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 172

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 172

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Turning now to the Naturalists of our city, we notice, first among them :

COL. NICHOLAS PIKE. A native of Newburyport, Mass., he comes of a line of ancestors ever prominent in the military, clerical and civic annals of the United States. Settling at an early age in Brooklyn, he has married and grown up with the place, identifying himself strongly with all its interests; especially with those of a scientific nature. In 1849, he contributed largely to Prof. Harvey's great work on American Algæ-the Nereis Borealis Americana-and was Presi- dent of the Natural History Society of Brooklyn. Actively engaged in mercantile pursuits, he has al- ways pursued scientific researches with unremitting industry. In 1852, he was appointed U. S. Consul- General to Portugal ; and, amid his well-performed official duties, he yet found time to enrich his native land with the results of his scientific observations. He sent home cuttings of a species of olive, quick of growth and easily adapted to our climate, and reported elaborately on the methods of its growth, etc .; he inves- tigated (at the request of the Portuguese Government) the grape disease, then largely affecting the wine-crop of that and other European countries; and his official report thereon, published by the United States Govern- ment, attracted universal attention and commendation in the various official and scientific circles of the con- tinent.

In 1856, he was elected a corresponding mem- ber of the London Zoological Society; and, also, Honorary Vice-President of the " Societe Univereslle pour l'encouragement des Arts et de l'industrie." In 1859, he was appointed by the Portuguese Government as one of the Jurors of the Universal Exposition of that country, being the only foreigner on the Board; and was afterwards chosen President of the Board for the distribution of the prizes. During his residence in Portugal, he opened correspondence and exchanges with many of the leading naturalists of Europe, and added largely to his collections of Alga, ferns, etc. In 1858, he was made an honorary member of the Mil- ton Club, London; and, in 1860, returned home, ac- companied by the best wishes of all with whom he had been associated, and, also, a handsome service of silver from the merchants of Oporto.

Shortly after his return, the war of the Rebellion broke out, and true to the military instincts of his family, his services were at once tendered to and accepted by the Government. Recruiting troops, conducting a camp of instruction at Williamsburgh, addressing public meet- ings, etc., he labored with might and main, and was commissioned Lieut .- Colonel of the 96th N. Y. He was also elected Captain of the "Light Guard," an old crack corps of Brooklyn, and assisted actively in the organization of the 13th, and in the securing of the old City Hall (cor. Henry and Cranberry sts.), as an armory for the military-the first in Brooklyn. He is also one of the oldest members of the Old Guard of New York.

In 1863 he was elected president of the New York and subsequently of the Brooklyn Photographic Soci- ety, gave letters on photography and the chemistry of the arts, and instructed a school of young officers about proceeding to the front on staff service, in the pro- cesses of photographing battle scenes, forts, earth- works of the enemy, etc .; and, in 1865, he addressed the Long Island Natural History Society on the influ- ence of light upon vegetation when reflected through a colored medium, showing experiments made on the growth of different cereals under blue-glass, which, years later, created such a furor. In Nov., 1865, he donated to the Long Island Historical Society his splendid collection of Algæ, in 10 or 12 portfolios-the labor of 25 years-representing the marine flora of a coast-line of 20,000 miles ; a costly herbarium of the ferns of Long Island and of Portugal; also a collection of zoophytes and a nearly complete collection of the birds of Long Island, and a number of works on natural his- tory.

In 1866, he declined the U. S. Consulship to Amoy, China; but, shortly after, his wife having died, accepted the consulship for Mauritius and its dependencies. He arrived there June, 1867, at the very time when a terrible epidemic fever was raging throughout the Island. His prompt and arduous labors in behalf of his sick countrymen were followed by a severe and almost fatal attack of the fever, but, on recovery, he forwarded to the Government, at Washington, an exhaustive and valuable scientific report on the epi- demic, published in the Annual Report of the Depart- ment of Foreign Relations, for 1868. He also for- warded collections of the alge of Mauritius to Prof. Dickie, of Aberdeen, and that eminent savant's report upon them was published in the Transactions of the Linncan Society, of London. He also collected over one thousand fishes of the Indian ocean, among which have been discovered 27 new species and several new genera. Over 400 of these fish were sketched and mostly colored from life by him. While at Mauritius he published a volume entitled Sub- Tropical Rambles in the Land of the Aphanapteryx, and another volume on its fauna and flora. His abilities as a naturalist

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

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were recognized by his election as Vice-President of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences, of Port Louis, he being the only foreigner ever elected to that office.

