New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-02

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characteristics OF the Celtic race His greatgrand-
father James, emigraed to this country in 1925 and
settled i'm Rhode Island, and afterward removed TO
Connecticut where he died at the age of nineythree
His grandson, Samuel, then twenty years DID, ana
| soon afterward made his home in Peterboro Madison
County, NJ Y, where the subject Of this sketch was
| horn on April 25, 1903. He brought up as
farmer bow and attended the district school until he
was seventeen years old. He then taught school for
year and began the study Of civil engineering, carry
| ing chain for a local surveyor With the purpose
of entering upon trade with the Indians In the NORTH
west he visited Michigan Territory when twenty ono
| wears old and consulted with Governor Lewis Cass.
Chicago was then a small trading post and Milwaukee
was unheard of. He did not find the field promising
| one and returned to this State, where he formed
| partnership in Albany to deal in wool. An oppor-
tunity opened before him when Gerr smith secured
his services in developing the town OF Florence N l.
Under Mr. stranahan's energetic influence the town
| increased in short time from few nun
| dreds to several thousands Of people In
| 1888 he was elected to represent his county In
| the Assembly, although there was Democra'c
majority usually and he was Wing year at
Albany widened the scope of his ambition and IN
| 1910 he removed to Newark, n. j., and embarked
in railroad enterprises. But he remained In new
Jersey only four years. and then became RESIDENT
| of BROOKLYN, where he has since remained.
The city was then taking Oh new life after tne
| panic of 1887, which had given setback 10 lts
growth after incorporation four years before. Mr.
stranahan saw the marvellous possibilities of the South
BroolSyn water front and started movement which
led to the development of its extensive warehouse
| by the Atlantic Dock Company system. He also be-
came interested in the Union Ferry Company Wheh IL
| took in the Hamilton Ferry in 1881. His political
experience led him To take active interest In the
| affairs Of the city, and in 1s4S he was elected an
Alderman by the Wings. At the close OF his term In
1850 he was nominated by his party for Mayor, but
| was defeated by Conklin Brush. In 1904 he was
| elected to Congress in the exciting days OF the
| Missouri compromise and served with usuhcuol'
| When the Metropolitan Police District was created
covering York. Brooklyn and staten Island, MI
| stranahan was made one Of the Commissioners and
ne served several years. lie was delegate 70 the
National Repnbican Conventions which nominated Mr.
| Lincoln in 1860 and in 1864 and was one of the
Presidential electors in the latter year In the sur
| ring days of the war; Mr.. Stranalan presided over
| the War Fund Committee Of 100 in Brooklyn, and
| his wife at the head Of the WomanS Keller AS
| ISOLATION BY the united efforts OF these two bodies
the sanitary Fair was held In the Academy of Music
| in 1864 and 1000 was raised for the relief Of
wounded soldiers.
| When the commission was created by legislative
act to lay out and develop Prospect Park, In 1850.
Mr. stranalIan put at its head: Although he
| lad pivate interests demanding much time and at
entlop he freely gave many hours to the ulsalaried
! IND LAYING ont the broad drives connecting
herewith. which will be more and more
aPPiprinatIons of those who foresaw future. lie
saw The possibilities of Coney Island when it was
harreu strip OF sand and secured the plot on which
the concourse drive laid and the beach fronting
upon il as seaside spot free to every one Mainly
| under his direction the sum Of %55OO,OOO was ex.
penG pee iSp Ras was vested in the Mayor and
moved by the cry for reform, Mayor Low appointed
| Mr. Sranahan's successor. When an investigation
| showed that by careless bookkeeping the Park De-
| parment apparently owed the city $lO,G0i, Mr..
| stranahan promptly drew check for the amount
Although ferry company director, he early took
| dee
one Of the directors In the original company He was
trustee from 1875 to 1855, and took active and
| construction. lie in the Executive Committee,
and with Henry c. Murphy and william c. Kingsley,
IS due the change in the plans whereby the trusses
of the structure were made high enough TO permit the
change added 200 tons the weight of the structure
but It Wa authorized Yt BY tne engineers After the
dent Of the trustees until the Democratic appointing
power left him OFF the Board of Trustees after the
allowed partisan feeling to affect mis-, work
he ceased 10 be connected with the Park and the
Bridge that The, appointment of subordinates was
was Harrison and Morton Presidential elector.
Last year a dinner in his honor was given by the
Despite his eighty odd years, Mr.. stranahan has
the ygor and activity OF much younger man.
white hair betrays his age Ills home is a fine house
at Union and Clinton sts with extensive grounds
Mrs. Stranahan possesses fine literary and artistic
tastes and Is the author Of History Of French
In public affairs and he Is an earnest advocate of the
union Of New York and BROOKLYN The fund for
| the erection Of the statue in his honor already
approaches $4,000. although no special effort has
been made to collect funds Double this amount is
II IS expected that the bronze will be unveiled
with appropriat,e, e.. services In July Isol That Mr..
felt presentment' in Prospect Park is the earnest
| wish Of wide circle Of friends.