The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-08
yALE'S OLDEST GRADUATE.
The Rev. Dr WickhHm. Aged Ninety two
His Kecollections of Sew York.
New York SUM-


New York SUM-
The oldest living graduate of \ ale Col'
| lege, the Rev Dr. Joseph Dresse Wick
ham. uncle of ex-MayOr William II.
Wickham, i now in this city. and will
probably be the oldest spectator of the
/ coming centennial celebration. lie has
/ lived in the lifetime of an the PRESIDENT,
of the United States lie was in
/ the same class with John NJ
/ Clayton Truman Smith and Alexan-
/ der Marshall, and graduated in lslj. lie
Sas a tutor at Yale for ten years, under
/ the presidency Of DR.. Dwight, she grand
father of the present president lie used
10 90 20 New Haven in the regular pack
| ct, long before steamboats, were invented
and, when the wind was fair they only
took three meals on hoard the packet bee
/ fore reaching their destination
DR. Wickham came 20 this city with
his parents in the year 1900, when be
was three years old, and lived at 90
Front street, which was then ON the
water line At that time Wall street
was filed with residences. He remem-
bers when the girls used TO GO through
Maiden lane 10 the old Wy market on
Meadow market, known later rs the lly
market
In his boyhood he used 10 go away out
of town up 10 Canal street and sit on thc
old stone bridge at the corner of Broad-
way and Canal street ile remembers
playine In cOrn-feld on the site OF thc
present Bible House, opposite Cooper
Institute N hen ho wanted 90 eo tO
Chelsea village. at West Fouucenih
street he used to register his name on 20
slate al the downtown office, and The
stage would call for him and take him
up 10 Chelsea for twenty-five cents.
The stages would starr every hour or
two with fuil load of twelve pas-cn-
gers
He used to get six cents from bis
mother to go over and play on ihe green
fields ~ Blooklyn Heights. The ferry
was row boat The fare was tHo GEMS.
each way. SD that he had two cents leii
for refreshments. He recalls when ihe
City Hall was regarded as high bd'll-
ine. and well remembers the fact that
the uptown side was built of brown
stone. because that side Was regarded a-
the outskirts of the city. The conimc
tor was Mr. McComb, after whom bic
Combs Dam was named.
In his lifetime ail Tine modern improve
menfs have been introduced lie knew
the city when there was mo- -a-, no
police no railroad. telegraph, on steam
boat. no Lrie canal, mo- public honI
system. no steam printing, uo paved
streets above Canal street He remom-
Der, the excitement over Tie first steam
boat. aud was flod with wonder ai ihc
pio rres- of modern invention when Doe
was able 90 gO 90 New Haven by steam
and when the fare was SO.
lie remembers when the fare tO Albany
was SO by steamboat. He remember
tne old night watchman, who would call
ont, seven O'Clock, and all well he
used 10 have lots of iun on training days,
when an the militia assembled DO inc
Park He knew Governor Island When
it was uah sand bank, before the
United States Government bought lt lie
recalls the excitement caused by The idc.
that Joseph YOule DO bis factory bY gas,
aud he was proud of Joseph. who "as
Do. classmatc in college lie remembers
when the site OF the Iombs Was
tle Collect Pond. and when boy used t1
be drowned while bathing there. llc
knew New York when Sunday Na,
ALWAYS q quiet day, and when Ae could
dig clans on The shores 0f the Battery.
Dr. Nickham was licensed tO preach
in 1921. W hen be settled in New ORR
bee took rooms in a house ln Houston
street. because it was away from ihe
noise and confusion of the city llc
preached in New Rochelle and W c-t
Farms in ISIS.
From 1s2S to 1884, Dr. Nickham bad
"a large school at about Thirteenth street
or Fourth avenue. IL occupied with ihe
plav ground. thirteen lots of ground.
and be paid : 200 rent There were
then no buildings to O5struct the view oi
East river and bee had % big sign pat lp.
The Washington institute, which
could be read across the river Among
bis pupils were j. g. De Forest, d. Cox.
and LAWYER Cram. He leit there in 1854
and went 10 Manchester, VI, where ne
has been living ever since, and be ceie-
brated his golden wedding five years ago.
" hen asked 10 what be attributed li-
long life. Dr. Wickham said 81 never
drank nor smoked. / have had tenn.
perate habits. pleasant occupation and
mo- harassine cares. have kept good
hours had a good constitution. do
not know as ! have taken any special
care of ny health have been an OPP
nmist rather than . pessimi-t. and have
been of "a cheerful disposition eat
plain food II am up late like to eat
before going to bed My wife thinks
IL is not we'll for me To- eat pie just
before going To- bed, and ! defer TO hen
Judgment: In fact, she takes charge OF
nav health now, and l hold her respon-
.i6le. She thinks / am getting little
deaf lately, but tell her she does not
talk as loudly as she used 90 talk Ny eye
sight is good yet, and | read a good deal
/ like to walk in fine weather. / am a
Presbyterian IN religion and a kepub-
lican. in politics Ny father was "a
F,dcralist. My first vote was for James
Monroe
Dr. Wickham is a viyaciOus talker yet
lis memory is as clear as a bell, ADD be
is AS tall and vigorous as most men of
sixty lie looks upon Chauncey DepeN
asquitea youngster lie was aprlncipa
witness In the Burr will case. aud stood
"a vigorous examination by Judge Pierre
pont for three hours without any shaking