History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 83

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 83

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damages. When the Roslyn Savings Bank was organized Mr. Taber was selected by unanimous vote of its trustees to act as its first president, and he continued in that of- fice three years, when at his own urgent request he re- tired, to assume the position of trustee, which he still holds.

HENRY W. FASTMAN.

Henry W. Eastman was born in Roslyn, then known as Hempstead Harbor, on the 8th day of May 1826. While still a boy he entered the law office of Pierpont Potter, Esq., at Jamaica. His certificates of clerkship show that he began his studies there on the 9th of May 1840, and continued until May roth 1841, when he en- tered the office of Henry M. Western in New York city. In this office he remained until May 25th 1842, when he passed into that of Horatio G. Onderdonk, Esq., of Manhasset. From May 25th 1842 to May Ist 1847 he continued a student in this office, completing in this way the seven years of study for the bar then required of those who had not received a collegiate education. Mr. Western's certificate states a significant fact to the credit of his young student in describing his clerkship as being "without vacation," an illustration of the innate energy with which he began his life labors and pursued them unto the end.

On the 14th day of May 1847 he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court as an attorney, under the rules creating the two classes of attorneys and counsellors at law. On the 24th of the same month he was admitted to the court of chancery as a solicitor. His two certifi- cates of admission bear the distinguished names of Greene C. Bronson as chief justice and Reuben H. Wal- worth as chancellor. On the 28th of June 1847 he was licensed by Isaac E. Haviland, first judge of the court of common pleas of Queens county, to practice in that court as an attorney and counsellor. Having thus qualified himself for the duties of his profession he returned to his native village, where he opened a law office in what was formerly known as Roslyn Hall.

Pending the arrival of business he accepted the posi- tion of assistant tutor in the academy, where he found opportunity to supplement his resources, which were then quite circumscribed. Young as he was his powers of direction and organization seemed to call for imme- diate employment, and we find him taking the part of a leader among his fellow citizens in all the varied public enterprises of that day. He allied himself with the great temperance movement then agitating the country, and was a constant attendant upon meetings held in its interest; became secretary of the Queens County Tem- perance Society, and finally a delegate, when only 21 years of age, to a State temperance convention, called for the purpose of forming a distinct ticket in the ensuing election. In the same spirit of public activity he asso- ciated himself with the Manhasset Lyceum, acting as chairman of its lecture committee, and undertaking the onerous duty of supplying the requisite speakers to fill the winter's programme.

459

THE LIFE OF H. W. EASTMAN.

Not content with these multifarious duties, with the exactions which they made upon his time when super- added to his professional labors, he established in 1850, in conjunction with A. W. Leggett, a weekly paper known as the Plaindealer. Fortune, however, did not smile upon this enterprise, and despite his best efforts and those of some of his personal friends the paper died in its infancy. It was perhaps well that it did, for the law is a jealous mistress, not willingly dividing her favors, either with politics or general literature.

from her altar must serve with fidelity and undivided al- legiance. Mr. Eastman soon discovered that fact, and from this time forth gave himself with untiring energy and assiduity to the practice of his profession.

He had no forsenic ambition, being content to organ- ize and direct movements through other agencies than speech. This seemed singular in one of his fulminatory temperament, backed as it was by great moral courage; and yet with all this he was haunted by a retarding self- distrust which kept him off his feet and out of court. Even in general meetings, whether political or otherwise, he deferred to the presence of others, rarely speaking, and if at all, briefly, lucidly and with great emphasis.

He early appears to have turned his attention to real property law as a source of profitable practice, more par- ticularly to that branch of it included in conveyancing, with the legal incidents of leases, incumbrances, parti- tions and foreclosures. He became the financial adviser and counsel of a large number of capitalists, who relied upon his judgment in making loans for permanent in- vestment. In this way his reputation grew from year to year. He was regarded as authority upon values, both actual and prospective, of real estate, and was often se- lected to unravel the tangled meshes and conflicting subtleties of real property law with which some unfor- tunate testator had tied up his estate, or to smooth out the wrinkles from the assets of a bankrupt. He was also trustee and guardian of many estates, and at the time of his death was the superintending attorney of over $1,500,000 of loans on real property.

