History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 82

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 82

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A complete edition of Mr. Bryant's poems was pub- lished in 1832, and republished in England, giving the author a European reputation. In 1832, 1845, 1849 and 1857 he traveled in Europe, his observations furnishing the material for his books entitled "Letters of a Traveler" and "Letters from Spain and other Countries." He trans- lated the Iliad into English verse in 1870 and the Odys- sey in 1871, and a complete edition of his poems was issued in 1876. The "Library of Poetry and Song," a volume of poems selected and edited by Mr. Bryant, was perhaps the most successful and popular work of its kind ever published.

Mr. Bryant was often called on to preside at public meetings and to deliver memorial and other addresses. The last of these was his oration on Mazzini, delivered May 29th 1878, in Central Park, New York. The sun shone hotly upon him while speaking, and on entering the house of General James Wilson after leaving the park he fainted and fell, his head striking the doorstep. He partially recovered and was removed to his own house in Sixteenth street, where he died from the effects of his injury, in the morning of June 12th.

The Bryant residence was built in 1787, by Richard Kirk, a Quaker. The property was owned for ten years by Joseph W. Moulton, whose writings furnish a valua- ble contribution to the early history of the State of New York. Mr. Moulton was one of the first of the New York business men who came and settled here. He sold the place, then containing forty acres, to Mr. Bryant in 1846. The original style of the residence has been materially changed. The farm now contains 200 acres. One peculiar feature is the stiles scattered over the farm. On the property is a famous black walnut tree, reputed to be the largest tree on the island. Its age is about 170 years. The circumference of its trunk is twenty-four feet, while its shade measures 130 feet be- tween perpendiculars. This tree has a neighbor, a red maple, of fourteen feet six inches girth twenty inches from the ground, with drooping branches of great spread. Mr. Kirk constructed the embankment which forms the artificial lake.

This gathering in of the mountain springs was at first utilized to run a paper-mill and other machinery. The lake is now surrounded by rare trees and shrubs of many kinds, brought from many regions. Among them grow the native cedars, and from these and the pretty lake the place derives its name Cedarmere.

Parke Godwin, the journalist and historian, who is a son-in-law of Mr. Bryant, lives in a beautiful residence across the way.

BRYANT CIRCULATING LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the inhabitants of Roslyn and vicinity held November 13th 1878 a stock company was formed, which was subsequently chartered as the Bryant Circu- lating Library Association. This company was formed in accordance with the plans of William Cullen Bryant, who had erected the hall, which, with the site, was deeded as a free gift to the association by Miss Julia S. Bryant, according to her father's request. The value of the gift is estimated at $15,000. The building is divided into apartments for library and reading room, a public hall, and a residence for the librarian who has the care of the building.

The board of trustees is the same that was first elect- ed, and consists of Parke Godwin, Stephen Taber, Henry W. Eastman, John Ordronaux, Daniel Bogart, J. Augus- tus Prior, Benjamin D. Hicks, Thomas Clapham an' James R. Willets.

ROSLYN SAVINGS BANK.

This institution was organized in December 1875. The following officers were elected in 1876: Stephen Taber, president; John M. Clark, first vice-president; Daniel Bogart, second vice-president; Henry W. East- man, treasurer; Frederic M. Eastman, secretary. Mr. Clark is now president. The character of the twenty- five members of the board of trustees ought to entitle the institution to the confidence of the people. The bank accommodates about 300 depositors, who have $63,000 on deposit. The operation of the bank has

William Cullen Bryant

449

MANUFACTORIES AT ROSLYN-THE CEMETERY.

been successful and regular semi-annual dividends have been paid.

MILLS AND FACTORIES.

There have been numerous mills and factories at Roslyn. Prominent mention of woolens manufactured here has been made at earlier expositions. It is believed that the paper-mill erected here in 1773 by Hendrick Onderdonk, Henry Remsen and Hugh Gaine, proprietor of Gaine's Mercury, of New York, was the first in the State. It is rendered certain by remarks made in the Mercury that it was preceded by no other for any length of time. A part of the old building is still standing here .. Several paper-mills have since been erected here. The only one remaining and in use is owned and operated by Myers Valentine. General Washington, while making his tour of Long Island, in April 1790, was entertained by Hendrick Onderdonk in the old mansion now occupied by Daniel Bogart. On that occasion General Washington visited the grist and paper-mills, and spoke approvingly of their management.

