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 58
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school, he went to Wayne Co., N. Y., and was for some time engaged in teaching ; the last two years as Principal of the Clyde High School. It was while he was in charge of this school, that Prof. Morse first put his telegraph in operation between Washington and Baltimore. The subject of telegraphy greatly in- terested Mr. Lyon; and, in the course of some experi- ments which he made, he invented a printing-telegraph; or, rather, he demonstrated, by means of a model which he constructed, that pen and ink, or type and ink, could be used in the conveying of messages by the tele- graphic wire. Mr. Lyon, strange as it may seem, never pressed his claim as a scientific discoverer, or ever took any means to secure to himself the honor or benefits of this discovery. Yet it became, no doubt, the basis of a theory which has since been utilized.
The Clyde Eagle, of July 11, 1844 (Vol. 1., No. 9), has a two column editorial, headed "The Electro Magnetic Telegraph Improved," in which was the follow- ing : " With this machine Mr. Lyon is able to write with pen and ink with the same facility that Professor Morse scratches characters upon paper with points of steel." This editorial was copied into the New York Commercial Advertiser, Evening Post, and Boston Traveller, and journals of lesser note.
A card, in a subsequent number of the same paper, says : " We have seen Mr. Lyon perform experiments with his machine for writing with pen and ink on Professor Morse's system of Electro Magnetic Tele- graph, and take pleasure in saying that it worked to our perfect satisfaction, and displays no small share of ingenuity. The inventor, Mr. Lyon, explained to us his intended improvement by which he will be enabled to convey intelligence by means of the real letters of the alphabet as readily and speedily as Morse can make his scratches with steel." This was signed by seven prominent residents of the place.
About this time he changed his mind in regard to studying law, and decided that a mercantile profession would be more to his taste.
In 1845, Mr. Lyon came to New York, and engaged in the wholesale dry goods business. In 1847, he changed from dry goods to what was then termed the Yankee Notion and Fancy Goods business, which he has con- tinued successfully up to the present time. He very early began the importation of goods for his trade, and was among the first of our merchants to visit Europe for the purpose of securing a better assortment of Fancy Goods than could be procured from the New York im- porters.
In 1848, after having completed his orders and selec- tions in England, he proposed going to France, but was prevented from so doing by the revolution then in pro- gress there. While waiting in Belgium, he learned of the flight of Louis Phillippe to England, and the estab- lishment of the provisional government of the French republic under Lamartine. He left immediately for
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France, and was the first American merchant to enter Paris after the insurrection. Everything was in confu- sion, business prostrated, and the commission houses and manufacturers had large stocks of goods on hand, which they were very anxious to turn into money. Mr. Lyon bought largely, at very low price, and also made plans for future shipments, many of which arrangements con- tinued to this day. He afterwards extended his con- nections to all the leading manufacturing centres of Europe, until few houses are better known throughout the commercial world.
Mr. Lyon first commenced business in 1845, at No. 169 Pearl street, New York, then the wholesale jobbing centre, where he remained until the business began to move towards Broadway; when, in 1851, he moved to 4 Dey street, near Broadway, and afterwards, in 1860, to No. 19 Cortlandt street.
The business steadily increasing, larger quarters were needed, and, in 1864, the firm of Wm. H. Lyon & Co., removed to No. 371 Broadway, where they re- mained until 1870, when they changed their location to the spacious warehouse which they now occupy, Nos. 483 and 485 Broadway, a store 50 feet on Broadway, running the entire block, 200 feet to Mercer street. The basement and several floors cover a space of 50,000 square feet devoted to the display of their extensive stock.
In all these nearly forty years, his house has kept in the van of progress. They import goods from Europe, China, India, and Japan, and their sales extend not only to every State in the United States from Maine to California, but also to Mexico, West Indies, South America, and Canada.
Mr. Lyon has been a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce for many years; is a di- rector in the Brooklyn Life Insurance Company, and has been Chairman of its Executive Committee since the organization of the company.
He was one of the incorporators of the New Eng- land Society of Brooklyn, and a director since its organization. He is a member of the Long Island His- torical Society; also of the Oxford Club, and one of its directors.
