David Frederick Hollister (1826)

Born 31 Mar 1826 in Washington, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

"graduated at Yale College, 1851; admitted to the bar at Litchfield in December, 1851, and immediately opened a law-office in Salisbury, Conn., where he remained until 1854, when in April of that year he removed to Bridgeport, Conn., where he has since resided. He was elected judge of the Probate Court for the district of Bridgeport in 1858, and reelected in 1859; appointed collector of Internal Revenue for the 4th district of Connecticut by President Lincoln, Aug. 15, 1862. Served in that capacity till the consolidation of the 2d and 4th districts, and was then appointed collector of the consolidated 2d district of Connecticut by President Grant on the 21st day of October, 1873, and served as collector of this district until the 1st day of September, 1883, when upon the consolidation of all the districts of the State, with the office at Hartford, he retired from office, having been in continuous service for over 21 years without the discrepancy of one farthing in handling many millions of public funds. He resumed the practice of law upon retiring from office, and is still an active and prominent member of the bar in Bridgeport. He married, Sept. 23, 1852, Mary E. Jackson of Brooklyn, N.Y., daughter of Samuel and Esther Jackson. She was born in Westport, Conn., May 2, 1830; graduated from Packer Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1851."

"Mr. Hollister, his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Read are all members of the First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport, as was Mrs. Schenck prior to her removal to Mahopac Falls. Mr. Hollister has been a ruling elder in said church for about twenty-five years, and is now the senior elder of the church."

"David Frederick Hollister until his sixteenth year was a resident of the old homestead in Washington, Litchfield county, but at that period in his life the family removed to the town of Woodbury, same county, where in accordance with his father's earnest wish he remained on the farm for several years. While thus at home on the farm he had the fortune, good or bad, to cut his foot so severely as to interfere with his active duties for many months, and he finally obtained the consent of his father to prepare for college. He had already received a common-school education in his native town. He made up his mind to enter the class of '51, having less than a year before the commencement of the term. He made the best use of this time, and presented himself for examination without having completed, however, quite two-thirds of the preparatory course. On leaving home for New Haven, and bidding his friends good-bye he assured them that they would not see him again until he was a member of the class of '51, though he had many misgivings as to his success in passing the examination. To his surprise and delight, however, he "passed the Rubicon" in safety. This he attributed in a great measure to an experience, serious enough in the time of it, that he had with Prof. Kingsley, who examined him in Latin. The Professor gave him an exceedingly tough oration to translate which he knew at a glance could not be trifled with or extemporized on with safety, and so told the Professor frankly that he could not read the selection. "What, what, young gentleman," said the Professor, " did you not know that this book was in the preparatory course . "Yes, sir," replied the applicant, "but I did not have time after I decided to enter this class to complete the whole preparatory course.” The Professor commenced to close the book with a look on his face which seemed also to young Hollister to close the door of hope for admission to the class. In a fit of desperation the applicant exclaimed, “I can give you the derivation and meaning of every word on the page, construct the sentences properly and parse them correctly." With a doubtful smile upon his face the Professor told him he might try it. The trial proved that the boy had a fair knowledge of the principles and construction of the Latin language, and the Professor called a halt. The Professor then turned to another portion of the book and asked if he could read that. It was simply a narrative, and the boy replied, “I never saw it before, but I can read it,” which he did to the entire satisfaction of the Professor. “Now, young gentleman," inquired the latter, “tell me why you did not attempt to read my first selection?” “Because,” replied he, “it was a speech, and I knew nothing whatever of the occasion or subject matter, and could not enter into the spirit of it so as to translate it intelligently, and knew I should only make a fool of myself if I attempt edit." A pleasant smile spread over the Professor's fatherly face as he expressed himself satisfied, and he proved ever afterward during the entire college course a most kind and considerate friend.

