History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 44

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 44

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William, the youngest son of Abraham Van Wyck of West Neck, was a practicing lawyer in the city of New York, and was never identified with the history of Queens county.

Thomas (son of Barent of Woodbury) was captain of the loyal Queens county militia during the Revolu- tion. At the peace he went to Nova Scotia, giving a power of attorney to his two sons, Eldred and Barent. His son Eldred married and settled in Cold Spring, I. I. Ile was corporal or captain in Israel Young's troop of horse for Cold Spring. His property em- braced a large portion of the water front on Cold Spring Harbor; he is recorded as of Queens and of Suffolk county. In 1787 he gave a power of attorney Obadiah Wright, and after this we are unable to trace him.

Great Neck road. This land was held by the Van Wyck family and their descendants until 1819, when Major Cornelius Van Wyck sold the last 125 acres to

Wynant Van Zandt jr. for $13,750, after which it all passed from the family and has since been cut up in lots and sold for building purposes. Johannes died in 1734, leaving four sons and three daughters. Cornelius, his eldest son, married Mary, daughter of Judge Isaac Hicks, and settled at the homestead at Little Neck. John, his second son, married Deborah, daughter of Adam Law_ rence (high sheriff of Queens county), and settled at Flushing. He was sheriff of Queens county from 1747 to 1753, and died in 1762. William, the third son, bought land at Newtown, married and settled there. He died in 1785, leaving a wife and seven children. He and his family became members of the Society of Friends in Newtown. Theodorus, the youngest son, married Mary, daughter of Philip Ritchie, of New York, and settled in Flushing.

Cornelius, his eldest, who settled at the homestead at Little Neck, married Mary, daughter of Judge Isaac Hicks. He died in 1759, leaving three sons and three daughters. Stephen, his eldest son, was a deputy for Queens county to the Provincial Congress in 1775, as was also his second son Cornelius. This Cornelius mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Thomas Hicks of Flushing, and had sons Stephen and Whitehead, and daughters Harriet and Margaret.

Harriet married Henry son of Joseph Lawrence, Bay Side, L. I. They were the parents of Cornelius Van Wyck Lawrence, who died in 1861. He held many positions of trust, being at one time mayor of New York, from 1832 to 1834 member of Congress, in 1836 presi- dent of the electoral college, twenty years collector of the port of New York, and president of the Bank of the State of New York.

Gilbert, third son of Cornelius and Mary, was one of his majesty's justices of the peace and a loyalist during the Revolution.

After the death of Cornelius the homestead at Little Neck came into the possession of his eldest son, Stephen, at whose death it was left to his two nephews Cornelius (known as Major Cornelius), son of his brother Gilbert, and Stephen (son of his brother Cornelius), the former of whom by purchase became sole proprietor; and this property remained in the Van Wyck family until 1819, when it was sold to Wynant Van Zandt.

JOHN B. HOPKINS.

John B. Hopkins, a son of William Hopkins who came from Wales in 1828, was born in New Utrecht, Kings county, April ist 1837. He resided with his parents in various parts of Kings county until 1858, when he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Luke Eldred, and came to Jamaica as a farmer on the place where he now resides. Ilis father, although finally successful in acquir- ing a fortune, came to this country a poor man, and hence the young man was early thrown upon his own resources

Johannes Van Wyck (second son of Cors. Barentse), who settled in Flushing, bought land at the head of Little Neck Bay of Richard and Sarah Cornwell in 1705, and subsequently other lands near Little Neck on the in the battle of life. He too has succeeded, and he is now one of the prominent farmers of Jamaica. His property shown in the illustration on page 211 is pleas- antly situated in the extreme southern part of the town.

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

As a garden farmer he was one of those who saw that the Presbyterian church at Jamaica. Foster Hendri k. hot-houses would have to be used to compete with the son, Ephraim Baylis, George Higbie, and Joseph S. Hig- bic were elected elders, and Samuel Compton and Nathaniel Baylis were chosen deacons. South in supplying the New York market, and in 1874 he erected his first one. 'He has now some two acres covered with hot-houses, where he propagates vegetables and The pulpit was supplied for a time by Rev. W. W. Knox, of Woodhaven. On the 19th of July 1869 Rev. Alexander Miller was installed pastor, and he continued in that relation till 1876. August 28th of that year his successor, Rev. P. D. Oakey, the present pastor, was in- stalled. plants for the market in winter and carly spring. Mr. Hopkins is known to most of the farmers in this part of Long Island as an agent for the Excelsior Fertilizer. Politically he has been allied with the Republican party, and he is an officer and leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Jamaica. He was prominently identified with the organization, in 1879, of the Sunday Observance Association, of which he is now president.

