USA > New York > Queens County > History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals. > Part 75
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the factory, which is located at Corona. Among the in- corporators, besides the above named gentlemen were BenjaminW. Strong and James H. Leverich. Gustave Am- sinck, of G. Amsinck & Co., importers, New York, James M. Constable (of Arnold, Constable & Co.), Frederic B. Jennings, Charles G. Lincoln, William Prall Thompson, James B. Houston, L. P. Hawes and Charles G. Franck- lyn, owner of the Francklyn cottage at Long Branch, are among the largest stockholders. The company's business office is at 31 Wall street, New York.
The buildings are being constructed in various styles and sizes, and about fifty persons are thus given regular employment. A variety of styles and sizes of these build- ings have been shipped to fill orders at home and abroad. One of the two-story houses was sent to Paris to be used as a permanent residence; a portable hotel was recently shipped to Aspinwall, and at the time of this writing a portable chapel is being made for a camp meeting associa- tion, as well as six large buildings for the Panama Canal Company, besides other orders. The largest of this style of buildings can be taken down or put up in a few hours. One of the most ingenious features of the invention is the system of bracing the buildings by heavy iron wire, with turn buckles to regulate the strain. These braces are placed between the siding and the lining and also diagonally under the roof.
The Long Island straw works were established here by Thomas M. Maguire in 1874. He converted a wooden building into a factory and in 1878, when this was de- stroyed by fire, he erected a brick block 60 by 75 feet, three stories high. This was used as a factory where straw hats were made with varying success until the close of the season of 1881, when the machinery was re- moved and the buildings were bought by the Portable House Manufacturing Company before mentioned.
PORCELAIN WORKS.
The first manufactory of any considerable importance here was the porcelain works which are now operated by the Corona Porcelain Manufacturing Company. William Boch sen. was one of the first to introduce this art in America. He was a Frenchman who came to New York about thirty years ago. His sons had been educated to the business while yet in France, and after coming to America they established the great works at Green Point. Subsequently William Boch jr. built the porcelain works at Corona, but as he had little or no capital the business became crippled and at his death the property passed into the hands of J. Maidhoff as mortgagee. The prop- erty was rented for a brief time, but was most of the time idle until 1879. About this time the buildings were burned, but they were at once rebuilt. The present building is a brick structure, two stories high, 75 by 40 feet. There are two kilns and the capacity of the works is 75,000 knobs in each kiln per week. Porcelain hard- ware trimmings of every description are made here, and
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
knobs are now mounted, this branch having been added in 1880. From thirty to fifty persons find employment here. In 1879 the owners organized as a stock company with a paid-up capital of $30,000. Louis E. Maidhoff is general manager.
MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
was organized in February 1875, and the cemetery com- prises about eighty acres. The work of improvement was commenced in May 1875, and there were twenty- three burials that year, the first February 12th. The number of interments in 1880 was 202, and the total at the close of that year 867.
The association in 1880 built at the western entrance | purpose.
of the grounds a new stone lodge house, containing the superintendent's office and waiting rooms for visitors and funeral parties. Facilities for holding funeral services are afforded in the building when desired.
From the entrance of the cemetery to Maple Grove station on the Long Island Railroad a broad avenue was completed some time since. Portions of Lake and South Border plots have been surveyed and opened for sale. It is the aim of the association to keep the prices of lots as low as is consistent with the expenses incurred in put- ting and keeping the grounds in order.
The cemetery lies about two miles west of Jamaica, at an elevation varying from 100 to 150 feet above tide water. The grounds are well wooded, of finely diversi- fied surface, and seem especially adapted to their
407
From Photograph by Bogardus
Henry & Vandever. andereer
HENRY S. VANDERVEER.
Henry Suydam Vanderveer, of Newtown, was born in an old house that stood just across the road from his present dwelling, September 30th 1812. His father, Michael Vanderveer, moved from Flatbush, where his family had long borne high repute, about 1810, having bought this farm, then consisting of 130 acres. He was born October 22nd 1777, and died April 19th 1821, in the prime of manhood, not yet 44 years old. He mar- ried Martha Vandervoort, of Newtown, who was born March 31st 1878 and died November 13th 1855. Their children were: James, born October 16th 1801; Gitty Ann, born March 31st 1803; George R., born July 29th 1807; Peter, born May 14th 1809; Henry S .; Paul V., born June 13th 1815, and Ellen M., born May 31st 1818.
