History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 43

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 43

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The first record of the choice of a supervisor in Ja- maica was made in April 1696, when William Creed was chosen; and it appears he was re-elected in 1697 " to meet and consult with those from the other towns;" from which it is reasonable to infer that the functions of the office then and now were, at least, similar. It does not appear who were chosen subsequent to 1697, till 1703, when William Creed was again elected. In the following list of supervisors each was annually re-elected until his successor was chosen;

Nathaniel Denton, 1704; Zachariah Mills, 1705; Jon- athan Whitehead, 1710; Joseph Smith (clerk of the peace), 1712; Daniel Bull, 1719; John Everit, 1722; Clerk Smith, or Joseph Smith, 1728; Samuel Higbe, 1729; Capt. Benjamin Whitehead, 1731; Abraham Ditmars, 1776; Capt. Benjamin Whitehead, 1777; Samuel Doughty, 1781; Nicholas Everit (in December), 1783; John J Skid- more, 1786; William Ludlum, 1799; Isaac Hendrickson, 1809; James Foster, 1815; John S. Messenger, 1817; Daniel Smith, 1820; John D. Ditmars, 1823; Daniel Smith, 1827; Silas Roe, 1829; George Johnson, 1831; John C. Smith, 1832; George Johnson, 1833; John C. Smith, 1834; John S. Lott, 1840; Martin I. Duryea, 1852; John B. Smith, 1866; James Nostrand 1808; John H. Brinkerhoff, 1874.

After the conclusion of peace, in 1783, by an act of the Legislature town meetings were held in December in all the towns for the election of town officers under the new regime.

It is worthy of note that at the town meeting in April 1772 Joseph Prue was chosen " whipper."

MILLS.

At an early day encouragement was given to such settlers as proposed to establish manufactories or mills. It is recorded in 1663 that John Ouldfield, a tanner, was voted a home lot and twenty acres of meadow, "at ye neck beyond ye haw trees," as an encouragement to set- tle and pursue his calling in the town. An obligation, which he afterward executed, is recorded, wherein hela stream that runs through Springheld; the former be- pledged himself to follow his trade "as afforesayd and to make such lether as will passe under ye seal."

In 1869 a lot was offered to Mr. Hubbard of Graves- end, to encourage him in establishing a mill in the town; and in 1670 the town stipulated to build a dam for a

mill to be established by Benjamin Coe, who was "to grind ye tound's corne before strangers'," the people to bring it on such days as he should designate. At another meeting permission was given to Mr. Coe "to set up a grist-mill upon the river betweene Seller Neck and Plunder Neck." An agreement in accordance with the above stipulations was entered into by Mr. Coe, and the town afterward consented to the sale of this mill to a Mr. Jacobson. In 1675 an agreement was made with Joseph Carpenter and Caleb Carman to build a grist- mill and saw-mill "where the old mill stoode." Con- cerning the grist mill they were to preforin the same covenant that Benjamin Coe had made. They were to be permitted to use timber from the common lands of the town, "except clapboard and rayle trees under eighteen inches." They were to saw for the town "tivelve pens in the hundred cheaper than any other person of any other towne have it," and for citizens of the town " that bringeth the timber one halfe of the sawn stuf for their laboure, provided that it is only for their owne use."

It was voted in 1670 "that Nicholas the cooper shall have half an acre of land by the Beaver Pond to build a house on to supply the town with such cooper's work as they shall stand in need of."

In 1685, at a town meeting, liberty was given to Ben- jamin Coe and John Hansen to establish a grist and full- ing-mill on Foster's River. They were granted the priv- ilege of the stream on the condition that they should maintain a good mill and grind for the inhabitants of the town at a toll of one-twelfth.

In 1704, at a town meeting, "it was voted by ye ma- jority of ye sayd freeholders that Jonathan Whitehead & Benjamin Thirstone shall have liberty to put up a full. ing-mill in ye town of Jamaica aforesayd, on ye terms and conditions heretofore mentioned; that is to say, that ye sayd Jonathan Whitehead and Benjamin Thirstone shall be obliged both them & their heirs and assigns to full all sorts of cloth, press ye same for three pence per yard, and to full for ye town's people before other town's people."

