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 169

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 169

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The New England Society of Brooklyn held its first meet- ing and festival on December 21st, 1880, the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on Plymouth Rock and for this reason called Forefathers' Day. The objects of the society are "to commemorate the landing of our Pilgrim Fathers on Plymouth Rock; to encourage the study of New England history, and to that end to establish a library; and to promote charity and good fellowship among its members." The membership of the society is large and embraces the étite of the New Englanders, or their descendants, in Brook- lyn. The annual festivals of the society are intellectual feasts of a high order. Two Presidents of the United States, an ex-President, and many distinguished men, native and foreign, have been entertained by this noteworthy organiza- tion. Benjamin D. Silliman was the first President, and still occupies the office. John Winslow and Charles Storrs are the present Vice-Presidents; S. B. Noyes and Rev. A. P. Putnam, Secretaries; and William B. Kendall, Treasurer.

St. Patrick's Society is a Roman Catholic organization, whose chief object is to celebrate with a public dinner the anniversary of St. Patrick's birth. This society was insti- tuted in 1850, with a membership of fifty, which has since increased to two hundred. First OFFICERS were : John O'Mahoney, Pres .; Chas. Hawley and Jas. Bennett, Vice- Presidents; John O'Rorke and John N. Doyle, Secretaries; and James Galway, Treas. This society is purely social. The annual dinners are recognized as feasts for the mind as well as the body, because of the many intellectual men who gather around the board. The present OFFICERS : Thomas Kinsella (deceased), Pres .; William Sullivan and James H. Greene, Vice-Presidents; A. Murphy and E. J. Regan, Secretaries; B. McCafferty, Treas .; Very Rev. William Keegan, Chaplain, and Rev. John M. Kiely, Ass't Chaplain.

New York Arbroath Association was established in 1878, for the purpose of affording assistance to persons coming

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from Arbroath, Scotland; to promote social intercourse among natives of Arbroath residing in or near New York and Brooklyn, and to perpetuate a burial fund for members of the association. Meetings are held quarterly, either in the Mechanics' Exchange on Fulton st., Brooklyn, or in the Caledonian Club Rooms in New York. The OFFICERS for 1883-'84 are : James Ross, Pres .; D. F. Smith, Vice-Pres .; James Allan, Treas .; George T. Addison, Sec.

The Caledonian Club. On the 9th of March, 1866, a num- ber of gentlemen, of Scottish birth, or descent, met at 369 Fulton street, and organized this Club. Their names were: John Maltman, David Wilson, Jas. Palmer, Alex. Balmer, Peter Wilson, M. Alexander, Jas. Blue, W. S. Reid, Robert Bowie, and Geo. Brown. The Club was incorporated March 19th, 1868. The object of the association is to preserve the ancient customs, games, costumes and literature of Scotland; to establish a library, and to found a charitable fund. None but those of Scottish descent are eligible to membership; and, at all public entertainments, or celebrations, the officers are obliged to dress in Highland costume. The first club-rooms were in the Brooklyn Institute; after which Granada Hall on Myrtle ave. was secured. Two years after, the Club moved to the corner of Atlantic ave. and Clinton street. Three years ago, Adelphi Hall, on Myrtle ave., was secured, at which place the Caledonians still meet. Annual athletic games are held during the summer at Ridgewood Park. The present mem- bership of the Club is 150. A library, consisting of about 1,000 volumes of miscellaneous works, has been procured for the use of the members of the Club. It is proposed to add to this, as fast as the means of the Club will permit, copies of the most valuable and interesting works of ancient and modern Scottish literature.

Several papers on interesting subjects have been read be- fore the Club, and provision has been made to encourage further efforts in this direction, and to give members more frequent opportunities for social and literary intercourse.

The Burns Association was organized at the Wall House in 1862, under the name of the Burns Friendly Association of Brooklyn, E. D., and was then, as now, composed entirely of those born in Scotland, or of Scotch parents here. The ob- ject of the association was to assist needy Scotchmen, to preserve tender memories of " Auld Scotia," and to celebrate in a becoming manner the birthday of Robert Burns, the patron saint of the society. First OFFICERS: James Lindsey, Pres .; Robert McFarlane, Vice-Pres .; and James C. Eadie, Sec. As the membership increased the organization became more liberal and nationality was less recognized. The char- itable work of the society was carried on for about ten years, when, owing to a number of impositions practiced upon it, the benevolent effort was abandoned, and the word " Friend- ly" stricken from the title. Meetings are held at the offices of James C. Eadie, No. 45 Broadway. The special feature of the association is the annual dinner given January 25th, in commemoration of the birth of the poet-Robert Burns. At these banquets many illustrious men have been entertained, including William Cullen Bryant, John G. Saxe, Bayard Taylor, Henry Ward Beecher, and all the Mayors of Brook- lyn for the past twenty years. The membership is twenty- five. OFFICERS: James C. Eadie, Pres. (for twenty years) ; Andrew J. Baird, Vice-Pres .; J. W. Fleming, Treas .; Geo. E. Darling, Sec.

