New-York tribune., 1901-01-25

Brooklyn's interests since 1885, and most highly
esteemed by wide circle OF friends. a gray haired
lawyer had this to say of him some years ago:
York bar / have always admired him for his
beautiful, old fashioned courtesy and because ne
treated me Just as politely when L was an office
boy as he does now. If l was in any snarl or pro
fesson9l trouble there isn't man az sne or par fo@ 70
whom should feel so sure of sympathetic hear
ing, we'll as of sound advice
Mr. siIIman was practically in full possession Of
all his faculties up the time of his death He
was proud of the fact that he had never owned
pair of eyeglasses in his life. He was essentially
quiet man. who loved his study and his home,
which was filled with books and antique fur
nIture In the rooms of the Long Island Historical
Society is a bust of Mr.. Silliman by William Ord
way Partridge. II was presented TO him by num-
Der OF citizens in 1894 and he expressed wish
that II should be placed in the historical societys
rooms rather than in his home.
The arrangements for the funeral had not been
completed last night. 1t will probably take place
from the Church of the Pilgrims on Monday or
Tuesday The Rev. DR.. II. P Dewey will probably
be the officiating clergyman.
Mr.. Silliman leaves a large fortune His natural
heirs are Miss Caroline Taylor and Mrs. Samuel
Carey nieces, Mrs. Laura S. Bagden. OF Washing
ton sister. and her two sens and daughter, Mrs
Harriet Silman Mathewson, of Brooklyn, and MISS
Mary Siliman. a niece who lives in Western New
York II Is expected that Yale University will be
dition 10 what he may leave from his own estate.
Yale will receive $1,000 which Mr.. Sillimans broth
er left to him in TO to Yale upon the lat
ters death.
BENJAMIN D. Suiman was born at Newport. r. l.,
on September H. 1905. In childhood his family
made their home in Brooklyn, where he had since
lived His father Gold : Silliman, OF Brooklyn.
died in 1855 in his ninety-irst year. He was son
OF General Gold s. Sliman who in Colonial days
was a Kings attorney in Fairfield, Conn ana dled
in 1890. Mr. Silliman's mother was a daughter OF
the Rev Or. David Ely. OF Huntington. Conn.,
whose father for more than twenty years was
trustee OF Yale College. Mr. Silhman. on his
fathers side. Hneally descended from Pilgrim
ancestors-John Alden and Priscilla Mullins his
wife of Huguenot family, who came TO plymouth
Mass. in the Nayhower in 1920
Mr.. SiIliman graduated from Yale in 1s2O, and
was the oldest living graduate of that institution
After graduation he continued his studies or law
in the office OF Chancellor Kent and his son. Will
lam Kent. At the May term OF the Supreme Court
In 1929 he was admitted 70 the bar. and from that
date until recent years with the exception OF the
year lS4s when he made visit to Europe, he had
been engaged in the practice of his profession, al
though in later years he did not take so active
part In il as formerly Members Of the New-York
mentary dinner for him at Demonlco on the SIN
tieth anniversary of his admission the bar. His
nractice embraced causes in the State and Federal
courts the Supreme Court OF the United States. at
common law, in equity and admiralty. and ne would
only champion cause when he thought right was
on I'll
Formerly a Whig in politics, Mr. SnIiman became
a Republican the dissolution of that party. He
ment during the Civil War Frequently he had
Ieen a delegate local. State and National
tion which nominated General Harrison for Presl-
dent and John Tyler for Ntce,President In the
Kings Richmond and RockIand. which then formed
him as their candidate in the I'D District for the
NNVIIIth Congress. He led the Wing ticket at
the polls, but the Democrats carried the election
by small majority The same party in 1858 nonli-
mated him for the State Senate but he declined the
County in the State legislature.
SauiZed Mr.. Silliman was appointed by President
Lincoln to the office of United States Attorney for
il interfered with his private practice. The Gov
ernor and Senate in 1872 appointed him member
the Constitution of the State and he took a con-
spicuous part in the deliberations of the conven-
Mr silliman was nominated by tine Republican
PARTY in 1873 its candidate for the office of At
torney-Cieneral of the State. and received sub
stanaI vote n at the polls poll sT sthoggh % the ticket did
ferred him by Columbia College. The de-
eer wa" Yale G6se 0R He gd nS
the passage of the bill incorporating Greenwood
Cemetery in 1885 while a member of the LegiS-
Mt siIlinan had been prominently identified with
many of the social political and benevolent insttu-
was president Of the Brooklyn Club. He was pres
ident the Yale Alumni Association of Long
Island, a director Of the Long Island Historical
Society. a trustee of the Greenwood Cemetery AS
ISOLATION and was president of the New-Ensland
Society of Brooklyn from its organization until 1886,
when he declined reelection. He was one OF the
managers of the House of Refuge for Juvenile De-
linquents. in New-York. for nearly twenty years
a president and of the founders. the Bar
Association OF New-HOrk City. and a director In
other benevolent and literary institutions
For many summers MIR. Silliman had been resi-
dent of West ISlip, Long Island where he built a
commOdiouS and attractive home about twenty
years ago. He enthusiastic sailor and fish
erman, and in company with a friend was fond of
sailing catboat across the bay. His mental faCul-
ties were remarkably we'll preserved for man OF
his age.
Mr.. Silliman owned the property at the south
east corner OF Wall-st: and Broadway. which is
considered to be- for its size. the most valuable
piece OF real estate in the city, Six hundred thou
sand dollars was offered for the property some
time ago, and was refused. IL is % by 80 feet in
size. W. Wheeler Smith. architect, No Wall-st
whose building adjoinS the plot the south and
east Sides has made repeated offers for this land
but mas never succeeded in gaining possession of il
r l. McGoldrlck who represented Mr.. Siiman at
No. 62 Wall-st., stated recently that the prOpertv
was not In the market and never had been Real
estate men generally of the opinion that the
plot Is too small for building purposes unless IL is
acquired by Mr.. Smith, who they believe will
eventually buy IT,
At a meeting of the Appellate Division of the
Supreme Court, lid Department. attended oy a
number of we'll known lawyers last night a mo-
tion made by William c. De Witt to adjourn the
court to-day out of respect for Benjamin D. Sillt-
man was carried. Some day in the future a meet