In August 1862 Mr. Eastman was appointed assessor of internal revenue for the first Congressional district of New York. This field was an entirely new one in our country. There were no precedents by which to guide these new revenue officers. Each assessor became a law unto himself in his interpretation of the federal statute, and, although the commissioner of internal revenue was empowered to adjudicate questions of pending differ- ences, yet his opinions did not always carry conviction with them. They were looked upon as only interlocutory orders, to be subsequently reviewed. It is a satisfaction to know that from the first Mr. Eastman's rulings in his district were considered in Washington as unexception- able in their character, exhibiting as they did a knowl- edge of constitutional law which enabled him to estab- lish some most useful precedents for the benefit of the internal revenue bureau. The writer had occasion to confer with E. A. Rollins, the commissioner, on this point, and was gratified to learn from him that Mr. East- man's administration of his office was conspicuous for the absence of errors of judgment, either in construc- tion of the statute or in enforcement of its provisions.

His record stood pre-eminently faultless and unimpeach- able, as testified to by a letter from Mr. Rollins, bearing date December 12th 1866, in which he says. "No re- ports have ever reached me in relation to your services otherwise than such as were satisfactory to myself, and must have been agreeable to you had you been made ac- quainted with them."

In 1876 Mr. Eastman was one of those who helped organize the Queens County Bar Association, of which

He who would live |he was the first treasurer, and president at the time of his death. His direction of its funds was such that it grew to be a flourishing institution, with a gradually in- creasing library and a surplus to draw upon. In like manner, and with the same public spirit which was ever his guiding impulse, he interested himself in organizing the Bryant Library Association in Roslyn, an association founded upon the bequest of a hall by the late William C. Bryant to that village.

In March 1878 Mr. Eastman organized the Roslyn Savings Bank for the purpose of supplying a neighbor- hood want, as he felt it to be. This bank was wholly his own creation, the offspring of his conscientious de- sire to help the poor find a place of safe deposit for their little earnings, and to found an institution of recognized standing in the community. With this end in view he accepted the position of treasurer, a position which he filled to the time of his death, giving his services to its administration with a fidelity and self-denial which com- manded the admiration of his colleagues and the com- munity. All knew that his midnight lamp was never ex- tinguished while anything remained to be done in the interest of the bank. However arduous might have been the labors of the day he was never too tired to be unable to do something more in its behalf.

Mr. Eastman was the candidate of the Republican party for county judge of Queens county at the elec- tions held in 1869 and 1873. Though his party was in the minority he polled its full vote. He was also its candidate for delegate to the constitutional convention of 1867, but failed to be elected.

His last illness, which was brief, told too plainly the story of an overworked system, whose vitality had been consumed in advance of its years. As his ambition to labor knew no limits, so his energy knew no bounds, and he fell a victim to that fever of unrest which is charac- teristic of our professional life. He died on the 30th of March 1882, not having yet reached his 56th year.

At a meeting of the bar of the county, held on the fol- lowing day, appropriate resolutions commemorative of his worth were adopted, and at the opening of the April term of the circuit court, held in and for the county of Queens on the ioth day of the month, the same were duly presented and ordered to be entered on the minutes of the court.

The trustees of the Roslyn Savings Bank, the Queens County Bar Association and the Bryant Library Associ- ation passed similar resolutions expressive of their respect and appreciation of his worth.

Mr. Eastman was married on the 16th of February 1848 to Miss Lydia Macy, daughter of Frederick H. Macy, of Williamsburgh. He left seven children, of whom three are sons and four daughters.

460

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

MINOR VILLAGES OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD.

GREAT NECK.

The settlement of this neck of land commenced about the middle of the seventeenth century. May 19th 1679 Thomas Rushmore was granted permission to build a grist and saw mill on the west side of Great Neck, with privileges similar to other mills, and to cut timber on un- occupied land.

The village of Great Neck is the terminus of the north side railroad and is mostly of modern growth. It con- tains a number of business establishments, among which are the hardware store of Vincent Barnes and the two stores occupied by the Haydens. There are two churches and a good school building in the vicinity.