In 1878, while absent in California on Indian busi- ness, he was nominated for Congress in the Fourth District on the Republican ticket. This district has always been strongly Democratic, but Mr. Lyon's candidacy reduced the usual majority about one-half, which strongly attested his personal popularity among his fellow-citizens.
In 1879, his name, contrary to his wishes, was brought before the Mayoralty Convention, and on the regular ballot lacked but a few votes of a majority. In the next contest for the mayoralty nomination his name was prominently mentioned, but he peremptorily declined to allow it to be used.
Mr. Lyon is a gentleman of imposing figure and commanding appearance. Although his attention has
always been given strictly to his business engagements, he has found time for social enjoyment and public duties; his congenial temperament enabling him fully to enjoy life, as he journeys through it. His energy and business ability have contributed much not only to the business progress of New York, but of other portions of our country. Many years ago, he invested largely in property at Lake City, on Lake Pepin, Minnesota, where he built the principal hotels and stores of the place, and where the main avenue is named after him. This property he still holds, together with much other real estate in Minnesota, Iowa, and Dakota. He is a large owner of real estate in this city, on New York avenne, where he resides, and where he has recently built several elegant dwelling-houses, which greatly improve that section of the city.
United States District Judge .- It is the duty of the District Judge to preside at trials for, or motions concerning, violations of the United States Statutes in his district. The present Judge, CHARLES L. BENE- DICT, was appointed on the organization of the Court, in March, 1865, and has continued to serve from that time, without interruption, up to the present.
He also presides over the Circuit Court of the United States for the southern district of New York. The Circuit Courts being held in New York, and the. District Courts in Brooklyn. Courts are held monthly, except in July and August. The judicial matters un- der his charge are divided into four branches, namely: Jury, Admiralty and Equity cases and Criminal Trials.
Samuel T. Jones served as Court Clerk from 1865 to 1873, from which time to 1875, Edward B. Husted was acting Clerk. In 1875, B. Lincoln Benedict was appointed, which position he now holds.
United States District Attorney .- The duties of this officer are to prosecute all violations of United States Statutes, committed in his district, which com- prises four counties-Kings, Queens, Richmond and Suf- olk. The first District Attorney appointed in this district was BENJAMIN D. SILLIMAN, in 1865, who resigned in 1866, and was succeeded by General BENJAMIN F. TRACY, who was succeeded by ASA W. TENNEY, the present incumbent, 19th February, 1873.
The United States Commissioner .- His duties are mainly to issue warrants for arrests in criminal cases, to preside over the U. S. Commissioner's Court, and he is also Chief Supervisor of Elections for the Eastern District of New York.
JOHN J. ALLEN is the present Commissioner, and he was appointed by Judge Benedict September 22, 1874. Under the administration of Gen. Benjamin F. Tracy, as U. S. District Attorney, Mr. Allen was the Assistant.
The United States Marshal's Office for the Eastern District of New York, is located in a suitable building, on the corner of Montague and Clinton streets, Brooklyn, New York. This district com-
UNITED STATES INTERESTS.
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ALITTLE
AlFate.
prises Long and Staten Islands, and also has jurisdic- tion over the waters of New York county. The office was organized here in March, 1865, the first Marshal being ANTHONY F. CAMPBELL, who was appointed that year, and served up to 1867, when he resigned, his deputy, FRANCIS L. DALLON, succeeding him. Mr. Dallon served until 1871, when SAMUEL R. HARLOW was appointed by President Grant, and until March, 1883, Mr. Harlow continued in charge of affairs. In that month the present incumbent, Major AUGUSTUS C. TATE, received the nomination by President Arthur for a term of four years, and has, since then, had charge of the office.
Itis the duty of a United States Marshal to secure the arrest of any person or persons engaged in counter- feiting United States legal tender, smuggling, the illicit manufacture of whiskey, or purloining of United States property; and, on proper notification, to arrest and detain thieving or embezzling post-office officials * or clerks; also to see that no dangerous explosives, such as dynamite, are shipped to foreign ports, for improper use. The Marshal of this district is now acting under an order of the government, dated 12th March, 1884, relative to the shipping of dynamite.
There is, yearly, more money involved in the cases issuing from this office, than in all other courts of Kings county combined.
One-fourth of the admiralty business of the United States is done here.
A marshal cannot be removed save by death, resig- nation, or for cause.