SPRINGFIELD.

A settlement was commenced at Springfield, about three miles southeast of Jamaica, almost as early as that of the latter place. It has never acquired the dimen- sions of a village, but has always been what it now is, a pleasant rural settlement. It has a post-office, a railroad station, and the other conveniences which the wants of the people have called into existence.

Springfield Presbyterian Church .- In March 1860 Rev. P. D. Oakey, then pastor of the Presbyterian church of Jamaica, commenced holding monthly services in the school-house at Springfield, for the accommodation of the members of his congregation residing in that vicinity. Services there continued with increasing interest during six years.

On the 14th of October 1865 the corner stone of the present church edifice was laid, on ground donated by Thomas Rider, and on the 7th of February 1866 the building was dedicated. The building committee con- sisted of Gilbert Rider, George Higbie, Ephraim Baylis, J. S. Hendrickson, and Aury Mills. An additional lot of ground had been purchased, which with the building and furniture cost $4,454. At the time of the dedica- tion the congregation subscribed $603, which paid all indebtedness, and left a surplus of $123 for sheds, fences etc. The church has since been refurnished and im- proved, at an expense of about $1,600.

A parsonage was erected in 1870, which, with a stable since built, cost $4,785. The building committee in charge of the erection of this parsonage were William H. Farrington, William W. Durland, Samuel Compton, Lucas E. Decker, and Thomas B. Rider.

Under the superintendence of James Pagan, Samuel H. Durland, Nicholas Everitt, Morris Watts, and Thomas Mills, a lecture room was erected at an expense, in money, of $421, little more than the cost of the ma .- terial. The labor was voluntarily contributed, and the building was erected in a very short time. The inside is not completed.

On the 23d of October 1867 Rev. P. D. Oakey, Dr. I. D. Wells, and Rev. J. P. Knox, who had been appointed a committee for that purpose by the presbytery, organ- ized the church by the reception of sixty members from

The Sunday-school of this society was organized at the time of organizing the church, with forty scholars. The present number is 200. Nicholas Everitt is the superintendent.

Springfield M. E. Church .- The pioneer members of the Methodist Episcopal church within the limits of this charge were Daniel Higbie and Mrs. AAmy Higbie, his wife, Daniel Murray, Thomas Foster, Henry Bedell and others. At first these members were connected with the Foster's Meadow society, which was a part of the Rock- away circuit. Afterward the number had so increased that services were occasionally held here. Still later this became a part of the Far Rockaway and Foster's Meadow circuit, and regular services were held here. In 1867 or 1868, the number of members having greatly increased, the present church cdifice was erected, and in the spring of 1869 this was niade an independent station. The first pastor was Rev. Seymour Landon. He was succeeded in 1872 by Rev. I. P. Perry. . In 1875 Rev. George Hol- lis commenced his pastorate, succeeded in 1877 'by Rev. H. S. Still, and he in 1880 by Rev. William H. Russell, the present pastor. During the year 1870 the church re- ceived a considerable accession of numbers, and a still greater increase during 1874. The church has since its organization been uniformly prosperous. Its present membership is 173. Its house of worship, which has a value of $6,000, seats 350 persons. The society owns also a parsonage, worth $2,000.

A Sunday-school was organized at the formation of the church, with Alexander Higbie superintendent, and about 30 pupils. John R. Carpenter became superin- tendent at the death of Mr. Higbie, in 1876, and was succeeded by John Bedell, the present superintendent, in 1880. The present number of scholars is 150. The school has a library of 500 volumes.

Springfield Cemetery .- The cemetery at Springfield is one of the oldest in the county, embracing within its limits the land used for a burial place by the first settlers of that neighborhood. Interments were made as early, probably, as 1670. At an early period the inhabitants of the vicinity enclosed 50 square rods, and allotted the same, each taking a plot of one rod square for his sepa- rate use. These plots passed to descendants of the orig- inal proprietors, and most of them have living represent- atives at the present time. The first additional land was purchased in 1823, when 28 square rods were bought and added on the north. At that time the proprietors of the original plots embraced the names of Amberman, Baylis, Bennet, Boerum, Covert, Fosdick, Golder, Hendrickson,

John B. Hopkins -

35元

RESIDENCE OF JOHN B. HOPKINS, JAMAICA EAST, QUEENS CO.,N.Y.