HON. SILVANUS S. SMITH.

The subject of this sketch was born at Herricks, in North Hempstead, July 4th 1802. His father was Silva- nus Smith, a farmer well known in the county (having held the offices of county treasurer and justice of the peace for several years) and highly respected and es- teemed for his probity in all of his business transactions in public and private. His mother was Mary Toffey, daughter of Daniel and Phebe Toffey, of Herricks. She died in 1812, leaving a family of three daughters and two sons, Silvanus being the younger.

Mr. Smith received a common school education and later attended Union Hall Academy, at Jamaica, after which he accepted a clerkship in the house of Stephens & Underhill, and at a later date he entered the service of Warring & Kimberly, wholesale grocers, of New York. In 1822, at the request of his father, he returned home to take charge of the farm, of which he became owner upon the death of his father, in 1825.

In 1830 Mr. Smith was married to Elizabeth Louisa, daughter of Thomas and Altie Tredwell, of Great Neck. In 1835 he purchased a farm at Great Neck and erected buildings thereon for his future home, having disposed of his property at Herricks. In 1839 his wife died and in 1846 he married his second wife, Helen Livingston, daughter of Stephen and Margaret Olivia Mitchell, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Mr. Smith's official career began in 1832, when he was elected town assessor and commissioner of common schools, in which capacities he served several years. He was elected supervisor of his town in 1847, and served seven years. In 1851 he was elected to represent his county (then entitled to but one member) in the Assem- bly. On the organization of the house in 1852 he was appointed one of the committee on the erection and di- vision of towns and counties, and also one of a select committee of five appointed by the speaker on the license question, to report to the house the result of their delib-

S. S.Smith

erations. Two reports were made, the majority opposing and the minority favoring licenses. Upon a vote of the house the minority report, presented by Mr. Smith, was adopted. In 1853 he was re-elected to the Assembly. The house was organized by the election of William H. Ludlow, of Suffolk county, as speaker. Mr. Smith was chairman of the committee on agriculture. Both houses adjourned without passing the supply bill. The governor, Horatio Seymour, issued a proclamation calling an extra session. A recess was had for only one month, when both houses reassembled, passed the supply bill and dis- posed of the unfinished business of the regular session, and adjourned. On his return home Mr. Smith's friends urged him to allow them to present his name to the Con- gressional convention as a candidate for member of Con- gress from the first Congressional district, assuring him that he could have the nomination; but, though a nom- ination was equivalent to an election, the district being strongly Democratic, he declined, having decided to retire to private life, which is more in consonance with his do- mestic taste and disposition. Since 1854 he has enjoyed his elegant home, "Forest Hill," at Great Neck, untroubled by the jar and conflict of political strug- gles.

46 1

From Photograph by Bogardus.

Im Matchile Sowith 1

WILLIAM MITCHELL SMITH.

William Mitchell Smith, of Great Neck, is known as | tion and much addicted to reading, gifted with a remark- one of the most genial, hospitable and companionable ably retentive memory, his knowledge of men and events, and especially of the early history of Long Island, is ex- tensive and varied. He began his business life in New York, and about 1840 removed to Great Neck, where he has since been engaged in farming. gentlemen of Long Island. He is a direct descendant, in the sixth generation, of Richard Smith, the original proprietor of Smithtown. His father was Daniel E. Smith, who was born in Smithtown and was a merchant in New York prior to 1832, after which he lived retired at Great Neck until his death. His mother was Miss Susan H. Mitchell, daughter of William Mitchell, in whose honor Mr. Smith was named, and on the maternal side Mr. Smith is descended from and related to the Hewlett family, which is numerous and prominent on Long Island.

