THE OLD MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK CITY
        Second  Series

By  Walter Barrett, Clerk
     1863

     MERCHANT  DESCRIPTIONS

       CHAPTER  37


ISAAC  CLASON

I have never mentioned the name of a prominent old merchant, even
incidentally or accidentally, without intending to give, sooner or later, a
full sketch of him. In the first series I mentioned among the wealthy
contributors to the loan of 1814, Isaac Clason, who loaned to Government
$500,000. I have intended to give a complete history of this once eminent
merchant. A man who could loan this sum, fifty years ago, was a great
merchant, for $100,000 was a greater sum then than a million is now. On one
occasion Mr. Clason wished to get a large loan ($200,000, I believe,) in
specie, from the Manhattan Bank, to send out in the ship "Francis
Henrietta", which he was fitting out to China, without an endorser. To
obtain it, he swore he was worth $750,000. Originally he was a grocer, and
kept his store, "Flour and Grocery," at 14 Albany pier, as early as 1789.
His dwelling was in Smith (William) street. He had a clerk named John Duffie
at one time.

SAMUEL  TOOKER

The latter had a clerk named Samuel Tooker. The last started in business on
his own account as early as 1798, at 13 Coenties slip, in the very store
formerly occupied by Isaac Clason, who moved to No. 51 Broadway. Samuel
Tooker did an immense business, and had several clerks. One was Ralph Mead;
another was Benjamin Mead. Mr. Tooker lived at No.3 Bridge street in an old
two-story wooden house, that belonged to Peter Kemble. He afterwards bought
a lot and built a fine house at No. 5 Bridge, next door to the house he had
in 1802, and first occupied. He occupied the store at 13 Coenties slip until
1816, when he moved to 20 South street.

In 1806 he took in as a partner Benjamin Mead, and the firm was S.Tooker &
Co. That house went largely into the privateer business in 1812, as did many
other houses of that day. One vessel that he fitted out had a singular
career, and I will give a detailed account of her to show how the business
was done at the time. Mr. Tooker fitted out a brig called the "Arrow" with
fourteen guns. He selected for her commander Captain Conkling, a favorite
captain, who had been in the East India trade. The stock was $65,000. The
shares were $1,000 each. As soon as it was known that Conkling had charge,
they were all taken, for it was known that Captain Conkling's East Indiaman
had been captured by the British, and that in the "Arrow" he would do all in
his power to injure British commerce and property.

The supercargo or purser was to be William Bogardus, who had been a clerk
with Mr. Duffie, but had started on his own account in 1800, as a salt
merchant, and after a few years failed, in 1808. Mr. Tooker determined to
give him a start and chance. Mr. Tooker was the agent who got up the
privateer, and if she succeeded would have the selling of her prizes, thus
earning large commissions, besides owning the principal shares. Everything
looked bright for the privateer "Arrow." She eventually was destined to hit
the mark. Just as she was ready to sail, a United States vessel of war
discharged her crew. One hundred and twenty of them went at once on board of
the "Arrow," that bid fair to do well. Of course the harbor was blockaded
closely; but one dark night the "Arrow" and her gallant captain and brave
crew, sailed. Two other privateers left the same night, one named the
"Whig." and the other the "Warrior." They returned successful, after some
weeks, but the "Arrow" was never heard of from that day until this. Of
course she was a total loss. No insurance.

Mr. Tooker was from Newberg. He had no children. He adopted Ellen, a
daughter of Henry Laverty, by his first wife. He and Laverty married two
sisters named Smith. She always went by the name of Ellen Tooker. She
married Joseph Hudson, one of the old importing firm so well known to old
New Yorkers as J. & D. Hudson. I think she had two children, a son who
married Miss Johnson, and a daughter that married my friend Henry Robinson,
a son of Morris Robinson, the famous cashier of the Bank of the United
States. His sister, by the way, married Alexander Slidell, brother of the
famous John Slidell, now rebel minister in France, and son of good old
Knickerbocker John Slidell, president of Mechanics' Bank. Mr. Tooker was a
great old merchant in his day. He died about 1820. His partner, Benjamin
Mead, carried on the firm of S. Tooker & Co. until the law compelled its
change in 1834, at 20 South street. Afterwards the same house was kept up,
and he took into the concern Mr. Rogers, who had been a clerk in the house,
and its style was Mead, Rogers & Co. The company was Seelah Reeves, a nephew
of old Samuel Tooker. They kept in South street, No. 20, until 1842, when
they moved to 61 Water street. The house ceased in 1854.

