USA > New York > Staten Island > History of Richmond County (Staten Island), New York : from its discovery to the present time > Part 47
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He has a large and very select general practice, extending into New York and Brooklyn, in each of which cities he treats many excellent families. In chronic diseases he has patients from the most distant states of the Union. He has been a widower since 1874. His wife was the eldest daughter of the Hon. Hiram Greely Butler, of Pennsylvania, who was a cousin of Horace Greely. He has but one child, Rush Robinson, who resides with his father. Doctor Robinson is well known in
Eng by . H Fut.
Robinson
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
professional and social circles and enjoys the esteem of all with whom he is brought into contact. In addition to his acknowl- edged skill and large experience he has a high sense of personal and professional honor, which renders him at once the safe confidant and true friend of his patients.
Dr. Robert Rogerson was educuated in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and graduated there as an L. M. in 1859; also in September, 1859, he graduated in Glasgow, Scotland, as physician, surgeon and accoucheur. During the last sixteen years he has practiced in Port Richmond, his practice being that of the liberal school.
Dr. Henry W. Sawtelle was born in 1842, at Sidney, Maine, and was educated at Waterville, in the same state. He was graduated at the University of Georgetown, D. C. (medical de. partment), March 3, 1868, and began practice on the island in May, 1883. Being an officer of the United States marine hos- pital service, he moved the hospital from Bedloe's Island to the old Seaman's Retreat, which was leased in behalf of the gov- ernment for use as a marine hospital in 1883. He remained in charge until June 15, 1885, when he was ordered to another port.
Dr. Samuel Russell Smithi was born at Waterbury, Connec- ticut, on the 10th day of April, 1801. At the age of four- teen he became a clerk in a bookstore in the city of New York. and later entered the drug business, and at the same time com- menced the study of medicine, in due time graduating at the University of the State of New York, in the class of 1828. In May of that year, he came to Tompkinsville, and began the practice of his profession, which he pursned successfully until his death, which occurred December 24, 1851.
He devoted himself assidnonsly to his profession, in which he was remarkably successful. He was no respecter of persons, for all ranks and conditions of life equally received his atten- tions when required. The following instance of the goodness of his heart is related by Clute :
" One cold winter night, after a more than ordinary fatiguing day's work, he was awakened by a lond rap at his door. Upon answering the call, he found a poor lighterman there, who said his wife required the doctor's services as soon as possible. . I will come immediately,' was his reply. Without delay he prepared himself to face the snow-storm which was raging
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withont, and hastened to the lighterman's dwelling. After he had performed the dnty required of him, and as he was prepar- ing to return to his home, the lighterman tendered him five silver dollars, at the same time remarking, 'I have been saving up this money for several weeks, knowing that I would soon need your services, but as there is but little doing in my busi- ness at this season of the year, it is all I have been able to raise. "'No, no,' replied the doctor, putting his hand behind him, ' you need that money just now more than I do; your ex- penses, in the present condition of your family, will be heavier than usual, so instead of taking your money, yon must allow me to add to it,' at the same time laying a five-dollar bank note on the table, and hurrying away to avoid hearing the poor man's expressions of gratitude. This was so characteristic of the man, that when the recipient of the doctor's bounty related the circumstance to his fellows on the following morning it created no surprise whatever, but one of them remarked, ' That's just like Doctor Smith.' Though the saying that a man 'had not an enemy in the world ' has become exceedingly trite, it was never more applicable than to the subject of this sketch. The grief of the community at his death was universal."
Dr. Walker Washington, Jr., was born near Fredericksburg, Va., on the 23d of November, 1860. He attended school under a private teacher for several years, until he commenced his colle- giate education. He spent three years at the Randolph Macon College, of Ashland, Hanover county, Va., and completed his collegiate course at Richmond College, Va. After leaving there he took np the study of medicine and received his diploma from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in March, 1885. He removed to Tottenville, Staten Island, October 28, 1885.