Three principal streams flow through the town of Jam- aica, from sources immediately south of the range of hills that divides the town from Flushing. The largest of these runs from the vicinity of the village of Jamaica, and at Cornell's (or " Three- Mile ") mill empties into a creek that flows into Jamaica Bay. Formerly three grist- mills were located on this stream. The first was one mile south from the village, and was known as One-Mile mill. Baisley's, or Two- Mile mill, was a mile farther south, and at the distance of another mile south, at the junction of . the stream with the before-mentioned creek, was Cornell's. Farther east a grist-mill and a saw-mill are located, on longing to Frederick Loerz and the latter to Peter Nos- trand. Near the eastern boundary of the town is a stream that once propelled two grist-mills, Simmons's and Con- selyea's. Formerly, when grain was abundantly procured, these mills did a prosperous business.

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

WATER WORKS.

About 1850 the Nassau Water Works Company, which supplies the city of Brooklyn with water, purchased the water rights of One-Mile, Baisley's, and Simmons's mills and paid damages for diverting the water from Cornell's and Conselyea's. The water thus procured was turned into a brick conduit, ten feet in diameter, with a fall of six inches per mile and a capacity of 40,000,000 gallons daily. Baisley's Pond was excavated, and, when full, gave a water surface of forty acres, the stream deliver- ing 33,000,000 gallons per day. Simmons's Pond was also cleaned out, and afforded a water surface of 834 acres and a daily supply of 2,000,000 gallons. The works have been extended to Rockville Centre, in Hempstead. In 1880 the water right was purchased from Frederick Loerz, a well fifty feet in diameter was sunk to a depth fifteen feet lower than the bottom of the pond, the water from the stream and pond was turned into it, and thence pumped into the main conduit, giving an additional daily supply of 300,000 gallons.

These streams were originally well supplied with brook trout, but on the completion of the water works pickerel and perch were introduced, which in a few years exterminated the trout.

CIVIL WAR BURDENS.

At a special town meeting held August 27th 1862 a resolution was offered by ex-Governor John A. King, and adopted, that a sum not exceeding $15,000 be borrowed on the credit of the town, for the purpose of paying each volunteer from the town, under the calls of the President of the United States for 600,000 men, a town bounty of $75, and that the amount expended be levied on the tax- able property of the town, and collected in the same manner as other town taxes.

In pursuance of the act of May 7th 1863 the supervi. sor, town clerk, and justices of the peace of the town met on the 29th day of August 1863 and organized as a board of relief. At a meeting of this board on the first of September 1863 a resolution was adopted to borrow $30,000 on the credit of the town, and to issue town bonds of $500 or more for the payment thereof. A reso- lution was also adopted to expend, if necessary, $300 of this fund for the relief of the family of any white volun- teer or drafted man. It was also resolved that the board might, in the exercise of their judgment, expend this money in payment of substitutes, or exemptions for in- digent men. This board met from time to time and made appropriations under these resolutions; and the minutes of its proceedings show that relief was ordered in the case of colored drafted men.

At a special town meeting held February 19th 1864 the action. of the board of supervisors in reference to raising money to pay volunteers was approved.

At a special town meeting July 30th 1864 the borrow- ing of a sum not exceeding $60,000 was authorized for the payment of volunteers. The vote by ballot stood- in favor of the resolution, 237; against it, 6.

In the case of the last call of the president for 300,000 men the raising of the sum of $60.000 for the paynient of bounties was authorized at a special town meeting held January 7th 1865.

AGRICULTURE.

Within the last twenty-five years market gardening has come to be the principal business of the people in the rural districts of the town. The increased and con- stantly increasing demand for garden vegetables in the city of New York and the facility with which they can be marketed there have effected this change. A change in one part of any business usually necessitates other changes, and the agriculture of Jamaica is not an ex- ception to this rule. The increased production of garden vegetables has called for a greater amount of labor than before on an equal area of ground, and the result has been a reduction in the size of farms, and an increase of their number. The successful prosecution of this industry has necessitated the more liberal use of fertilizers, and improved methods in the application of these/manures. A great improvement in the quality of the soil and an increase in its average productiveness have resulted. The change has also stimulated pro- ducers to the invention and adoption of improved methods of cultivation, whereby not only has the quan- tity been further increased, but vegetables have been produced out of their usual season; and the tables of consumers have come to be supplied in the depth of winter with the vegetables of midsummer. In the in- vention and adoption of these methods of forcing the production of vegetables out of their season Abraham Van Siclen has been a pioneer. He commenced his experiments about twenty years since with the produc- tion of rhubarb. From this he proceeded to the forc- ing of cauliflower, the preservation of squashes, and the production of other vegetables, till now the establish - ment includes six hot-houses, each 108 by 22 feet, for the production of lettuce and cucumbers; about 800 sash, each 3 by 6, for hotbeds to force cauliflower and produce various other plants, and two buildings for the preservation of squashes, with a capacity for holding 2,500 barrels. The apparatus for heating, watering, and attending all these establishments has been mostly the invention of Mr. Van Siclen. Ditmars Van Siclen, John B. Hopkins, John Selover, James Fredericks, and others are also engaged in this branch of gardening, and the markets in New York and Brooklyn are now sup- plied at all seasons with the vegetables that were form- erly procurable only in summer.