In 1870, there being many things in the dependen- cies, especially relative to American sailors, requiring supervision at the Deschelles islands, he took advan- tage of the kind invitations of the then Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon and Admiral Sir Alex. Cockburn to accompany them in H. M. S. frigate Forte, about to proceed thither. The result was a series of letters on these interesting islands. He left Mauritius in 1873. and settled again in Brooklyn, where, in 1874, he married again, to an English lady who, possessing congenial tastes for natural science, is a cordial assist- ant in his studies.

Since his return he has been actively engaged, first, in collecting, preparing notes, making drawings, etc., of the arachnoids of Long Island, and the large collec- tion, in alcohol, is now in the hands of one of the ablest arachnologists of the day. While this is being worked up, he is collecting and figuring all the reptiles of Long Island, and has a work on them nearly ready for the press. This is part of a history of the fauna of the island, which he hopes to live to complete. A check- list is already nearly completed of his collections on the island, from 1839 to the present day.

Of the earlier votaries of Natural Science in Brook- lyn, and of the names, lucubrations and doings of the members of the old Brooklyn Lyceum of Natural History, formed in 1838, once located in the Brooklyn Institute in Washington street, we have no definite information. We trust some survivor will yet be able to preserve a few of its memorials-taking, as his text, our slight mention of the Lyceum, on page 1302.

In 1864, soon after the inception of the Long Island Historical Society, and especially through the personal efforts of ELIAS LEWIS, Jr. (now President of the Brooklyn Bank), one of the Society's earliest members and directors, the foundation was laid in that institute of a Museum of Long Island History and Ethnology. Mr. Lewis was cordially seconded by CHARLES CONG- DON, J. CARSON BREVOORT, Prof. CHAS. E. WEST, HENRY E. PIERREPONT, WM. GOULD LEVESON, C. H. BAXTER, JOHN AKHURST, ALFRED YOUNG and others of the Society's members. A "Department of the Natural History of Long Island " was established, and special meetings held; and the result is now seen in the splendid and very complete collection of the fauna, flora, geology, etc., of the Island, so thoroughly arranged in the galleries of the Society's new building. Where all have contributed so much, it seems invidious to nanie any particular person; yet it is doubtless to Mr. ELIAS LEWIS' persistent interest, his wide acquaintance and influence on the Island, and his excellent judgment and power of systematization that this collection is now so perfect, and that it forms so valuable a portion of the Society's collection.

Geology, mineralogy, paleology, metallurgy, etc., engage the attention of Chas. H. Chapman; Prof. D. G. Eaton, Ph. D., of the Packer Institute; D. W. Fer- guson; G. D. Hiscox; A. W. Humphreys; Dr. R. R. Raymond; Prof. G. S. Roberts, E. M., C. E .; Col. W. A. Roebling, C. E .; G. Scarborough; T. B. Stearns.

Astronomical Science (besides those mentioned in our notice of the American Astronomical Society of Brooklyn, p. 1307) employs the leisure of G. D. His- cox and Henry M. Parkhurst.

Among the chemists, we may mention especially Elias H. Bartley, B. S., M. D., Lecturer on Chemistry at the Long Island College Hospital, Chemist to the Board of Health, who also devotes much attention to microscopy and electrical science; P. Casamajor, the Cor. Secretary of the American Chemical Society; Dr. N. B. De S. Sizer (also histology); P. H. Van Der Weyde, M. D. (also electricity and microscopy); Prof. Cochran of the Polytechnic, and Prof. A. K. Eaton.

Among the botanists, we find Maj. Wm. S. Beebe, U. S. A. (anthropology, also); Rev. Dr. E. Foster; Rev. Dr. Chas. H. Hall; Dr. Fred. A. Jewett; W. C. Peckham; G. Scarborough; Theo. Schuster; Rev. Wm. Short, and Alfred R. Young. The marine florists, i. e., collectors of algæ, are Jos. S. Brown, Gardiner D. Hiscox; Nicholas Pike and A. R. Young.

The ornithologists comprise John Akhurst; John N. Blair; Dr. Wm. H. Gregg; S. D. Obsorne; T. B. Stearns.