AUGUSTUS C. TATE was born in New York City, Janu- ary 6, 1835, and received the rudiments of an education in the public schools of that city. When fourteen years old he went to the "Charlotte Academy," in Delaware county, New York, for further instruction, staying there three years, at the end of which time he returned to New York City, and was engaged with his father, William Tate, in the dry goods business. At the breaking out of our late war Mr. Tate, then twenty-six years of age, was one of the first to respond to his country's call, and enlisted as a private in the 12th New York State Militia, April 19th, 1861, and was promoted to color sergeant two days later. He served three months; and then re-entered service as Cap- tain of the 131st New York Volunteers, August 20, 1862, for a term of three years, and September 8, 1863, was promoted to Major, which position he held at the time of his honorable discharge in 1865. In 1863 he was sent to New York with a detachment, to quell the famous " draft riots," but before he reached the city the disturbance was
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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
practically over. Major Tate participated in most of the im- portant battles of the south-west, and also the stirring events of the Shenandoah Valley campaign, under General Sheridan. September 1, 1865, as a reward in part for his meritorious services and gallant conduct, he was appointed to an inspec- torship in the New York Custom House, which he held until March, 1883. From 1869 to 1873 he was aid to Sur- veyor Alonzo B. Cornell. In March, 1883, on the recom- mendation of General U. S. Grant and the Republican or- ganization of Kings county, he was appointed United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York, which office he now holds. Mr. Tate, since the formation of the Republi- can party, has ever been a hard-working, consistent member. He was secretary of the Soldiers' National Convention, held
at Chicago in 1868, when General Grant was first nomi- nated for President. He was also president of the first Grant Club organized in Brooklyn in the year 1867, and during the Presidential campaigns of 1868 to 1880, was General of the Boys in Blue. He is Past Commander of Devlin Post, No. 148, Grand Army of the Republic, and member of Kings County Republican General Committes, He is a member of the Hanson Place M. E. Church of this city.
Mr. Tate is a man of firm convictions, positive in all his actions, and to these essential attributes much of his success in public life can be traced. His friendships are lasting, and in his contact with the public, his courteous and genial manners win for him the kind regard of all.
GEN. ALFRED CUTLER BARNES.
GEN. ALFRED CUTLER BARNES, eldest son of the | founder of the well-known publishing firm of A. S. Barnes & Co., was born in Philadelphia, on the 27th of October, 1842. His father removed to New York in 1845, and to Brooklyn in 1846. Here, while residing in Garden street, the boy commenced his school life, first with the Misses Pinkham, in Henry street; afterwards with Prof. B. W. Dwight, the well-known classical scholar in Livingston street. When the Collegiate and Polytechnic institute was open in 1855, Alfred became one of its first pupils. In the summer of 1857, he attended the Rev. Mr. Fox's boarding school, in Ashland, N. Y., where he graduated as valedictorian, but returned to the Polytechnic in the fall. Entering his father's office during the long vacation of 1858, with the intention of entering Yale College in the autumn, young Barnes be- came enamoured of business, and, commencing as mail- ing clerk, he steadily rose to the head of the jobbing de- partment, where he enjoyed excellent advantages for travel and commercial acquaintance in the line of his busi- ness. In 1865, after the death of his uncle, Mr. Burr, he was admitted into the firm as a partner; and gradually assumed the chief executive management of the busi- ness, which, with his father's valued advice, he has since maintained. In the conduct of the business, Mr. Barnes' views are conservative, following the traditional policy of the house, viz., of only publishing the best class of books, relying on their merit, and upon honorable methods of business for success.