Farmers' Co-operative Union .- In April 1870 a call was published for a meeting of the farmers of Jamaica at the hotel of James S. Remsen "to take action in reference to the unjust imposition of a tax upon farmers as pro- duce brokers." This call was signed by Abraham Van Siclen, John O'Donnell, and eighteen others. At this meeting a committee, of which John O'Donnell was chair- man, was appointed to wait on the commissioner of inter- nal revenue at Washington, and endeavor to obtain a re-

GREEN-HOUSES.

BARNS.

GREEN HOUSES & SQUASH BARN. FARM SCENES & RESIDENCE OF ABRAHAM VAN SICLEN, JAMAICA, QUEENS CO, LONG ISLAND.

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FARMERS OF JAMAICA.

dress of the grievance. In this they were successful; and their success led to the organization of the "Farm- ers' Co-operative Union of Jamaica," in May of the same year, with Samnel E. Vanderveer president, John O'Don- nell and Abraham Van Sicklen vice-presidents, P. W. Remsen secretary, Ditmars Van Siclen treasurer, and 82 members.

By the action of this union several matters affecting the interest of the farmers and gardeners of this town have been accomplished, and the utility and practicability of farmers' protective associations have been demon- strated.

By the action of the union two robbers of a farmer in the town, on the highway, were captured, convicted, and punished; the Wallabout market in the city of Brooklyn was projected, and is now in the hands of a commission; the election of town officers in the interest of tax-payers and the removal of corrupt officials have been accom- plished; the remission of fines imposed on farmers and gardeners for selling produce in the streets of New York has been procured, additional market facilities for such producers have been obtained, and many other things ac- complished, of which a want of space forbids even the mention.

Patrons of Husbandry .- In February 1874 the Farmers' Co-operative Union took action which resulted in the organization of Union Grange, No. 152, P. of H., of the town of Jamaica, on the 17th of March 1874, with fifteen charter members and the following officers: John O'Don- nell, master; E. F. Titus, overseer; E. Vanderveer, lec- turer; James Van Siclen, treasurer; Charles Debevoise, secretary; Samuel E. Vanderveer, chaplain; John A. Hegeman, gate keeper.

The masters since have been: John O'Donnell, 1875; .E. F. Titus, 1876, 1877; Oliver P. Lott, 1878; John A. Hegeman, 1879; Garret Vandyne, 1880.

Of the members of this grange John O'Donnell has been during seven years a member of the executive com- mittee of the State grange.

This grange meets at its rooms in Harriman Row, Ful- ton street, Jamaica, the second Saturday evening of each month during the summer, and the second and fourth Saturday evenings, at half past seven, during the winter months.

NEW YORK, WOODHAVEN AND ROCKAWAY RAILROAD.

the conveyance of passengers to and from the seaside resort at Rockaway Beach. It is equipped with palace cars not excelled in tastefulness and convenience by those of any road in the United States.

The present officers are: A. S. Hatch, treasurer; D. D. Conover; vice-president; J. Chesebrough, secretary and treasurer; J. M. Lunt, superintendent.

M. P. CHURCH OF SOUTH WOODHAVEN.

In the spring of 1856 Rev. S. Baker, a local preacher of the Methodist Protestant church, commenced labor in South Woodhaven. At that time there were only the famed Union race-course, three liquor saloons, and a few dwellings there. Services were at first held in the house of a Mr. Reeves; then in a wood near this house, and afterward for about a year in an old barn. In this barn the M. P. church of South Woodhaven was organized, with twelve members. In time this little congregation and their faithful pastor succeeded in erecting a house of worship, at a cost of $1,100, the ground having been donated by W. Spencer. The house has an upper room, fitted up for church services, and a lower for Sunday- schools, etc. During several years Mr. Baker was pas- tor, superintendent of the Sunday-school, steward, and sexton. In 1863 he relinquished the charge of this little church, leaving it in a prosperous condition and free from debt. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Morley, of Brooklyn, who served the church about seven years, since which different local preachers have been in charge.