Mr. Smith was born at Great Neck, May 13th 1816. His early life was spent there, and in the public schools there he obtained the rudiments of his education, later attending a private school in New York for a time. Though not a graduate of any college, Mr. Smith is one of the best informed men on the island. Of quick observa-

Mr. Smith married Harriet, daughter of Joseph L. Hewlett, of Great Neck. She has borne him three children. Two daughters, Harriet and Susie H., are living. William Mitchell jr., a son, died soon after he had attained his majority. Inclined to domestic life and dearly prizing the comforts of home, Mr. Smith has never been tempted to relinquish them for public or political honors, though he takes a thoughtful and intel- ligent interest in affairs of national importance and has at heart the welfare and progress of his town, county and State. He and his family are communicants in the Episcopal church, of which he is an earnest and liberal supporter.

462

HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY.

THOMAS MESSENGER.

Thomas Messenger, younger son of John Messenger, Esq., of England, was born in the year 1810, in the county of Surrey, and came to America when he was still very young. Settling at first in New York city, much of his early life was spent on Long Island, in the develop- ment of which up to the time of his death he always took a lively interest. Although he retained many of the characteristics of the inhabitants of his native soil, still his love for his adopted home was entirely unclouded by those prejudices so common to his countrymen. He was thoroughly imbued with whole-souled and disinterested devotion to America's free institutions. He combined in himself the tenacity of purpose, high sense of honor, and impregnable integrity of an English gentleman, with the enterprise, public spirit and sound judgment of an American merchant. A long and successful business career in New York city never dimmed the lustre of his integrity, and during a well earned rest toward the end of his life his spirit of enterprise remained undiminished.

During his commercial life Mr. Messenger was well known through the many offices of trust in financial and charitable institutions which he filled in the most satis- factory manner. While conducting a large and prosperous business of his own, he was for 25 years president of the Brooklyn Bank; 20 years trustee of the Brooklyn Savings Bank; at the time of his death senior director of the Home Insurance Company of New York; treasurer of the Brooklyn City Hospital; trustee of the Aged and In- firm Clergy fund of the diocese of Long Island, the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Industrial school; besides filling other offices of public and private trust, in all of which he displayed untiring activity, in- trepid fidelity and rare sagacity.

But to Long Islanders, and especially to the inhabit- ants of Queens county, he was best known by his spirited and disinterested devotion to the advancement of eco- nomical and profitable agriculture. Among the strongest instincts which he carried with him through life from his English cradle was an innate love for country life and agricultural pursuits. So strong was this feeling that it fell little short of being a passion, and prompted him during the busiest years of a very busy life to purchase a small farm at Great Neck, Long Island, to which from the very first he gave his personal attention. As oppor- tunity presented itself the original farm was gradually increased, until Mr. Messenger became the largest land owner on Great Neck. He devoted his attention mainly to the introduction and breeding of the finer kinds of foreign cattle. His efforts in this direction were recog- nized by several prizes at the New York State agricultu- ral shows. He was also one of the largest contributors of articles to the Queens county show when it was com- paratively in its infancy, and at a time when such contri- butions were needed to give interest and success to its annual meetings. Appreciation of his valuable services in this direction, as well as his general high standing in the community, and his well known executive ability, secured him the election to the presidency of the Queens

County Agricultural Society a few years ago. To the exercise of the duties of this office he brought those high qualities of geniality and tact which through his whole life had served to so thoroughly endear him to those whose good fortune it was to be brought in contact with him in his domestic and social relations.

Mr. Messenger was also identified with the railroad development of Long Island, being actuated thereto more by his zeal for its best interests than by any desire of profit for himself. He was the original promoter and largest bondholder and a stockholder in the Great Neck branch of the Flushing and North Shore Railroad, of which he was also receiver at the time of his death, in his seventy· first year.

On the 20th of October 1881 he finally succumbed to the disease against which for several years he had man- fully struggled. By Mr. Messenger's death Queens county was deprived of one of its most zealous well- wishers and active workers for its prosperity.

MANHASSET.

The location of this village has been previously de- scribed. It now contains three churches, a Friends' meeting-house, a union free school, a new and elegant town house, a hotel, a blacksmith shop and a well ordered store. Christ Church Academy was once a prominent seat of learning here. The place was formerly known as " Head of Cow Neck," but by the effort of some of the citizens the name was changed to Manhasset about 40 years ago.