213

SPRINGFIELD CEMETERY-THE VILLAGE OF QUEENS.

Higbie, Lamberson, Losee, Mills, Nostrand, Remsen, Rider, Skidmore, Smith and Van Ausdoll.

September 14th 1849 the plot-holders met and incor- ated themselves into an association, adopting the name of " The Springfield Cemetery Association " and elect- ing as trustees Henry Mills, Daniel Hendrickson, Samuel Higbie, Daniel Rider, Daniel Smith, John W. Nostrand, Abraham B. Hendrickson and Abraham A. Hendrick- son. Since the incorporation purchases of adjoining lands have been made, and the cemetery now embraces about three acres, consisting of 288 plots. The plots and walks are kept in good order, the cost being met by an annual tax of fifty cents upon each plot. Proceeds of sales of plots are mainly reserved for purchases of ad- ditional land when required. The sale of plots is limited to permanent residents and descendants of old residents of the neighborhood. The present officers of the asso- ciation are: President, James Nostrand, Springfield; secretary, John M. Higbie, Queens; treasurer, Lewis L. Fosdick, Jamaica; superintendent, Lucas E. Decker, Springfield. The other trustees are Daniel Hendrickson, Daniel Smith, Wright P. Higbie, Daniel H. Simonson, William W. Durland, and Peter Van Siclen.

QUEENS.

This place is pleasantly located on the Long Island Railroad, about three miles east from Jamaica. It is a fine collection of residences, with a post-office, a rail- people there and in the region immediately surrounding it require.

Soon after the burning of the Reformed church in Jamaica, in 1857, steps were taken for the formation of a road station, and such shops etc. as the wants of the church here. A meeting was held at the chapel in Brushville to consider the matter, and a committee was appointed to ascertain and report what denomination a The character of every small place in the vicinity of the great commercial center of the country, unless it is the seat of some important manufacturing interest, is modified by its nearness to that center. The facility with which most of the ordinary wants and all the luxuries and superfluities of the people can be supplied from the city prevents the development of trade beyond certain limits, and at the same time renders such a place a desir- able residence for people in easy circumstances who wish for quiet surroundings. majority of the inhabitants favored. This committee re- ported in favor of the Reformed church, and on the 18th of April 1858 the organization was effected, with four- teen members, from among whom Dr. William D. Creed and Thomas W. Tompkins were chosen elders, and Henry Suydam and Henry Dean deacons. At first ser- vices were held in the Methodist chapel by supply clergy- men. In September 1858 a contract for the erection of the church edifice was made with Sidney J. Young, of Jamaica, at $4,479, and the corner stone was laid by Dr. Creed. It was dedicated May 21st 1859.

In 1846 the supervisor was authorized to have surveyed and fenced for a public burying place a tract of not less than two acres of the public lands of the town known as " the Little Plains." This cemetery is located at Queens, and is known as Potter's Field.

Queens Episcopal Mission .- Many years ago Thomas Brush, an enterprising citizen of this town, erected a hotel, a store, and a church at the place which was named from him Brushville. During some years regular weekly services were held in this building by Rev. Mr. Rush- more, a Methodist local preacher of Hempstead. It was afterward closed, except for occasional services. In the terior of the church was again renovated.

spring of 1870, at the suggestion of Rev. Thomas Cook, then assistant to Dr. W. L. Johnson of Jamaica, it was purchased by the Brotherhood of St. George's church of Flushing, and a mission was established under the charge

of Rev. Mr. Cook, who held afternoon services, and established the Sunday-school. He was succeeded by Mr. Babcock, who was followed by Revs. Joshua Kimber and F. B. Carter, who officiated alternately; then Mr. Carter alone till 1873, after which Rev. Henry Bedinger was in charge till 1873. The mission was then placed in charge of lay readers. B. J. Brenton, L. B. Prince, and George Van Nostrand, superintendent of the Sunday- school, officiated successively till the summer of 1879, when Mr. Barnes of Brooklyn took charge for a few months, followed by Mr. Fitzgerald. In the autumn of 1880 Mr. Van Nostrand again became the officiating lay- man. Occasional morning service is read, and the church is open for worship on particular days in the church year. By the united efforts of the people of Flushing and of the mission, and by the personal efforts of Hon. L. B. Prince, the church is free from debt and ready for con- secration.

The Sunday-school numbers about eighty. Mr. Van Nostrand has been superintendent from the first.