PROMINENT RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN.

ABRAHAM VAN SICLEN.

The subject of this sketch is a son of James and Ida (Kouwenhoven) Van Siclen, and was born in the house where he now lives, October 5th 1824. His father was a native of New Lots, Kings county, and died about eighteen years ago, having lived on the Van Siclen homestead about forty years. On his mother's side Mr. Van Siclen is descended from the Kouwenhoven and Bergen families. The Van Siclens were among the earliest settlers on Long Island. Mr. Van Siclen's great uncle, Cornelius Cornell, saw service in the Revolution, was made a prisoner of war and detained in the prison ship at the Wallabout, and died while being brought ashore.

The company that built this road was incorporated Mr. Van Siclen was reared on the farm, and is one of the most practical farmers, and probably, without ex- ception, the most successful market gardner on Long Island. He has been a leader in many improvements in the business, being the first to introduce green-houses for vegetable culture, and to engage in the cultivation of lettuce on an extensive scale. His aim has ever been March 21st 1877. It was organized with Daniel D. Con- over as president, Julius F. Chesebrough secretary and treasurer, and James C. Lane, Warren S. Peck, George M. Van Nort, Sheridan Shook, Daniel D. Conover, Elihu Hosford, James M. Oakley, Martin Freleigh, A. D. Con- over, F. S. Gibbs, E. R. Phelps, F. E. Stewart and J. F. Chesebrough directors. The road was completed so as to produce vegetables of a finer quality than those of to come into partial use September ist 1880. It crosses any of his competitors, and his products have brought the highest market price and have a reputation in the excellence of Mr. Van Siclen's system and the success Jamaica Bay on piles, with draw-bridges over the main channels. This road connects with the Long Island markets of New York that is alone an attestation of the Railroad at Long Island City and Woodhaven, and by steamboat with New York city. It is mainly used for | of his efforts.

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Mr. Van Siclen's early years were spent at home and the place were made by Mr. Van Sichen himself. His in the district school of his neighborhood. Later he household are members and attendants of the Reformed church of Jamaica.

was for three years a student at the Union Hall Acad- emy, at Jamaica, then under the management of Henry Ouderdonk as principal. At the age of 28 he began business for himself, as a farmer and market gardener, in partnership with his brothers, James and Peter, leas- ing the home farm for seven years, when, their father having died, a division of the estate was made, where- by the homestead became Mr. Van Siclen's property. He has since lived there and has continued in business alone, with the result above stated. He married Martha A. Nostrand, of Flushing, by whom he has six children: Anna A., born March 8th 1864: Peter N., born June roth 1865; lda K., born September 17th 1866; Abram J., born August 15th 1868; Samuel B., born July 18th 1870, and Cornelia N., born July 3d 1873. The Van Sicklen family were long members of the Reformed church, but Mr. Van Sicklen and his house- Jamaica, Descended from a Whig family, Mr. Van Siclen is an ardent Republican. He is well known in the town and greatly respected by his fellow citizens, by whom he was tendered at one time the nomination for supervisor, which he declined to accept. For years he has been president of the Union Place and Rockaway Plank Road Company.

JAMES VAN SICLEN.

James Van Siclen is a son of James and Ida Van Siclen, and was born July 4th 1827, on the old family homestead in Jamaica, now the home of his brother Abra- ham. His education was obtained in the common schools of the vicinity and in Union Hall Academy at Jamaica. He was reared to farm life, and was early acquainted with all the details of successful market gardening, in which department of agriculture he has since been remarkably successful. So high is his reputation as a market gardener that it is not surpassed by that of his brother Abraham, and the name of either is a guarantee in the markets of New York of the superior excellence of such produce as they offer for sale. Upon the death of the elder Van Siclen James began business alone, taking as his share of the property of the three brothers, James, Abraham and Peter Van Siclen, that portion where he now lives.

Mr. Van Siclen was married August 2nd 1864, to Ger- trude R. Lott, of Newtown. He has served as executor of the estates of Abraham Griffin and Stephen I. Lott, and as guardian of the children of the latter. He has been director and superintendent of the Union Place and Rockaway Plank Road Company, and has been promi- nent in the affairs of the town, having served as one of the trustees of the common lands of Jamaica and as chairman of the board, and having been for two years past overseer of highways, besides having refused several important trusts.

Mr. Van Siclen's home is one of the pleasantest and most completely appointed in Jamaica, and his farm is a [ therefrom grew fat.

model of neatness. All of the present improvements on

THE VAN WYCK FAMILY.