Young Hollister, in his senior year, was chosen first president from his class of the Linonian Literary and Debating Society, an honor which was then esteemed second to none in college life. Before entering college he had for a time studied law, and immediately after his graduation he entered the law office of his brother, the late Gideon H. Hollister, of Litchfield, author of a history of Connecticut and graduate of Yale, class of '40. In the December following his graduation, 1851, he was admitted to the Bar of Litchfield county, at once located at Salisbury, Conn., and opened an office for the practice of law. In 1854 he removed to Bridgeport, where he soon after purchased several tracts of land in and about the city, and took needed exercise and recreation, devoting his leisure time to the opening up and developing of the property by Streets and avenues, upon which many pleasant homes have been erected, and a flourishing village now exists. In 1866, he received the degree of M. A. at Yale.

During his long years of residence in Bridge Port Mr. Hollister has always been closely identified with the improvements and public institutions of the Park City and its environs. He has served as a member of the city government. In 1858 he was elected judge of probate for the district of Bridgeport, and was re-elected in 1859. On August 16, 1862, he was appointed, by President Lincoln, collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of Connecticut, and after the consolidation of the Second and Fourth Districts, in October, 1873, he was appointed collector of the consolidated district by President Grant, which office he held continuously until September 1, 1883, when upon the consolidation of all the districts in the State, with office at Hartford, he retired from the public service, having been continuously in the office for over twenty one years, and having served under the following six Presidents: Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur. During this time he also held the office of receiver and disburser of the public funds for the government, and was also receiver of commutation money during the Civil war, thus handling in these various offices many millions of dollars, without loss to the government or the discrepancy of a farthing from first to last. Throughout the Civil war Mr. Hollister was an ardent supporter of the government. He was not subject to military duty, owing to the accident he met with in youth, heretofore referred to; yet he sent two good substitutes to the cause to represent him on the field, while he at home assisted in various ways in rendering those important services which were so essential to the success of the cause. By means of his official relations to the government Mr. Hollister was brought into frequent contact with President Lincoln and the heads of the various departments at Washington, civil and military, being thus enabled to serve his city and district in a number of very important matters, especially in relation to the provost marshal's office in his district, which at a most critical period was a source of much uneasiness and anxiety to those who were engaged in recruiting men for the service.

Mr. Hollister's professional life in Bridgeport covers forty-odd years of the city's history. Of the seventeen practicing lawyers here on his coming, two of them moved away, four still survive, and the others have been called to their reward. On his advent into the city Mr. Hollister at once began an extensive practice, which continued to increase until he entered upon the collectorship at the beginning of the war of the Rebellion. For the twenty-one years following he gave his best energies and the most of his time to his official duties, and upon retiring from office he received the highest testimonials for his long, efficient and faithful service.

Numerous and varied are the enterprises and movements, with which the name of our subject has been identified, that have aided in the city's growth and in its social progress. He has obtained from the Legislature of the State many charters of public interest, among them the Boys Club; the Citizens Water Company, now consolidated with the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company; the Bridgeport and West Stratford Horse Railroad Company, of which he was president for several years, but which is now consolidated with the Bridgeport Traction Company ; the Stratford Land and Improvement Company; the City Savings Bank, of which he is president; and the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Hollister is a member of the Board of Trade. He is one of the trustees of the Bridgeport Orphan Asylum, and is its legal adviser. On first coming to Bridgeport himself and his late lamented wife, Mary E. Hollister, united with the First Presbyterian Church of that city, of which he has ever since been an active member, and has devoted much time and labor to its welfare. He has been an elder of the Church for upward of thirty years, is now the senior elder and treasurer of the same, and one of the Society's committee. The beautiful church chapel, Sunday-school building and parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church, corner of State street and Myrtle avenue, Bridgeport, are in a great measure the re- sult of his planning, earnest labors and unflagging zeal, as he was the chairman of the building committees, and assisted in securing the land for the purpose. He was one of the three origi- nal organizers and managers of the Boys Club of Bridgeport, is one of its vice-presidents, and is active in its management. On the close of his official career Mr. Hollister formed a partnership with William H. Kelsey, of Bridgeport, under the name of Hollister & Kelsey, for the practice of the law, which co-partnership has since continued.