The old Benjamin Mead had retired some years before, and this Mead of the
house was his son Joseph S., now in Chicago. Old Samuel Tooker the founder,
in religion was an Universalist. He was the head of the church. Isaac
Pierson was another leader of the church. After 1815 Mr. Tooker was the
financier in renting ground, corner of Duane and Augustus streets, now City
Hall Place, where he erected a brick building for a Universalist church, at
a cost of about $20,000. In 1837 this church was sold out to the West
Baptist Church, and subsequently to the Roman Catholic Church. In 1820, S.
Tooker was alderman of First Ward.

THE  MEAD  FAMILY

Benjamin Mead, the partner of S. Tooker, was a splendid man. He died in
1860. There had not been a death in his or his father's family before for 62
years, and then it was his elder brother, who died in 1798. These Meads are
all from Greenwich Ct., once known as Horse Neck, and made so memorable and
so named from Gen. Israel Putnam, who in the early years of the Revolution,
rode down the height closely pursued to its brink by British soldiers. The
father of Benjamin, Ralph, and Staats M. Mead, was Edmund Mead. He was an
only son of a wealthy farmer, who married a highly respectable lady, named
Theodosia Mead of the same name. The first Meads that came from England
settled in Greenwich. Edmund and Theodosia Mead had ten children, all in the
eighteenth century, seven of whom were living in 1860, and whose aggregate
ages at that time exceeded 500 years. Their names were Benjamin, born April
24, 1780; Sarah, born Aug. 22, 1782; Obediah, born March 10, 1785; Mary,
born June 1, 1787; Ralph, born April 24, 1789; Staats M., born April 28,
1791; Brockhurst, born Aug. 8, 1797.

Edmund Mead, the father, by his extravagant tastes and habits, made
shipwreck of himself and property, and his wife with her large family
returned to her father's house, where they were cared for until old enough
to do for themselves. Five sons came to New York. The sixth was left at the
farm and homestead on the death of his grandfather. The eldest died as I
have stated, shortly after he came to the city, in 1798, of yellow fever.
His name was Solomon, and he was a clerk of Joseph Eden, a merchant of this
city. Benjamin and his brother Ralph, who was only fourteen years old, went
as clerks with Samuel Tooker, who always prophesied that the Meads would
have a brilliant success. Benjamin, who became his partner, retired about
1847, and built a country seat.

He died in 1860, leaving six children and a large number of grandchildren.
He died Dec. 10, while attending a Union prayer-meeting, in Newark, N.J.,
aged 81. He was a Methodist, and worshipped in the old John street church
forty years ago, and "Father Mead" will long be remembered by those
chiristians, as the meek and quiet man who was prompt as punctual in his
devotions, and so continued to the close of his life. When he died, he was
in company with his wife, of whom I shall have something romantic to say
before I have finished. He was taken to the residence of his son-in-law, Dr.
Annin, when it was found that he was quite dead.

Ralph, the next brother, who was born in 1789, went into the store of old
Samuel Tooker, when he was fourteen years old, in 1803, with his brother
Ben. Staats M., a third brother, came to the city two years later, and went
to learn the trade of cabinet making with Jacob B. Taylor, who started
cabinet making business at No. 94 Broad street in 1804. Mr. Taylor was
Alderman of the Eighth Ward from 1817 to 1826. He was the father of the
celebrated merchant, Moses Taylor. Old Alderman Taylor was a sort of chief
business man for John Jacob Astor. Staats M. Mead made a magnificent fortune
in the cabinet making business, and retired rich, built a splendid house on
Fifth avenue, afterwards resided in Europe, where he had been enjoying
himself for the past two years. He died a few days ago. He left one son and
two daughters. The son is a Methodist clergyman. The eldest daughter married
Amos Mead Sackett, of the house of Sackett, Belcher & Co. The youngest
daughter married William Belcher, of the same house.