Roslyn Mills .- It appears that one John Robson ap- plied to the town and was granted permission to erect a dam and build a grist-mill on the stream at the head of Hempstead harbor. At a town meeting held at Hemp- stead April 2nd 1698, said Robson agreed to build the dam and mill within one year. He failed to fulfill his contract, and by the wording of the grant it became void and reverted to " ye Towne." In 1701 he applied to the town meeting for a renewal of the grant. No action was taken other than the appointment of a committee to have the matter in charge. No report seems to have been made or recorded. In 1709 Robson deeded to Charles Mott the dam and mill, one iron crow and some other implements for the consideration of £100; the dam and mill must have been erected prior to that date. In 1741 a deed of the property mentions an in- proved dam and a new and spacious mill, that was built and maintained on the stream by Jeremiah Wil- liams. The present mill, according to the data, was built about 1735. The property has passed through many changes of ownership and many fortunes have been made and lost on it. During the wars, especially the Revolu- tionary and that of 1812, the profits were large: the own- ers made money fast, and maintained expensive house- holds. When the Erie Canal was opened, and products from the west supplied the market of New York, the millers on Long Island felt the effect severely, and De Witt Clinton found many political enemies among them, and many that were not without political influence as well.

The farmers were, during the millers' affluence, much annoyed by their insolence, as when they brought a grist to the mill they were obliged to carry it in and wait till the miller could conveniently grind, then turn the bolt to sift the bran from the flour, themselves; as the grant from the town reserved the right of the public to one pair of stones to have their grists ground on, but did not mention the bolting arrangements. The old mill has

not yet passed to the modern methods of converting wheat into flour, but still plods on in methods similar to those in use a century ago.

Roslyn Silk Manufacturing Company .- This enterprise was started here in the latter part of 1880, by William Taber and Louis Dumas, in a building formerly used as a glass-cutting establishment. After feeling assured of suc- cess, and in order to strengthen and facilitate the under- taking, a stock company was formed, which was chartered January 14th 1881. The capital stock is $12,500; the stockholders are Hon. Stephen Taber, Benjamin C. Kirk, J. J. Johnson, Louis Dumas, William Taber and Mrs. Martha Willets, all of whom are trustees, except Mrs. Willets. The old building has been repaired and much enlarged, and a new brick engine-house built. The works now have forty-two looms, and are employing up- ward of fifty hands. A superior grade of silk is pro- duced.

Butter and Cheese Factory .- This factory was opened here April 3d 1881 by the Westbury Dairy Association. The object is to provide means for the profitable dis- position of milk when prices are ranging too low for profit in Brooklyn. The expense has been small, but the plan succeeds. The members of the association are Isaac H. Cocks, Thomas W. Willets and William Willets, the last of whom is superintendent both in Brooklyn and here.

THE ROSLYN CEMETERY.

The initiatory movement in founding this cemetery was the gift of four acres of land for cemetery purposes by Mrs. Ann E. Cairnes. The land was bought by Mrs. Cairnes from Caleb Kirby and, on her order, deeded, December 8th 1860, by him to the board of trustees of the Roslyn Presbyterian church .. A grant to establish the cemetery was obtained from the board of supervisors of Queens county, October Ist 1861. May 25th 1864 ten acres more were bought from Stephen Taber by the trustees and added to the cemetery. The first trustees were Samuel R. Ely, Daniel Bogart jr., James Losee, Warren Mitchell and Singleton M. Mott. Although the cemetery is nominally the property of the Presbyterian church, all denominations and sects have been equally free to use it, and have availed themselves of the privi- lege. Roslyn's late illustrious citizen William Cullen Bryant lies here. His monument bears the following in- scriptions:

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT, Born in Cummington, Mass., Nov. 3 1704, Died in New York Juno 12 1878.

FANNY FAIRCHILD BRYANT,

the beloved wife of William Cullen Bryant, an humble disciple of Christ, exemplary in every relation of life, affectionate, sympathetic, sincere, and ever occupied with the welfare of others.