The Brooklyn Saengerbund .- In May, 1862, it was pro- posed to unite the Thalia and Liederkranz Singing Clubs in one organization. This plan was carried out, and the con- solidated society was named " The Brooklyn Saengerbund," The head-quarters were at the Old Pavilion, No. 200 Court street, now known as Piper's Club House, where for years

the meetings of the society were held. The membersbip at present is 250. In 1867 this organization secured the prize at Philadelphia for musical excellence; and again, in 1881, their efforts were similarly rewarded. Many entertainments in aid of charity are given during the year; and never has the Saengerbund scored a failure. In October, 1883, the society bought, for $40,000, the property at the corner of Smith and Schermerhorn streets (a building 80x120 feet), remodelled it at large expense, and have occupied their new quarters since December, 1883.

The Weber Quartette was organized in the spring of 1876, at the residence of Caleb C. Eabry, and named in compliment to Albert Weber, of piano-forte fame, who was at once made an honorary member. The first members were: Caleb C. Eabry, 1st tenor; J. Knowles, 2d tenor; J. V. Provost, 1st bass; W. H. Liscomb, 2d bass. The reputation of this quar- tette increased steadily for four years, when, by the addition of N. A. Northrup, John Purdy, C. H. Jordan and E. B. Campbell, in the order named above, an octette was formed, which, for two years, delighted audiences throughout New York and New England as well as local. The members belonged to the order of Free Masons and assisted largely at dedications, funerals, and all masonic celebrations and enter- tainments. In 1882, the octette was disbanded, giving place to a quartette composed of Messrs. Eabry, Knowles, Provost, and Jordan, who, after two seasons of unusual success, have finally disbanded.

AMATEUR DRAMATIC ASSOCIATIONS.

(See pages 1162-1165.)

The Gilbert Dramatic Association is an outgrowth from the Nonchalant Club and was regularly organized, June 26, 1878, the original membership being eleven. The first OFFI- CERS were: Geo. A. Watson, Pres .; E. S. Seaman, Vice-Pres .; Wm. B. Vernam, Sec .; Frank G. Read, Treas. Very soon the membership was augmented to two hundred, through efforts made by T. C. Hammill and Geo. A. Wasson, among the rank and file of the 23d Regt. of Brooklyn. The first dramatic effort of the association was made at the Athenaeum; "Sweethearts " and " Aunt Charlotte's Maid " were performed in a highly creditable manner; four entertainments followed, given in the same place; the sixth, which closed the initial season, was given at the Brooklyn Academy, when "Married Life" was played. The reception, which followed the per- formance, was held in the Assembly Rooms. The Waverly Theatre, corner of Court and Remsen sts., was used exclu- sively during the second season. The membership, too, was extended to 100, and the dues increased to $2.00 monthly, a necessary step to insure financial support to the club and to subscribers' seats at the performance. The entertainments of the third and fourth seasons were given at the Athenaeum; the Waverly Theatre having been demolished. During these seasons the Gilbert scored a succession of dramatic triumphs, and felt warranted, at the beginning of the fifth, to secure the Academy of Music in which to present all future dramatic efforts. The membership and dues have each increased one- third. The financial condition is solid and its success assured. The present OFFICERS are: Wm. R. Carroll, Pres .; John W. Noble, Vice-Pres .; Fred. O. Nelson, Treas .; Nat. B. Evans, Sec.

Among Amateur Dramatic organizations not previ- ously mentioned (pages 1162-1165) are the Athenæn, Arcadian, Barrett, Benton, Clifton, Euterpe, Mel- pomene and Montague.

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LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

Among the literary and artist clubs and societies, the following deserve mention: the Irving, Social Literary Union, Brooklyn Debating Society, org. 1875, and the Pencil Sketch Club, org. 1883 (membership of both sexes, and holds its meetings in the Brooklyn Institute).

The Pioneer Amateur Photographic Club, of New York and Brooklyn membership, org. 1883. OFFICERS: L. P. At- kinson, Pres. (Brooklyn); Herbert Seymour, Sec .; Gilbert A. Robertson, Treas.

