USA > New York > Suffolk County > History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683 > Part 109
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He was released from this charge in 1835, and was in- stalled as the pastor of the Presbyterian church in Green- port, which rapidly increased under his ministry. He resigned in 1839 and was for a while engaged in collect- ing funds for the Union Theological Seminary.
The next spring he removed to Orient, where he remained as pastor five years, at the same time acting as stated clerk of the Long Island Presbytery. Having reached his 60th year he withdrew to some extent from ministerial duties, but he remained at Orient during the remainder of his useful life, occasionally preaching under appointments of presbytery, and maintaining to the last a deep interest in all that pertained to the church of Christ. His activity did not cease until within three days of his decease. He died June 24th 1863, at the age of 77. All denominations joined in testifying their regret for the loss of one who was in all the relations of life a useful and honored man.
J. WICKHAM CASE.
Joseph Wickham Case, the subject of this sketch, was born at Cutchogue, October 18th 1806. His parents were Moses and Lydia Case, the latter a daughter of Rev. Benjamin Goldsmith of Aquebogue, and sister of Rev. John Goldsmith, for many years pastor of the Pres- byterian church at Newtown, L. I. His descent from Henry Case, the first of the name in Southold, may be traced as follows: Henry (who married Martha, daughter of Matthias Corwin) died in 1664, leaving sons Henry second and Theophilus. Henry second had a son Samuel, who had a son Lieutenant Moses, whose son Moses was the father of Joseph Wickham.
Mr. Case received an academic education at Clinton Academy, East Hampton, which was then at the height of its usefulness under the able management of Dr. David Gardiner. After leaving school he taught in various places on Long Island, and also on the Hudson and in South Carolina, In 1831 he made a voyage to Europe, and spent a year mostly about the shores of the Mediterranean.
In 1839 he was elected to the Assembly of this State from the first district of Suffolk county, his colleague from the second district being Hon. Joshua B. Smith of Smithtown. He was for many years one of the loan commissioners for the county. In 1841 he was appointed
RESIDENCE OF R.B.CONKLIN, GREENPORT, SUFFOLK CO.L.I .. , N.Y.
FEEL
THE HOME& RARUS. STABLES OF SOUND VIEW STOCK FARM GREENPORT, SUFFOLK CO. L.I.N.Y. R.B.CONKLIN, PROPRIETOR.
4 [
THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
assistant county clerk, and held the office at Greenport till 1844, when it was merged in the clerk's office and permanently located at Riverhead. The same year he was'elected county clerk, and held the office till 1850. Upon retiring from this office he was elected county treasurer. As regards town offices he has filled almost the entire list, and in every case to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. Under the Fillmore administration he was postmaster in Southold. His constant election to various offices is the very best evidence of the confidence which his townsmen have ever had in his integrity and ability.
Throughout his entire business life he has been called upon to perform those duties of a private nature which require not only skill and ability, but traits of character which command respect and confidence. As a land sur- veyor he has at various times had occasion to become acquainted with the divisions of real estate in all parts of the town; and there are few parts with which he is not perfectly familiar. The village of Greenport has spread out and covered building lots and farms which were laid out by him. But the work which will be a monument to his memory more lasting than marble is the printed " Records of Southold;" and the notes and sketches added to the text from his vast fund of information upon the subject are a mine of knowledge which will increase in value with advancing years. The writer of this sketch wishes to acknowledge in the strongest terms his deep obligation to Mr. Case for much valuable assistance in the preparation of this history. It is no disparagement to the memory of the dead or the fame of the living to say that Southold has produced no man who is a more fitting representative of the past and present than J. Wickham Case.
RICHARD B. CONKLIN.
The accompanying views represent the residence and some other buildings on the farm of Richard B. Conklin, near Greenport. His dwelling house is built upon an eminence on the main road leading to Orient, and com- mands a most charming view of Long Island Sound on the north and west, and of Peconic Bay, Greenport and Shelter Island on the east and south. It would be difficult to find in Suffolk county a spot with equal attrac- tions for a fine residence. The buildings are commo- dious and handsome and are distributed and finished with excellent judgment and taste.
Southold seems to have been the home of the first family in America of this name, which has since become so common and so famous throughout the island and the State.
