The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-20
OLD HOUSES RETIRING.
Mrs. John &. Green's Father-The Priuce OF
Aucffoueers.
From n, Ro~h,rer De,aocra, an, C,ronsci,.

Fop N, Ry-ls,tr Demoerat a,si r,ross-i,
New YORK, Jan. 1i.-Somc old houses have
this year retired from the field. few voars
ago the old tea importing house OF N. t. a e.
tiriswold was dissolved after successful Ca
r"cr OF moro than eighty years. II had gone
through two generations. and had reached emf
ncn'e Tor wealth and reputation, but the sur
yivors found the trndc SO cut up 10y competition
that II no longer afforded rcmuncratiVr profit
and therefore they retired on their capital. As
the name OF Mrs. John G. Green often comes
before The public a. a liberal patron Of bench
cont institutions. may add that All" is n daugh-
ter " the lntc George Griswoli. Of the above
mentioned house Her husband was Girls
Wuli clerk. but altrrward went to Canton and
made an immense fortune. He returned To- This
city few years ago, and since his death his
widow has shown remarkable dcgrr" " lib
the sunday school Union. She is really tho
most liberal Of womankind Of the present day.
connected with the Presbyterian Church. being
IN inc same CONGREGATION ~ which her fnth"r
W wi a lgading member; This Is the University
was also connected. II contains great amount
Of wcalth and is also noted for its contribu-
The II. L. A. Stuart refinery had succcsa-
iul run for more than sixty yours, and thus the
cent candy shop which Kinloch Stuart, opened
in Greenwich street hecamc the foundation Of
mn estate valued at s5.OOO.O0O. Il. l.. Stuart is
now ncnry three score and ten, and lives In
grand style in the Fifth avenue Though mar
ricd. he has no children. His brother. Alcxan-
der. who Is, still q bachelor. lives down town
near the old stand whore he was brought NJ.
that has oyer boon in the record Of New York
trnde; except John Jacob Aston. The latter
abandoned foreign commerce soon niter the
last war with Great Britain hut retained the flr
trade until 1870. At that time he was worth n
noz@n millions or more all Of which has been
Stunrts made more money out Of sugar than
any firm in the worlds history. and thcy have
used their money in n very JudIciOus form OF
bcnpVOloncp.
The old concern Of L. VI. Hoffman 4 Co. has
nj last ceased to exist II wns for nv venrs ono
commerce ot this city. and enjoyed patronage
OF highly mcrativ" character. Seventy years
have elapsed since Martin II Gilman opened an
auction store in whit was called Coffee House
slip tioot Of Wall street, and there gradually
built up n trad" which made him rich. This he
bepucathed 10 his two sons. Martin and Lind
ley. the latter having been named after the
grammarian The house steadily Increased
until II sold most ~ the teas and other groceries
which went under the hammer. Buth hrotirr-
served ~ criors but Lndlcy Murray Hoffman
had. in this rcspect. no equal in the world. He
WIS small man Of easy manners ana winning
rountenuncr very elegant in his gestures and
with rich. melodious voice. A loa sale was
his special sphere of success. A. such "A time
his audience would include the iohbing grorers
OF TINS city. with muny from Boston and
other marts and the rivalry of bids was such
Holman ranged thecruwd with careful sur
Nry that noted every purchaser. and his rapid
despatch enabled him 10 dispose of lO.OOO pack
ages Of tea ~ sale. II was said by gentleman
81 some tnst" that he would rather see Lind
ley NJ Holman sell a cargo OF tea than TO see
inc best opera over performed in this city,
Seventeen years have elapsed since the prince
OF auctionccrs was removed 10y death. and IN"
n,.st memorial To he found II his portrait ia the
Mercantile Library. 1t is full lcn-th. 10y FL
mott ana Is So natural that one almost rxpe,fs
To near the sweet. p"rSuasiN" VOICE" GENTLE
men. We VIII proceed To- soil you the teas g..
The auction business gradually declined after
Holman death. hut the house continued un-
al TT last il reached IN" third generation. The
NlciSSitudcs. or rather COMMISSIONS Of trade
during the past sixteen years have broken up
the old system, and the grand auction business
T. ~ NOR. The lst uf January. 1873 SAW the
HOFFMAN house pass out Of oNisienco, and what
ever trade Il may control guts To another firm.
William q. Holman is the last oi the line If
once famous aurionerrS.