Socially, Mr. Hollister is a member of the Seaside Club; is also a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M. Politically, he was first a Whig, casting his first vote with that party, and on the organization of the Republican party he espoused its principles, and has ever since been an ardent supporter of its policy. On September 23, 1852, Mr. Hollister was married to Miss Mary E. Jackson, of Brooklyn, N. Y., born May 2, 1830. She was a graduate of Packer Institute. To this union were born two children, both daughters, to wit: (i) Harriet Lydia, born August 13, 1853. who married F. W. Read, of Bridgeport, and has five children—three sons and two daughters; one of the sons is in Yale College, and another will soon enter that institution. (2) Mary Frances, born April 29, 1855, also married, but died without issue. The mother was called from earth June 4, 1896.

The following is a verbatim copy of the address given by Mr. Hollister to the Yale Alumni Association of Fairfield county in October, 1888;

YALE LAWYERS OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY. Hon. D. F. Hollister, A. M., '51. Mr. President and Brethren:

It may seem the height of presumption for one man to attempt to speak for so many distinguished orators as are to be found among the Yale lawyers of Fairfield County. Yet, in obedience to your behest, Mr. President, I will make the effort. In doing this, I console myself with the thought that should I fail to do the subject justice (as I certainly shall), every one is a host in himself and abundantly able to make up for my deficiencies.

In the remarks that I may make I shall abstain from the mention of individual names; where all have done so nobly, discrimination would be invidious. Should it be the desire, however, of any to enter somewhat more into detail, 1 would refer them (especially so far as relates to the living) to that wonderful compendium of biographies, autobiographies and caricatures entitled "The History of Fairfield County."

In every department of human activity the wide world over, wherever honest labor, mental or physical, is to be per- formed, there, foremost in the foremost rank, are to be found the sons of Yale.

The physical ills and infirmities that mortal flesh is heir to demand a distinct class of learned and able men, who, by patient and careful study, have become skilled in the knowledge of diseases and in the application of the appropriate remedies to relieve suffering humanity. Hence we have physicians and surgeons. We recognize some of this useful and honorable class here among us to-day. May the blessing of God rest upon them, and may He give them the requisite wisdom and skill for this most important and beneficent service. Especially may He vouchsafe to them the wisdom and skill to engineer us all safely through on this occasion, notwithstanding the temptations awaiting us at the coming feast, under which the tables are said to be literally groaning across the way. Let us hope that the groaning will all be confined to the tables.

Again; Man is not only physically, but he is morally and mentally, diseased. He is estranged from and at war with the God who made him, and refuses to obey the just and beneficent requirements of the moral law and treads the downward path of disobedience, sin and misery; hence the necessity of another distinct class of men whose lifework it is, by precept and example, to bring men back from a state of rebellion into proper relations to their Maker and sovereign; so we have the Ministers of the Gospel of Peace. This noble and self-sacrificing class of men is represented here on this occasion, and we rejoice in this ocular demonstration that, while they are faithful and untiring in their life work, they are not oblivious to the social demands of our nature nor forgetful of its amenities.

They are doing a noble and glorious work, whose fruitage, in full measure, it may not be given them to see with the mortal eye, but which shall continue long after the laborer shall have ceased from his toil and been laid away to his rest. But the enemy is so strongly entrenched in our fallen nature that, after God's messengers have done their best to enforce the claims of the moral law, still vast multitudes acknowledge no allegiance to the divine requirements and hold themselves amenable to no law, save their own unbridled passions; and hence arises the necessity for human laws and for a distinct class of men, whose duty and business it is to formulate, interpret, administer and enforce such human laws as shall best subserve the interests and protect the rights of individuals and society. Hence the necessity, the imperative necessity, of the "Yale Lawyers of Fairfield County"

