration of his official term, he discharged the duties of counsel for the Sheriff of Kings County for about six years. In the fall of 1880, Judge Troy was nominated for District Attorney of Kings County, by the Democrats; but Gen. Isaac L. Catlin, the late incumbent of that office was his successful opponent.
Judge Troy's practice is by no means confined to criminal law; he has a large civil law practice.
HUGO HIRSH.
HUGO HIRSH is a rising and one of the most promising lawyers of the city of Brooklyn. He was born in Germany on the 22d day of December, 1848, and came to the United States with his parents in the year 1857. Hugo attended the publio schools in New York City. Soon after he became thirteen years old he was taken from school and became engaged in mercantile pursuits. After continuing in mercantile business for some time, he con- cluded that he was not fitted for the business, and thereupon left it and entered the office of Anthony Barrett, Esq., and com- monced the study of law.
He was an earnest student, careful and attentive, and was admitted to the Bar in December, 1873. He immediately "struck out" for himself, and by patience, perseverance and close attention to the interests of his clients he soon established a lucrative practice, and became known as one of the most active practitioners at the Bar.
In the year 1876, he began to write a book on the subject of juries, he believing that a practical work on that subject would onure to the benefit of the Bar and the public. He continued his labors on this work for nearly three years, frequently work- ing night and day, and in the fall of the year 1879 the book was
published by Diossy & Co., of New York, under the title of Hirsh on Juries. It was a success from the start, and received the eulogiums of the Bench, the Bar and the Press.
In politics Mr. Hirsh is a Republican, and has been active in the councile of his party. The only public position he has filled was that of counsel to the Board of Police and Excise of the city of Brooklyn.
Mr. Hirsh is of good presence, gentlemanly and pleasing in his manner, courteous and fair in his intercourse with his brother members of the Bar, strictly honest in his dealings with his clients, and bears an unsullied reputation.
JOHN P. ROLFE.
MR. ROLFE is one of the oldest lawyers in Brooklyn. He has witnessed its growth from a village of 1,200 people to a position as third city in the Union. When the city was chartered in 1834, the father of Mr. Rolfe, who was a civil engineer, took great interest in forming a plan for mapping it and laying out its streets. At this time young Rolfe was engaged in the study of law in the city of New York, but owing to the great activity in real estate operations he was inclined to follow his father's profession, but finally decided to continue his legal studies. He pursued the last year of his studies in the office of that dis- tinguished lawyer and much esteemed citizen, Cyrus P. Smith, then Corporation Counsel. Mr. Rolfe was admitted to practice as an attorney at law and a solicitor in chancery at Albany, in 1837. The following year he entered into partnership with Hon. N. B. Morse, then First Judge of Kings County, Master in Chan- cory. This relation continued until Judge Morse was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court, under the Constitution of 1846, when it was dissolved.
Mr. Rolfe early devoted himself to the study of the law relat- ing to real estate, and to him that important branch of practice had greater attractions than the trial of causes; to this he has confined his practice, and he stands deservedly high as a real estate lawyer.
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