The entomologists (besides those mentioned under the head of Brooklyn Entomological Society, p, 1307), are John Akhurst (taxidermist, also); A. W. Asquith; J. Carson Brevoort; A. E. Brunn; Jacob Dole; Robert W. Chambers; Edw. L. Graef; Rev. Wm. Short; Prof. F. G. Schaupp.

Among the ichthyologists, Mr. J. Carson Brevoort led the van, until declining health, some ten years since, obliged him to relinquish its active pursuit; Nicholas Pike (see p. 1327), and Eugene G. Blackford (see p. 966), now bear his mantle worthily; also Dr. Wm. H. Gregg.

Prof. ASAHEL K. EATON, M. D., practical and ana- lytical chemist, 65 Henry street, has been a resident of this city since 1861. He was born at East Windsor, Conn., in 1822; graduated at Hamilton College, N. Y .; was for some years Principal of the Academies at Little Falls and Fredonia, N. Y., and afterwards Professor of Chemistry at the Eclectic Medical College, at. Rochester, N. Y. He then settled in New York city, as an analytical chemist; discovered and patented a process for making steel directly from the iron ore, and also a quick process of tanning leather. His atten- tion was then directed to the gold mines in North Carolina, and he invented and patented several im- proved processes of amalgamation and separation; and shortly after, in connection with Charles C. Spencer, of Canastota, N. Y., entered into the manufacture of

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LITERATURE AND SCIENCE.

optical instruments, microscopes, telescopes, etc., at that place; and constructed for the Litchfield Observatory, Hamilton College, the large telescope, then one of the largest ever manufactured in this country. In 1856, he was engaged in New York city, in the refining of kerosene from the coals of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio-tbis being before the discovery of petroleum. During the early part of the Civil War, Prof. Eaton was largely engaged in the preparation (by processes of his own invention) of the peculiar green and other colored inks required by the Bank Note Companies in the printing of the Government "greenbacks." In 1864, he went to Montana Territory, where he was engaged in gold and silver mining, per- fecting several new processes and machinery for that work. Returning, in 1877, to Brooklyn, he invented a new kind of prism, using bi-sulphide of carbon, and also, a direct-vision spectroscope. When the telephone was brought into public notice, he made and patented several valuable improvements, and organized a tele- phone manufacturing company, which, however, was ultimately forced to succumb to the superior financial strength of the Bell Telephone Co. Prof. Eaton has since been actively engaged in forwarding the interests of a new form of storage-batteries for electricity, invented by himself. He published, several years ago, a small elementary text-book on Agricultural Chemistry. Prof. Eaton is thoroughly versed in his chosen science of chemistry, as well as in Geology, Mineralogy, Metallurgy and Optics; few men have read more extensively, or have enjoyed so wide a range of practical observation and experience; and, as an expert in matters of medical jurisprudence, he has also done the State some service.

Oology claims among its votaries, S. D. Osborne; John N. Blair; T. O. Callender; R. M. Mitchell, and T. B. Stearns. Histology, Pathology, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology are the favorite pursuits of Dr. Geo. R. Cutter; Dr. Wm. Bates; Franklin W. Hooper, Professor of Natural Science at the Adelphi Academy; and W. Le Conte Stevens, also Professor at the Adelphi, has a specialty of Acoustics and Physical Optics. Dr. S. Edward Stiles gives particular atten- tion to Pathological Microscopy, Infusoria, and En- tomology.

Herpetology, Jos. S. Brown; Crustacea, J. H. Droge; Articulates, Invertebrates, Carl F. Geisler, Ph. D.

NELSON SIZER, PHRENOLOGIST AND AUTHOR .- Bio- graphy is the cream of history, and man's real character the soul of biography. One person with but medium talent, bravery and patriotism, may, through favoring conditions, win a battle for liberty ; while another, a real hero and patriot, suffers nominal defeat in checking the advance of the enemy which threatens the common cause.

In a country like ours, riches and culture in a family can not confer continued prominence and influence, or

shed luster on a race willing to sit idly in the waning light of departed greatness; for nations and families find their strength in the worth, talent and deeds of their living sons. The death of some men of mark is as disastrous to their heirs, as the sinking of a tow-boat would be to its score of helpless but richly laden barges.

