History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 26

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703

USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 26

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Of those whose birth or residence here has identified them with the history of the place we need only mention the youger Colden and Chancellor and Senator Sanford, who made his home here at the close of his marked pro- fessional and political career, and, after erecting the noble edifice known as Sanford Hall, died in 1837. These give some indications of the class of professional men with whom the generation just passed away was familiar; while of the attorneys of to-day Hon. L. Bradford Prince, Judge Onderdonk, R. S. Bacon, LL. D., Robert C. Embree, Judge Lawrence and Messrs. Covert, Bogart, Downing, Van Bergen, Gibson, Johnstone, Frame, Roe, Treadwell, Hildreth and Van Nostrand are a few of the best known of Flushing's citizens " who to the law in- cline," and are, with but few exceptions, descendants of old Queens county families; many of them tracing their ancestry back in the town's history for five generations.

So much cannot be said of the medical profession, as its practitioners are men whose term of residence here has not exceeded fifteen years, with the exception of Dr. Hicks, who has spent the greater portion of his life here, and attained a respectable reputation as a general prac- titioner. Drs. J. Howard Leven and E. A. Goodridge are partners, and occupy a handsome double house on Main street. Dr. J. Foster Maynard has an office on Farrington street, and Dr. Badger one on Locust street.

Dr. E. P. Lawrence, a young physician graduated in 1879, is rapidly attaining a wide circle of patrons; a test of his popularity was made by his friends not long since, when a case of surgical instruments was to be given at a church fair to the most popular doctor on the island; although the contest was in Brooklyn, and Dr. Lawrence's conipetitors Brooklyn physicians, the prize was voted to him by a large majority of the votes cast. Dr. Leggett, and Mrs. Dr. Leggett, who has an office in New York, and Dr. Allen, a young homœopathist and an ardent habitue of the Niantic Club and advocate of athletic exercises, com- plete the list of general practitioners with whose diplomas or claims on the profession the writer has any knowl- edge.

MACDONALD'S INSANE ASYLUM.

To the list of physicians it might be well to add the name of Dr. J. W. Barstow, who in 1854 succeeded Dr. Buell as resident physician of Macdonald's private in- sane asylum, at Sanford Hall, and since that time has been in charge of it. Repeated efforts to obtain infor- mation relative to this institution have resulted in the writer's being referred to Mandeville's "Flushing." Taking this as a guide it is found that Dr. James Mac- donald and his brother Allan Macdonald, somewhat known in insurance circles in New York, were formerly owners of a private asylum on Murray hill. The doctor had been in the employ of the State in the care of insane patients at Bloomingdale, where he obtained the post of resident physician when only twenty-one years old. Before he reached the age of thirty he was sent by the governors of the New York Hospital as a commissioner to Europe to visit the various asylums and report im- provements with a view to their adoption at Blooming- dale. Every important improvement in the care and treatment of the insane has been forced upon our notice by the asylums of Europe; and even now our asylum and hospital authorities are making frequent use of restraints and relics of barbarism long since discarded by similar institutions in England, France and Germany. After a tour of inspection lasting sixteen months Dr. Macdonald was invited to take charge of Bloomingdale, and make a practical use of his discoveries. He remained there about four years, and in 1839 revisited Europe. On his return, in 1841, he, with his brother, as stated, opened the private asylum as a business enterprise; and finding a rural site better adapted for it they purchased Senator Sanford's country seat-a beautiful marble building said to have cost nearly $130,000 to erect, and set in a natural park of considerable extent-and to this place they re- moved their patients in 1845. The cost of purchasing and remodeling the place for its present use is not known, but must have been large; and tends to prove the profit- able character of that class of practice. Dr. Macdonald was evidently devoted to his profession, and conscientious in his care of the unfortunates to whom those marble halls were but the dingiest of prison cells. It is believed that too close application to the duties and studies of his position was the inciting cause of his death, which

III

JOURNALISM AT FLUSHING-ODD FELLOWS.

occurred May 5th 1849, after an illness of but three days. From the death of its founder the institution was continued by the surviving partner and the doctor's widow until General Macdonald's death; since which time a firm known as Macdonald & Company, composed it is believed of members of the old family, have had it in charge. Since 1860 there are no data obtainable through official sources. In that year Mandeville reports the average number of patients treated as forty-eight. Dr. Barstow has remained in charge twenty-seven years, which would seem to indicate that his services are satis- factory to the owners.