The Crescent Literary Society, org. May, 1882. Member- ship, about 20. Wm. M. Brockett, Pres .; A. H. Zugalla, Sec .; Eugene De Comps, Treas.

The Mechanics' and Traders' Exchange is an association of business men which was organized in July, 1871, for the purpose of establishing equitable business relations among members, and to adjust business misunderstandings. This exchange was incorporated May 23, 1872, and is authorized to maintain a fund for the support of indigent members and their families, and to sustain a library and reading-room. In 1875 the membership was 500; the number at present is 300. The first OFFICERS were: Henry Harteau, Pres .; Abram Allen, Vice-Pres .; Jeremiah Van Riper, Treas .; Oliver Faurot, Sec. The association's rooms are at No. 363 Fulton street, where meetings are held daily from 12 to 1 o'clock. The present OFFICERS are: Elbert Snedeker, Pres .; Thos. B. Rutan, Vice-Pres .; Benj. C. Miller, Treas., and F. L. Barnard, Sec.

AUTHORS AND SCIENTISTS.

From its earliest village days, Brooklyn has never lacked the presence, among its inhabitants, of a few who dabbled in literature, or wooed the poetic muse. That their productions, whether in verse or prose, saw the light only in the columns of the village news- paper, proves no want of merit. Brooklyn was then- as it has been until a recent period-quite overshadowed hy the great city across the river. Yet, even in those days, the village writer sometimes found voice beyond the confines of his native place. Of such was GREN- VILLE A. SACKETT, who, although a diligent and com- petent lawyer, was possessed of more than ordinary poetical genius; and under the signature of " Alfred," wrote some of the best and most widely circulated fugitive poetry of the day in the New York Mirror, New York Times, and Long Island Star. He was the son of Samuel Sackett, one of the most prominent citi- zens of the village; and, with his brother, Clarence D. (also a lawyer), was buried on the same day, from Trinity Church, New York. Of the same era, also, was the late ALDEN J. SPOONER, Esq., whose career as a lawyer we have elsewhere portrayed. But Mr. Spooner was, by tastes and instincts, much more of a litterateur than a lawyer. This is evidenced not only by his ac- tive and absorbing interest in everything pertaining to the literary development of Brooklyn, and by his helpful spirit towards every literary venture, but in the many graceful papers which he contributed to the press, and to the magazines of his day. He was a facile writer -as might have been expected from the son of such a veteran editor as Col. Alden Spooner-he had a poetic temperament, great felicity of expression, and a quiet underlying vein of humor, which gave a peculiar charm to his slightest effort. His well-known sketches of the Last of the Leather-breeches, in which he chroni- cled, with exceeding gusto, the long litigation between the village authorities and old Jacob Patchen; his sketches in the Brooklyn Monthly (1869) on The First Episcopal Church in Brooklyn (old St. Ann's); The

Dominie's Ride with the Devil, and other similar papers on Long Island topics, possess a charm of fancy and description strongly reminding one of (if, indeed, not fully equal to) Washington Irving's legend- ary tales. It is to be regretted that, with his rich store of personal reminiscence, his wide acquaintance with the best literature, and his deep and abiding love for his native land, he never set himself seriously to work upon some work of permanent value. It was un- derstood in his later days, that he had made some progress towards a history of Long Island; but his sudden death has deprived us of what-had it ever been completed-would undoubtedly have been a classically elegant work of its kind.

Contemporary with him, of course, was the late HENRY C. MURPHY, whose literary record has been presented on pp. 360-366 of this volume; and among the same group of young literati, most promising in his early manhood, perhaps, of all, but most sadly unfortu- nate in the sun-setting of his life, was GABRIEL FURMAN, of whom a careful biography will be found in the chapter on the Bench and Bar of Kings county.

These were all native-born to the island, or the vil- lage; but there was a resident of Brooklyn who, in 1835, created for himself a widespread, though ephemeral fame, by the stupendous literary hoax which he played upon the public. This was RICHARD ADAMS LOCKE, long since dead, but in his prime a bright and pushing man. "One day, his fancy rioting, he con- ceived the notion of deceiving the public, and he did it very effectually. In August, 1835, there appeared in the columns of the New York Sun a pretended ex- tract from the pages of a 'Supplement to the Edin- burgh Journal of Science,' under the title of 'Great Astronomical Discoveries lately made by Sir John Herschel, LL.D., F.R.S., etc., at the Cape of Good Hope.' This was the Moon Hoax. Several numbers of the Sun were required to complete the story. Men went wild in speculations over the wonderful discov-

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eries. The publication created as great an excitement abroad as at home; and at home the serious-minded Mercantile Advertiser of New York, said: 'It appears to carry intrinsic evidence of being an authentic docu- ment;' while the Commercial Advertiser was morally certain that in it could be traced ' marks of trans- Atlantic origin.' Meanwhile, Locke chuckled, and the Sun made money by the fabulous sale of its sheets. A pamphlet edition of the Hoax was subsequently published by the proprietors of the Sun, and of this sixty thousand copies were sold-and so were the buyers. Ten or twelve years ago, a single copy of this pamphlet (then long out of print) was disposed of at a library auction sale for the price of $3.75."