The first John Conklin (or Conckelyne) came from Nottinghamshire, England, to Salem, Mass., and thence to Southold about 1656. He brought his oldest son, John, with him, and they settled at Hashamomack, on the east border of Tom's .Creek, now called Mill Creek. The father soon moved to Huntington, and the son, John 2nd, married a rich widow who had become pos-
sessed of the Hashamomack land grant through Far- rett-covering about 1,000 acres. He died in 1694, leaving sons John 3d and Joseph, who also left sons, John 4th and Joseph 2nd, to whom their grandfather John 2nd bequeathed the Hashamomack Neck. The 5th John, known as "Longhouse John," was the son of the 4th John and was the father of the 3d Joseph, who be- came the father of Richard B. Conklin, the subject of this sketch. Hence it appears that his home is the pat- rimonial estate of the 2nd John, who married the widow of large estate. To be sure he only owns a part of this original grant, as his grandfather sold a large portion of it, a part of which our subject has repur- chased. -
When a boy he received a common school education, and when 17 years old began an apprenticeship of three and one-half years at the carpenter's trade. While a journeyman he lived in New York and worked as stage carpenter in different theaters. He was for a time em- ployed in the Bowery and National theaters, and superin- tended the entire stage works of the Italian Opera House, Astor place. In 1848, when 31 years of age, he gave up his trade and rented a stall in Fulton Market, where he remained 12 years as a provision dealer. Dur- ing this time he managed his Hashamomack farm in Southold, and as his market business prospered he added fresh purchases. That part on which his house and barns stand he bought in 1854. In 1862 he left New York and came to Greenport, locating on the old origi- nal homestead. In 1866 he commenced building the house in which he now lives, into which he moved in 1868, and the next year built his large barn and en- larged his house.
While in New York Mr. Conklin had paid some atten- tion to breeding horses on his farm, which he commenced as early as 1840. But now, once settled, he went ear- nestly at the business, for which he had always had a great taste and liking. Gradually improving his stock by the most judicious selections he had the great good fortune to have a colt foaled June 7th 1867 that he de- veloped ten years later into the most celebrated horse of modern times. This was "Rarus," the pride and ad- miration of all lovers of the horse throughout the world. On the 3d of August 1878 at Buffalo he trotted a mile in 2.1314, the fastest time on record then, and was sold through the agency of Mr. Whitehead and Eph. Sim- mons to Robert Bonner the same day. The price Mr. Conklin received for him was $36,000, and he was very reluctant to part with him even at that, for he knew him to be the fastest trotting horse in the world, and he be- lieves he would still keep that proud position if his owner would allow him to trot. One of the shoes " Rarus " wore in the great race is carefully preserved in a frame and hung in his former owner's parlor. But Mr. Conklin attained the success of bringing "Rarus" to such perfection only by the exercise of the greatest faith and patience. He was the laughing stock of a great many men who thought they understood horses, and he says he was called a fool a thousand
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THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
times, but he never was the man to be bullied by public opinion or by ridicule when he thought he was right, and the result in this instance proved he was right.
In 1867 Mr. Conklin lost a fine horse that was poisoned at Mineola the night before a race in which he was entered. This despicable act was perpetrated by one of a class of scoundrels who have infested and dishonored the horse-racing business. Let us hope their strain of blood is about extinct. Mr. Conklin prized the horse " Abra- ham Lincoln " very highly, and thinks he was the best stallion he had owned up to that time.
In September of the same year he sold " Rarus " he bought of C. F. Emery, of Lexington, Ky., the celebrated horse "Wedgewood," which he sold to Mr. Balch of Boston, February 8th 1881, for $20,000. In March 1881 he bought two more horses of Mr. Emery, "King Wilkes " and " R. B. Hayes," paying for the former $7,000 and for the latter $3,000.
" King Wilkes" is a horse of great promise, and his owner believes he is bound to become famous. In ad- dition to these he has in his extensive stables many others of fine blood and great promise. In his large experience in the training and developing of horses of his own and for others, the secret of his success has been the applica- tion of common sense and cool judgment. Each case receives the kind of attention demanded by its individual peculiarities. The results have always shown the super- vision of a master mind.