Ralph Mead clerked it with S. Tooker seven year, until he had thoroughly
learned the business, and then, in 1810, left him to go in business on his
own account. His capital was this thorough mercantile experience, and what
he had saved out of his small salary. This is, by the way, the best capital
for a young merchant to possess, when he commences in this city. Mr. Mead
took the store No. 74 Pearl street, corner of Coenties slip; one of those
old Dutch buildings (to which I have so frequently alluded) with the gable
end to the street. At that time it was 129 years old, for the date on the
house was 1691. October 22, 1813, a few years after he had started into
business, he married Miss Sarah Holmes, of West Bloomfield, New Jersey. It
was then called Cranetown. She was born there in 1792. Her father was
William Holmes, and her mother Abigail was a daughter of Matthias Crane,
from whom the place derived its original name.

Old Matthias Crane and his wife were both members of the old Presbyterian
Church. He was a merchant, did a large business, and had but one child. She
was very beautiful, and, of course, had many offers for her hand, and there
were many applications for the situation of son-in-law to her father. Her
father had in his store, as a clerk, a dashing young fellow named William
Holmes, a young emigrant from Ireland. His industry and honesty won the
respect of her father. His gentlemanly manners won the affections of the
daughter. He called one evening at her father's house, to have the matter
settled in the prompt way that Irishmen usually prefer, when he found
several rival suitors there, all of whom were candidates for the hand of the
unquestioned belle of the place. He sat awhile, joining in social
interchange with his rivals, and then he made up his mind that something had
got to be done, and likewise concluded to do it immediately.

"Miss Abigail, will you get me a small piece of the cake you made
yesterday?" "Certainly, Mr. Holmes;" and she went out into the hall. He
followed her. "Abigail, I love you; will you marry me if I get the consent
of your father." "I will, William."

The cake was forgotten, or postponed until the wedding. She married the
young Irishman before she was sixteen, lived with him sixteen years more as
his wife, and died at thirty-two, leaving several daughters. Sarah, who
married Ralph Mead, was at the time her mother died, only seven years old.
And now I am going to tell one of those curious facts, that if told in a
romance, would be regarded as proper subjects for fiction.

The eldest daughter of the successful Wm. Holmes was named Eliza. She was
courted, and married Benjamin Mead, the eldest brother, and partner of
Samuel Tooker & Co. Of course she moved to New York city, and they went to
housekeeping. Sarah, who was a beautiful girl, with dark eyes and expressive
forehead, went to visit her sister. She was fond of dress, and loved to
array herself in a style that set off to advantage her handsome features and
graceful form. There she met Ralph Mead, and in 1813, at the age of
twenty-one, became his wife, and went to housekeeping with him over his
store, at 74 Coenties slip, in which neighborhood, with the exception of
brief intervals, he kept it fifty-seven years. Her younger sister Lydia
afterwards married Staats M. Mead, the third brother, making three brothers
husbands of three sisters.

These three families resided in the same locality. Staats M. and his young
wife at No. 2 Coenties slip, in 1816, where he commenced business: Ralph at
his place, and Ben, at 12 Monroe street here he resided. Not an evening
passed that they did not spend in each other's society. This was broken up
in 1820 by the death of the youngest of the sisters. Mrs. Staats M. Mead.
All of these sisters were among "those women whose children arise and call
them blessed, and their husbands trust and praise them."

During the war of 1812, Ralph Mead, then doing a large business, served two
years in the military defence of his country. He belonged to the second
Regiment of New York State Artillery. The entire regiment volunteered for
the war, and it was stationed at the Battery Fort, now called Castle Garden.
During the continuation of the war with England, speculation ran very high.
The price of everything ran up. Sugar was forty cents per pound by the
quantity. Molasses, $2 per gallon. Hyson skin tea, $3 per lb., and other
qualities of tea in proportion. Indigo was $6 per lb. Nutmegs, $12 per lb.,
by the case. Things continued at these high prices until the arrival of a
Russian sloop of war, "Bramble," with the offer to mediate. Although it did
not amount to anything, it had the same effect upon the market as if peace
had been declared. Every article fell at once, and at least one half of the
merchants of the city failed, and many of those who failed had previously
been very wealthy. The banks got alarmed, as they would not discount for any
one, but gave the merchants until 5 o'clock P.M. to pay their notes, instead
of 3, as was the usual custom. If peace had happened at once, it would not
have distressed the merchants so much. Peace took place about six months
after the time to which I allude, and many kinds of goods advanced instead
of falling, the demand was so great, and there were so few goods in market.