One of the most beautiful places in this beautiful vil- lage, Sanford Hall is also the saddest, and the writer would have been glad to have had it in his power to throw some rays of light and hope among those whose friends are within its walls, by the publication of tables showing progress made in the successful treatment of the various forms of mania, and that skill and good manage- ment were annually increasing the ratio of cures. This, however, is impossible; and he can only hope that in the near future there will come a day when the managers of such institutions will learn that the real cause for the uneasy feeling as regards them, the anxious criticism of laws relating to lunacy, and the dark suspicions that have clung to and crippled some of the best of their class, is the cautious manner in which they seek to prevent inter- course between patients and their friends except in their own presence, and set up obstacles to furnishing infor- mation to the public, which is just as much its due as that contained in the catalogue of a college or seminary.

THE FLUSHING PRESS.

The first newspaper published in Flushing was the Church Record, the initial number being issued in 1840; it continued until 1844, about 372 years. It was edited by Rev. Dr. F. L. Hawks and published by C. R. Lincoln.

The Flushing Journal, which is published daily and weekly, is the oldest and largest newspaper in Flushing. It was started in 1842, its founder being the late Charles R. Lincoln.

In 1869 and again in 1873 the Journal changed hands. Since the latter date it has been edited and published by Charles W. Smith, who has added greatly to the value of the concern in a business sense, as well as in the character and appearance of the paper itself.

The Journal is perhaps the most widely read paper in Queens county, and enjoys a very large advertising patronage. The job printing office, which was fitted up expressly for the purpose, is probably not excelled outside of the great cities, and several publications have been issued from it which take equal rank with Harper's or Appleton's of New York.

The Evening Journal was first published by C. W. Smith in 1878. Politics, Democratic.

The Flushing Pomologist was published in 1848 by William R. Prince, and had but a short career.

In 1852 the Public Voice was started by George W.

Ralph, and in 1855 its name was changed to the Long Island Times. Up to September Ist 1881 it continued to be published by Walter R. Burling, its founder, who also established the Flushing Daily Times on September Ist 1865. During Mr. Burling's ownership it was neutral in politics. On September Ist 1881 the pro- prietorship of the Long Island Times and Flushing Daily Times became vested in a joint stock company under the name of the Long Island Times Publishing Company (limited), which paid $12,000 for the concern. The edi- torial and general management of the papers is in charge of George R. Crowly, who was editor for a length of time under the former proprietor. E. A. Allen is presi- dent, Captain J. W. Dixon secretary, and A. K. P. Dennett treasurer. It is now Republican in politics.

The Journal of the Institute was published for about three years between 1855 and 1859.

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES.

The close relation sustained so long between the peo- ple of Flushing and the city of New York is undoubtedly the reason why, notwithstanding the age of the town, the establishment of local societies, lodges and clubs is a matter of recent date.

Pacific Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F .- This lodge was chartered April 17th 1843, and organized two days later. The charter members were: C. Hilton, N. G .; J. S. Clut- terbruck, V. G .; A. S. Wheeler, secretary; A. Winham jr., treasurer; P. Stevenson. The successive noble grands have been as follows:

C. Hilton, J. S. Clutterbruck, A. S. Wheeler, A. Win- ham jr., Thomas Trenchard, James B. Devoe, William Knighton, Uriah Mitchell, James Taylor, John Milburn, George W. Huntsman, John W. Lawrence, Garret R. Garretson, Abraham Bloodgood, H. C. Smith, Henry S. Hover, Edward Roe, Cornelius W. Howard, Edmund Howard, John H. Cornell, Charles Vandervoort, William Samnis, George B. Roe, William W. Balk, Charles H. Hedges, John M. E. Balk, Banardus Lamberson, John Purchase, Charles P. I .. Balk, George Pople, Charles W. Cox, Frederick Thorp, Thomas Webb, Charles H. Miller, Richard Sanders, Thomas Elliott, Abram Johnson, John Conn, William H. Clark, George Lewis, Seahan W. Pur- chase, William Millne, Frederick Clages, George Fair- brother, George Hannett, Joseph Vedder, Charles A. S. Van Nostrand, Charles W. Brown, James W. Covert, Charles R. Baker, Henry F. Lincoln, Oscar F. Leek, Benjamin Byrd, William J. R. Clark, Henry A. Foreman, Frederick Webb, Fernando T.Whiting, Jantes H. Samnis, John R. Conn, James H. Lowerree, George P. Smith, William C. Ellis, J. Harvey Randolph, Joseph Dyke, John M. Dannott, Frederick Quarterman, William E. Phillips, John A. Young, John R. Lawrence, Frederick Schmidt and Charles H. Higgins.