Henry S. Vanderveer, the subject of this sketch, grew up with no experience worthy of special remark, as other boys in so many farmers' families have before and since, going to district school when old enough, doing chores for his mother, and helping on the farm summers as he got larger, until he arrived at the estate of man- hood. He has always been a farmer, a good neighbor and a good citizen.
Mr. Vanderveer married Sarah J., daughter of George I. and Lydia Burroughs Rapelye, January 6th 1847, in the village of West Flushing. Mrs. Vanderveer was born July 25th 1818, and comes from a vigorous, long-
lived family, as is attested by the portrait and biographi- cal sketch of her father on page 356.
The children born to this couple have been: Martha Elizabeth (now Mrs. Edward R. Shipman of Brooklyn), November 8th 1847; George Rapelye, October 21st 1849, and John Hyatt, June' 14th 1856. At the age of 14 George R. fell from a load of lumber, and received internal injuries which resulted in his death two days after, September 25th 1863. He was an unusually bright, promising boy, and his loss was a cruel depriva- tion, which his parents can never cease to feel.
John Hyatt married (November 13th 1878) Cornelia G., daughter of John and Gertrude de Bevoise. He re- mains at home, engaged in carrying on the farm. A grandchild completes this household, representing the third generation-always such an impressive reminder of the passage of time.
In 1864 Mr. Vanderveer united with the Dutch Re- formed church of Newtown, of which Rev. Charles I. Sheppard has for the past 14 years been the esteemed pastor. Of this religious society he has always been an active and worthy member, serving first as deacon and now as elder.
He built the house in which he lives in 1850, remodel- ing and adding thereto in 1873, making it, with its pleas- ant surroundings, the cheerful and inviting home which Mr. Vanderveer and his family now enjoy, and to which their friends are always welcomed with a most genuine hospitality.
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
JOHN S. DURYEA.
The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears above, was born in the year 1800, and was killed by one of his cattle in 1864.
His father, Jacob Duryea, was born, according to the family record now in possession of Mrs. Duryea, in 1772, and his grandfather, also named Jacob, was born in 1730. His great-grandfather was christened with the name Jacob, but the date of his birth cannot be ascertained. It is known however that he was born in the southern part of Kings county and if, as is supposed, he was the son of Joost Duryea, the early history and genealogy of the family are already fully recorded in the work of that in- defatigable genealogist the late Teunis G. Bergen.
Mr. Duryea spent his life as a farmer in Newtown, and here at his death he left a widow and two sons, Na- thaniel and Jacob S., who reside on the farm which he left to them.
THE JACKSON FAMILY.
Robert Jackson and Agnes his wife were original settlers in Hempstead. His will is dated May 25th 1683. His children were John, Samuel, Sarah (Mrs. Nathaniel
Moore) and Martha (Mrs. Nathaniel Coles). Of these children, John owned 430 acres in 1685, and was called colonel. He was a leader in public affairs. His sons were John, Samuel and James. The first mentioned settled near Jerusalem, and died in 1744, leaving ten children-Obadiah, John, Parmenus, Martha, Elizabeth, Nancy, Mary, Jerusha, Rosanna and Abigail. Obadiah was the father of General Jacob S. Jackson. John, his brother, was the father of Thomas, John Tredwell, Samuel, Noah, Obadiah, Charity and Mary. Parmenus (robbed and murdered January 10th 1781) had sons Par- menus and John. The former was the father of Benja- min C. Jackson, Thomas Birdsall Jackson, Noah, Oba- diah, Mary and Elbert.
Thomas B. Jackson was born at Jerusalem, I .. I., March 24th 1797, and lived on the paternal homestead (where his grandfather Parmenus was murdered during the Revolution). The early ancestors came from Eng- land, and first settled on the Connecticut shore, and thence removed to Long Island about 1643.
T. B. Jackson removed to Newtown, L. I., in April 1835, and located at Fish's Point, Flushing Bay. The "old grist-mill " on the dam, by the mill pond-a relic of the past, held in the Fish family over 100 years-was for nearly half a century owned and used by Mr. Jack- son. The frame is of hewn oak and is as solid as on the day of its erection. In 1666 the Indians used this lo- cality as their encampment, as is plainly shown to this day by numerous shell banks still seen in the sheltered places about the farm.