Dr. J. Walter Wood is the youngest child of Walter D. and Catherine S. Wood, and a descendant of the Dongan family. He is a native of the island, and was born at Mariners' Harbor, April 23, 1856. The doctor attended the district school of his native place and several private schools. He then moved to the city and graduated from " Grammar School No. 35." He im- mediately entered the "College of the City of New York," in the academic department, passed through it with honors and received the degree of A. B., in 1878. He then entered the " College of Physicians and Surgeons," from which he gradu - ated three years later. He afterward settled in Madison, N. J.,
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
and in September, 1881. married Miss Mattie Sprague, second daughter of Prof. J. S. Sprague, then of West New Brighton. In September, 1882, his health failing, he sold his practice in New Jersey, and located at Port Richmond, S. I., where he soon gained a lucrative practice. He stands high in the Masonic order, is an active member of Richmond County Medical So- ciety, and is one of the stewards of Grace M. E. church.
Major George Howard, a resident of the city of New York, after having been boarding officer of the port for eleven years, was appointed keeper of public stores at Staten Island in the year 1830; consequently he moved with his family to the island. He erected on Brighton Heights a fine mansion, the first one built on the Heights. After occupying it a few years, he sold the house and grounds to John Anthon (in the year 1838), for $22,000. He then removed to the village (Tompkinsville) where he resided until the year 1844, when (owing to political changes) he resigned his office as public storekeeper.
Dr. John T. Harrison was for many years mate of the marine hospital, and subsequently health officer. Dr. John S. Wester- velt served five years as mate to the marine hospital, from 1823 to 1827, inclusive, under John T. Harrison. Dr. Westervelt was appointed health officer in the year 1829, in which capacity he served till 1836. Dr. Daniel M. Hitchcock at that time was mate and deputy. Dr. William Rockwell (successor to Dr. Westervelt) served as health officer four years. During the first two years of office, Dr. Charles A. Vanzandt was deputy, and the last two Dr. Henry Van Hoevenberg. Dr. James Har- court was at that time mate of the marine hospital. Dr. A. J. Doane succeeded Doctor Rockwell, and held the office three years. Dr. Henry Van Hoevenberg, Doctor Doane's successor, commenced his official duties in 1843. He appointed Dr. James Harcourt deputy health officer.
During Doctor Harrison's, also Doctor Westervelt's term of office, vessels were only boarded seven months in the year, viz., from April 2d to October 31st, inclusive, unless a vessel arrived in the interim having on board contagious or infectious diseases, which was seldom the case. The hospital was generally closed about November 1st, and remained so until April 2d. At the closing of the hospital the inmates were sent to the New York Hospital, their board and medical attendance being paid for by the commissioners of health, from the funds of the institution.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
During the last two years of Doctor Van Hoevenberg's term of office, the law was changed, making it obligatory on the healthi officer to board vessels from foreign ports having passengers, all the year round.
Dr. Harcourt was on the hospital ship "Falcon," in 1866 with Dr.'Bissell, attending to cholera patients. Dr. Bissell was attacked with cholera but recovered. Doctor Swinburne was then health officer.
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A view from ti mcl:
HOUSE OF A. L. KING
Clifton, N. Y
CHAPTER XI.
OLD FAMILIES AND PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS.
Alston .- Androvette .- Bedell .- Barnes .- Samuel Ward Benedict .- Read Bene- dict .- Bodine .- W. H. J. Bodine .- Blake .- Bogart .- Braisted .- Britton. - Burbanck .- Burgher, Burger .- Bush .- Butler .- Cannon .- Christopher .- Cole .- Abraham Cole .- William A. Cole .- Colon .- Conner .- Corsen .- Cor- telyou .- Crips .- Crocheron .- Cruser .- Cubberly .- George William Daley .- George Henry Daley .- Decker .- De Groot .- De Hart .- Depuy .- Disosway .- DuBois. - Dustan. - Eddy. - Andrew Eddy. - Egbert. - Ellis. - Enyard .- Fountain .- Frost .- Garrison .- Guyon .- Hatfield .- Haughwout .- Charles A. Herpich .- Hillyer .- Holmes .- Housman .- Jacobson .- Johnson .- Jones .- Journey .- La Forge .- Lake .- Larzalere .- Latourette .- Lawrence .- Lisk .- Lockman .- Manee .- James M. Manee .- Martling .- Martino .- Merrill .- Mer- sereau .- Metcalfe .- Nicholas C. Miller .- Morgan.