Cornelius Barentse Van Wyck, from whom the family of Van Wycks in America descend, was born in Holland; emigrated to this country in 1660, settled at Midwout now Flatbush), on the west end of Long Island, and was one of the patentees of that tract of land. He there mar- ried Anna, daughter of the Rev. Theodorus Johannes Polhemus, by whom he had seven children, two sons and five daughters, all natives of Flatbush.

In 1701 his sons removed from Flatbush to North Hempstead, Queens county. Theodorus, the eldest, set- tled at Great Neck, on the place now in the possession of Benjamin Hicks. The original house is still standing and is in a good state of preservation.

Johannes, the second son, settled at Flushing, at the

hold worship with the First Presbyterian Church of head of Little Neck Bay, the place now in possession of (Earl William Douglas. The two brothers of the second generation are identified with Queens county.

Theodorus was one of his majesty's justices of the peace. The oldest registry book in St. George's church, Hempstead, bears the following inscription: "This book was given to the parish of Hempstead by Theodorus Van Wyck, Esq., justice of peace and inhabitant of said par- ish." The register begins with June 1725, Robert Jenny being then rector of the parish. Theodorus married Mar- gretia, daughter of Abraham Brinkerhoff, and had four sons and three daughters. Of these Cornelius and The- odorus second left Long Island after 1730 and went to Fiskill, Dutchess county, and their descendants are iden- tified as the "Fishkill Van Wycks."

Abraham, the third son, settled in New York, and from. him Pierre Courtlandt Van Wyck, for many years recorder of the city of New York, descended,

Barent, the youngest son, in 1724, when he was 21 years of age, settled at East Woods, now Woodbury, L. I., in the town of Oyster Bay, and was possessed of a large tract of land in that vicinity. His descendants are still upon Long Island, in Queens and Suffolk counties. Barent Van Wyck married Hannah, daughter of Thomas Carman, and had four sons and three daughters. The sons, Thomas, Theodorus, Samuel and Abraham, were all farmers in the town of Oyster Bay. Of these Thomas was captain of the loyal Queens county militia and Abraham captain of the provincial militia.

About 1787 Captain Abraham Van Wyck left Queens county, and bought 200 acres of land of James Rogers sen., at West Neck, on Huntington Harbor, I .. I. This property he sold in 1793 to Abraham Van Wyck jr., his nephew and son-in-law. This farm became exceed- ingly productive, and so well known as to be a perfect market place. Its orchards bear the finest fruit, and its pasture has never failed. The stock is watered from a spring upon the shore, and tradition says whatever drank The scenery here is of surpassing beauty. After you enter the gateway a beautiful panor-

BARNS AND SHEDS

REAR VIEW OF RESIDENCE.

RESIDENCE OF JAS, VAN SICLEN, JAMAICA, QUEENS CO., N.Y.

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THE VAN WYCK FAMILY.

ama is before you. The landlocked harbor is at your feet, with West and East Necks standing sentinel, and beyond Loyd's Harbor Long Island Sound stretches in the distance; and the rising hills of Connecticut, with its beautiful towns reflected back to view, complete the pic- ture. The antiquated mansion is located near the water side, and is of the old Dutch style. Its corner closets and wainscoted mantel, its half doors (upper and lower), and its small window panes, its Franklin stove, in which the hickory still burns, and its large old kitchen, with its chimney extending across the room, and under which the oven had its place, are still before us.

This homestead was left to his eldest son, Samuel A. Van Wyck. By will of Samuel A. Van Wyck this prop- erty was left to his nephew Whitehead Hewlett, only son of his deceased brother Joshua H. Van Wyck, and he is the present proprietor. Abraham of West Neck had four sons and three daughters. Of these Abraham H., whose name is so often repeated in Queens county rec- ords, invested largely in real estate between East New York and Jamaica. His idea was that by the increase of population Brooklyn would naturally extend itself, and the land adjoining would be as necessary to it as the West End to London. Having bought the property of John Polhemus, Jamaica (a farm consisting of 200 acres, extending from the turnpike to the south road), he opened Van Wyck avenue in September 1834. Later he sold land at Woodhaven for a cemetery, now known as "Cypress Hills Cemetery." He died on the 24th of June 1849.

Joshua H. Van Wyck (third son of Abraham of West Neck) removed from Suffolk to Queens county and settled at Jamaica in 1836, where his descendants are still identified. He studied law and became a member of the Queens county bar. He died on the 11th of Febru- ary 1847.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 43

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