The present officers of the lodge (1881) are: Thomas Heasely, N. G .; John Cleater, V. G .; John A. Young, treasurer; James H. Lowerrec, secretary; Edmund Howard, permanent secretary.

Meetings are held semi-monthly in Odd Fellows' Hall, in the Queens County Savings Bank building.

Ridgley Encampment, No. 60, I. O. O. F .- Ridgley Encampment was chartered August 23d 1871. The following were the charter members : George Pople,

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Charles W. Brown, Henry F. Lincoln, Oscar C. Leek, William J. R. Clark, John R. Clark, Fred. Webb and® James H. Samnis.

A Rifle Company was organized in January 1849. It . belonged to the 15th regiment, and was known as the Hamilton Rifles. Its officers were: Captain, George B. Roe; first lieutenant, Henry A. Peck; second lieutenant, Henry S. Barto.

The Flushing Library Association was founded in 1858 and nurtured by the most prominent citizens of the town. Its second annual report showed a membership of three hundred and twenty nine and a library of 1, 100 volumes. Its president for many years was Hon. L. Bradford Prince. During the early years of the association the secretary and librarian was selected from among its inem- bers, and served without pay. This was found to work badly and a salary was voted which has been sufficient to keep the office filled by a faithful and attentive librarian; Miss Treadwell has been acting in that capacity for a long time. In 1876 the library contained 4,000 volumes, and a well arranged and finely printed catalogue was issued. Some additions have been made since that date, sufficient to keep up with the range of thought in the scientific department, but the number of volumes is about the same. The library occupies a pleasant room on Am- ity street, and the fittings and book cases are in good tastes. The insurances amount to $5,000. As the asso- ciation is not endowed, and depends almost exclusively on the slender membership fee of $2 per annum, liter- ary and dramatic entertainments have occasionally been given for its benefit. Mr. E. R. Pelton, the publisher of the Eclectic Magazine, and for years one of the warmest friends of the institution, is the president of the associa- tion.

The Sylla Dramatic Association is the outgrowth of a desire to furnish the people of the place with a class of dramatic entertainments adapted for the family circle, and free from the objectionable features of professional plays. Its members are drawn from the best people of the village, and its success in accomplishing its end may be judged from the fact that while it always plays to well filled houses it requires a professional troupe of much more than ordinary ability to draw a paying audience here.

Knights of Pythias .- This order is represented in Flushing by Oak Lodge, 166, which was instituted March 21st 1881, by Grand Chancellor O. M. Shedd. The first officers elected were: Chancellor commander, G. A. Roullin; vice-chancellor, G. Roskell Crowly; prelate, S. J. Hallet; M. of E., Frederick Schmidt; M. of F., A. Foster King; K. of R. and S., M. Posner; M. at A., R. White; past chancellors, Hon. W. F. J. Youngs, J. F. Huss, Charles L. Van De Water; trus- tees, J. F. Huss, C. Fichtner, A. F. King. There were 17 members when the lodge was instituted and 23 when the grand lodge granted a charter in July 1881. Since then the growth has been rapid, there being now 30 members.

The Niantic Club was organized in 1860, by Morris

Franklin, Robert Tucker, R. L. Bowne, Robert Loudon, W. B. Lawrence and others, its object being the encour- agement of social intercourse. It comprises the most prominent citizens of Flushing, and has of late taken a lively interest in the development of athletic sports. It had in 1880 a membership of sixty, with an athletic aux- iliary comprising one hundred and twenty members. In 1878 it secured grounds comprising five or six acres, bounded by Jaggar and Maple avenues, Irving place and Division street, which were enclosed and on which a club-house was erected. The rooms of the club are on Sanford avenue at the corner of Parsons, where it has leased the large house formerly occupied by Mr. Graham of Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, New York, and adjoin- ing which it has built a bowling alley. Its rooms are furnished with all the appliances of a first-class club- house, and supplied with all the leading periodicals.

The officers of the club for the year 1881 were: Morris Franklin, president; Robert Loudon, J. F. B. Mitchell and J. S. Tucker, vice-presidents; W. A. Allen, secre- tary; F. Elliman, treasurer. Its annual meetings occur on the first Friday in December, and monthly business meetings of the board of managers on the first Friday of each month. The morale of the institution is excellent and a membership in it is sought for by the most refined and intelligent citizens of Flushing.

