200 American Antiquarian Society. [April, ANDREW HASWELL GREEN-A SKETCn OE HIS ANCESTRY, LIEE AND WORK. BY SAMUEL SWETT GREEN. THEMISTOCLES is quoted as saying: "I know how to raise a small and inconsiderable city to glory and greatness." Seth Low, Mayor of New York when Mr. Green was killed, in announcing his death to the Board of Aldermen wrote: "It may truthfully be said that to no one man who has labored in and for the city during the last fifty years is the city under greater and more lasting obligations than to Andrew H. Green. The city itself, in some of its most beautiful and enduring features, is the monument of his love; and the city may well cherish his honored name with the undying gratitude that is due to a citizen who has made it both a greater and a better city than it was." Andrew Haswell Green was bom on Green Hill in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 6, 1820. He was a son of William Elijah Green and his third wife, Julia Plimpton. The father was born on Green Hill in 1777 and died in his eighty-ninth year, in the room in which he was born. He was graduated from Brown Univereity in 1798, studied law under Judge Edward Bangs of Worcester, became his partner and was afterwards connected in the practice of the law with Judge Bangs's son, Edward D. Bangs, for several years Secretary of State of Massachusetts. During the latter part of his life he withdrew from the practice of his profession and spent his time in the cultivation of his farm. He was, writes his son Andrew, "ever the genial companion of his children." He was married four times. ANDREW HASWELL GREEN 1904.] Andrew Haswdl Green. 201 The only child by his first wife was William Nelson Green, who was Judge of the Police Court in Worcester, from its estabßshment in 1848 to the time of its abolition, twenty years after. The only cliild by the second wife was Lucy Merriam Green, who, with her younger sister Mary, kept a well-known and favorite school for young ladies, for many years, at No. 1 Fifth avenue. New York City. These ladies were very much indebted to Andrew H. Green. He always remained unmarried, and made his sisters' house his home while they conducted their school, and looked carefully after the business and financial interests of the institution. The other nine children of William E. Green, besides William N. and Lucy, were the children of liis third wife. The subject of tiiis sketch was the fifth child by this wife, the seventh of his father's children and his third son. The child next older than Andrew was John Plimpton Green, a physician, who hved for five years in Whampoa, China, and afterwards for many years at Copiapo, Chile. The child next younger than Andrew was Samuel Fisk Green, a missionary doctor, who spent almost a quarter of a century in ministering personally to the wants of both the bodies and souls of the Tamil population of the island of Ceylon. After his return to Green Hill, he continued to translate medical treatises into the Tamil language until his death. Besides practising medicine in Ceylon he estab- lished there a medical school, whose pupils were very numerous. The first of Andrew H. Green's ancestors to come to America was Thomas Green, who appears as a resident of the northern part of Maiden, a portion of the town which is now included in Meh-ose and Wakefield, October 2S, 1651. It is conjectured that he had been in the country for several years before that date. Very little is known about him personally, and Mr. Waters, the genealogist, who has looked out for information on the matter wliile 202 American Antiquarian Society. [April, conducting other investigations in England, has not suc- ceeded in finding from what portion of that country he emigrated. Andrew Green, giving the reins to his imagi- nation, in some playful remarks which he made at the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the old Baptist Church in Greenville, a village in the town of Leicester, Massachusetts, thus speaks of a possible connection of his ancestor with Milton and Shakespeare: "To bring the best proof we have of kinship with them, which it must be admitted is not very conclusive, I may mention that Benja- min Green was one of the subscribing witnesses to that agreement by which, for five pounds, the great Milton, poet, statesman, scholar, transferred his immortal epic to the printer, Symons; and this further history affirms, that Thomas Green was a relative of, and fellow comedian with, William Shakespeare, and that Shakespeare's father pos- sessed an estate known as Green Hill." The grandson of Thomas Green, Captain Samuel Green, was one of the first settlers in Leicester and an original proprietor of lands in the neighboring town of Hardwick. He married a daughter of Lieutenant Phineas Upham, and so Andrew Green was descended from that progenitor of the American Uphams who was severely wounded in 1665 in the battle against the Narragansetts, during King Philip's War. Captain Samuel Green was one of the principal men in Leicester, or Strawberry Hill, its early name. Just before taking his family to that town, about the year 1717, he left his only son Thomas at South Leicester (now known as Greenville), in charge of some cattle which had been driven from Maiden. While there the boy, it is said, was attacked with fever and became very ill, a sore appear- ing. In his weak state he rested in a sort of cave made by a shelving rock in a little stream and secured food by milking a cow wliich he induced to come to him frequer^tly by tying her calf to a tree near the cave. His father heard 1904,] Andrew Ilaswéll Green. 