Mr. President, to speak of the noble dead, who have passed on before to their reward, and to enumerate their triumphs and their virtues, would be a most interesting and delightful theme; but time forbids; should I make the attempt the shades of night would gather around us, before the Roll of Honor could be called, and a fitting mention be made of each. Hear in mind Fairfield County, as a distinct judicial district, with courts of her own, has existed since 1666. During all these intervening years, two centuries and nearly a quarter, the Bar of Fairfield County has exerted a powerful and benign influence upon society, and has been a mighty factor in shaping the policy of the State and Nation; and in organizing and establishing those institutions public and private, which constitute the pride, the glory and the safety of our beloved land. Not merely as lawyers, in the technical sense, but as citizens, in every phase of life, the members of the Bar of this county have acted well their part, and we point with pride to the noble record of their deeds, though we may not particularize them on this occasion. The history of those, who passed away before my connection with this Bar, has been written by abler pens than mine, and anything I might say would be but a repetition of what has already been better said. And, so far as relates to those who have ceased from their labors, since my remembrance, my partiality might lead me to unduly eulogize some whom I remember with filial affection, and to pass over others in silence, equally worthy of honorable mention.

As my mind runs over the past thirty-four years of my connection with the Bar of this county, how many familiar forms and faces rise up before me! How many familiar voices seem once more to mingle in the exciting contests of the Forum!

The Yale Lawyers of Fairfield County who have passed over to the majority were an honor and a blessing to the day and generation in which they lived. At the Bar, on the Bench, in the Executive office, in the fields of art, of science, of literature, of history, of poetry, in the halls of legislature, State and National, and on the blood-stained fields of battle, whenever and wherever duty called, they responded with alacrity, and performed faithfully and well the duty assigned to them. They have left us bright examples of devotion to duty, which are a precious legacy to us all. May we prove ourselves worthy of such a priceless inheritance. The luster of their honored names still shines with undiminished brightness; may it stimulate us to higher and nobler efforts in our profession. To speak of the living is not always safe. It is sometimes positively dangerous. But, Mr, President, permit me to address a few remarks to the Yale Lawyers of Fairfield County. My brethren, bear in mind that ours is a noble profession. It was not to our crowd that the fearful denunciation of old: "Woe unto you lawyers," was addressed. There seems to have been some misapprehension on this subject, and so far as my observation goes, there has been no special effort on the part of those for whom it was really intended to correct the error; but with this simple disclaimer, on this occasion and in this presence, I will dismiss the subject.

As I look upon this gathering here to-day, it occurs to me, that a large number of the Yale Lawyers of Fairfield County are in the earlier stages of their professional career. My brethren, we old fellows are not of much account, our race is well nigh run, our sun is descending the western sky and fast sinking behind the Everlasting Hills. Your sun, on the contrary, is now climbing the heavens, toward the full meridian day. You have a noble career of honor and usefulness before you, if you are only true to yourselves, your Alma Mater, and your God.

Allow no siren tongue to entice you away from the honest and faithful study and practice of your chosen profession. Let brotherly love and professional courtesy prevail. Let all envy and jealousy be ostracised from among you. Let all your ambition and rivalry be in the line of elevating the standard of our beloved profession. I am happy to bear most emphatic testimony as to the high and manly character of the Bar of this county, as at present constituted, especially the Yale portion of it, but nothing human is so perfect that it may not be improved. Keep steadily at work qualifying yourselves for the honest and able discharge of your professional duties, and your profession will certainly take care of you.

The higher rounds in the ladder of our profession are not reached without severe mental and moral discipline,, patiently and persistently endured. Like the athlete, if you would gain the prize you must work for it. There is no royal road to distinction. Your feet must tread the dusty, toilsome, common highway, notwithstanding your noble birthright, as sims of Yale. See to it, that you do not barter away or dishonor that birthright.

Let it be your proud ambition to honor Yale, to raise the standard of professional ability, of professional honor, and professional integrity, in this county, so that the name and fame of the Fairfield County Bar, through your efforts and your influence, shall stand second to none in this State, or in this nation; and so, living up to the full measure of the stature of Christian manhood, you shall be an honor to your profession, a blessing to the world, and prove yourselves true sons of Yale. And finally, when you shall have tried your last causes here on earth, and you yourselves shall stand before the Great Judgment Bar, not as advocates but to be judged, you shall hear from the lips of the Great Law Giver and Judge of the Universe the welcome plaudit, " well done! ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut (1899), pages 200-202 - https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio01inchic

• No. 1348, pg 203 and 385-386 - Hollister Family of America compiled by Lafayette Wallace Case, MD 1886 - https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=5eNUAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA1