CHAPTER XIII. DISTINGUISHED RESIDENTS AND GUESTS. T has long been a source of wonderment to those who are unacquainted with the place, that so many distinguished people have become residents of Staten Island, and that so many others have here been entertained. The close proximity to the Metropolis-the social, commercial and financial centre of the continent-may account for this in part. But we think that a stronger attraction still was the beauty and healthfulness of the Island. From among the many who have either resided or been entertained here were the following: JAMES W. AUTEN.-Mr. Auten was born in Richmond, Staten Island, about 1815, and while attending the public school in his native village in 1831, made arrangements with the proprietors of The Shipping and Commercial List, of New York City, to enter their service. In time he became one of the proprietors of the paper, and from 1848 to 1877, Auten & Bourne was the firm name. In 1882, Mr. Auten revisited his birth-place, and under the caption of "What Fifty Years Have Done," wrote an interesting article, from which we quote: "I took a melancholy pleasure in viewing the old, familiar scenes of my youthful days. The house in which I was born, that in which I was brought up, the old play-grounds, the trees and running streams, the village churches and the old church-yard where "Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.' "But the point of greatest interest was the dear old District School House! There it stands now, just as it stood fifty years ago, when I first learned to spell and read. century previous, and But it was a difficult "I took my stand where I had stood half a tried to talk to the children there assembled. task. The old scenes and associations rushed before my vision and choked my utterance. The whole scene seemed like reading a bock of history, and as though the world was slipping from beneath my feet! "The friends of my early days are nearly all gone; parents and children, old and young, having been swept away by the hand of death, and of the whole population living there fifty years ago, I found less than a dozen surviving; young and old having gone to their long home. "I bade a final farewell to the few surviving friends of my childhood, turned my back on the old church-yard and said good-bye to the boys and girls who are fast growing up to take their places on the stage of this world's activities. I turned away sadly, knowing that I should see their faces no more!" COMMANDER TIMOTHY GREENE BENHAM.-Commander Timothy Greene Benham was born near New Haven, Connecticut, in 1796, and entered the Naval Academy at the age of twelve years. He graduated in 1810, and entered the service as a midshipman. Mr. Benham's first commission was issued on November 30, 1814. His voyages after that were numerous and important, and many of them were exceedingly dangerous. He was with Commodore Porter's squadron for the suppression of piracy in the West Indies, and in one of the battles he received a bullet in his leg, which he carried ever afterward. He also came near being the victim of a pirate's knife, which, in a hand-to-hand struggle, he succeeded in capturing. He married Miss Julia, daughter of Samuel Lockman, who belonged to one of the oldest families on the Island. When the Mexican war broke out, Lieutenant Benham was selected to superintend the landing of American troops on Mexican soil. The work was accomplished under the most dangerous and trying circumstances. He was always successful, however, and on several occasions he was complimented by superior officers and his services acknowledged by the Government. During that war he was given the command of the United States war schooner "Bonita," with which he gained the credit of the Navy Department for his gallant conduct at the bombardment of Vera Cruz and the Castle, Alvarado, Tampico and various other battles. Shortly after the close of the Mexican war, Lieutenant Benham paid a visit to his home. A reception was given him which is still pronounced to have been one of the greatest social events in the history of Staten Island. In the forenoon of the day in question, the little village of Richmond was the scene of a large concourse of people from all over the country. Distinguished naval and army officers, statesmen and citizens were present. The Court room of the "new Court House," as the present structure was then called, was densely packed, and hundreds were unable to gain an entrance. The occasion was the presentation to Lieutenant Benham of two massive silver pitchers and goblets, as a testimonial of the worth and esteem in which his neighbors held him. The family still retains these handsome relics, with much pride and satisfaction. From them we copy the following inscription: "Presented to Lt.-Commander Timothy Greene Benham, U. S. N., by his fellow-citizens of Richmond County, in token of their esteem for the distinguished services and nautical skill on board the war schooner‘Bonita,' during and subsequent to the attack on Vera Cruz, on March 24 and 25, 1847, and of the admiration of his deportment in private life. John S. Westervelt, James M. Cross, John T. Harrison, John C. Thompson, Committee." The presentation speech was made by Minthorne Tompkins, the manuscript of which is among the treasured relics of the Benham family. After the presentation ceremonies, hundreds of the assemblage repaired to the Benham mansion, where a royal banquet was held. In the course of time Lieutenant Benham was promoted to the rank of Commander, and continued, under every circumstance, to serve his country well. From long and arduous duties and exposures his health became impaired, and he rested in his splendid mansion at Green Ridge; but after a lapse of time his health was restored, and he was again ordered to duty as commandant of the Navy Rendezvous, in New York City. In 1855, the active officers comprising the memorable "Board of Fifteen," retired Commander Benham from the service which for a period of forty-one years had been his pride and devotion. Commander Benham died on June 17, 1860, and was buried beside old St. Andrew's Church, in Richmond. REAR ADMIRAL ANDREW ELLICOTT KENNEDY BENHAM.