Richard B. Conklin was born September 19th 1817. He married Emeline Resler June 15th 1818, and their children have been: Anna E., born November roth 1848, died March 26th 1854; Joseph H., born February 17th 1851, now a member of the firm of H. T. Patterson & Co., 138 Center street, New York; Sarah L., born De- cember 16th 1853. died November 9th 1854; an infant son born July 4th 1856, died the same day; Anna L., born May 30th 1857; Richard B. jr., born May Ist 1860. The last two remain at their parents' beautiful home and ber 23d 1853; Henry L., the subject of this sketch; add to its many attractions.
Mr. Conklin has always been fearless, and outspoken on all subjects. The one thing he hates is hypocrisy- the life a contradiction of the profession. His scorn of this has been mistaken for an unfeeling nature, but the discerning know that no kinder heart or truer purpose animates any man's life. In politics he has always been identified with the Republican party. In religious matters he has exercised the right of individual investi- gation. He admits many of the facts of spirit communi- cation, and accepts the teaching that the life a person lives here is the index of that which must be the begin- ning of the hereafter, but that eternal improvement is the lot of all. He believes that right always pays, and wrong never, hence that pure selfishness when enlightened will always choose the best way. All of Mr. Conklin's views are intensely practical. He greatly enjoys the society of his family and friends, and extracts more com- fort from life than most men. His body, his mind, his heart, his thoughts and his plans are all of large mould.
HENRY L. FLEET.
One of our plates represents the fine residence and grounds of Henry L. Fleet, the largest farmer in the town of Southold. His potato crop for 1881, from 17 acres, was 4,700 bushels, which yielded the handsome revenue of over $5,000. He had seven acres of cauli- flowers, that paid a net revenue of $2,600. The year before 27 acres of oats produced 1,250 bushels. These crops are the results of hard work, directed by most ex- cellent judgment, and this judgment is the result of close observation, patient experiment and thorough reflection. Mr. Fleet has a wide and growing reputation in the breeding and management of horses. His stallion "Fleet's Hambletonian" has trotted in 2:29. He is patronized by the most noted breeders. Mr. Fleet has raised a number of colts and horses which sold at prices ranging up to several thousand dollars, and has at the present time a very superior stock of young horses, from which similar returns may be expected. "Fleet's Volun- teer " is one of them. Besides his own horses he con- stantly keeps and develops choice horses for other own- ers. He has a fine driving course, on which all horses that need it are driven daily.
Henry L. Fleet was born November 27th 1832. Sarah J. Betts was born February 14th 1833. They were married February 20th 1855, and their children were born as follows: William A., December 7th 1855; George H., Angust 31st 1858; Elizabeth R., October 8th 1861; Emma W., April 30th 1868, died March 16th 1869; Henry, born January 27th 1870; Frank, April 23d 1878.
Angustine Fleet, father of Henry L., born in 1808, died April 4th 1846. His wife, Rhoda A., was born in 1809, and died December 3d 1844. Their children were: Rensselaer, born January 29th 1828, died October 2nd 1846; Hannah E., born August 31st 1830, died Septem- John G., born January 9th 1839, and died when 5 months old.
Mr. Fleet is a lineal descendant of the first William Wells, one of the most prominent of those who settled in Southold in 1640. His genealogy on that side is as follows:
I, William Wells; 2, Ist Joshua, son of William; 3, 2nd Joshua, son of Ist Joshua; 4, John T., son of 2nd Joshua; 5, Sarah, daughter of John; 6, Augustine, son of Saralı and R. Fleet; 7, H. L. Fleet, son of Augustine. Sarah Wells, daughter of John, married Rensselaer Fleet of Huntington, and had children, one of whom was Augus- tine, who married Rhoda Terry, who became the mother of Henry L. Fleet.
A brother and a sister of H. L. dying young, the es- tate fell to him. It has always embraced "Poole's Neck," to which he has added by purchase a part of "Pequash Neck," making about 350 acres in all. It has a large frontage on Peconic Bay, with a creek on either side, fringed with various kinds of timber, among which are fine red cedars.
RESIDENCE OF HENRY L. FLEET, CUTCHOGUE , SUFFOLK . CO., L.I.
