Evening Star Newspaper, November 8, 1931, Page 84

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, NOVEMBER 8, 1931 William Sticknéy Home Remembered BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. T is a sad thirg, in a way, to go into some old mansion, where life, gayety and dig- nity once prevailed, and find it stripped of all its former glory and greatness; the old family that gave it caste and stand- ing all gone away, some never to return, while those 1emaining behind look on with pity at the old home that means much to them but can mean little to those who know naught of jts history or the family ties that breathe fond recollections of a yesteryear. At the northwest corner of Sixth and M streets northwest there is just such a mansior as the writer has in mind—artistic, statcly, but showing the traces of better days. Indeed, at one time it must have been one of the finest homes in Washington, for it was built about 1868 by William Stickney, who had mar- ried the daughter of Amos Kendall, and here the latter distinguished gentleman passed away November 12, 1869, at the advanced age of 81, and from the parlor his body was borne to Calvary Baptist Church, where services were held. ‘This edifice was erected with funds contributed by him and partly re-erectcd through his generosity after it was destroyed by fire a short while after the church was completed. He was buried in Glenwood Ceme- tery and a beautiful mounment marks the spot. Mr. Kendall was an unusual man. He was born in Dunstable, Mass., August 16, 1789, “of the plain and hardy yeomanry of that district,” as it has been said, and his education was secured under difficulties usual to such an environment. Before graduating from Dart- mouth College he had entered as a student there five times in the four years required for this purpose, and each time he re-entered the class he had to take an examination to do so. The necessity for this was lack of funds, for at intervals he was compelled to leave college and teach school at $16 a month, never getting more than $25, in order to return to college and be able to pay his tuition and resume his studies, He studied law, settled in Georgetown, Ky, and engaged in newspaper work there, later moving to Frankfort, where he took charge of the editorial columns of the Argus. Always an admirer and supporter of Gen. Andrew Jackson, he willingly accepted during that President's first administration the positionof fourth audit- or of the Treasury Department, and during “Old Hickory’s” second term became his Postmaster General, a post which he retained well into the administration of Martin Van Buren, when he resigned to engage in editorial pursuits. Mr. Kendall was notably connected with the successful introduction of the telegraph, and was given by Prof. S. F. B. Morse & liberal interest in the enterprise. However, his found- ing of the Columbia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb will probably be considered a greater cause for his name to be remembered. “The sky in colors,” we are told; “he gazed intently for & few moments st the glorious picture and then ‘How beautiful, how beauti- the Institution for the Deaf and funeral is said to have been one of the ever held in this city. The Star in its accoun of the obsequies has this to say: “The funeral of the late William Stickney took place yesterday afternoon from the Cal- vary Baptist Church. The remains, encased in a handsome cloth-covered casket, with silver bar handles and plate, were removed from the family residence, Sixth and M streets, about 12:30 o’clock to the lecture or Sunday school room, where they were viewed prior to the hour for the funeral by thousands, in- cluding some 1,500 members of the Sabbath schoeis of Calvary, Kendall Mission and Cal- vary Mission, each member wearing & biack memorial badge. About 2 o'clock the casket was removed to the auditorium of the chureh, which was crowded long before that hour. 'The pew of the deceased was heavily draped in mourning, and in it was a stand with plants and flowers. On the pulpit was a floral erown surmounted by & cross resiing on & wreath. Beneath, fronting the congregation, was & Bible of white flowers inscribed ‘Holy Bible. He fought a good fight' Immediately under this were ‘the gates,’ a floral design of three and One-Time Occupant Was Amos Kendall, Post- master General, 1" ho Aided in Promotion of Telegraph and WasFounder of Columbia Institute for Deaf and Dumb. - William Stickney, banker, and president Columbia Legislative Assembly, 1871-1874. one-half by four feet of white flowers. On the platform and on stands were floral crosses and anchors, surmounted by doves, a sheaf of the choir were Miss Eva Mills, Miss McCarthy, Mrs. Morrison, Messrs. Pugh, Whitaker, Holer and Rice, with others, who rendered appropri- ate music during the ceremony. Rev. Dr. Cuthbert of the Thirteenth Street Baptist Church read appropriate selections of Scripture, and Rev. Mr. Parker of the Metropolitan (East Francis Henry Stickney and family. and Mrs. Julia (Stic the Council of the District of Greene, the pastor of Calvary, made a brief and touching address. Rev, Dr, Sunderland of the First Presbyterian Church and Rev. Willlams of Baltimore also made short