The poet's grandchildren, children of Parke Godwin, are buried in the same plot. Some of the names of others buried in this cemetery are Abercrombie, Bogart, Brown, Cahart, Chamberlain, Clapham, Denton, Dicken- son, Ely, Francis, Hegeman, Ketcham, Killpatrick, Kirby, Losee, McNally, Mott, Moulton, Oakley, Rogers, Smith,

450

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

Snedeker, Strong, Underhill, Vickers, Wanser, Wiggins and Wilson.

THE BURNING OF THE "SEAWANHAKA."

As Roslyn is the terminus of the steamboat route to which the "Seawanhaka" belonged, it seems in place here to chronicle the dreadful catastrophe which over- took this ill-fated steamer, a catastrophe which affected families in every section of the northern half of the town, as well as many of Sea Cliff, Glen Cove and vicinity. This disaster was the last of a series of six happening in the neighborhood of New York within three weeks.

The "Seawanhaka " left pier 24 East River at 4 P. M. on June 28th 1880, and after calling at the foot of Thirty-third street had over 300 passengers on board. Between Randall's and Ward's islands the boat was sud- denly enveloped in flames. Captain Charles P. Smith was at the wheel, and, although severely burned, re- mained at his post and ran his boat on to a low marshy island called the Sunken Meadows. Fortunately most of the passengers were forward, and as the boat struck they jumped into the water, and many were saved. A number were severely burned before going overboard, and many were drowned.

SAMUEL T. TABER.

Samuel T. Taber was descended from an old New England family, whose ancestral home was in Massachu- setts. His grandfather, William Taber, left the paternal homestead in early life and settled in the State of New York, purchasing a farm on Chestnut Ridge, which lies in the most fertile portion of Dutchess county. This fine property passed by inheritance to his son Thomas, the father of Samuel, who in 1828 represented the dis- trict in the XXth Congress.

In the old-fashioned, roomy and comfortable farm house at Chestnut Ridge Samuel T. Taber was born, on the 13th of April 1824. He early evinced a taste for in- tellectual pursuits, and after completing his youthful education entered Union College, from which he gradu- ated in 1842. His preference being for the law he passed a year in the law school at Cambridge, Mass., and after- ward continued his studies for two years more, and until 1845, with a law firm in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; at the end of which period he was admitted to practice. Inheriting ample means and possessing quiet and studious tastes, he did not enter upon the active practice of his profes- sion: but, having in the same year that he was admitted to the bar married Miss Kate Hiller, of Chautauqua county, N. Y., preferred to retire to the home farm on Chestnut Ridge, where he passed several years in agri- cultural pursuits. In 1856, having inherited from nis mother's family the fine estate and ancestral home of the Tituses in Queens county, he removed to Roslyn, and thenceforth was a resident of Long Island. In his new home he found himself in the midst of con- genial surroundings, and seemed to enter upon a life of quiet and uninterrupted happiness. His fine

farm was under a high state of cultivation, and he took constant pleasure in improving it by adding the latest inventions in agricultural machinery, and in intro- ducing the most approved methods of using them. He was much interested in fine stock of all kinds, but es- pecially in poultry, swine and cattle, the best strains of which he always kept. His herd of thoroughbred Dur- hams was the finest on the island, and year after year won the highest prize at the county fair. His cultured taste made him also an admirer of all that was beautiful in nature. Trees and flowers were especial favorites, and the ample lawns surrounding his residence were taste- fully planted with choice varieties of shade and orna- mental trees, while a fine conservatory attached to the house was always kept well stocked with beautiful and rare plants. He was an excellent practical botanist and an authority on the native flora of the island. His quiet and studious habits withdrew him from active pub- lic life, and he modestly shrank from assuming the lead- ing position in politics which his ability and social standing would otherwise have given him. He was nevertheless a man of sincere and decided convictions, and never hesitated to espouse promptly and earnestly any cause that he believed just and right. He was quick to respond to calls of patriotic duty of every kind, and all legitimate schemes for public improvement or political advancement found in him an earnest advocate and a generous supporter.