A LSTON .- Originally this was a Scotch family. One of its most noted members was Charles Alston, a celebrated Scotch physician and author. He died in 1760. Joseph Alston, the son-in-law of Aaron Burr, and a former governor of South Carolina, was also of this family. The first of the name on Staten Island was David Alston, who came here from New Jersey, somewhere about the beginning of the revolution. He was con- missioned a captain in the British army: his company was com posed of provincial loyalists or tories; he owned the property recently belonging to the estate of Samuel Decker, deceased, in Northfield. The large stone house in which he lived and died was demolished a few years ago. He died between the 6th and 14th of May, 1805, for these are the dates of his will and its probate. He speaks, in that document, of his sons Warren, Japhet and David. It is said that he continued to draw his half-pay from the British government as long as he lived. His son Japhet, at the time of his death, which occurred July 31, 1842, at the Four Corners, Castleton, was the father of Moses Alston, Esq., late twice sheriff of the county, and of his brothers David, Japhet, Adam, George and William.
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
ANDROVETTE .- This is one of the old families of the island, but it was never very prominent nor very numerous; the notices of it therefore are few. They appear to have confined them- selves chiefly to Westfield. The name occurs nowhere in the civil list of the county. John is mentioned in the county records as having bonght land of Tunis Egbert, January 27, 1699, and as having sold land in 1705. Peter and Rebecca Cole had the following children : Daughter Rebecca, baptized March 27, 1720; daughter Elizabeth, baptized December 25, 1723, died in infancy; twins Elizabeth and Anna, baptized January 1, 1726. John and Leah Swaim had a son, John, baptized April 7, 1729, and a daughter, Leah, baptized May 17, 1724; this John we find mentioned as collector of the West Division in 1767 and 1768. Peter, and Caty, his wife, had a son Peter, born July 6, 1765; he made his will December 21, 1792, proved March 17, 1802, in which he speaks of his wife Catharine, his daughter Catharine, wife of Dow Storer; daughter Elizabeth, wife of Peter Latourette; daughter Mary, wife of Joseph Totten; sons Peter, Charles and John. These three sons were married as fol- lows : Peter and Elizabeth Slack, January 4, 1789; Charles and Margaret Slack, September 11, 1797; and John and Ann Cole. August 21, 1802. The family is at present represented by the three brothers, Cornelius C., John and Benjamin; their grand- father was usually known as Major John, and their father as young Major John.
BEDELL. - We find this name at an early date in America, but not in connection with Staten Island. In 1673 we find Robbert Beedill, Daniel Beedel, Mathew Beedel, and John Beddel, enrolled among the inhabitants of Hempstead, Long Island. It is nearly a century after that date, that we find the name in any of the records of Richmond county. In 1767, Silas ren- dered a bill for "docktering," whence we infer that he was a physician. In the same year mention is made of John, who was county treasurer when he died, in the early part of 1781. There is a Joseph also mentioned in 1770, but not the Joseph alluded to elsewhere as having been taken prisoner by the Americans when a boy ; they were father and son. The father made his will October 28, 1793, proved November 19th of the same year, in which he speaks of his sons Jesse and Joseph, and his daughters Mary, Pattie, Pegge, Catharine and Jane ; his wife's
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
name was Catharine ; his son Joseph was born October 24, 1763 ; Jesse was born in 1773, and died August 28, 1852.
Stephen and Catharine Latourette were married in May, 1766, and had a son David born July 19, 1771.
Silas (the doctor) and Mary his wife, had the following child- ren : Phebe, born November 19, 1770 ; James, born April 9, 1773 ; John, born March 28, 1775. James married Hetty Parker January 12, 1806.
There was another John, wife Catharine, who had a danghter Hillite, born April 7, 1771.
Stephen and Mary Donelly were married March 9, 1808; Israel died at Elizabethtown, N. J., August 30. 1830 ; he was the father of the Rev. Gregory Townsend Bedell, D. D., an eminent divine of the Episcopal church, who was born at Fresh kill, October 28, 1793, and died Angust 30, 1834, just four years after his father to a day. Rev. Dr. Bedell was the father of the Rev. G. Thurston Bedell.
Gregory Townsend Bedell was born on Staten Island, in the harbor of New York, on the 28th of October, 1793. His father, Israel Bedell, was a man of true excellence of character, of a peaceful temper and spirit, and much beloved by those who were connected with him. He lived to see fourscore years, to witness the full eminence and usefulness of his only son, and to receive many happy proofs of his filial gratitude and love. He died at Elizabethtown, in New Jersey, on the 30th of Angust, in the year 1830, in the comfort and confidence of a Gospel liope, and leaving behind him a character unblemished and unre- proached. His mother was a sister of the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, of Virginia. She was remarkable both for her mental accomplishments and for her external beauty, adorned with a most amiable disposition, and kind and benevolent to the poor. She was early admitted as a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and honored the doctrine of her Saviour by a consistent walk of faith and piety. She was married late in life, and lived only until her son was nine years old.
