Anthony Comstock.
Anthony Comstock, who has been described as the most honest and the best-hated man in New York city, was born in New Canaan, Connecticut, March 7, 1844. He received his education in district schools and academy and later at the High School at New Britain, Connecticut. Early in life he began to earn his own livelihood, and in order to do so followed several vocations in succession. His brother Samuel was killed fighting for the Union cause at Gettysburg, and Anthony, volunteering to fill his place in the regiment, enlisted in the Seventeenth Volunteer Connecticut Infantry and saw much service during the war. He was mustered out in July, 1865. On January 25, 1871, he married Margaret Hamilton. In 1873 he was appointed postmaster inspector in New York, later became prominent in Young Men’s Christian Association affairs, and finally identified himself with the New York society for the suppression of vice. Mr. Comstock’s services in connection with what is his life work are too well known to be recapitulated. Possessing courage, moral and physical, of the highest order and a keen sense of his duties to the community in his official capacity, Mr. Comstock has for years been a terror to evil-doers, especially those who pander to vicious instincts. He has brought nearly 3,000 criminals to justice and has destroyed over 80 tons of obscene literature, pictures, etc. Altogether he is a notable figure in the complex life of New York, and the making of bitter enemies has necessarily followed on Mr. Comstock’s career. But these, many and influential as they are, have never successfully attacked his motives or his integrity.
Wilbur Fiske Crafts.
The Rev. Wilbur Fiske Crafts was born at Fryeburg, Maine, January 12, 1850. His father was the Rev. A. C. Crafts. In 1869 the future author, lecturer and clergyman graduated from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, subsequently taking the post-graduate course in Boston University. On leaving college he became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, holding charges for several years therein and laying the foundation for the reputation which now attaches to him. Later, however, Mr. Crafts decided that the tenets of the Congregational denomination were more to his liking, and accordingly accepted a call to a Congregational church in Brooklyn. Still later he became a Presbyterian pastor in New York. Resigning from the ministry, he was made superintendent of the International Reform Bureau, the object of which is to secure moral legislation in the United States and Canada with the assistance of lectures, literature and personal example and influence. He is the author of many works, the majority of which are of a religious nature, or deal with social questions.
Elbridge Thomas Gerry.
Elbridge Thomas Gerry, born in New York city, December 25, 1837, was named after his grandfather, who was one of the vice-presidents of the United States and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Gerry was educated in the New York public schools, and graduated from Columbia college in 1858. He was admitted to the bar in 1860. He acted as vice-president, until 1899, of the American society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. He was chairman of the New York state commission on capital punishment from 1886 to 1888. Since 1891 he has been president of the annual convention of the New York societies for prevention of cruelty. He is trustee of the general theological seminary of the Presbyterian-Episcopal church and also trustee of the American museum of natural history, and of the New York Mutual Life Insurance company. Besides that, he is a member and director of various corporations and societies. Since 1876 he has been president of the New York society for the prevention of cruelty to children, which society is generally known as the Gerry Society. He has one of the largest private law libraries in the United States. Mr. Gerry is one of those conscientious citizens whose work for the public good has been as continuous as it has been successful.
William Reuben George.
William R. George was born at West Dryden, New York, June 4, 1866. He was educated in the common schools. His parents came to New York city in 1880, where he later engaged in business. Becoming interested in poor boys and girls, he, during the seasons of 1890 to 1894, took two hundred of them to the country for from two weeks to a month to spend a portion of their school vacations with him. Impressed with the large number of children endeavoring to live by charity, he conceived, in 1894, the plan of requiring payment in labor for every favor the youngsters received, and, in addition, instituted a system of self-government. This was the beginning of a junior republic, which was put into practical operation in 1895 and has continued successfully ever since. He was married November 14, 1896, to Esther B. George, of New York. To Mr. George belongs the credit of inaugurating a novel and praiseworthy method of fostering good citizenship.
Charles Henry Parkhurst.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Henry Parkhurst was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, April 17, 1842. His father worked on a farm in summer and taught school in winter. Until sixteen years of age Charles was a pupil of the Clinton (Mass.) grammar school. The two years following he acted as clerk in a dry goods store. At the age of eighteen he began to prepare for college at Lancaster academy. At the end of the course there, he went to Amherst, from whence he graduated in 1866. The following year he became principal of the Amherst high school, remaining there until 1870, when he visited Germany. On his return he became professor of Greek and Latin in Williston seminary, holding that position for two years, during which period he married a Miss Bodman, a pupil of his while a teacher at Amherst. Accompanied by his wife, he next made a trip to Europe to study at Halle, Leipzig, and Bonn. Again in this country he received a call to the pastorate of the First Congregational church in Lenox, Massachusetts, where he soon gained a reputation as an original and forceful pulpit orator. On March 9, 1880, he became pastor of the Madison Square Presbyterian church, New York city, the call being the outcome of his work at Lenox. He immediately began to take a lively interest in city and national politics, and one of his sermons attracted the attention of Dr. Howard Crosby, president of the society for the prevention of crime, in which society Dr. Parkhurst was invited to become a director. A few months later Dr. Crosby died and Dr. Parkhurst was chosen as his successor. Dr. Parkhurst has done more for reform in New York city than any other single individual. His courageous course in connection with the Lexow investigation of certain phases of life in New York will not be readily forgotten.