Reformed Church at Qucens .- It is said that the first expressed wish for the organization of a church at Queens was communicated by Dr. William D. Creed to Rev. Dr. Macdonald, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Jamaica. Subsequently the subject was mentioned to Rev. Mr. Alliger, pastor of the Reformed church. Though both these men looked with favor on the project no tangible result was reached.

Through the exertions of the ladies of the congrega- tion the church was furnished at a cost of $553.75. The site was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin W. Doughty. The bell was the gift of Henry R. Dunham, and at the dedication I). F. Manice presented his check for the balance of the indebtedness, $776.25. In 1865 the build- ing was renovated, at a cost of $900, and a parsonage and grounds were purchased at $5,000. A Sunday-school and lecture room was completed in 1876, and dedicated January 4th 1877, and at about the same time the in-

Rev. John W. Hammond was installed as pastor of this church May 22nd 1859. He resigned in November 1863, and his successor, Rev. James Wyckoff, was in- stalled July 3d 1864. He was succeeded by Rev.

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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Thomas Nichols, who was installed November 16th 1871, and in the spring of 1875 the present pastor, Rev. A. Hageman, was called. Although this church, like all others, has seen its lights and shadows, it has had a pros- perous career. The present membership is 136

The Sunday-school of this church was organized in 1860.

WOODHAVEN.

In 1836 John R. Pitkin laid out the village of Wood- haven, which was at first called Woodville, in honor of an old resident. The financial crisis which soon followed prevented any growth for some years.

In 1851 Johr Sharp & Sons erected a chisel factory , lighted by gas, but electric lights are to be introduced. . on the site of the present establishment of Lalance & Grosjean. It was a stone building about 40 by 50 feet. He also built two houses for workmen's residences. This factory continued in operation till 1855. In 1853 Phineas Walker erected a dwelling. In 1854 J. R. Pitkin erected two; S. H. De Mott, F. L. Allen and James M. Wiswell each one. In 1855 Daniel Cobleigh, Claude Fietie, and E. U. Jones built each a house. During some years the place had no growth by reason of a want of the facilities for communication with New York which the people had enjoyed.

In 1863 Messrs. Lalance & Grosjean commenced the manufacture of pressed tin and iron ware in the old chisel factory, and two years later they began to enlarge the works and to build houses for workmen. From that time till the present the village has continued to increase in size with the enlargement of the manufactory, till at present it has about 175 houses and 1, 122 inhabitants. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to establish other manufactories. A post-office was established in 1855, and the name changed to Woodhaven. Daniel Cobleigh was the postmaster. It was discontinued after a year and a half. It was re-established in 1866, with Joseph Lapage postmaster, succeeded, in 1875, by Daniel Cob- leigh, the present postmaster.

The village contains a few elegant residences, of which the summer establishment of Mr. Grosjean is the most extensive and elaborate.

The most important manufacturing establishment in the town of Jamaica as well as at Woodhaven is that of the

LALANCE & GROSJEAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

Operations were commenced here as early as 1863, and the building which had been erected by John Sharp & Sons for a chisel factory was first utilized. Additions were made to this till the whole comprised three build- ings, each about 150 by 30 feet.

In 1870 a stock company, with the above title, was or- ganized. The officers were: F. Grosjean, president; John C. Milligan, vice-president; E. W. Martin, secretary and treasurer; John I. Smith, superintendent. The cip- ital stock of the company is $500,000, all of which is paid up. Most of this stock is held by the officers, clerks and foremen of the company, only four outside parties having any. Large additions have been made to the buildings and machinery of this manufactory from year to year as the business of the company has in- creased.

In 1876 all the buildings except the warehouse were destroyed by fire. When rebuilt many of the buildings were constructed of brick and iron, and where wood is used the covering is of sheet iron. There are separate fire-proof vaults for valuable tools. The works are The manufactory consists of some ten buildings, which cover an area of about three acres. Mr. Grosjean owns about forty houses-residences of workmen-and about sixty are owned by operatives in the establishment. The first engine used was of 50 horse power, of which only 20 horse power were required to propel the machinery. The present engine is of 150 horse power, and its capac- ity is hardly sufficient. The machinery was all invented and constructed by members of the company or its em- ployes. The wares manufactured by this company em- brace all kinds of house and cooking utensils that are stamped in one piece, such as pans, pails, sheet iron ket- tles, etc. etc., and very large quantities of iron, tin plate, and block tin are used in making these articles. The wares manufactured are sold mostly in America, to all parts of which they are sent. They also find a market in almost every other country. The company constantly employs about 500 men.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WOODHAVEN.