He was the only son of his parents. His father had three daughters, the children of a former marriage, who were in a most eminent degree affectionate and useful sisters to hin, and made, in the hands of God, the main instruments in educating him for the work in which his life was so usefully employed. They were permitted to receive from him in return the most
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nnequivocal proofs of his affectionate gratitude, and two of them survived him to lament his departure from the earth.
BARNES .- George Barnes and Roger Barnes, brothers, came from England many years before the revolution, but it is not certain that they came together. Roger bought land in South- field in February, 1762; George, about 1770, bought land in Castleton, and settled upon it. This was a large tract lying at the southwest corner of the turnpike and Manor road. Con- stanz brewery and the Child's Nursery occupy a part of it. Roger's wife's name was Ann, and they had a son Robert, born May, 1760, and a daughter Margaret, born April 8, 1766. George's wife's name was Dorothy, and they had the following children: Elizabeth, born July 18, 1767; John, born October 11, 1768; Roger, born January 7, 1771. They had also a son George.
Roger married Sally Lake, a sister of Bornt Lake, who was killed (see Lake family), and after the death of Roger she mar- ried Richard Wood.
John married Margaret Perine, May 2, 1793, and they were the parents of Captain John W. Barnes, of Port Richmond, and grandparents of Barnes Brothers, of the same place.
SAMUEL WARD BENEDICT was born at Danbury, Conn., in 1798. He was a direct descendant of Thomas Benedict, who was born at Nottinghamshire, England, 1617, and came to this country seventeen years after the landing in Massachusetts bay. He soon sought the more thinly populated region of Long Island, then comparatively inaccessible from the main land in the winter. The late Hon. Erastus C. Benedict, in the complete genealogy of this family, thus writes of him:
"He was charged with the power of magistrate and substan- tially with the power of the government; he was a pillar in the church; he was the arbitrator of differences, civilized and savage; the pacifier of the offended Indian chief; he was a leading member of the legislative body to create and to codify the system of the law on the island, after the conquest from the Dutch, and afterward of the colonial legislature."
Samuel W. Benedict established himself in the watch and jewelry business in New York in ,1818; first in Broadway at the corner of Maiden lane, and some time previous to the great fire in 1835 he moved his establishment to Wall street at the corner of William street, where the custom house now stands.
7.7 Each Benedich x
The Drive
RAVENHURST HOUSE OF READ BENEDICT
West New Brighton, N Y.
AS I YYE, E
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
At that time the first stage or omnibus line had started from in front of his store and the drivers were accustomed to ask Mr. Benedict if it were time for them to start.
At this early date and here it was that "Benedict's Time" first became a synonym for the correct time.
In 1836 he purchased from Daniel Winant and Benjamin Brewster their adjoining farms, near Rossville, Staten Island, and removed with his family to that place.
The old family mansion stood on the Winant place, and at that time was one of the most substantial as well as one of the oldest houses on the island. It was erected in the latter part of the seventeenth century, and was claimed by Daniel Winant to have been built and occupied by David Pietersen De Vries. The walls were built of rough stone and Dutch cement, thick and strong enough to withstand a siege, and no doubt in that day it was intended as a place of security as well as a residence.
The old house was burned in 1858. After the inside and all the wood work were consumed the walls remained standing, apparently as firmly and securely as when they were erected nearly two hundred years before.
Mr. Benedict built a new house on this same site, and con- tinued to live there in a quiet and unostentatious way, beloved and respected by all his neighbors until his death, which oc- curred in the spring of 1882. The farms still remain in the possesesion of three of his sons, Edwin P., Frederick and Samuel.
READ BENEDICT, son of Samuel W. Benedict, although born in the city of New York, has been a life resident of Staten Island. In 1856 he married Mary E., daughter of Mark Winant, Esq., of Rossville, whose family were among the oldest settlers of the island. His father, Peter Winant, during the revolu- tion, although a lad at the time, owing to the strong Tory feel- ing prevailing, was obliged to flee to New Jersey, and returned only after peace was declared.