203 of his illness, went to Leicester for liim and took him home on horseback. It has been remarked that as Romulus and Romus were suckled by a wolf, so was Thomas Green suckled by a cow. It may be further remarked that had it not been for the nourishment afforded by that cow Thomas Green would have perished probably, and in that case there would have been no Andrew H. Green. I may also say, incidently, that in that contingency I should not be speaking to you today. Of Thomas Green, Hiram C. Estes, D.D., said in 1888 : " Dr. Green lived three lives and did the work of throe men in one. He was a man of business, activo, energetic and successful. . . . He was also a noted physician" and "a preacher of the gospel, quite as eminent in this as in his other spheres of life." Besides having an ex- tensive practice as a doctor, he is said to have had under him one hundred and twenty-three medical students. In speaking of the church building of tho Baptist Society in Greenville, Dr. Estes, says: "it appears that Dr. Green was the principal proprietor of the house, that its grounds were given by him and its frame was raised and covered at his expense." Thomas Groon was the pastor of the church which he founded, for almost thirty-five years, and while he was preaching on Sunday, says Andrew Green, "at his home across the way tho pot was kept boiling to supply the needed sustenance to the little flock which came from all directions to attend upon his ministrations." Dr. Thomas Green bought the homestead in Worcester which forms the nucleus of the extensive and beautifully situated estate on Green Hill, lately owned by Andrew H. Green. This is one of the finest gentlemen's places in that neighborhood. "The deed was given by 'Thomas Adams to Thomas Green of Leicester, for and in considera- tion of Throe hundred and Thirty Pounds 6-8 by him paid,' and is dated 'the 28 day of May Anno Domini 1754'. . .. At his death," Aug. 19, 1773, "his estate 204 American Antiquarian Society. [April, passing through the probate office was appraised at £4495 4s. 3id., equivalent very nearly to $22,476.76, an estate said to have been larger than any 'that had been entered at the probate office at Worcester previous to his death.' " Thomas Green bought this estate for his son. Dr. John Green, who went from Leicester to Worcester to live, and who was the first to bear the name and title wWch have been borne by distinguished physicians and surgeons in every generation of his descendants, his son, his grandson, in Worcester, his great-grandson and great- great-grandson, who are still living, but have their homes in St. Louis. The estate, as has probably been surmised from what has already been said, has remained in the possession of members of Thomas Green's family since its purchase. Andrew Green, writing about the old house, says that: "It was not far from the city of Worcester, a plain wooden dwelling, two storied but low in the ceilings, of ample length and breadth, and anchored by a chimney of need- less proportions. It stood on a by-road or lane, which was but little frequented. About the premises could be seen evidences of taste struggling for a more emphatic manifestation, but confined by imperative demands upon a limited treasury." With the deep interest which he always felt in his home and family he speaks of the home- stead as having "associations which became dearer with the lapse of time, the very trees . . . embodying mem- ories which greatly enhanced their value. The spacious garret," he says, was "a heterogeneous museum of relics, affording inexhaustible amusement"; and remarks that "the library" was "rather scant, but of standard works, elevating, refining and well read." After Andrew H. Green became thß owner of the place on Green Hill he made large purchases of adjoining land, and in time built a new house. Such, however, was his interest in his old home that instead of tearing down the 1904.] Andrew Hasweïl Green. 205 old house he cut it in two from side to side, and moving back the rear portion, put up a fine mansion between the front and the back of the old building, securing in the middle of the house large and high rooms on the lower fioor and suites of apartments for himself and brothers and sisters above. Recently a spacious portico has been added to the old front of the house. Mr. Andrew Green showed great anxiety about having the estate on Green Hill kept in the family. He consulted me again and again regarding its disposition. Finally he put into his will a provision by which it has been left to several nephews and nieces, representing three of his brothers, with power to sell, but with the expression of a hope that the property may be preserved as a gathering- place for the family, and especially for the descendants of his father. I am informed by Oliver Bourn Green of Chicago, a younger brother of Andrew H. Green, that it is the desire and purpose of the heirs to carry out the latter's wishes and keep intact the house and at least about forty acres, known as the home lot. The first Dr. John Green married for a second wife a daughter of General Timothy Ruggles of Hardwick. An- drew H. Green always felt an intense interest in the career of his great-grandfather Ruggles. He spent much time in making investigations regarding his life, and was proud of his descent from that distinguished lawyer, judge, states- man and soldier. He had a sketch of his Ufe privately printed, and subsequently collected interesting material regarding it. Nothing would have gratified Mr. Green more than to have been allowed to place a commemorative tablet of Judge Ruggles in the County Court House in Worcester. But although the attainments and work of the latter amply justify such recognition, it would probably be hard to induce the proper authorities to do honor, in the way mentioned, to Massachusetts' great loyalist. We 206 American Antiquarian Society. [April, have come to regard with generosity and tenderness the opponents of the United States in the Civil War, but still have hard hearts when we think of the men who took the side of the king in the Revolution. Andrew H. Green's deep affection for his family and ancestors was shown in various other ways. He always carried his brothers and sisters and their children and grandchildren in his heart, and no one of them ever suffered for the lack of a home or