Chapter XVI

In the preceding chapter, I alluded to the celebrated Misses Fowle of Watertown, and stated, that one of them married Mr. Britton of New Hampshire, and that she was mother to Lloyd L. Britton, the present proprietor of the Everett House in this city. Few are aware that young Mr. Britton has had one of the most extraordinary of mercantile careers. His mother's sister, Mrs. Welles of Paris persuaded her to send young Britton abroad. He remained in Europe some time. On his return to New York city he entered the counting house of Fitch & Co., already spoken of. While there in 1838 Mr. Samuel Welles came out from Paris. Wishing to see his nephew John Turner Welles Sargent of Boston, established in business as his other nephew Henry W. Sargent had been, and to see the nephew of his wife established also, he consented to the establishment of the partnership of "Scoville & Britton." One nephew being the general and the other the special partner. The senior partner was Joseph A. Scoville, who had been regularly educated in a counting-house. Mr. Welles Sargent remained in Boston, Mr. Scoville in New York, and Mr. Britton went abroad. He visited every port and city of note in Europe, and made business connections for the New York house. Its bankers in London were Prescott, Grote, Ames & Co., and in Paris, Welles & Qo. The business that was done by the New York house was immense. William Gracie, who in early years was the "Son" in the great house of "Archibald Gracie & Son" in 1808, was their bondsman at the Custom House. Business poured in from every quarter. They had been conversant with the negotiation made by the Hon. Edmund Roberts, a merchant and a personal friend of General Jackson, who, when he was President of the United States, sent out Mr. Roberts to make treaties for this country with Japan, Muscat and Siam. He succeded in the two latter countries, and shortly after died. His papers were in the possession of his son-in-law, the Hon. Amasa J. Parker of this State. "Scoville & Britton had access to all the knowledge of the Arabian traffic possessed by Mr. Roberts. They opened a trade with Muscat, first building a barque, they named her the "Archibald Gracie," after the old merchant who had educated Mr. Scoville, loaded and sent her out to Zanzibar, and also to Muscat. In the counting house of Scoville & Britton were several persons who afterwards distinguished themselves. John C. Loescher, Henry P. Marshall, Andrew Nottebohm, Richard S. Ely, Edward Stucken, (afterwards of the firm of Meyer & Stucken,) Peter S. Parker, Edgar Botsford and Walter P. Marshall.

Mr. Van Buren, who was President, appointed Mr. Marshall a consul at. Muscat, and Mr. P. S. Parker a consul to Bombay. The latter with Mr. Edgar Bottsford, went out in the barque "Archibald Gracie."

Scoville & Britton also owned the ship "William Broyvn," the ship "Virginia," and the brig "Wyoming."

Misfortunes never come single. The ship "William Brown," struck an iceberg, on her voyage from Liverpool to New York, and sank in half an hour, with many passengers. Scoville & Britton never received a dollar of insurance. The "Virginia" was lost on the bar at Galveston. In a week more she would have had a freight of $13,000 to Liverpool!

The brig "Wyoming" was captured off the Cape de Verd Islands by the British brig of War "Buzzard" under the frivolous charge that she was suspected of being about to engage in the slave trade. Meanwhile, the barque "Archibald Gracie" was on the other side of the Cape of Good Hope with $250,000 on board, when the adverse circumstances already alluded to, rendered it of importance that she should be here. Her funds were needed. The barque came in at last, and loaded with a valuable cargo—but too late. The house that had not made a bad debt, or a loss except as stated, had been obliged to suspend. Not long after came another ship to their consignment loaded with a valuable cargo. This was the Arab ship sent over by the Sultan of Muscat, and consigned to Scoville & Britton. Of course, this first fruit of their energy and enterprize was reaped by others. The forced sale of the barque "Archibald Gracie," afterwards ended their mercantile career. Not long after Mr. Scoville went to Holland. Mr. J. Turner Welles Sargent was wealthy. Mr. Britton went into business again. He afterwards married Miss Mary A. Ming, a daughter of Alexander Ming of this city, a man of great worth and an old Knickerbocker. Mr. Britton went to Albany, established the Stanwix Hall, and became wealthy. He has for some years owned the "Everett House" in this city. He has two children—a son, Edward Ming Britton, now sixteen, and a daughter Ada L. Britton now about fourteen.

The senior partner, Mr. Scoville, married a Miss Caroline Schaub, of St. Johns Berkley, S. C. He has but one child, a daughter, Mary. He was private secretary to John C. Calhoun until the great statesman died in 1850. He once owned the "Pick," and afterwards the "Daily State Register." He went to South Carolina in 1857, and there was a report that he died there, but I have the very best reasons for believing that it was not true.

It will be impossible for me to please all. Some will find fault with this personal historical book, because it goes too earnestly into details, while others will not be satisfied, unless I tell the whole story—all I know. Others will say, that they know more than I do about a particular merchant. I grant it, and will merely add that I write about thousands, and they think of but one.

There are few persons living in New York who have not heard the name of Gebhard. There is a firm of Suchard & Gebhard. There is also a Gebhard Insurance Company.