The Nereus Rowing Club was organized in June 185-, with the following members: H. L. Bogart, H. T. Van Nostrand, C. H. Van Nostrand, L. E. Embree, F. L. Northrup, E. Bowne, L. M. Franklin, J. Burdelle, J. J. Thompson, R. J. Loudon, E. M. Franklin, C. A. Willets jr. L. M. Franklin was elected president, C. A. Willets secretary and E. M. Franklin treasurer. The officers for 1880 were: President, L. M. Franklin; vice-president, R. S. Tucker; secretary, J. Q. Thompson; treasurer, Charles A. Willets; captain, John A. Walker; lieutenant, Frederick A. Guild. The fleet consists of one four-oared barge, one six, two four and two two-oared gigs, together with two double gigs, one four-oared shell and a number of single sculls, owned by individual members. The boat- house is on Flushing Creek, off Jackson avenue. The rowing course is over Flushing Bay, and on the creek in rough weather. The membership had increased to forty- nine in 1880. Articles of incorporation have been se- cured, and although the club is independent it is governed by the usual rules of amateur boating associations, and participates to some extent in regattas. Its business meetings are held monthly from April to November. The present captain, J. A. Walker, is a somewhat noted oarsman, and under his leadership the club bids fair to become expert in the fascinating exercise of rowing.

A Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1858 and supplied with a well-selected library of religious works. It held weekly meetings for prayer and literary exercises every two weeks. Some of its members were active in conducting mission Sunday-schools, distributing tracts and encouraging attendance on religious meetings. Peter Gorsline was its first president.

Cornucopia Lodge, No. 563, F. & A. M .- A dispen-

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THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, FLUSHING.

sation for the formation of this body was issued by M. W. Clinton F. Paige, September 12th 1864, and the lodge was duly warranted by the grand lodge of the State of New York in June 1865, and constituted by M. W. Robert D. Holmes, G. M., June 2Ist of that year. The following are the names of the masters and the years in which they were elected: C. W. Brown, 1864-67, 1873-75; L. Brad- ford Prince, 1868-70; J. L. Frame jr., 1869; Alexander Rogers, 1871; George Pople, 1872; William L. Seaman, 1876; E. H. Frame, 1877-79; W. T. James, 1880. Past Masters Brown, Prince and E. H. Frame have held the position of district deputy grand master-the last named being the present incumbent. Cornucopia Lodge has one of the most spacious and elegant rooms in the vil- lage; its charities are numerous, and its public entertain- ments and receptions are always welcomed by the people of Flushing, as they have always been of the highest order of merit.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY. THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

It is believed that the first meetings of this body of believers were held in private houses at as early a date as 1648, although no regular organized body existed un- til 1660. From the erection of the old Bowne house, in 1661, to 1695 the meetings were held there and on the adjoining grounds when, as was sometimes the case, the crowds were too great to gain admittance to the house.

Perhaps the most prominent members were the Town- send brothers, Henry and John, who removed to New- town and Oyster Bay within a few years, where they still witnessed for the faith ; the Hicks family; John Lawrence, who became a convert through the influence of his wife; John Bowne, whose exile to Holland we have already related; his wife, who became a well known and powerful preacher; the Cornells, Farringtons, Hugh Cowperthwaite, Matthew Franklin, and, in latter days, the Parsons, Roe, Cocks, and Titus families.

The following marriage certificate will give the reader an idea of what families were connected with the society in the old time, as the families of both bride and groom were prominent people, and the attendance at the mar- riage at least fairly representative.

" Whereas, there hath been intentions of marriage be- tween Richard Lawrence, son of Joseph Lawrence, and Hannah Bowne, daughter of Samuel Bowne, both of Flushing, in Queens county and province of New York ; now this is to certifie ye truth to all people whom it may concern that said Richard Lawrence and Hannah Bowne did propose their aforesaid intention of marriage at several men and women's meetings of Friends in Flush- ing, by whom they were ordered to wait till inquiry was made whether they were clear from all others on that account. Inquiry being made and nothing appearing to hinder their proceedings, they having consent of parents and relations, the meeting gives them liberty to accom- plish their intended marriage, according to the good order used among us. And accordingly on this sixth day of ye second month, 1717, at a meeting at the meeting- house in Flushing aforesaid, the said parties Richard Lawrence and Hannah Bowne took each other by ye

hand, standing up in ye assembly, did soleinnly declare they took each other to be husband and wife, promising with ye Lord's assistance to be true and loving husband and wife to each other till death separate.

"And for further confirmation hereof they have here- unto set both their hand ye day and year above written, she taking ye name of her husband according to the custom of marriage.