Mr. Jackson, who was well and favorably known throughout Long Island, took an active and prominent part in politics, holding various public offices during a period of 30 years. He was twice judge, member of As- sembly from 1833 to 1837, and then member of Congress until 1841, in the time of Webster, Clay, Calhoun, etc.
Mr. Jackson died April 23d 1881, in his 85th year. His widow (who was formerly Maria Coles) is now in her 95th year, in the enjoyment of health, and all her facul- ties. She is the survivor of a long-lived family, whose ages have averaged over 90 years.
'The sons are Samuel C., Andrew, and William H. The accompanying plate shows Samuel C. Jackson's residence, which is on a part of the old farm and has been erected about 20 years. He is engaged in a mer- cantile and manufacturing business in New York city.
Andrew and William H. are real estate agents at As- toria.
BAY CLIFF. RESIDENCE AND SURROUNDINGS OF SAMUEL C. JACKSON, FLUSHING BAY, NEWTOWN, QUEENS COUNTY, L.I.
NORTH HEMPSTEAD.
HE town of North Hempstead comprises the entire northern portion of the original town of Hempstead. It is bounded on the north by Long Island Sound, on the east by Oyster Bay, on the south by Hempstead, and on the west by Flushing, and was a part of what was for merly known as the North Riding of Yorkshire.
The town is pretty equally divided by the " ridge of hills"-a chain of miniature mountains-which, com- mencing at Flatbush and Brooklyn, extends eastwardly into Suffolk county. In the reflecting mind the pecul- iar form of this ridge of hills awakens the inquiry whether it and the whole of Long Island were not, in the long past ages, a great sand beach gradually washed up by the ocean, and which by successive changes accumulations, decay of weeds, leaves and vegetable matter, was, in the process of ages, so fertilized as to pre- pare it for the use of man, and ultimately to become what it now is, a highly productive soil.
The Harbor Hill in this town is the most elevated point on Long Island. Its height was measured in July 1816 by Dr. Mitchell and Captain Patridge by the barom- eter, and was found to be 319 feet above tide water; but a later and probably more accurate measurement, by the water commissioners of Williamsburgh, made its height 380 feet. It is covered with a dense forest of thrifty growth. At its summit Hon. Stephen Taber has erected an observatory. This elevated spot is much fre- quented by excursionists and picnic parties in the sum- mer season. From its summit is obtained a grand birds- eye view of Long Island, of the State of Connecticut and of the Atlantic Ocean. In a clear day the city of New York, its great suspension bridge and towers, and many of its prominent buildings may be seen by the naked eye.
GEOLOGICAL PHENOMENA.
About the year 1820 one Henry Demilt dug a well, preparatory to erecting a dwelling house, near the middle of Cow Neck, and at the depth of about seventy feet the well diggers came to a bed of clam shells and oyster shells which were found there imbedded in and inter- mingled with dark mud of a saltish taste and of the same odor as the mud now found at the salt marshes by the seashore. Many persons from the neighborhood and
some scientific men visited the place and examined this remarkable phenomenon. By further digging water was reached, but it was found brackish and unfit for use; thereupon the contemplated building was abandoned, the well filled up and no further attempts were made to pro- cure good water there. The locality was a mile distant from the present salt water. A similar indication is re- lated in the digging of another well, at a much greater depth, in the southwestern part of the town. In the latter case, however, good water was reached after pene- trating a great depth below the shell and sea mud strata.
On August 24th 1787 a large and strangely appearing bone, apparently of some extinct fish or animal, was found by workmen excavating at Great Neck, which at- tracted much attention and differing opinions from scientific men. The learned Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, then regarded as an eminent naturalist and an authority, pronounced it to be the jaw bone of a sea cow, but how it came in such a place, on what is now dry land, he could not explain.
The celebrated "Kidd's Rock," just east of Sands Point, stands upon the shore of a small island at the northeasterly extremity of Cow Neck. This is a very large boulder, equivalent to a cube of about 2,000 feet. Under it tradition says the notorious Captain Kidd (who was hung in London in 1701 for piracy) concealed vast amounts of the treasures accumulated by his numerous piracies. This immense rock has been on all sides dug around, undermined, excavated, blasted, and wrought with various charms and incantations by superstitious or visionary persons, who have here repeatedly searched for Kidd's treasures, but all in vain. There is a similar large boulder, called Millstone Rock, at Manhasset, a quarter of a mile southeasterly from the Friends' meet- ing house, which contains 2,400 cubic feet as measured by Dr. Mitchell and Captain Patridge; and there for- merly was still another, of similar size, on the Haydock property near the head of Cow Bay. But this latter has disappeared, having been blasted and broken up into fencing stone. Boulders of so great a size are an anom- aly on Long Island.