Old Frederick Gebhard came from Amsterdam, in Holland, to New York in 1800. He acted at first as agent for a Dutch house, but after a while commenced business upon his own account. For many years the old man Gebhard lived on the corner of Greenwich and Rector streets. It was an old fashioned house, with a low stoop. Mr. Gebhard had his office on the first floor, and lived up stairs, as was the custom of many of our first families thirty or forty years ago. He kept in Greenwich street until 1832, when he moved to 21 Nassau street. Gebhard was the first importer of the celebrated Swan gin. He formed a connection in Amsterdam with the great gin distillers, Meder & Zoon.

When Mr. Gebhard left the agency business, he formed a partnership with his brother in Amsterdam, where the firm was Gebhard & Co. That house is still in existence. The firm in New York was Frederick Gebhard until 1822, when his nephew Frederick Suchard was taken into partnership, and then the firm was altered to F. Gebhard & Co.

In 1835 Mr. Gebhard died. The business was carried on afterward under the firm of Suchard, Favre and Co. Mr. F. had married a daughter of old Mr. Gebhard. The Company was the Amsterdam Gebhard.

When the son of old Mr. Gebhard (Fred. Gebhard) was of age, he became one of the firm, and it was again changed to Suchard & Gebhard. This was in 1845. At that time, besides the gin trade, S. & G. did a very large silk business. They also did a large fur trade. They imported furs and also bought them and shipped to Europe. In addition, they were large importers of German and other hardware. Their principal business now is banking and operating in railroad stocks. They do the largest Dutch banking business in New York, and their bills on Holland sell higher than those of any other house. They still occupy No. 21 Nassau street. The old building cost Mr. Gebhard $18,000. The present firm put up a double building in connection with Wm. Bloodgood. It covers Nos. 19 and 21, and is worth $200,000.

Mr. Suchard married Miss Remsen, who had a large property. He is worth $800,000 at least. Young Gebhard is one of the smartest business men in New York. He is highly educated, and a very gentlemanly man. He married a daughter of Thomas E. Davies, who although not a merchant, is one of the cleverest men in New York city. Mr. Davies is an Englishman. He married a sister of the very Rev. Doctor Powers, of the Catholic Church, now deceased. She had a brother who came to this country to pick up an heiress. He suce suceeded, and married Miss Livingston. He went back to Ireland, and Lis money procured him a seat in the English House of Commons.

When Thomas E. Davies came from England, he settled in New Brunswick, New Jersey. There he was engaged in the distillery business, but did not make out very well. In 1830 he removed to the City of New York. Being a cool, shrewd, far-seeing man, he soon made up his mind that the city was destined in thirty years to reach the brilliant destiny and the high prices of real estate in 1860. He acted upon his opinion, and began to purchase real estate in large quantities. He was a man of more brains than means, but found an equivalent in the latter deficiency by making the acquaintance of the celebrated J. L. & S. Josephs, then the rich bankers and agents of the Rothschilds. Under their auspices, Mr. Davies went to work in the land speculation in St. Mark's Place. He bought and he built up all of that street. He next tried Bleecker street, and built up Carroll Place. His grand coup came next in the New Brighton Association, got up under his plans. That company purchased all the land from Quarantine, two miles back, and running up to the Sailor's Snug Harbor two miles. In 1836, the company got a loan from the United States Bank of $479,000. They erected buildings, hotels, &c., &c.

Will it be believed that all this property, now worth five millions, was sold under foreclosure, and bought in by Thomas E. Davies, the late George Griffin, Francis B. Cutting, and George Griswold, who formed a copartnership, and (lucky fellows) bought it all in for $200,000?

As a sample of the energetic character of Mr. Davies, let me say this: In 1837, when the great revulsion came, he found himself carrying an enormous amount of real estate. He promptly sacrificed one and a half million of dollars to get through, and he succeeded.

In 1840, there was a large sale of real estate at auction. The ground to be sold commenced at Twentieth street, and extended up to Murray Hill, on both sides of the Fifth avenue. Davies purchased, in connection with Frank Griffin, (old George's son) over 400 lots at $200 to $400 each. Mr. Davies has since sold some of those lots at $15,000 each.

He built up a whole block in Fifth avenue, between Thirty-first and Thirty-second streets.

He bought Nos. 82 and 84 Nassau street, the old Baptist Church, of Sarsaparilla Townsend, for a trifle, $80,000, and it is now worth nearly half a million.

To-day, as real estate owners, Astor is No. 1, A. T. Stewart is No. 2, and Davies is No. 3.

He is worth a few millions. Mr. Davies lives in Union Square, next to Seventeenth street. He gives good dinners, receives in magnificent style, and his house is visited by all the great foreigners that come to New York City.

But to return to his son-in-law Gebhard. The old Gebhard was a genuine Dutch school merchant. He had regular packets trading between Amsterdam and New York. His "Swan" gin was regarded by the grocers and dealers as the best in the market for many years. In 1836, Gebhard imported 4,000 pipes. No such importation was ever reached by any one gin importer.

Mr. Gebhard's store for many years was the only one upon that side of Nassau street.