45
LEWIS A. EDWARDS
was born June 18th 1811, on Gardiner's Island, in the town of East Hampton, his father being superintendent of the Gardiner estate. Here the earlier years of his boy- hood were passed. From his youth up he was marked by his superiority in physical symmetry, strength, grace, and ease of carriage; and when, at the age of 15 years, he was sent to acquire the rudiments of mercantile knowledge at the store of the Messrs. Hitchcock, at Peck Slip and South street, New York city, he already had a well knit and robust frame, which fitted him for the ac- tive, energetic and laborious life that he was to follow.
In connection with Messrs. James M. Waterbury and William Marshall, of Brooklyn, in 1862 Mr. Edwards built on Long Beach in Orient Harbor the extensive and complete Atlantic Oil and Guano Factory, superintend- ing its construction and paying bills with checks of the firm signed in blank, so perfect was their faith in him.
He was a Democrat, but was not active in political movements until the fall of 1867. In that year he was nominated for State senator, and the nomination was ratified at the polls by a larger popular majority than had ever before been given in the district, the majorities over his Republican opponent, Jeremiah Simonson, of Richmond county, being 1,073 in Richmond, 2,226 in Queens and 531 in Suffolk, or a total in the district of 3,830.
With the Messrs. Hitchcock he remained until after he had attained his majority, and then became connected in business with Michael Sanford, a gentleman of wealth, who was largely concerned in wharf and pier leases and Mr. Edwards served the full term of two years, com- prising the sessions of 1868 and 1869, and it may be said of him that in a very furnace seething with corruption and disgrace he walked with garments undefiled. He returned from the Senate the same true and open-hearted man as when he entered it, with the lustre of his integrity made brighter by the ordeal through which it had passed, and with the confidence of his friends and constituents established on immovable foundations. in the various kinds of business connected therewith. Mr. Edwards gave him the most efficient aid for three years, when Mr. Sanford died, leaving a large estate, which was put in his hands for direction and manage- ment-a trust the varied and important character of whose duties demanded the full use of his time and tal- ents, of his mental and physical powers for several years. He continued in his own behalf the same general line of business successfully until 1853. Then, having acquired Of Mr. Edwards's general character and bearing a cor- rect idea is conveyed by the following extract from a tribute paid his memory in the issue, on the Saturday following his death, of the Republican Watchman, a intimate personal and political friend for twenty years: a competency, he retired to the pleasant village of Orient, where he had passed a few years of his life. Here he built a large and elegant mansion, which was the home of his parents as well as his own during the remainder of paper printed at Greenport, and whose editor had been an their lives.
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THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
" No man could know Mr. Edwards, even casually, with- out being impressed by bis manifest superiority of mind and soul, while his commanding bodily presence attracted the instant notice of strangers. He was a very Roman in integrity and rectitude of motive, of purpose and of act. Not a fleck of unworthiness in any of these re- spects marred the symmetry of his character, not a breath of suspicion dimmed the lustre of his private or public purity. * *
* His character rose as 'a rock in a weary land '-large, solid, enduring; and men in- stinctively turned to him for reliance and trust in times of doubt or distress. Yet around this heart of oak twined the tendrils of a true and earnest tenderness, out of this granite of integrity and honor welled springs of strong and manly and fervent feeling. To family and relatives and friends he was as gentle and unreserved as to the public he was strong and firm and dignified."
"Not long after fulfilling his senatorial duties he be- came more than usually interested in his own personal religious responsibilities and obligations, and, acting in spiritual as in temporal matters, quietly and undemon- stratively, yet with habitual dignity and decision, he made public profession of his faith in Christ as his Saviour. He was admitted to the full communion of the Congregational church of Orient, and conscientiously discharged the duties of his membership therein until the last day of his life. During the later years his Christian character matured rapidly, and Christian fellowship with him in the genial warmth and sacredness of his own home was peculiarly rich and sweet."
A few years before his death, while yet in the fullness of strength, Mr. Edwards experienced a slight partial paralysis, after which he gradually withdrew from the active and exacting occupations in which he had de- lighted, and was content peacefully to spend the residue |1839. of his days and the leisure which circumstances imposed upon him in beautifying his home, or in promoting by every means within his power the material and moral prosperity of the village in which he lived and of which he had long been a pillar and pride.
And so, after some weeks of suffering born with all the fortitude and cheerfulness which might have been ex- pected from such a character, on June 3d 1879, in the 68th year of his age, Lewis A. Edwards passed from earth, sincerely and deeply mourned by all who had ever known him.