ADAPTATIONS OF THE SOIL.
Much of that large portion of the present town of North Hempstead situated south of the ridge of hills
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HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.
was at the Revolutionary war, and for a long time after, lying as open plains, used as commons by the towns- people for pasturing their sheep and cattle, and was deemed almost valueless for tillage. But in process of time small portions were inclosed and appropriated- first by squatters, then larger portions by regular farmers -until finally, within the last sixty years, the greater part of it was taken up, fenced, inclosed and cultivated; and with sufficient manuring is found capable of producing abundant crops. Thus nearly all the land formerly called " the Plains " (anciently known as the "Salisbury Plains") is now in a high state of cultivation, and mostly occupied by thrifty, wealthy farmers.
On March 25th 1830 the Legislature authorized the town to sell these common lands or "plains"; and there- upon the town sold or released its title to them to the persons who had from time to time respectively enclosed and cultivated portions of them, for the trifling sum of fifty cents per acre. The southerly part of these plains lay adjoining the extensive tract more recently purchased of the town of Hempstead by the late A. T. Stewart, and on which Garden City is built.
The land lying north of the ridge of hills, embracing Great Neck and Cow Neck, was always deemed the most fertile. Great Neck was earliest, and ever since has been, occupied by prosperous and for the most part wealthy farmers. The practice of raising and selling hay for the New York market was commenced here about 1818-20 and soon became a profitable business, which has extended to and is yet continued largely in all parts of the town.
The soil of this town (emphatically of the northern portion) is also specially adapted to the growth of all the fruit trees. There were, and yet are, here many fine orchards, from which the former owners derived large annual returns, some of them selling a thousand barrels or more in fruitful seasons. Among those farmers who. sixty or seventy years ago, paid great attention to the culture of apple orchards, some of which yet continue productive, may be mentioned Elijah Allen, of Great Neck, Joseph Onderdonk, of Cow Neck, and Benjamin Platt, of Herricks, all of whom planted and cultivated very extensive orchards. Of those who yet take pride in orchards and fine fruits generally, Elbert H. Bogart, re- siding at the easterly side of Cow Neck, should be men- tioned. Isaac Hicks & Sons, of Westbury, have an ex- tensive commercial nursery for the cultivation and sale of choice fruit and ornamental trees. There are some other persons about Westbury, Manhasset and the two Necks who yet manifest some interest in the culture of choice fruits and ornamental trees as well.
HARBORS, LIGHT-HOUSES AND NAVIGATION.
The town is indented with bays and harbors, which are navigated by sloops of from 30 to 50 tons. Hemp- stead Harbor, on the east side, separates this town from Oyster Bay, as respects the water-line north of or below the " Barrow Beach." This beach extends for about a mile easterly from the east side of Cow Neck, nearly
across the harbor to Glenwood, yet leaving a spacious opening called " the Gut," through which sloops and steamboats of large size pass and repass at all times of the tide.
This harbor or bay on either side furnishes numerous fine building sites, some of which are occupied by elegant mansions.
Cow Bay (anciently known as Schout's and also as llowe's Bay), on the west side of Cow Neck, separating it froni Great Neck, furnishes a still larger number of beau- tiful sites, on some of which tasteful dwellings are erected. The west side of Great Neck, facing Long Island Sound, has also many beautiful water fronts. Costly residences have been erected along nearly all these shores within re- cent years, chiefly since the opening of the North Hemp- stead turnpike, giving direct communication from Roslyn and Manhasset to New York via Flushing.
At the northern extremity of Cow Neck, on a point jutting far into Long Island Sound, the United States government erected the Sands l'oint light-house in 1809. Five acres of land there were bought of Benjamin Hew- lett, January 15th 1808, upon which the light-house was built by Captain Noah Mason, who at its completion was appointed its keeper and continued as such until his death, in 1841. Adjoining the light-house grounds a large hotel, patronized by visitors from New York, has been built, furnishing grand views of Long Island Sound and the opposite shores of Westchester county and the State of Connecticut as far as the eye can reach. There are also several beautiful private residences in this vicin- ity, occupied by retired wealthy persons. Another light- house half a mile nortlierly was about 40 years after- ward erected on the "Execution Rocks," a dangerous reef directly in the track of vessels navigating Long Island Sound. Both these light-houses are attended by the same keeper. A naval battle on a small scale came off here September 10th 1814, during our last war with England, between the British frigate "Acosta" and thirty American gunboats.
