Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-28

to try his fortunes and entered the en-
ploy of James Jarvis & Co, shoe deal
ers at Maiden Lane Within a brief
time he showed his thorough knowledge
of the business and was admitted into
the partnership.
New York, as the young man found
it eighty years ago. was different
place from what it is to-day, and far
different from what majority of many
of the oldest residents can remember.
Battery Park. Bowling Green and
lower Broadway, were then the fashion
able residential sections. Imagine the
Gold street district as swamp and
Tenth street as on the suburbs, bordered
by swamps and woods, and you have a
faint idea of what New York was when
Mr. Birmingham started in business.
The ferry to Brooklyn which was in
use at that time was indeed primitive
affair and would create well nigh as
much curiosity now as one of the modern
steam ferries would then. 1t was what
was known as "horse boat" which
meant that the propelling force was
horse on a tread mill, arranged on the
boat.
Speaking of the East River. Mr..
Birmingham recalls distinctly the time
during one extremely cold winter when
il was frozen over at GATHERINGS Mar
ket, so that several persons crossed on
the solid ice. A measurement of the
distance was secured at that particular
time and what had long been ques
ton of some dispute was settled. the
distance being found to be just half a
mile
Speaking of other early recollections
in the great city, Mr.. Brittingham de-
scribed very graphically, the hauling of
the large stone blocks from the Tuckahoe
uuarries to construct the Custom House,
now the sub treasury on Wall street.
The largest blocks were slung under
heavy trucks which were drawn by
eighteen yoke Of oxen. The erection of
the building was no small undertaking
in those times. and its progress was
watched with as great interest as is tho
building of the sub way to-day.
1t was while Mr. Brittingham was in
New York that the Asiatic cholera
swept over the city. followed in only
short time by the disastrous fire of 1885
by which the business section of the
city was almost completely wiped out.
In 1892 the young shoe merchant met
and married Miss Sarah K Adams, and
together they made their home at sig
Greenwich street. In the following
year Mr. Birmingham started in busi-
ness for himself. at l24 Cherry street.
and so continued until 1910 when he
closed his business affairs in the city and
removed to Berlin. I Maryland town
only few miles from his early home.
Once back on his native soil. he
showed strong interest in public af-
fairs aud was soon looked upon as
leader in his party President Franklin
Pierce on taking the executive chair.
yielded to the strong petition which had
been forwarded to Washington and ap.
pointed Mr.. Birmingham postmaster at
Berlin. After a successful and salts
factory conduct of the office for four
years, he resigned, although pressure
was brought TO bear to have him retain
the office, which he had filled so accept
ably Again in 1867 Mr.. Birmingham
was elected to office, that time as jus
tice of the peace He held the office for
23 years and until he came to Mount
Vernon to make his home with his son.
Mr.. Frank A Birmingham, with whom
he still lives.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur d. Brittingham,
recently. made four generations of the
family now living in this city. Besides
the members of the family previously
mentioned, Mr. Birmingham has two
daughters, Miss Adelaide. of this city
and Mrs. Mary Stanton, of Baltimore.
and four grand daughters. the Misses
Hannah l.. Ala and Harriet Britting-
ham, and Miss Genevieve Gross, all of
this city.
In politics, Mr.. Brittingham is a
dyed in the wool Jeffersonian Demo-
crat, " and never missed an opportunity
to vote for his party's candidates until
Bryan was nominated. AT that time. he
refused to vote, giving as his reason
that there was no Democratic ticket and
he would not vote for Republican nomi-
nees. He has enjoved the exceptional
privilege of casting his ballot at 10 presi.
Dental elections and has taken an in
terest in every one. How carefully Mr..
Brittingham follows the political trend
may be gathered in some degree from
his comment on President McKinley's S
last speech which. he says. judged by