F. H. OVERTON.
Franklin H. Overton was born in that part of the town of Southold which is now known as Peconic village, on the 29th day of December 1817. His grandfather, Isaac Overton, was one of the early settlers in that part of Suffolk county. Horace Overton, his father, was born October 17th 1791, and until his death, which took place November 7th 1851, lived in Southold, on the old farm a part of which is now the home of the subject of this sketch.
Franklin was an only child, and worked with his father on the farm. He went to the common school when a boy, and at the proper age he attended the Southold Academy, at a time when Professors Selah Hammond and Palmer were at the head of that institution.
He was married to Esther Jane Horton in January
Frankfurt Question
They had one son, Silas F. Overton, who is now living. Mrs. Esther J. Overton died May 22nd 1848. The present wife of our subject was Miss Eliza H. Horton.
While yet a young man Mr. Overton was called to fill important positions in town affairs. In 1854 he was elected town clerk. In 1857 he was chosen assessor of the town, which office be held 15 years.
During the late Rebellion, when the best men were called to that position the country over, he was elected to the office of supervisor of Southold, and had charge of the difficult and responsible work of filling' the town quota under the call of February 1864 for 500,000 men, and the call of March 14th for 200,000 men. He was authorized by the town to borrow the necessary money to pay bounties, and to issue the bonds of the town as security to the amount of between one and two hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Overton held the office of super- visor eight consecutive years, during which time the bonded debt of the town was all paid and a surplus was left to the town's credit. In 1881 he was again elected supervisor of Southold, which position he now holds. He was one of the original incorporators and directors of the Savings Bank of Southold, and has been its vice- president from its organization. With this official rec- ord, which is a public attestation by his neighbors and townsmen of his ability and fidelity, Franklin H. Overton may rest satisfied of transmitting a worthy mem- ory to those who may follow him. But his modesty is equal to his worth. In a note to the writer of this he
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M. J. Goldsmith
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THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
says: "I do not care to say much or to have much writ- ten about the history of my life. I have only filled a humble sphere as I have been called by circumstances, and it is not for me to say whether it has been approved or disapproved."
In religious matters Mr. Overton belongs to that large and rapidly growing class whose views are broad, liberal and progressive, always ready to receive new light. He does not feel bound because he believes a thing to-day to believes it to-morrow or next year, unless it stands the test of all intervening discoveries. He believes that in religion, as in science, our knowledge of the truth is a thing of development, of discovery, and of growth. He believes, with Emerson, that the Divine Power that has done so well by us in this life will certainly do no worse by us in the next.
R. T. GOLDSMITH.
Rensselaer Terry Goldsmith, president of the South- old Savings Bank, was born December 25th 1820, on the old home farm, adjoining the one on which he now lives. His father, Benjamin jr., and his grandfather, Benjamin Goldsmith, lived and died on the same place, the family ancestry extending far back in the annals of Suf- folk county. His mother's name before marriage was Elizabeth Terry, and her family by Benjamin Goldsmith consisted of ten children, five sons and five daughters, Rensselaer being sixth in order of birth. Seven of the children are yet alive, two brothers and one sister having died.
Mr. Goldsmith's education was received in the com- mon schools and the Southold Academy, as has been the fortunate lot of so many young men before and since his time. This has been a characteristic of almost every town on Long Island from very early times-in addition to its excellent common schools .it has established and supported a highschool or academy, that has left its stamp of culture and intelligence on each succeeding generation. In 1840, at the age of 20, Mr. Goldsmith went to New York and entered as a clerk the wholesale and jobbing grocery house of William E. Bird. He proved to be one of the young men whom the allurements
and temptations of the great city did not spoil. After a close and creditable application to the duties of his po- sition for five years he quit the employ of William E. Bird, and with a partner began the same line of business, under the firm name of B. H. Howell & Co. Continuous prosperity attended the affairs of the new concern from the first, so that in 1853 Mr. Goldsmith sold his interest in the grocery and jobbing business to his partners, real- izing a handsome compensation for the eight years de- voted to that line of trade. He returned the same year to his native town, and, buying a farm of 100 acres next to the old homestead, built the handsome and commo- dious house in which he still lives. He married Rebecca A. Harrison of New York city, March 29th 1849. They have no children.
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