-Admiral Benham is the son of the late Commander Timothy Greene Benham. He was born on the Lake estate, below New Dorp, on April 10, 1832. He attended school at Richmond when a lad, and later, when his family had removed to Green Ridge, he had Mr. Boehm for his instructor. He was the first naval appointee from Staten Island, and entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, in 1847, and graduated in 1851. When a midshipman he assisted in the capture of a piratical junk, receiving a wound on the hand in the engagement. Having reached the rank of lieutenant, he was in active service during the Southern Rebellion. He participated in the battle of Port Royal, and was on blockade duty on a number of points along the Atlantic coast. With the rank of captain, he commanded the man-of-war "Richmond," which conveyed General Grant from China to his home in America, after retiring from the Presidency. While he was serving with the rank of commodore, he commanded the Light House Department on Staten Island for three years. Admiral Benham reached the rank of rear-admiral in 1890. His last active service was at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the Brazilian rebellion. It was his splendid courage and fine executive ability that put a stop to the insults and dangers that constantly faced the American merchantmen in that harbor. After all friendly endeavors had failed to accomplish this end, Admiral Benham ordered the decks cleared for action, and the Brazilian rebels quickly came to terms. Having reached the age limit in 1894, Admiral Benham retired from the service that year. During the war with Spain he was in the service of the Government at Washington, where he now resides. Admiral Benham married Miss Seaman, of Green Ridge. He has a son, Harry S. Benham, in active service in the Navy, who has reached the rank of lieutenant. REV. WILLIAM H. BOOLE, D. D.-Dr. Boole was a native of New York City. He studied law when a young man, immediately after leaving college, but its practice was distasteful to him. He soon gave it up and entered the ministry, and in 1856 was ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He always belonged to the New York Conference. He was pastor of a number of churches in New York, Brooklyn and Connecticut. During the war of the Rebellion he served as Chaplain of the Fortieth New York Volunteers, and always entered the battles with his men. His care for the wounded and the dying on the field and in the hospital, won for him the admiration and esteem of the rank and file of the old Army of the Potomac. Dr. Boole was always an enthusiastic temperance advocate, and was one of the founders of the Prohibition party. For years during the latter part of his life, his entire time was devoted to lecturing and evangelistic work. He was a business man of fine qualities. He was one of the founders of the camp meeting grounds at Ocean Grove, Old Orchard Beach. Sea Cliff and Prohibition Park. He was for two years Superintendent of the latter, and built the first residence there after it was decided to construct a park. Dr. Boole and his family resided for some time in the old Colonial building on the edge of the park, on the Watchogue road, and it was in this same old house that the kind persuasions of the Boole family led to the redemption of America's famous temperance orator. John G. Woolley. (For illustration, see Vol. I., p. 188.) HON. JAMES A. BRADLEY.-James A. Bradley was born at Rossville, Staten Island, on February 14, 1830, in the quaint old Colonial dwelling still standing on New York avenue, near the Shore road. His first school days were spent at Woodrow, under the supervision of the venerable Father Boehm. He then entered the Madison Street public school in New York City. At the age of twelve he went to work on the farm of William Davies, at Bloomfield, New Jersey. He remained there for a time, and then went to New York City to learn the trade of brush-maker. At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Bradley was foreman in the brush factory of Francis P. Fernald, in Pearl street, and in 1857, he went into business on his own account. He has been in business in the same building, at 251 Pearl street, forty years. Mr. Bradley, in 1871, purchased five hundred acres of land on the Atlantic shore, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The tract consisted of pine woods, briars and sand dunes. It was laid out with broad streets and many open spaces, and through the publicity given to the place by newspaper writers, it has become what is now known as Asbury Park, perhaps the best known and most popular seaside summer resort in the United States. Mr. Bradley was elected to the New Jersey State Senate, on the Republican ticket, in 1893, and served on several important committees. Asbury Park is his home. HON. ERASTUS BROOKS.-Mr. Brooks was born in Portland, Maine, January 31, 1815. Shortly before his birth his father, Captain James Brooks, who commanded a privateer during the War of 1812, had gone down with his vessel, leaving his wife and three children dependent for their support upon a Government pension. As a result of these straightened circumstances, Erastus, at the age of eight years, left his home for Boston with the object of earning his own living. He found a place in a grocery, and worked for his board and clothes, studying diligently the while, at a night school. Soon he entered a printing office and became a compositor, and with the money which he earned obtained enough education to enter Brown University. Here he pursued a partial course, at the same time supporting himself by working as a compositor. When he was eighteen, he started a paper, called The Yankee, after his father's brig, in Wiscasset, Maine, soon after which he purchased the Haverhill Gazette. In 1835, Mr. Brooks went to Washington and became a newspaper correspondent, which he continued for sixteen years. In 1840, he became associate editor of the New York Express, with his brother, James, and remained in this connection for forty-one years. In 1843, he traveled through Europe and was wrecked off Sandy Hook on his return. He published his paper almost alone during the cholera epidemic. He was for years a member of the executive committee of the Associated Press, and for a considerable time its general manager. Mr. Brooks was elected to the State Senate in 1853. Two years afterward he rendered his position prominent by a controversy with Archbishop Hughes, relative to the limits to be set to the acquisition of church property by the Roman Catholic church and the exemption of property from taxation, he holding that, as its title was vested in the priest, it should be taxed when it reached beyond a certain value. The controversy, first carried on through the columns of the Courier and Gazette, finally went into the State Senate, of which Mr. Brooks |