As a youth, Mr. Barnes possessed decided literary and forensic taste, which he found opportunity of gratifying in the meetings and debates of the " Webster Literary Society," formed in 1856, and of which he was twice President. His pen also found congenial scope in the Educational Bulletin, which he established and person- ally edited until it was superseded by the National Teachers' Monthly. His controversial articles in this journal, especially a series of papers on the methods of teaching German, called forth by a sharp attack upon
Dr. Worman's text-books, attracted much favorable criticism. Barnes's Brief History of the United States, the most successful single book ever published by the house, was especially the enterprise of A. C. Barnes. Under his administration, also, the firm has published, among other important works, the Magazine of Ameri- can History, The International Review, Mrs. Lamb's History of New York City, Ficklin's Mathematics, the New National Readers, Sill's Grammar, Steele's Scientific Books, etc. By the book trade at large, Mr. Barnes has been variously honored. His first appearance at a Trade Convention in July, 1874, was followed, in the fall of the same year, by his election as president of the newly organized " Central Booksellers' Association," comprising all the trade in New York city and its vicinity. A frequent and conspicuous attendant upon the annual general Trade Conventions and the gatherings of the Stationers' Board of Trade, his abilities as a practical business man, and his gifts as a most agreeable "after- dinner speaker," were brought into frequent demand. Of fine personal presence, engaging manners, excellent conversational powers and tact, and clear, alert and logical in his thoughts and powers, he is universally recognized as a leader among the younger school of publishers.
Inheriting the military tastes of his maternal grand- father, Gen. Timothy Burr (a commissary general of the Western Army of the United States, in the war of 1812), Mr. Barnes, in 1860, being then just 18 years of age, joined Company " C," of the 7th Regiment, N. Y. S. N. G .; and almost before he had emerged from "the awkward squad," in which its neophytes are trained, the war of the Civil Rebellion broke out. He was one of the num- ber, on that memorable day, April 19th, 1861, who filled the ranks of that splendid regiment as it swept down Broadway, amid such patriotic excitement as that great thoroughfare has never before or since witnessed, en route for Washington. When, in 1862, the 23d Regi-
depredf Ramme
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BIOGRAPHIES OF BROOKLYN CITIZENS.
ment was organized, Mr. Barnes joined Company " E," by transfer from the 7th Regiment. In 1863, he was made "Left General Guide " of the regiment, with the rank of sergeant. In the same year, also, he accompanied his regiment, in its response for a call for troops, to check the rebel advance in Pennsylvania, which advance ended in the memorable battle of Gettysburg. In May, 1864, Sergeant Barnes was elected First Lieutenant of his company, receiving his commission from Gov. Seymour. In 1867, his term of service having expired, he re- signed and remained for nine years inactive. In the in- terval, he was elected Vice-President of the civil organi- zation known as the 23d Regiment Veteran Association, of which eventually he became President. October 23d, 1876, he was elected Major of the regiment, receiving from his " vet" associates a very beautiful sword. In this capacity he served with his regiment in the "railroad riots" of 1877. At Corning, with a command of one hundred men, and " mounted on the engine, revolver in hand," he ran his train through an excited mob of rioters whom he awed, in the language of the official report of the Inspector-General of the State, by his " indomitable pluck and energy." A full account of this interesting expedition, written by Major Barnes himself, appeared in the National Guardsman, June, 1878. As President of the Regimental Court he instituted many improvements in the old methods of conducting trials; was also Presi- dent of the Council of Officers; and was notable as a drill officer, especially in battalion drills. As such he was given command of the 23d Regiment Cadet Corps, the first of its kind in the National Guard, which was organized October, 1877, and which, under his careful handling, developed excellent material for a new com- pany (H) in the regiment proper. When the command of the Second Division of the N. Y.S.N.G. was vacated by the death of Major-Gen. Dakin, 1879, Major Barnes found himself a prominent candidate for the position, backed by many eminent military men and senators. A political dead-lock, however, prevented any appointment at that time. In December, of that year, however, Major Barnes was appointed by Gov. Cornell as General In- spector of Rifle Practice upon his staff, and received a commission (dated January 1st, 1880) as Brigadier-Gen- eral in the National Guard.
Gen. Barnes' idea of rifle range practice was that a general average of excellence should be sought, rather than the superlative excellence of a few. The con- sequence was a gradual, but striking, improvement of the State "figure of merit " in rifle practice (from 18 to 47 in three years). He cut down the individual practice classes from three to two; introduced target firing in ranks; insisted upon theoretical armory drills to prepare for the field; issued sharp-shooters' silver bars, etc., etc. Creedmoor and all other of the State rifle ranges were under his supervision; and he was one of the party of staff officers, designated by Gov. Cornell for the purpose, who selected the site for the perma-
ment State camp at Peekskill, where he superintended the construction of the fine range there established. At the close of Gov. Cornell's administration, Gen. Barnes was succeeded by Gen. C. F. Robbins, who has complimented his predecessor by retaining the practice system almost without change.