It has been facetiously said, that in Philadelphia, public sentiment asks of a stranger, " Who are you ?" in Boston, " What do you know?" in New York, " What can you do ?" Though these qualities are all desirable, their order of precedence should be reversed, since the ability to do is the basis of both knowledge and reputation. Who asks if Horace Mann came from a rich and distinguished family ? He is known as the promoter of the public school system of Massachusetts and America, and his work will live in the culture of coming generations, and keep his name fragrant for- ever. Every man ought to do worthy work of some sort, and the reputation he wins should depend on his motive, on the talent employed, and on the quality of the result.

NELSON SIZER, the subject of the present sketch, has been so many years in the field as an author and practitioner in Phrenology, that the mention of his name is sufficient to awaken a lively interest in thousands who have profited by his professional eoun- sels. The newness of his theme and its vital import- ance to those who seek .its aid in rightly shaping their lives for success, health and harmony of character, has given him unequalled opportunity to make the public his debtor for the eminent services he has been able to render.

His portrait indicates strong elements of character, at the basis of which is an excellent physiology. His brain measures about twenty-three inches in circum- ference, and his weight being nearly two-hundred pounds, his nervous system is fully supplied with nutri- tion. Having been thoroughly temperate and orderly in his habits, he has confirmed in its integrity a constitution robust by inheritance, which enables him to accomplish a lage amount of work. The head is relatively high, showing fullness in the moral organs, while the intellectual developments are particularly large in the perceptive region. He has a capital memory of whatever he has experienced, and with his large comparison he is able in conversation, or while addressing an audience, or describing a character, to employ illustrations drawn from every side of nature and experience, which are both rich and vivid. Indeed he seems to think pictorially.

Nelson Sizer, for more than thirty years a well-known citizen of Brooklyn, was born in Chester, Hampden county, Mass., May 21st, 1812. On his father's side he is of Portuguese extraction, his great-grandfather having emigrated to America from the Island of Ter- ceira, one of the Azores, in 1726. He settled, married

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

NELSON SIZER.

and spent his life in Middletown, Conn. His neighbors desired to make the colony seem to be English, and persuaded those having a foreign prefix to their names to drop it. His name being Antonio De Souza, when spoken quickly, sounded like Sizer, so the astute town clerk invented and put on record the name as Anthony Sizer. All who bear the name in this country trace their origin to this man. Anthony married a lady of Scotch descent; hence our subject unites Portuguese and Scotch elements in his character, liveliness and sociability on one side, with prudence and integrity on the other. His father, Fletcher Sizer, the fourth of a family of sixteen children, married Lydia Bassett, of Westfield, Mass., whose father was an Englishman. In this way Nelson Sizer attained an English impression in the direction of stability and personal dignity. His father being a car- penter, he early became familiar with tools, and also practically acquainted with all the work of a farm. At fourteen he was engaged in the wool mill, at Bland- ford, Mass .; at seventeen he commenced, in association with an elder brother, the manufacture of cloth; from eighteen to nineteen he worked at the carpenter's

bench; from nineteen to twenty-two was again en- gaged in the woolen business. He was then offered inducements to take a position in a new paper-mill in the place, and in two years he became a partner and had charge. In this business he continued five years, doing eighteen hours work a day. While attending the paper mill at night he read extensvely in the litera- ture of Phrenology, and wrote articles for the local press.

In 1839, his wife having died, he gave up the paper business, which was becoming very profitable, to enter the practical work of a phrenologist. Ten years he travelled and lectured, mainly in New England. In 1840 he joined Mr. P. L. Buell in a phrenological partnership, and they gave extended courses of lectures in Wash- ington, and in leading towns in Maryland, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hamp- shire and Vermont. In 1843 a joint work, entitled " A Guide to Phrenology," was published by the asso- ciates and used as a chart in making examinations.

Mr. Sizer aimed from the beginning to give Phrenol- ogy an elevated place in the estimation of the public,

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and not to make the new science a mere instrumental- ity of gain, and thus won the respect of his audiences and patrons. He usually obtained the use of churches for his lecture-rooms, and was commended by letter from one clergyman to another. Believing that man's moral nature is the strongest and highest element, and that the best success must come from addressing him- self to this element, he aimed to develop clearly in his teachings the moral and religious aspects of phreno- logical science.

While lecturing he was a frequent contributor to the Phrenological Journal, and also its agent. In 1843 he married Mrs. Sarah Hale, of Suffield, Conn., and resided there for a year, then removed to Avon, Conn., still continuing to lecture. Here was born to them, in 1846, a son, Nelson Buell Sizer, who became an alumnus of the " University of the City of New York," and a physician, now settled in Brooklyn, N. Y. By the former marriage there were two children, George W., settled in the West, and Julia E., the wife of Francis Wood of Brooklyn.