While Mr. Taber's inclinations turned toward the quiet life of a country gentleman, wherein he found his greatest pleasure in the cultivation of his fertile acres and the enjoyment of the home circle, he was a man of excellent business capacity, and managed his estate and the various imporant interests intrusted to his care with prudence and success, evincing great natural ability for mercantile pur - suits. He was in the board of directors of the Brooklyn Bank, and also president of the North Shore Transporta- tion Company, which latter corporation, under his careful supervision, achieved a marked success.

In 1866 the Queens County Agricultural Society, which had been leading a species of nomadic life, de- cided to make for itself a permanent home. To this end a tract of 40 acres of land donated by the town of Hempstead was accepted, and the work of planting trees, erecting buildings, and otherwise preparing the ground immediately begun. In a few years nearly thirty thousand dollars had been expended in these improve- ments, and the society could justly take pride in having the best arranged and most beautiful agricultural grounds in the State. In this great and laborious undertaking Mr. Taber was a leading spirit, and to him more than to any other person are the people of Queens county in- debted for its successful accomplishment. He was president of the society three consecutive terms, and during those years, by his energy, good judgment and generosity, converted a doubtful experiment into a per- manent success, and established the society on so firm a basis that it has ever since gone prosperously onward. He was also greatly interested in the State agricultural

Very respectfully Jours Saul. Suben

455

SAMUEL T. AND STEPHEN TABER.

society, and at the time of his death was one of its vice- presidents, as well as a leading manager in its affairs. Had he lived a few weeks longer, and until the annual meeting, he would probably have been elected to the presidency.

On the 24th of May 1841, during Mr. Taber's junior year in college, ten Union College men, of whom he was one of the leaders, met and founded the since well known college fraternity of Chi Psi, which now numbers twenty- three alphas or chapters, in as many of the leading col- leges of America. He was honored with the highest

office in the gift of this society, and always maintained a troops demanded by the government from the different warm interest in its affairs.

Mr. Taber was by birth a member of the religious society of Friends, and, although never professing to ad- here in all things to the more rigid rules of the sect, was a conscientious and respected member of the society, and lived up squarely to his ideal of the highest and most advanced principles of Quakerism. While a thorough gentleman in appearance and address, he was especially plain and unassuming in all things, inheriting the Friends' aversion to personal vanity and ostentatious display. Although generous and hospitable in a marked degree, he was conscientiously careful to waste nothing in useless luxury, and evinced through life the effect of his early Quaker training in frugality, industry and simplicity.

He was a keen sportsman and loved his dog and gun, although in this, as in all other matters, he maintained a sensible moderation, and never allowed pleasure to inter- fere with the strict performance of duty. He used fre- quently to make excursions to the locality where game was found, and took great satisfaction in sharing the re- sults of his luck and skill with his neighbors. It was during one of these gunning trips that he contracted the malady which caused his death. He, with several friends, leased a large tract of meadow and marsh land on the borders of Currituck Sound, in North Carolina, and in the autumn of each year it was his custom to spend a week or more in hunting the wild fowl that frequent these waters. It is supposed that during his last visit to the south the malaria lurking in the swampy lands of his shooting grounds poisoned his system, and thus was the indirect cause of his death, which occurred a short time after his return, and on the 4th of February 1871.

STEPHEN TABER.

Stephen Taber, brother of Samuel T. Taber and son of Thomas Taber who was a member of the XXth Con- gress, was born in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, N. Y., March 7th 1821. After receiving an academic education he removed in 1839 to Queens county, where he engaged in farming and has so continued to the present time. In 1845 he was married to Miss Rosetta M. Townsend, by whom he had five children, four of whom are still living, namely William, Adelaide, Gertrude and Thomas. The oldest son, Samuel, at the age of 18 was lost at sea in the great storm of October 2Ist and 22nd 1865; no tidings of vessel or crew having ever been heard home popularity he persistently refused either to ask for

after the vessel (the bark "Tillie Van Name," bound from Philadelphia to New Orleans) left the Capes of Dela- ware.