Republican in politics, Gen. Barnes was first a dele- gate, in 1876, to the Second District Congressional Con- vention of New York State, from the Twentieth Ward, of which Ward Association (of 2,500 members) he was subsequently twice elected president. In 1877, he was chairman of the Senatorial Convention for the Second District; as he was also of the ward delegation to the City Convention of 1878; and again in 1879 a delegate to the Third District Senatorial Convention; and in 1880 chairman of the Congressional Convention of the Third District. He was a delegate to the New York State Republican Convention of 1881, and prominently named, in 1882, as candidate for Congress in the Second Con- gressional District, as also for Comptroller of the city of Brooklyn, but he declined to permit his name to be used.
In the important local campaign of 1881, Gen. Barnes took a very active part. By the personal request of Mr. Seth Low (then president of the Young Republican Club), he accepted the chairmanship of the citizens' mass meeting at the Rink, which nominated Ripley Ropes for the mayoralty. The regular Republican Convention nominated Gen. Tracy. Subsequently both candidates appeared before a great assemblage in the Academy of Music, at which Gen. Barnes also presided, and withdrew in favor of Seth Low, who was then nominated and triumphantly elected.
Gen. Barnes was appointed a trustee of the East River Suspension Bridge, June 8, 1879, and has since received two re-appointments, viz., in 1881 and 1883. He prepared a description of the great structure, which was published with illustrations, and had a wide circu- lation. He has been for several years a director of the Brooklyn Library, on Montague street, and is now its vice-president.
Gen. Barnes was one of the principal founders of the Oxford Club, which was organized at his residence in 1880, and was its first president, which office he held, by re-election, for two subsequent terms. He was also one of the committee of eminent gentlemen appointed by the Governor of the State of New York to receive the French and German military delegates to the great National centennial celebration of the surrender of Yorktown, during the summer of 1881; and the military arrangements of that reception were under his especial charge. In November, 1883, he was unanimously ten- dered the colonelcy of the Thirteenth Regiment, which he was obliged, owing to other duties, to decline; under great pressure, however, he subsequently recon- sidered, and was elected to the position March 28th, 1884. With his commission as Colonel, his rank of Brigadier-General was also renewed by brevet.
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Gen. Barnes is a member of Lafayette Post of the Grand Army of the Republic; a director (from its or- ganization) of The Metropolitan Plate Glass Insurance Co., of the Real Estate Trust Co., the Tehuantepec Railway, the Stationers' Board of Trade, and one of "the council" of the Hamilton Club; also a mem- ber of The Art Association, The Long Island Histori- cal Society, The New England Society, and of the Brooklyn Citizens' League; is a director of the Brook- lyn City Hospital, and was president, for a year, of the Brooklyn Home for Consumptives; also, he has been a member of the Howard Literary Association; of the Euterpe Musical Sociable (of which he was president, 1878-9). When, in 1869, the Adelphi Academy, orig- inally a private school, was purchased by a number of citizens and placed under a board of trustees, Gen. Barnes was (and is) one of that board, and for several years acted as its secretary.
Gen. Barnes' church connections have been with the Church of the Pilgrims, under the Rev. Dr. Storrs, and with the Clinton Avenue Congregational Church, un- der the pastorates of Drs. Lansing, Budington, and
McLeod. He has always been active in Sunday-school and mission work, and, in 1874, was elected superin- tendent of the Willoughby Avenue Mission School, which he served in that capacity for four years. In 1882, he was unanimously elected superintendent of the Clinton Avenue Church Sunday-school, but declined. He has also been on the musical committee of the Clinton Ave- nue Congregational Church for many years.
On the 27th October, 1863, his twenty-first birthday, Mr. Barnes was married, in Dr. Cuyler's Church, to Josephine E. Richardson, daughter of H. A. Richard- son, Esq. The young couple dwelt at first at No. 9 Lefferts street, but in November, 1866, purchased the house, 182 Cumberland street (Washington Park), where they have ever since resided. Their children are: Harriet J., born 1864; Mary Grace, born 1867, died 1873; and Alfred Victor, born 1870.
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