In 1849 he was invited to take the position of Phre- nological Examiner in the office of Fowler & Wells, in New York, and from that time has remained thus related, and a resident of Brooklyn. Meanwhile he has contributed largely to the Journal, his diverse expe- riences and extended observations rendering him a val- ued writer on topics connected with human nature. In 1859, '60, '62, and '63 he had sole editorial charge of the Journal, the proprietors being absent on a pro- fessional tour in America and Europe. Since 1864 he has been associate editor, besides being Vice-President of, and principal teacher in, the " American Institute of Phrenology," incorporated in 1866. He has made more than 250,000 professional examinations, and many thousands confess that his advice guided them to right pursuits, or saved them from mental and moral wreck. He has published several books of great value; one en- titled " Choice of Pursuits, or What to Do and Why;" another, "How to Teach, or Phrenology in the School Room and the Family," and, " Forty years in Phrenol- ogy, embracing History, Anecdote and Experience." These works, more than any other, serve to bring the science of human nature home to practical use in every relation of life.

As a phrenological examiner no man in any country has a higher and purer reputation for usefulness, his merits being warmly acknowledged by thousands who have received the benefit of his professional skill. As a lecturer he is well known in New York, Brooklyn, and vicinity, his services being in frequent demand for as- sociations, lycenms, and churches. He speaks extem- poraneously, is animated, direct, earnest, highly in- structive, abounding in illustration, and is often in a high degree amusing. His most telling lectures are those which treat of temperance and moral reform, based on Phrenology and Physiology.

ADDENDA.

While these pages were passing through the press, there occurred (May 30, 1884) the death of another Brooklyn literary man:

AUGUSTUS ELY SILLIMAN. He was born in Newport, R. I., about seventy years since, but came to this city when a small boy, and has resided here ever since. He retired from business in 1868, and spent the remaining years of his life at home engaged principally in literary pursuits. He was never married. He was a brother of Benjamin D. Silliman, the well-known lawyer, with whom he lived. Mr. Silliman for a long period was prominently known in financial and social circles. He was for many years connected with the Merchants' Bank in Wall street, New York, as its president. He resigned from the position sixteen years ago, in conse- quence of ill health, leaving the bank in a prosperous condition as proof of his financial ability. It was said of him at the time that he was "a sonnd political econo- mist, thoroughly conversant with the true principles as well as the best practice of banking, and having a char- acter for truth, uprightness and integrity which is per- fectly unsullied." Mr. Silliman co-operated actively and efficiently in establishing the Clearing House. At a meeting of bank officers August, 13, 1853, a commit- tee, consisting of Messrs. Edmonds, of Mechanics' Bank; Silliman, of Merchants' Bank; Punnett, of Bank of America; Berry, of Tradesmen's Bank; and Everett, of Broadway Bank, was appointed to devise a plan for simplifying the method of making exchanges and set- tling the daily balances. These gentlemen founded the great establishment, and remained as the regular Clear- ing House Committee for six years. When Mr. Silli- man went out of business the presidents of the banks in the Clearing House passed resolutions expressing their good wishes and attesting to the uniform courtesy and kindness which had characterized his intercourse with them and the zeal and consistency with which he had always supported sound and conservative measures, and the influence which he had exerted in establishing and giving character and dignity to the association. Mr. Silliman was a man of fine literary ability. He read much and also wrote freely. He was author of "A Gallop Among American Scenery," principally con- sisting of military sketches of the war of 1812. It had a large sale and was very popular with the cadets at West Point. He was a member of the Century Club and of the Long Island Historical Society. He was independent and self-reliant in his opinions; his truth and sincerity were absolute and unvarying, alike in matters of importance and in the smallest affairs and conventionalities of life. He was a gentleman of pol- ished manners, of warm affections, of great refinement and of large mental culture.

In a very interesting and appreciative article in the Brooklyn Eagle, June 1, 1884, " Clericus" gives an

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account of Rev. HENRY WARD BEECHER's library, art- collections, literary habits and tastes. Although Mr. Beecher's library does not strictly come within the scope of our definition on page 1319, yet we can- not forbear quoting somewhat from the article in question.

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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 172

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