the comforts of life. Mr. Green placed a mural bronze tablet in the interior of the church in Greenville in remembrance of its first pastor, Thomas Green. Had I given him encouragement to believe that it was fitting to single out one from the thousands of young men who did service in the Civil War for especial and lavish commemoration he would, I am sure, have engaged St. Gaudens, or another sculptor as distinguished, to have made a statue of his nephew, William Nelson Green, Junior, to be placed in an appropriate position in Worcester. Through his grandmother Mr. Green was descended from the Bournes of the Cape, from Governor Thomas Dudley of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, and from Rev. John Woodbridge, a brother of Benjamin Wood- bridge, whose name stands first on the roll of graduates of Harvard College. He was also descended from the three Tillies and Jolm Howland, passengers on the "Mayflower." WiUiam Elijah Green, the father of Andrew H. Green, was very careful to have his children as well educated as his means would allow. The boy Andrew attended the common schools in Worcester, and was a studious scholar. His father could not send him to college, but during life he was a diligent reader and student of good books. There was some thought of having him enter the Military Academy at West Point, but this plan was given up. It is not my purpose to give in detail a record of Mr. Green's life. That work has been done already. In the interests of accuracy, however, it seems best to make 1904.] Andrew Haswell Green. 207 considerable extracts from an account of his early life, which he dictated to a niece. The account is written in the third person. "In 1835" Mr. Green, when a boy, "went with his sister Lucy by steamboat and stage to New York ; was employed as errand boy in the store of Hinsdale and Atkins at $50 a year and board; then as clerk with Lee, Savage à Co., wholesale cloth merchants and importers, where he was steadily advanced till reaching nearly the head position, when the firm failed in the mercantile embarrassments of 1837. After a severe illness and return to Green Hill for months of recuperation, he entered the employ of Wood, Johnston and Barritt, linen importers, in Exchange place; then he went to the firm of Simeon Draper, where he was kept up nearly all night arranging for sales. Through a friend of the family he met Mr. Burnley, who had interests in sugar plantations in Trinidad. Through Mr. Burnley he went, when twenty-one years old, to Trinidad, where for nearly a year he was engaged on the plantation owned by Mr. Burnley. While in Trinidad he became familiar with the cultivation of sugar-cane, the manufacture of sugar, molasses, etc., but seeing how crude were the methods used, tried without success to introduce improved processes. Realizing that advanced ideas would not be adopted, he determined to return to New York, where he entered the law office of" his relative, "Mr. John W. Mitchell." Soon after "he entered the law ofiice of Samuel J. Tilden, whose political principles he shared, and with whom he sustained confidential and trusted relations throughout life. He was elected by the people Trustee of Schools in the Fourth Ward. Thereafter he was School Commissioner and mem- ber of the Board of Education, then was made President of the Board, it having forty-four members." Two years later, at the age of thirty-seven, in the year 1857, Mr. Green became a Commissioner of Central Park "and became Treasurer of the Board" of Commissioners, "President and Executive Officer of the Board, that is. Comptroller of the Park, for about ten years. He had complete supervision of the engineers, landscape architects, gardeners and the whole retinue of employés, sometimes comprising as many as three thousand men. The ofiice of Comptroller of the 208 American Antiquarian Society. [April, Park was created especially for Mr. Green, and on this account, that in the early year or two of tho Park, there was constant friction with tho then forming ring, and the Park Board wero quite willing to leave tho work to anyone who would attend to it. At that timo Mr. Green was made President and Treasurer. As the Park was developed and grew in popularity, some member intimated that one man should not hold two ofiices. As the Legislature had authorized the Board to attach a salary to either of the two offices, the Board fixed the salary to tho office of the Treasurer and elected Mr. Green Treasurer. Whereupon Mr. Green immediately declined to accept the office. He was elected President, The member who was elected Treasurer, with the salary, served for a few months with- out satisfaction. Upon this the office of Comptroller of tho Park was created, with all tho oxocutive power of tho Board united to those of the Treasurer, leaving to the President the power of presiding at tho Board meetings. Mr. Green was elected Comptroller of the Park and con- tinued as such for ten years, until the Tweed Charter of 1870 removed tho members of the Board from office and turned the Park over to a department of the city govern- ment appointed by A. Oakey Hall, then Mayor. Mr. Green was appointed a member of the new board, but his associates woro those with whom he had no relations whatever, and in 1872 he resigned." Chancellor MacCracken, of New York University, in speaking of Mr. Green, said that "by his care for Central Park" he "was led to care for related enterprises, such as the Museum of Art, the Museum of Science and tho Zoological Garden. He was constantly alive to the work of beautifying the city, whether by individual effort or as a member of ono or another organization. A recent ad- dress at Faunco's Tavern declared that his thoughtfulness was 'woven into the structure and visible aspect of New York. Here we see it in a reserved acre of greensward; there in the curve of a graceful line, like the beautiful span of Washington Bridge, and somewhere else in a sweet sounding name, like Morningside.' "