About forty years ago Abraham Smith and some others organized a Sunday-school and prayer meeting in the Woodhaven school house, then known as the Ferry road school-house. At that time the inhabitants attended church either in Jamaica or East New York.

Fifteen or sixteen years since a chapel was built at Woodhaven, under the auspices of the ladies of the place, and soon afterward a Presbyterian church was organized in this building, where worship is now held. Many of the oldest families in the vicinity worship at this church, the origin of which may be said to be in the organization of the Sunday-school and prayer meeting. Mr. Smith is still living, at the age of 84, and is the ruling elder of the church. Revs. James G. Mason, now pastor of the Presbyterian church of Metuchen, N. J., and William W. Knox, now of the Huntington (L. I.) Presbyterian church, have been pastors. The present pastor is Rev. J. Abeel Baldwin.

RESIDENCE OF F. GROSJEAN, WOODHAVEN, QUEENS COUNTY, N. Y.

RESIDENCE OF MRS. HENRY OWEN, WOODHAVEN, QUEENS CO.,LONG ISLAND.

JOHN R. PITKIN,

the founder of East New York in Kings county, and of Woodhaven, Queens county, Long Island, was a son of John and Rebecca Andrews Pitkin, and was born in Colebrook, Litch- field county, Connecticut, in the year 1794. His father worked at his trade, making boots and shoes, carrying on also a small farm. The son at the early age of 12 left home to seek his own support, the father feeling that, although young, his habits and principles had so develop ed themselves that they would be to him (as his later life fully proved) a staff and shield which would never fail. For years he worked on a farm in the summer, receiving from $5 to $10 a month, and in the winter his board and clothing, he being permitted to attend the district school, some two miles distant. At 20 he was offered, and ac- cepted, a position as teacher in the New Hart- ford school, the same in which he had been an earn- est and attentive scholar.

Then, embarking in what were called " trading expedi- tions," he in company with others fitted out wagons, loaded them with dry goods, and drove through to Georgia, there disposing of all. After making a few trips, which took about four weeks each . (now accomplished by railroad in three days), he became a partner with S. & L. Hurlburt, of Winchester, Ct., and the firm founded and maintained stores at Madison, Monticello, Eatonton and Warrenton, Ga., all meeting with marked success.

But Mr. Pitkin's aims were still higher, and he returned to New York, formed a copartnership, and opened a wholesale dry goods house, which, not proving pleasant or profitable, was dissolved and its business closed.

At this time he became interested in real estate and took an active part in laying out and straightening some of the streets in New York, notably the upper part of William street.

Being attracted to Long Island, he with his brother-in- law, George W. Thrall, purchased three farms lying east and south of the old "Howard House," on the Jamaica turnpike; laid the same out in streets and blocks, planted trees, built houses, and named the locality East New York. Happy was he in later life to walk through a then busy and thriving town, with streets traversed by both steam and horse railroads, and with an enterprising and prosperous population of 15,000 people.

In 1846 he was instrumental in drawing, and after two years of diligent, persistent work, succeeded in having adopted one of the general manufacturing laws of the State of New York, under which to-day a vast amount of individual capital and enterprise is associated in the

Respect fully

development of the State's resources; the capitalists working for their own not only, but for the good of humanity at large. A libra- ry of over 50 letter books to-day attests his untiring zeal and persistency.

He became thoroughly wrapped up in the develop- ment of the shoe manufac- turing interests, and was instrumental in inducing prominent practical shoe manufacturers to remove from New England to New York. With a few near friends in 1860-61 he founded the East New York Boot, Shoe and Leather Manufacturing Company, now officered by his children and mak- ing an average of 3,000 pairs a day, their works being carried on at Albany, New York.

Mr. Pitkin, although liv- ing beyond the allotted three-score and ten, was ever earnest in advocating those principles which would tend to elevate the working classes; and he wrote : " As long as I am blessed with unimpaired faculties of body and brain I shall continue to agitate the union of labor with education, together with the progress of mind and wealth combined." He was a man of indomitable energy, untiring perseverance, pertinacity of purpose, an iron will, never yielding to the word "can't," and had such a clear perception of what was yet to be that in forecasting the future he had no superi- ors, and very few equals. As a father he was loved and respected. He was indulgent, kind, generous to a fault, but always insisted on the right. He was tem- perate, even to total abstinence. He was ready at all times to do his part for the welfare of others, and to-day both in East New York and in the growing village of Woodhaven there are churches and schools upon grounds he quietly gave, without regard to sect or religion.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 44

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