Union Porcelain Works proprietor, Thomas Smith, died.

Thomas C. Smith.

Thomas C. Smith, proprietor of the Union Porcelain Works, died yesterday at his home, 140 Milton Street, Brooklyn, after an illness of two months. He was born at Bridgehampton, L. I., eighty-five years ago. The old homestead on which he was born was purchased from the Shinnecock Indians nearly a century ago. When very young, Mr. Smith came to New York and became apprenticed to a builder. In 1830 he entered into business for himself. He built the queer-shaped stone structure near Yonkers in which Edwin Forrest lived when at leisure.

At the outbreak of the civil war, Mr. Smith was compelled to take a little porcelain factory in Greenpoint for debt. In order to master the work he visited Europe and commenced a thorough investigation of the art. As a result of his application he manufactured goods that equaled those produced by the leading factories of France and England. To-day the Union porcelain plant covers nearly a block. For twenty-five years or more Mr. Smith was President of the Ophthalmic Hospital and College of New York, and was the confrere of the last ex-Gov. Roswell P. Flower. He was also one of the organizers of the Seventeenth Ward Bank and its President for four years. He helped to organize the Manufacturers' Insurance Company, and was a Director and Trustee on the Building Committee of the Grant Monument Committee. A wife, one son, and three daughters survive him.