Whatever honor Brooklyn may have gained in the fields of literature, is however, mostly due to her adopted, rather than to her native-born children. Her nearness and accessibility to New York, the pleasant features of her civic topography and environments, and the delightful social atmosphere pervading her population, has ever rendered "The City of Churches" a favorite dwelling-place for those of studious tastes and literary occupations. Add to these advantages a cheaper scale of house-rents, and a greater variety of eligible locations, and of opportunities for securing an inexpensive and tasteful home, than are offered by New York city, and it is easy to understand how Brooklyn has gathered within its limits no inconsider- able number of those whose lives are spent in literary pursuits. The growing value, also, of our two prin- cipal libraries, the Historical and the Brooklyn, is contributing largely to the resources which our city offers to both student and writer.

The reader who consults our chapters upon the Medical Profession, the Bench and Bar, the Press, and the brief biographical notes of the Clergy of the city attached to the History of Church Organizations, will see that we have a goodly number of professional gentlemen among us, whose lives and whose works go to make up the literary history of the county and city; and whose efforts, whether in the pulpit, at the bar, or by the pen, have conferred upon Brooklyn the reputa- tion which she so widely enjoys, of being a refined and cultured community.

Of these we do not intend to speak further; but rather to confine ourselves, within the very limited space at our disposal, to a brief and rapid glance at the names and works of those who may be said to form the literary element of Brooklyn Society, in this year of our Lord, 1884.

Directing our attention first, as in duty bound, to the ladies, we may note :

Miss EDNA DEAN PROCTOR, the poet and author of that charming book of travels, " A Russian Journey," resides in Brooklyn, a member of the household of her relative, Mr. Charles Storrs, of 23 Monroe Place. She is a native of New Hampshire,

As a writer Miss Proctor has been before the public - for many years, and her fame as a poet has grown steadily. Her poems were collected in 1867 and pub- lished in a small volume; a new and enlarged edition will contain her later productions. She has written some of the most beautiful poems in the language. They are distinguished alike for lofty imagery and pure sentiment, and have a permanent place in English literature. Her "Heaven, O Lord, I cannot lose," has been spoken of by critics as "one of the finest poems of its kind to be found in any language; and as the most magnificent hymn in the language." Another of her poems, "Holy Russia," published some years ago, during the life of the Czar Alexander made her many warm friends in Russia, where she had traveled exten- sively. Her " Russian Journey," was the outcome of a memorable tour made in 1867 and it has no superior as a narrative of travels, for its pictures of domestic life and character. Miss Proctor is more a child of the Orient than a daughter of New England, and hence was pre- eminently fitted to appreciate the peculiar features of the Russian people, who are Greek in religion, and are possessed of widely varied characteristics as a nation. But if she is in appearance Oriental, with her lustrous eyes, dark hair, and marked repose of manner, she is an American patriot, passionate in her admiration of her country and its institutions. Her war lyrics will stir the hearts of yet unborn generations and move to sympathetic loyalty the descendants of the "boys in blue." Intuitional and sympathetic, she touches the finest chords of the heart, and her poems have a flavor and a beauty that linger with the reader long after the perfect lines are unremembered. Her genius makes her akin to the finest aspirations of her kind, and she rarely is unmindful of great events or the leaders who create them. Recently, she has published a poem, "El Mahdi, to the Tribes of Soudan," which has aroused in all classes of her countrymen a strong sympathy for the hero of the desert. Catholic and tolerant in her own nature, she recognizes the finer qualities of her fellow- beings and she makes them what her fancy sees they can be.

As a writer, she is painstaking and conscientious to a degree, and her polished sentences need no retouches when once they have passed from her hands.

In her character, Miss Proctor is strong and beauti- ful. Hers is a sympathetic and loyal nature, actively helpful and beneficent, and kind to the core of her being. To few women are given the friendships which she possesses; to not all are given such a friend as she. In the zenith of her powers, with aspiration and strength renewed, her future stretches out before her a long season of work and reward, of recognition and fruition, even to the morn of the perfect day.

