New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-26
AN OLD TIME NEw-YORKER.
DAVID oUACKINBUsa's "REMINISCENCES.

DAVID QUACKINBUsa'S "REMINISCENCES
cy.xovs THAT THE GREENwIcH-sT DRUGGIST SAW
REFUSING TO RIDE ON THE ELEVATED.
Ben.amin Quaclxinbush whose dcath was re-
corded in THE TRIBUNE yesterday, and who was
probably tho Oldest druggist in this city, was
one of these old-timers who saw the metropolis
grow from struggling city Of separate Villages
to its present proportions and whose lives wer
identified with the changes that have marked the
growth OF New York.
II he had lived another month, Dr. Quacklnbush
would have been ninety years old. lie was born
IN 1897 at Greenwich and Partition now Fulton
sts, and was one Of ten children The father,
james Quacl1inbush, came from good old Dutch
stock and was a farmer. He owned and lived on
large farm on what is now Murray Hill, az
lark-avc. and Fortieth-st BENJAMIN and his
brother Abraham, q well known dry-goods mer-
chant of this city. who died in 1877. used to re-
late to their friends how when boys they hunted
in the woods where the Hudson River Railroad
freight de;ot now stanas, on the site of St. Johns
Park After the fathers death the farm was
divided into lots which were sold for $120 each.
Some Of the purchasers thought that they had
Paid too high prices and made haste to dispose OF
their holdings. The two brothers also delighted
to tell stories about their coastiny on Bunker
Ill., now occupied by the Tombs They also
remembered well that when the City Hall was
built. beng far up town. the architect thought
that marble should be used only ON It's 'front.' DC
cause the city would not grow beyond it, and for
that reason the back was made Of brownstone
BENJAMIN. Quackinbush worked on his fathers
farm until he was about twenty years old. Then
he studied medicine with an elder brother AMI
BET UP in business for himself, in 1917, as drug
eist at Charles and Greenwich SITS. That region
was then Greenwich village, and many residents
of the city had their country homes there. pr
Ouackinbush paid $35 tent for his store The hIsI
wear $40 for the second and the cost OF ms
liiny per week was 81 so. He had no family
Mt that t;me AMI slept in the rear of the store
La two years he removed to Hudson and Charles
SITS. where he remained two years In 1928 he
purchascd the lot at No. 703 Greenwich-st., where
Inc continued in business the rest of his hfe lie
raid 81 400 for the lot. During the fist part
of lis business career in Greenwich Village he
did not have q great deal to do and took much in
terest in protecting society from The OUTBREAKS
of criminals who were confined in the PRISON
which stood at the foot of Amos st, now Yves
Icn.h-st The prison was used from November
l;y1 until December. 1928. The grounds Gov
clcd four acres with frontage ON washington
st. extending back TO the river from Charlcs-iahe
To CHRIS opicr.st When the swami were filed
up and the river banks driven back so THAI the
city crcpt up to the village, New YORK apsorpeo
Greenwich and the apothecary shop became
city drug store. The public then took on ltsen
the duty of prOtectin; itself from the crlmina
classes A sicnal-bcll was raised on the tower
and VIXEN it rang the citizens would flock TO the
prison One night DR.. Quacliinbush and his men
were summoned out four times, and every Time
when they reached the prison the mutneers had
subsidized.
Among his papers two documents. yellow
with ace one of which reads: The people OF
Ncw-YorIx by the grace of God, free and lnIe-
rendent: We, rcposin, special trust and CONN.,
dence in your patriotism, con1uct and Loyalty
etc Amounting him ensign in the militia, under
date of February II, 1920 and tie other appoint
inr him lieutenant of militia June II, 1924. Oov-
crnor Clntons sic nature appears ON both docu-
mcnts. o.,
At that time stages ran between Greenwlch
VILLAGE and the city. When the stage started inc
custom was to write the order on slate; when
the stage drove up to the house the driver wouid
blow horn and Shout Anyone Tor lork Inc
fare was twenty-five cents each way, ana Uhe
stage line had It's first downtown stopping place
at Washington Hail. and as business improved The
rroIr;etor extended his line TO Pine anu Nassau
stS. ~, J., -.
DIR. Ouackinbush was twice married. HIS nfso
wife was Phcbe Harriet, and his second Mis- liam
nah G.. Ayres David QuaclInbush who Is post
master and q prominent politician at Mount Ncr-
non. is his son. One of the old druggists pc
culiarities was to celebrate the anniversary OF MS
START in business, which came on Wasmhetons
birthday. lie lived in Greenwichst. and The
Ninth Avenue Elevated Railway ran In irono Oh
his house. but he never rode on an elevated rail-
way and could never be persuaded to leave the
city "New-York is good enough for me, ne al
WAYS said.