Peter Winant was one of the first members from Richmond county to the state legislature, serving in 1788, and again in 1790 and 1791.
He was supervisor for the town of Westfield from 1785 to 1787 ; serving many years as justice of the peace he became known only as " old Judge Winant."
The beautiful residence and ample grounds of Mr. Benedict
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
are situated between the Manor and Jewett avenues, in the vil- lage of New Brighton. It is said that the house stands on the identical foundation of the old family residence of the Vander- bilts, and here it was the late commodore was born. The place is accessible from the avenues through a picturesque carriage- drive, bordered on either side by evergreens and cedars. A sloping lawn, with a beautiful bronze fountain, lies before the house, which stands on a terraced eminence. Mr. Benedict is the senior member of the well known firm of Benedict Brothers.
He was one of the founders of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, a growing and prosperous organization. As an influ- ential member of the community, he is looked upon as one of onr leading citizens and prosperous business men.
Of his private life, as husband and father, we are not per- mitted to speak ; but, judging from the outward appearance of his beautiful home and flourishing family, we may form very pleasing conclusions.
BODINE .- This family is of French origin. The name is not mentioned by Smiles among the Hugnenots. The first historical allusion to the name that we have met is a brief biographical account of John Bodin, who was a native of Angers, studied law and lectured at Tonlouse; he wrote several works, and died of the plague at Laon, in 1596. The date of the immigration of the family to this conntry is not known, but it must have been in the latter part of the seventeenth or very early in the eighteenth century, for we find the name of John Bodine men- tioned in the county records as having purchased land in 1701, and he was still living in 1744, as we find his name and that of his wife Hester mentioned as having sold land at that date. Men- tion is also made in records at Albany of John Bodein, in 1707. It is probable that he was an emigrant, as we find him preserv- ing the French orthography of his name, Jean, and of his son who came with him, Francois, a witness to a baptism in the Reformed Dutch church, in April, 1720; he was therefore a Protestant, or Huguenot.
Francois married Maria Dey. and they had a son named Jean, baptized in the same church November 29, 1719. Of this second Jean, or John, we find no account except that his wife's name was Dorcas, and that they had several children baptized. They were undoubtedly the parents of John Bodine, who was born in February, 1753, and of James Bodine, born in Jann-
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HISTORY OF RICHMOND COUNTY.
ary, 1759. John died in March, 1835, nearly 82 years of age, and James in May, 1838, nearly 80 years of age. John mar- ried Catharine Britton, sister of the late Mr. Nathaniel Britton; their sons were John, usually recognized in the local history of the north shore as " Squire John," Jacob (the father of W. H. J. and Edmund Bodine, constituting the present firm of Bodine Brothers, the late Captain John, James, Jacob and Albert, and three daughters), and Vincent, who removed from the island. James was the father of the late Mr. Abraham Bodine, of Mariners' Harbor, and of several sons and danghters now dead. "Squire John " owned considerable property on the north shore, among which was the mill and the pond and the land east of it, including the old Dongan manor house, which he subsequently sold to his father, who died in that house in 1835.
WILLIAM H. J. BODINE .- The Bodine family is of Huguenot descent. Its first representatives in this country were three brothers, who came to America shortly after the massacre of St. Bartholemew. A branch of the family found their way to Staten Island, and of this branch William H. Bodine is a de- scendant. He was the third of nine children of Jacob Bo- dine and Johannah Houseman, of Northfield. His father was formerly a prominent business man in Richmond county, and from him he inherited many of the substantial qualities which have been instrumental in makng him one of Staten Island's most successful business men.
Mr. Bodine was born at Castleton, February 4, 1821. He was educated by private tutors and in the district school, after which, in his thirteenth year, he became engaged in the business with his father, and in which he remained till the age of twenty. At that time he entered into mercantile life on his own account, in which he still remains. He carries on a general business in building materials and fuel. By care in the management of his affairs and the practice of thorough integrity in all his dealings he has won for himself not only a competency, but also the re- spect and esteem of the entire community.
Mr. Bodine is the possessor of valuable real estate in West Brighton. He is also a stockholder and director in the Rich- mond County Gas Company. Since his youth he has taken a prominent part in politics, and his services in the republican party entitle him to recognition as one of its foremost men on Staten Island. For six years he was president of the village of
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