Upon the editorial staff of the Eagle, there was, un- til lately, a lady, Mrs. LAURA C. HOLLOWAY, widely known as the author of "The Ladies of the White

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House," a work which has had a phenomenal success in this country and England. Mrs. Holloway is a daugh- ter of the South and became acquainted with the editor of the Eagle, Mr. Kinsella, through a letter of intro- duction from ex-President Andrew Johnson. Mr. Kinsella's friendly interest, aroused then in her, con- tinued unabated through life, and she remained a trusted co-worker with him until his death. Mrs. Holloway had fairly won her way in journalism when she became a member of the Eagle staff, and has likewise been successful in other fields. As a lecturer, she has charmed the intelligence and culture of Brooklyn in its crowded Academy of Music, and in a western lecture tour received solid recognition of her ability and popularity. Mrs. Holloway is the author of several popular subscription works, and is a frequent contribu- tor to magazines. After the death of Mr. Kinsella, she resigned her position on the Eagle, to devote herself exclusively to writing books, among which may be mentioned " An Hour with Charlotte Bronte;" and " American Fortunes, and the Men who have Made Them," from the advance sheets of which we have been permitted to glean, in condensed form, our sketch of Charles Storrs, on page 1158.

Mrs. EMILY C. FORD, wife of Gordon L. Ford, Esq., and granddaughter of Noah Webster, the lexico- grapher, is the centre of a charming literary circle, and draws about her, by her talent and amiability, some of the most brilliant minds of the city. Slight in person, her pale features are the embodiment of intellect and refinement. Her publications consist of "My Recrea- tions" (1872), a volume of poems, and numerous essays, critical articles, stories, etc., in The New Englander, The International, The Galaxy, Harper's Bazar and Weekly, the Atlantic, the Century, the Brooklyn Advance, and other magazines; also, in the Evening Post, Brooklyn Union, and Independent.

Mrs. J. H. CUTTER is the principal stockholder in, and contributor to, the Manhattan, over the signature of " J. Heard." She has written several serials, be- sides numerous fugitive pieces.

Mrs. Helen S. CONANT, wife of S. S. Conant, writes most of the Book-Notices for Harper's magazines; she has written, also, the " Princes of German and Spanish Literature " in Harper's Half-Hour Series ; the "Butterfly Hunters; " and is a large contributor to various periodicals.

Mrs. KATE UPSON CLARK, of 575 Quincy street, is the editress of Good Cheer, a handsome weekly, pub- lished at Greenfield, Mass., with the especial mission of supplanting bad and weak literature among the poor, and which has already attained a circulation of 100,000 copies. She also edits the Woman's department (called "the Helping hand") of the Philadelphia Weekly Press, and is a frequent contributor to Harper's various publi- cations, to Lippincott's Magazine, the Independent, Christian Union, Congregationalist, Wide Awake, Our

Little Ones, Outing, etc., etc. Mrs. Clark was born in Camden, Ala., in 1851; her mother was Priscilla Max- well, for many years principal of a large female semi- nary in Alabama. Her father, Edward Upson, a native of Connecticut, was one of the book-selling firm of Strickland & Co., of Mobile. In 1856, the members of this firm were warned to leave the state, and a reward offered for their bodies, " dead or alive," because they had sold Uncle Tom's Cabin, and The Life of Fred Douglass. This affair created much excitement at the time, and was one of the most important forerunners of the war. Mr. Upson fled to Milwaukee, where his daughter continued (at the Female College) the educa- tion which had previously been begun in Massachusetts, and graduated in 1869 from Wheaton Seminary, Norton, Mass., and in 1870 from the Normal School, Westfield, Mass. Then followed a year and a half of teaching at the Central High School, at Cleveland, Ohio; and in January, 1874, she became the wife of Mr. Edward P. Clark, at that time managing editor of the Spring- field Republican, but at present connected with the Brooklyn Union.

Mrs. Clark did not begin her authorial career until 1878, when the commendations bestowed by competent editorial critics, upon a contribution to Harper's Bazar, incited her to devote her time chiefly to the writing of fiction. This she began to do in the autumn of 1880; and though the subsequent editorial duties which she assumed, together with her duties as wife, housekeeper, and the mother of three healthy boys, do not afford that leisure requisite for the higher classes of literary work, yet they have not quenched her enthusiasm, nor hin- dered her in the careful and conscientious doing well of whatever she takes in hand.

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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 169

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