Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-02-17

ficiency and its present eminence. What
Mr.. Sheffield gave in furnishing and fitting
this building amounted to more than one
hundred thousand dollars But the sum to-
tai of his benefactions to educational institu
tons alone amount to more than six hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. Other benefac-
tions in addition to those already named we're
large and generous donations to the Berkeley
Divinity school in Middletown to Trinity
College in Hartford and to the Theological
Seminary of the Northwest in Chicago, his es-
tablishment of the Parish Home in connection
with Trinity church in New Haven, at a cost
of $75, 900, and the generous contributions to
great number of public institutions of var
ious kinds in New Haven and elsewhere.
Mr.. Sheffield S nobility of character enlist
ed him, as we have seen, into many grand
acts of benevolence and philanthropy. He
was a friend also of the poor and needy,
quick to respond to demands upon his purse
in private charities. He was an unosten-
tatious man and gave quietly, and was averse
to having his good deeds made public, pre-
ferring the position of the quiet almoner of
the wealth which, under Providence he had
been able to acquire. When hard times
pressed the country and men were idle every
where in the city, he caused the erection of
large and substantial blocks of buildings,
thereby furnishing means of subsistence to
many who were thereby greatly benefited.
versally in the esteem of his fellow citizens
of all classes and degree. At his bedside dur
ing his last hours all of his six children were
present, as was also Mrs Sheffield. Until
within two hours of his death he was per-
fectly conscious, calling each one of them by
name. The children present were: Mrs.
General Van Buren,, Mrs w. Walter Phelps,
Mrs W. j. Boardman, Mrs John A. Porter,
George St. John Sheffield, Charles J. Shelf
field and his wife.
The funeral will be Saturday afternoon at
O'Clock.
President Porter, of Yale College, in a
tribute to the deceased, refers to Mr.. Shelf
fields relation to the Sheffield Scciestifc
School. Mr.. Shefield's attention was first
called to the necessities and Importance of
the school by the circumstance that one of
its professors, Professor John A. Porter, a
man of great promise and varied culture, was
member of his family. Professor Porter
died in 1866, but Mr.. Sheffields interest in
the school was maintained with increasing
force till the end of his own life. His bene-
factions to the Sheffield school amounted to
over half million dollars. The article fur
Their says:
stIt was with unfeigned reluctance, and
only after long hesitation, that he consented
that his name should be connected with the
institution of which he had been patron and
almost founder.
CAN this was eminently characteristic of
the man. Upright and honorable in all his
dealing with his fellow men, he was sensitive
to an extreme in regard to anything which
would bring him conspicuously before the
public, and almost morbidly excited when
ever his honor might seem to be called In
question He never asked the confidence of
his fellow citizens without feeling certain
that he deserved it, and in this assurance he
was content to abide the issue of events
whenever time was required for the vindica-
ton of his Judgment. For long period of
years he carried almost alone burden of
responsibilities which one undertakes as we'll
with view to the welfare of the city as for
his own personal emolument. During this
time be stood fast in the consciousness of his
integrity and public spirit, his principal So
icitude being that his friends should not
suffer in their interests by having followed
his advice.
Gas a Christian believer he was deyoQt and
sincere, positive and earnest, ever ready to
help every cause of Christian benevolence,
and ever cheerful in responding to the mum
berless calls which were made upon his lib
crafty for Christian and religious objects.
1t will be long before we shall look upon his
like again.
To his neighbors and friends he was the
soul of courtesy, giving his information
most freely whenever it was wanted or de-
sired, and delighting in the kind wishes and
friendly Offices which they found it not al
ways easy to express. He was wonderful
man for his years. At the advanced age of
88 he was erect, courtly, sensitive, kind
and self respecting, with scarcely a touch of
age in his features and bearing, and to the
very end man of wonderful indiyid uality
and force.
Z Those who knew Mr.. Sheffield most init
mately hsnored and loved him most sincerely.
It was not easy to make his acquaintance or
to be admitted to his confidence. But there
are those in this community who can testify
from a frank and unreserved, though not,
perhaps, a frequent intercourse of years, that
he was rare man for the nobleness of his
aspirations the integrity of his character,
the tenderness of his affections, the courtesy
of his manners and the nobleness of his
deeds.a
He was so happy towards the end of his
life as to be relieved of his chief RESPONSE
bilities in this.direction, and he doubtless well
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