These were days that tried merchants' souls. When banks refused to aid their
customers, and would hardly discount the best of paper, and there were then
only eight banks in the city: Bank of New York, Manhattan, Merchants',
Union, Bank of America, City, and New York Manufacturing Company (Phoenix.)
Money was very scarce and some of the leading merchants would act in a
family manner with their customers. Ralph Mead was doing business in a small
way, on the corner of the slip. He needed money, and went to Jonathan
Goodhue, and said to him: "Mr. Goodhue, I wish to borrow your note for
$2,000, for sixty days." Mr. Goodhue knew Mr. Mead, felt that he could trust
him, and at once drew his note for that sum, and gave it to the young
merchant.

Fifty years ago, and even at a later period, it was customary for the old
wholesale grocer merchants to club together, and purchase whole cargoes of
sugar, rum, brandy, coffee, &c., and then divide them up. On one occasion, a
Dutch house in the city had received a cargo of gin. When it was landed from
the vessel, the old importer fixed his price for the article. He lived out
of town, a little above where the City Hall now stands. It was under custom
house lock and key, and the shippers abroad had limited it at a price above
the current market rates. Still, some of the grocers constantly called to
ask the dutch consignee, if he was ready to sell his gin. He would say,
"when the market prices reach the price at which I am limited, I will then
be ready to sell."

By the arrival of a packet ship, that came into port during the night,
information was received that gin had advanced very materially in the
European markets. As this news reached the grocers, they at once conceived
the idea of buying the gin of the Dutch importer before he received his
advices. As I have said, he lived out of town. They all tried to intercept
him on his way down, but missed him. Each made his way to the counting house
of the old Dutch importer, which was in Coenties slip, and there he found
congregated all his associate neighbors, the grocers. An exchange of glances
was sufficient for a mutual understanding between the parties, mum being
implied, and a division of the spoils understood. The Dutch importer and gin
owner soon made his appearance, when the usual question was propounded to
him, to which he replied as usual, that when the market prices reached his
limits, he would sell the cargo. The grocers, finding him still in the dark
respecting the advance in the article abroad, labored hard to purchase the
gin at sixpence a gallon less than his limit. Not succeeding, they agreed to
adjourn without purchasing, each however, with the intent, as it afterwards
appeared, of getting rid of his brother grocers, that he might privately
return and secure the cargo for his own account. With this view, the parties
left, each taking a different route; but after the lapse of a few minutes,
they re-appeared in rapid succession in the office of the gin importer,
neither having had the chance to buy ahead of his neighbor. They then
selected one of their number to purchase the gin at the price demanded by
the owner, leaving him to discover the rise at his leisure. They made a
splendid profit by the operation. Ralph Mead was always very popular among
the grocers. He remained a few years in the corner of Pearl street and
Coenties slip, living over the store, according to the old Dutch fashion
years ago, when real and domestic comfort and happiness stood in place of
the fashionable frivolities of the present age. While in that store, April
18, 1818, he lost his eldest son, whom he had named after his old and much
respected employer, Samuel  Tooker.

In 1822 he bought the old stand 13 Coenties slip, where he had served seven
years' clerkship with Mr. Tooker, and then he removed his family to a snug
little house at 27 Stone street. He prospered and made money. His business
increased, and he bought the store next door to 13 Coenties slip. After
taking down the old buildings he erected a large and substantial store on
the same ground. At different periods he took into partnership his two
brothers-in-law Holmes.  In 1813 he took in Hugh Holmes, and the firm was
Mead & Holmes. This was only for a year or so. In 1815, when he formed the
firm of Ralph Mead & Co., he took in Israel C. Holmes. He remained some time
in the firm, but is now a Presbyterian clergyman out West.

Ralph Mead had in his employ at different times as clerk, and afterwards
took into the firm, his nephews, young men of good business talents and
habits, also his son and son-in-law.