" RICHARD LAWRENCE. " HANNAH LAWRENCE. "And we, whose names are under, with many others, are witnesses: Joseph Lawrence, Samuel Bowne, Mary Lawrence, Griffith Owen, John Salkeld, John Rodman, Hugh Copperthwaite, John Ryder, William Burling, Ed- ward Burling, Joshua Low, Joshua Delaplaine, John Hunter, George Aston, John Embre, John Lewis, Mary Lawrence, Mary Rodman, Mary Horn, Sarah Frankly, Mary Kinnin, James Jackson, Obadiah Lawrence, Joseph Thorne, Jacob Thorne, Thomas Horn, Jane Latham, Anne Bowne, Thomas Lawrence, Sarah Rodman, Franklin Ogden, Esther Delaplaine, Sarah Farrington, Mary Bowne, Elizabeth Catharine Field, Susannah Hedger, Mary Jackson, Robert Field, Jane L. Thorne, John

Bowne, Elizabeth Bowne, Joshua Lawrence, Hannah Field, Sarah Bowne, Benjamin Potter, Rebeckah Jackson, John Rodman jr., Joseph Thorne, Martha Thorne, Han- nah Field, Deborah Lawrence, - - Field, Sarah Law- rence, Samuel Harrison, James Clement jr., Phebe J. Clement, Isaac Thorne, Adam Lawrence, Ann Haight, Benjamin Thorne, Hannah Bowne, Eleanor Bowne."

One of the earliest large gatherings of Friends in Flushing is mentioned by the noted English Quaker Samuel Bownas. In his diary he says that he spoke to two thousand people on the Lord's day following his first arrest and while he was in the hands of the people. This was in 1702.

The visit of the celebrated George Fox, in 1672, was an important event, and so great was the crowd that flocked to hear hini-some coming from a distance of thirty miles-that the meetings were held out of doors, in the shade of two magnificent oaks, one of which is still standing, the other having been leveled by a storm in 1842, to the grief of all lovers of old landmarks and relics of the past. The trees have since been known as the Fox oaks, and have been the subject of many essays and poems. Fox's visit here strengthened the hands of the society, and it is said to have led to some important accessions. In all its history the society has been rich in good works; among them the first effort was made to educate the children of the slaves.

The written records of the Friends comprise matters interesting to lovers of pioneer history sufficient in amount to fill a large volume, but the editor can only se- lect from them a few of the incidents that tend to mark the course of the society on questions of general interest, and give the reader some idea of what must have been the influence of such an earnest, self-sacrificing body of men and women on the morals of the community at large.

On the 11th of 7th mo. 1676, John Bowne sells a par- cel of land for a burying place for 14 4s., being in the northwest bounds of his plantation whereon he now dwells, being five rods long and five broad.

1687, 7th of 2nd mo .- Friends are to speak to Wm.

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Noble about his selling of drink and to bring into the next meeting what he saith.

1695, 2nd of 11th mo .- Samuel Deane, Samuel Haight, John Way and John Farrington are to take care that the advice from the Philadelphia yearly meeting relating to the plainness of apparel should be put in practice here.

1700, 7th mo .- Wm. Penn visited Flushing and was the guest of Samuel Bowne, who went with him on a re- ligious visit to Jamaica, and there disbursed on account of entertainment for him and other Friends the sum of LI IS.

1703, 5th of 6th mo .- A schoolmaster being judged necessary for the town of Flushing, it is thought fit that Samuel Hoyt and Fr. Doughty seek out for a convenient piece of ground upon Richard Griffin's lot upon the cross way, which is near the center of the town, to pur- chase it and build a school-house thereon for the use of Friends.

1707, 4th of 10th mo .- Friends at Rocky Hill desire a meeting to be at James Jackson's every Third day. Granted; and it is to begin at 1 1 o'clock.

1709, 5th of 3d mo .- Thos. Makins, schoolmaster, sig- nified his willingness to sit with his scholars in the meet- ing and take care of them, which the meeting think well of, and desire him as much as may be to bring all Friends' children with him to meeting on Fifth day, and also unto the meeting day appropriated for the youth's meet- ing.

1712, 24th of 3d mo .- The yearly meeting at Flushing moved to send to Friends in Europe and offer to receive and take care and pay the passage of about ten persons, such as shall come recommended from some meeting of Friends there-they serving such a time as shall be ad- judged reasonable and equal between all parties. The meeting order £19 to be lent to Jacob Doughty to pay for James Scriven's freedom till he shall be able to re- pay it.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 26

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co. Number of Pages: 703

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell and Co.
Number of Pages: 703