The bays and harbors bounding the northerly shores of the town furnish good facilities for navigation, by steam or sailing vessels. The first attempt to introduce steam navigation was made about 1837, when by neigh- borhood subscriptions the steamboat "Statesman " was purchased, and ran daily to New York from a newly con- structed dock at Port Washington. But after running a year or two and sinking most of the capital embarked therein the enterprise was abandoned. A steamboat has since run from Port Washington, at irregular intervals. More recently spacious steamboat wharves have been constructed at Great Neck, Sands Point, Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, and Roslyn. Steamboats leave Roslyn in the morn- ing and return at evening, stopping at each of these places on the outward and the inward trips. From all these latter landings regular daily steamboat communication with New York may now be deemed permanently estab- lished. The North Hempstead and Flushing turnpike, seconded by the permanent establishment of steamboats, and followed by the yet incomplete railroad facilities,
ROADS IN NORTH HEMPSTEAD-EARLY SETTLEMENT.
have induced many strangers to become permanent resi- dents here.
ROADS.
Formerly the entire northern portion of the town had none but a circuitous communication with New York. Residents of that part of the town were compelled to travel by the roundabout way of Jamaica to reach the metropolis. But about 1840, by the exertions of a few public spirited individuals, a turnpike was constructed giving a direct route from Roslyn by way of Manhasset, Great Neck, Little Neck, and Bay Side to Flushing, and thence to New York. Subsequently this turnpike was extended from Roslyn to East Norwich and thence finally to Cold Spring. This has given a great impetus to mar- ket gardening and the introduction of visitors and set- tlers from New York and elsewhere, and largely promoted the productive capacity and growth of population over the entire northern portion of North Hempstead. The few individuals by whose exertions and money the turn- pike was constructed have lost most of their advances; but the great community has been vastly benefited by their expenditure.
The Jericho turnpike, extending through the southerly side of this town, was constructed many years before. By its construction improved traveling facilities were furnished from Jericho and the southerly part of North Hempstead to Jamaica and Brooklyn. The public high- ways of the town are generally in fine condition.
The Long Island Railroad with its Glen Cove branch penetrates the town through its southerly and easterly parts. The North Shore Railroad, completed only from Flushing to Great Neck, penetrates but a mile or so, as yet, on its westerly side, with some promise of its early completion eastwardly to Manhasset, as originally con- tracted for and partially graded, and thence ultimately on to Port Washington and perhaps to Glen Cove, Oyster Bay, Cold Spring, and Huntington.
SETTLEMENT AND EARLY HISTORY.
Though this and the adjoining territory had for a long time belonged to the Dutch government, yet there had been none but very sparse settlements made prior to about 1670. The first important settlement was made, or rather attempted, near the head of Cow Bay, in the spring of 1640, by a small colony of English immigrants from Lynn, Massachusetts, under the command of Cap- tain Daniel Howe, who came under the pretended au. thority (afterward disavowed) of the Earl of Stirling. They landed on the west side of Cow Neck, near the head of Cow Bay, and at once pulled down the Dutch arms, which were nailed to a tree there, and in derision carved a fool's face in their stead. They then began erecting dwelling houses and negotiating with the Indi- ans for the lands on Cow Neck-extending thence south- erly to the " Plains." The Sachem Penhawitz, who had previously sold the land to the Dutch, informed them of this trespass. All these doings, being in contempt and defiance of the rights and authority of the Dutch gov-
ernment, were of course regarded as hostile acts. The Dutch authorities thereupon dispatched a force of twen- ty-five soldiers to Cow Bay, who summarily carried off the trespassers; and thus their attempted settlement was necessarily abandoned and soon after entirely broken up. The same company, later in the same year, associated with others and commenced the settlement of South- ampton.
During the next fifty years the town became gradually occupied by both Dutch and English settlers, the English settling mostly about Westbury and Herricks, and the Dutch generally preferring the necks. Connecticut too asserted her authority here, and on October 5th 1662 went through the form of annexing this and other towns to her province; but in January of 1664 these towns com- bined and threw off her authority.
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