In 1827 he purchased a residence at No. 45 Pearl street, near the Battery.
Both he and his charming wife joined the John street Methodist Church, soon
after the loss of their eldest child in 1818. In 1834 he went up town with
the emigration that commenced about that time, into No. 254 Fourth street,
opposite Washington square. That was a long way to go to church every Sunday
in John street; so several of them got together, to see if they could not
get up a Methodist Church, with family pews, "up town." They succeeded and
erected the Mulberry street Methodist Church, and old Dr. Bangs dedicated
the church. The John street folks were terribly down upon the arrangement,
and they prophesied that it would not prosper, and that never a revival
would occur in the new concern. This did not prove so. The  Rev. Robert
Seeny was their clergyman, and shortly after a revival occurred that
furnished the new church four hundred converts. Daniel Drew and Ralph Mead
were the leading men in this business, and are now. There would have been no
embarrassment in the finances of the new church if they had sold the pews,
instead of renting them. But for the liberality of Mr. Mead and Mr. Drew,
the prophecies of the opposition to the Mulberry street Church would have
become true. They annoyed Mr. Mead so, that on one occasion he took Bishop
Emory to survey the new church. When he had examined the superb pews, and
the finished mahogany pulpit, the Bishop said: "It is beautiful, it is just
what the Lord has made and man has polished."

In 1838, while Mr. Mead was residing in the Fourth Street house, he
purchased lots on Second Avenue, a healthy and pleasant location, and there
he built a fine house, in which he resided for twenty years. There, too, he
sustained a heavy loss, in the death of the lovely woman he had married 30
years previous, and who had shared his cares and prosperity. She died
October 5, 1842, leaving six children, two sons, and four daughters.

The eldest son is Samuel Holmes Mead. He married a daughter of F.T. Luqueer,
who once did a large hardware business in Hanover Square. They are
traveling in Europe. Melville Emory Mead, who was named after the Bishop
that praised the pulpit in the new church, is one of the firm of E.& R. Mead
& Co., at No. 13 Coenties slip, where the old business has been so long
conducted. He married Elizabeth B. Hyde, a daughter of Joseph B. Hyde of
Auburn. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Edwin Hyde, who is a partner
in the above firm. They have nine sons. He and I had an exciting night of it
together about twenty-seven years ago, when we were neighbors in Exchange
place, and were saving goods out of the great fire of 1835. He was with
David N. Lord, whose store was blown up at No. 50 Exchange place, a capital
old merchant by the way; and I was factotum for Rogers & Co., No. 46
Exchange place; heavy East India house.

Another daughter married Nathan J. Bailey, formerly of the large grocery
house of Hoffman & Bailey. They have three daughters. Harriet, another
daughter, married Philip A., the only son of James Harper, by his first
wife, who was a daughter of Philip J. Arcularius, who lived in a house that
stood at No. 11 Frankfort street, upon the very lot where the Leader
building is now located. This daughter left one son, a fine lad now of
twelve, and a grandson of the old mayor, who always called me colonel. The
mother of the lad is dead. Caroline, another daughter, married the Rev.
Archibald C. Foss, now Professor of Middleton college. On October 21, 1846,
Mr. Ralph Mead married Ann E. Van Wyck, a daughter of Gen. Abraham Van Wyck,
of Fishkill, with whom he lived fifteen years. This lady died September 18,
1860.

This venerable old merchant remained in business at Nos. 13 and 15 Coenties
slip, until he retired from mercantile life in the year 1859, having done
business in one spot for nearly 49 years, leaving it to be continued by his
nephews, his son Melville, and son-in-law Edwin Hyde, under the firm of E. &
R. Mead & Co.

In November, 1859, Mr. Mead purchased the elegant house No. 29 West
Thirty-fourth street, where this venerable patriarch now resides with his
eldest daughter, enjoying a hale and happy old age, the result of a well
spent and well regulated life, in the society of a numerous and loving
circle of grandchildren. His brother Brockholst is an aged bachelor in the
vicinity. He once was a clerk in the City Bank. In the year 1857, the
Mulberry street M.E. church was sold, the congregation removing to Eighth
Avenue and 22d street, where they erected, through the influence and
perseverance of Messrs. Mead & Drew a beautiful white marble church, one of
the finest in the city.







Source:  The Old Merchants of New York City
Author:  Walter Barrett, Clerk           Second series
Publisher:  Carleton, Publisher, 413 Broadway
Entered according to the Act of Congress 1863
             _____________________________________

    Researched, Prepared and Contributed by Miriam Medina
                  For the Brooklyn Information Page

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