Manhasset Valley (about a mile westward) lies at the head of Cow Bay. The old grist-mill here was built by Dr. Charles Mitchell about the year 1800, at the east end of the dam, but removed afterward to its present site. The village contains a hotel, a wagon shop, two black- smith shops, a bakery, a harness shop, hardware, grocery and shoe stores, and the old store recently enlarged, re- paired and occupied by John E. Hicks. George K. Dodge is the postmaster and keeps the office in his bakery and grocery establishment.

PORT WASHINGTON.

This place was formerly called Cow Bay, from the water on which it is situated, and derived its importance as a village from two tide-water grist-mills, built here early in the eighteenth century. These mills were formerly supplied with wheat from the Mediterranean Sea, and did a thriving business. The name of the village was changed to Port Washington when the post-office was es- tablished here (about 1857). Thomas McKee, merchant and coroner, was the first postmaster and the principal merchant in the place. Others now engaged in mercan- tile pursuits are A. C. Bayles, T. Velsor, John H. Burtis and Mrs. E. Pearce. There are two hotels, and other enterprises necessary to a thriving business. There are in this place two churches and a first-class union school building. The financial prosperity of Port Washington

Jan Millers

465

VILLAGES IN NORTH HEMPSTEAD-SAMUEL WILLETS.

is so much the result of the culture of oysters near by that the history of the place and that of its absorbing in- dustry are inextricably interwoven.

HYDE PARK.

"Hyde Park, so called," says Thompson, "is in the southwestern part of the town, and was the former prop- erty and residence of the Hon. George Duncan Ludlow, one of the judges of the supreme court of the colony, as well as his brother Colonel Gabriel Ludlow, who com- manded a regiment of American loyalists during the Revolutionary war. In consequence of the adherence of these gentlemen to the cause of the enemy, and their active co-operation in the measures of the British minis- try against the colonies, their estates were forfeited to the country. The mansion which had been erected by Judge Ludlow was destroyed by fire in 1817, during its occupation by the celebrated English political writer William Cobbet. The open grounds south of Hyde Park were anciently called Salisbury Plains. A race-course was established here by Governor Nicolls in 1665, and was supported by public authorities many years, for the purpose, as declared by his excellency, of improving the breed of horses, an argument yet made use of to justify the practice of horse-racing. His successor, Governor Lovelace, also appointed, by proclamation, that trials of speed should take place in the month of May of each year, and that subscriptions be taken up of all such as were disposed 'to run for a crown of silver or the value thereof in wheat.' This course was called Newmarket, and continued to be patronized for the sports of the turf for more than a hundred years; when the place was abandoned for another, considered more convenient."

The village of New Hyde Park lies south of the site of the old, on the Long Island Railroad, and is furnished with a hotel, several stores, blacksmith shops, etc.

A. Herkomer, manufacturer of ladies' and gentlemen's scarfs, tubular ties, etc., has his factory here.

WESTBURY.

Westbury is one of the finest farming sections on Long Island. The substantial buildings and well kept farms bear witness to the industrious habits of the people. An examination of the land titles convinces us of their in- clination to cling closely to the acres their ancestors tilled; and a glance at the educational history of the town shows the care exercised in educating their children.

Henry Willis and Edmund Titus were among the first (whose families are now represented) to settle in this immediate vicinity. Henry Willis was born at Westbury in Wiltshire, England, September 14th 1628. He was a Quaker, and, suffering persecution on this account, emi- grated to America. He arrived about 1670 and bought land at this place which he called Westbury front his native place. Some of the other older families here are the Hickses, Posts, Rushmores, Seamans, Townsends, Tread- wells and Willetses, most of whom are members of the Society of Friends.

At the time of the Revolution there were several stores and taverns near here on the Jericho turnpike. A post- office near this place was formerly called North Hemp- stead. At present the old store occupied by J. P. Kelsey (who has branch stores at Westbury and East Williston stations), two wagon shops and one blacksmith shop carry on the business in their line. £ Stephen R. Hicks has a grist-mill which is propelled by wind.

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History of Queens County, New York : with illustrations, portraits, and sketches of prominent families and individuals., Part 83

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