dresses. Miss McCarthy sang ‘Only Remem- bered by What I Have Done,’ and the prayer was by Rev. €. C. Meador of the ‘Washington Baptist Church. The ministers and the following honorary pallbearers pre- ceded the body as it was borne to the hearse, while Prof. Hayden performed a dirge on the organ: Hon. William Windom, Hon. Josiah Dent, Hon. Andrew Wylie, Hon. Walter S, Cox, Hon. Hiram Price, W. W. Carcoran, Gen. E. Whittlesey, Dr. J. C. Welling, Judge Mc- Farland, Hon. Horatio King, Prof. E. M. Gal- laudet, Rev. J. G. Ames, B. P. Snyder, David A. Haynes, J. W. Thompson, A. H. Herr, S. H. Kauffmann, William B. Webb and W. 8. Shal- : Left to right, sitting: Miss Katherine Stickney, Miss Rosamond Stickney, Francis Henry Stickney, Mrs. F. H. Stickney ) Cochrane. Standing, left to right: Frank L. Stick- ;e_y, Mrs. Mable (Stickney) Bliss, Bryan H. Stickney and Mrs. Mary (Stickney) ice. - * lenberger. The remains were removed to the hearse by the following eight members of Calvary Church; Rodney Taylor, T. R. Jones, David Chambers, M. W. Bartlett, Dr. Johnson, H. G. Jacobs, G. S. Prindle and George L. Sheriff. The cortege—one of the largest ever seen at a citizen’s funeral in this city—pro= ceeded to Oak Hill Cemetery, where the inter- ment was made beside the son of the deceased, who died last year. The choir sang appropriate music at the grave, and there was a prayer by Rev. Dr. Greene, after which the benediction was pronounced by Rev. Br. Sunderland.” OR many years after the Stickney mansion was vacated by that family the old building was used as & Methodist home for the aged. At present it is used for religious purposes under the control of Bishop C. M. Grace, & Portuguese. However, there seems to be quite a different atmosphere hercabout now than when years ago the Calvary Christian League would hold an occasional meeting in the elab- orately decorated parlor. Sometimes Ed. Hay would attend and render assistance, and Ed. Townsend. Miss Eva Mills would assist with the music. Here, also, Mrs, Stickney kept open house annually on New Year sday, and her elaborate receptions were always attended by the foremost people of the Capital. g Probably the most notable social event to take place here was during the period from 1871 to 1874, when Washington had a terrie torial form of government. At that time Wile liam Stickney was president of the Council of the Legislative Assembly, which met on the top floor of the Metzerott Building, on the north side of Pennsylvania avenue between Ninth and Tenth streets (still standing). Henry I\ Cook was the first Governor, serving from Feb- ruary 28, 1871, to September 13, 1873, and 1% was during his administration that the grand reception in honor of the Governor was held, and all official Washington turned out upon that occasion to do honor to “His Excellency.® The members of the first Legislative Ase sembly then were: “Council—William Stickney, president; A. K. "Browne, Samuel Cross, Frederick Douglass, Daniel L. Eaton, John A. Gray, George F. Gulick, Adolphus Hall, Charles F. Peck, Daniel Smith and John W. Thompson. Francis H. Smith, chief clerk. Lewis H. Douglass, ape pointed, vice Frederick Douglass, resigned. “House of delegates—Charles L. Hulse, speaker; Solomon G. Brown, Joseph T. H. Hall, Wiliam D. Cassin, John E. Cox, John F. Mure ray, James A. Handy, George Burgess, Adolphus S. Solomons, John F. Ennis, Thomas E. Lloyd, William Dickson, John C. Harkness, Peter Campbell, Willlam W. Moore, John W. Mca Knight, Frederick A. Boswell, William R. Hunt, John Hogan, Joseph G. Carroll, Lemuel Bursley P. H. Reinhard, chief HE old home had its sorrows as well as itg pleasures, and one of the graver evenis east side of QGeorgia avenue about at street, and the grounds included five purchased by Prank L. Stickney’s grandf: during the brief administration of Henry Harrison, Here Mr. iz IE! for the owner by & Mr. Nailor, who lved streets, and the owner had Mrs. Ellen Eddie, a widow B3 merchant in the old Northern Market, built on the corner of Sixth and streets a two-story dwelling. Later Williand Stickney purchased the Bradley residence and the vacant lot to the west and erected mansion where Mr. Kendall, and later he hinge self, died. Some of the houses on M street have the appearance of having been built quite a wiilg back, though probably none of the very earlies§ homes remain standing. One particular however, worthy of more than passing is a part of the old poorhouse erected at leasl prior to 1843, when it was determined to movg this institution to the Government reservatiosf on the Eastern Branch. This bullding, the writer is informed, at oné time extended east and west across what I§ now Six-and-a-half street. Of course, & pam§ of this buflding was removed when this streef was run through the square, but on the easl side can still be seen a part of the building, with wooden stairway added for am entrance way. ‘This building extends eastm wardly back of & modern brick building on thd corner, and its eastern end, unobstructed, mag’ be seen in the rear of the yard next to the corner. ENERALLY speaking, this part of Washe ington is not very old—indeed, there arg many Washingtonians who can recall whem there was much waste land north of P streef,