From an early age Mr. Taber has taken an active in- terest in local and general politics. In 1860 and 1861 he represented the first Assembly district in the Legis- lature. The Rebellion having broken out in the latter year, he sustained with his vote and his counsel, as well as in his private acts, every legitimate measure for its speedy and thorough suppression. Much perplexity arose at this time as to the best method of filling the quota of States, and Mr. Taber is entitled to the credit of having made the earliest suggestion looking toward the solution of this problem, by recommending that such quotas be filled by towns rather than by counties. This plan met with the hearty concurrence of the late William C. Bryant, who in connection with Mr. Taber was sent by the citizens of North Hempstead to Albany for the purpose of pressing it upon the attention of the authorities. In this they were successful-Governor Morgan and the State officers adopting the plan proposed. As a result a new impetus was given to recruiting, and our regiments were speedily filled up.

Although at all times believing in and maintaining the cardinal principles of the Democratic party, as those which had they been faithfully carried out would have averted the great civil war, and also believing that the Republican party was in a greater measure responsible for its inception than even the most radical wing of the Democratic party, there seemed to Mr. Taber but one course for every loyal citizen to adopt when once acts of overt rebellion had been perpetrated. That one course was to suppress the Rebellion by every legitimate means at the disposal of the government. From this course of conduct he never swerved during the entire war.

While in the Legislature he introduced and finally carried through, against the most vigorous opposition, the law extending the general navigation act to Long Island Sound and its adjacent waters, a law under which the Long Island North Shore and numerous other navigation companies have since been organized.

In 1864 he was elected a representative to the XXXIXth Congress from the first district of New York, comprising the counties of Suffolk, Queens and Richmond. During this term of office he served as a member of the commit- tees on public lands and public expenditures. His course proving satisfactory to his constituents he was re- elected to the XLth Congress, where he served upon the committees on public lands and public expenditures and was made chairman of the committee on ventilation of the hall. As a member of the committee on public lands he was a sturdy opponent of all special legislation, and of all appropriations intended for merely local purposes ; holding resolutely to the principle that the public domain should no more than the public moneys be appropriated for any other works than those of a national character. At the risk of even his own

456

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

or to encourage any improvements affecting his own dis- trict or neighborhood, except such as were at the same time of national benefit and importance. As a member of this committee he also earnestly and vigorously op- posed the bill declaring forfeited to the United States certain lands granted to aid in the construction of rail- roads in the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida; on the ground that those roads were great public thoroughfares, and that the companies owning them had acquired vested rights in those lands and without them would be unable to push to completion improve- ments that were absolutely necessary for the development of the resources of those different States.

It having been charged while Mr. Taber was a member of the committee on public expenditures that corrupt means had been employed to secure the purchase of Alaska, and there being evidence tending to show that the Hon. Robert J. Walker had received a gratuity of $20,000 from the Russian government to aid in promot- ing this transaction, Mr. Taber presented a minority re- port strongly condemning the practice of American citi- zens, especially those who had held high official positions under the government, accepting fees from foreign powers for the use of their influence to shape the action of Congress in such matters.

Since the expiration of his last term in Con- gress Mr. Taber has held no official position, although taking such active interest and part in politics as he has always believed it to be the duty of every intelligent citizen to take. He has uniformly op- posed all those methods so popular among trading poli- ticians, and, in true consistency with the principles of square dealing which he has ever exhibited, he has inva- riably set his face against all organizations of a political character the object of which was to control or forestall the independent action of the people in their primary capacity; and he has never hesitated to openly condemn such organizations as tending to corrupt and unduly bias many who, if left to their individual judgment, would in general act honestly as well as intelligently. No one has done more by personal effort and example than he to maintain the purity of the ballot box and the independ- ence of the voter.

In matters of local public improvement he has borne his full share of the burdens of contribution; he helped to organize the Glen Cove Steamboat Company, which built the steamboat "Glen Cove," a vessel which in her day was known as the fastest and best boat on that route. Succeeding Mr. Irving, he was president until the disso- lution of the company. He also helped to organize the Long Island North Shore Transportation Company, and served as its president for the first three or four years of its existence. He also served as a director of the Long Island Railroad Company during the construction of the Glen Cove branch of that road. While acting in this capacity he was able to secure the whole right of way from Mineola to Glen Cove at a very moderate cost, and that too without in a single instance having to apply to any court for the appointment of commissioners to award

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 82

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