History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 68

Author: W.W. Munsell & Co., pub; Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather); Cooper, James B. (James Brown), 1825-; Pelletreau, William S. (William Smith), 1840-1918; Street, Charles R. (Charles Rufus), 1825-1894; Smith, John Lawrence, 1816-1889
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 677


USA > New York > Suffolk County > History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683 > Part 68


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From 1841 to 1864 he was also proprietor of a stage route from Huntington to Hicksville. These villages were stirring places in those days, before the railroad was built so far east. There were extra occasions when as many as 100 passengers left Huntington by stage in a


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THE TOWN OF HUNTINGTON.


single morning. Mr. Rogers was always equal to the occasion, for he kept a livery stable too, and could on short notice furnish extra rigs. Travelers had no reason to grumble at high rates, for they were carried from Huntington to South Ferry. Brooklyn, as low as 621/2 cents. Huntington was then a lively village, but its ex- perience since has been that of many other villages, whose prosperity has been lessened by the change from stage to railroad transportation.


In addition to the hotel, livery and stage business Mr. Rogers was for several years engaged in butchering, and carrying on a meat market. In " History of Suffolk county " may be seen a picture of him on his meat wagon driving at a lively rate through the streets.


In 1852, 1853 and a part of 1854 Mr. Rogers owned a half interest in the Suffolk Democrat, published in Hunt- ington. In May 1864 he retired from the hotel business, leasing the house to various parties till the spring of 1875, when he sold it to Samuel Hubbs, its present pro- prietor.


Besides his busy and successful life as a private citi- zen Mr. Rogers has at many times and in various capaci- ties performed services for the public, always with satis- faction to the people and honor to himself. In 1841 he was appointed postmaster, which office he filled at sub- sequent times for a period of 10 or 12 years in all. In 1854 and 1855 he was elected town collector, in 1866 town clerk, and in 1867 supervisor. In the fall of 1867 he ran for the office of county clerk, and George W. Smith for sheriff, both on the Democratic ticket, and both were elected by about 500 majority. This result, so complimentary to the successful candidates, showed their good standing and great popularity with their fellow citizens, for the county had usually given straight Re- publican majorities. After this election Mr. Rogers re- signed the office of supervisor and served three years as county clerk. In 1874 he was again elected supervisor, in which office his townsmen have chosen to retain him ever since. In politics he has always been a-Democrat of the good old Jackson and Jefferson school. For two terms he has served as a member of the board of educa- tion. He attends St. John's Episcopal Church, of which he has been a member 20 years.


On the 26th of December 1838 Mr. Rogers married Maria L. Rogers, who was born November 17th 1817. Their first child, Moses C., was born August 30th 1841. The second, Susan A., was born March 17th 1847. The died while young. The fourth, Camillus P., was born August 22nd 1856. The youngest, Sarah, was born July Ioth 1858. Mr. Rogers had the misfortune to lose his wife July 27th 1879, and is still unmarried. He sold a fine place opposite the new cemetery in 1875, and im-


Alep. S. Jarmus


ALEXANDER S. GARDINER.


The biography of Alexander S. Gardiner, the leading farmer in the town of Huntington, is worthy of the care- ful attention of every man, young or old, who wants to succeed and is willing to work. When he was 14 years old his father died. He went to school winters and worked summers, living on the farm with his mother. From the first he took a great fancy to tools. He had a small shop when a boy, and a larger one when he grew to be a man, in which he early learned to make the dif- ferent parts of all farming implements, from a rake tooth to a wagon wheel. Nor was it woodwork alone in which he was practiced; he had blacksmithing tools, and could repair mowing machines or set horseshoes.


Soon after he was married he bought of his mother 80 acres of poor land, on which were no buildings, but of bushes, stumps and underbrush there was great abund- ance. Then he commenced farming in good earnest, next, Stephen Camillus, was born July 12th 1854, and cleared up the land, bought manure, and began to get some small crops. In 1862 he built a cider- mill, that yielded some revenue. In 1864 he added a saw-mill that was driven by 4 horses, with which he got out large quantities of oak and chestnut lumber for boat building. The demand for timber mediately built where he is now so pleasantly situated became so great and the profits on it so good that on the hill, which commands a beautiful view of a broad sweep of country, the village and its surroundings and the bright waters of the sound. His health is still good, after a useful life of active enterprise and versatile pur- suits.


in 1868 he put in a steam engine of 20-horse power, attached a grist-mill and enlarged his cider-mill. Busi- ness now became driving and more profitable than ever. A single wagon load of cider frequently brought him $100. The ship timber was in good demand at good


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THE TOWN OF HUNTINGTON.


prices, and he began to furnish builders and take as part Smith, who was born April 15th 1803 and is still living .. of his pay an interest in the vessels. This yielded such Their children were born as follows: George, 1820 (died February rst 1850); Cornelia E, 1815 (died in October 1862); Alexander S., the subject of this sketch, March 4th 1835; Charles, 1837; Frances G., -; John M., May r8th 1846 (died August 29th 1865). - good returns that he invested some money in their con- struction and became a partner in their management. All this time his farming was not neglected, but was pushed vigorously. In 1868 he bought the Ireland prop- erty, running north to the railroad. This gave him a place to unload manure on his own land, of which he used as much as $2,000 worth per year for several years. These were busy times. His grist-mill and saw-mill were in full operation, and his cider-mill was the largest on the island. Whenever a piece of adjoining land was offered at a bargain he bought it, which constantly added to his farm work.


In the midst of this varied prosperity a most disastrous loss occurred. On the morning of April 29th 1873, just after Mr. Gardiner had left his home to go to New York, a fire broke out in his large barn and spread so rapidly that all the adjoining buildings, containing the steam enigne and the machinery of the grist, cider, and saw- mills, were speedily reduced to ruins. Grain, hay, car- riages and harness, a $400 horse and 100 barrels of vinegar were among the contents. The house and corn crib were saved with the greatest difficulty. The news- papers at that time called it the largest destruction of farm property by fire ever known on the island. The burned buildings covered over 8,000 square feet of ground, and with their contents involved a loss of $12,- 000, besides the damage by the interruption of business of every kind, which was a quarter as much more. His total insurance was $3,000. Most men would have sat down in despair, but in less than six months everything was rebuilt larger and better than before, except replac- ing the large steam engine. This shows what kind of stuff Mr. Gardiner is made of, for all this was completed without any interruption in the farm work. Executive ability of the best quality is one of the secrets of his success, requiring a cool head, sound judgment and a perfect mastery of details. The steam engine was replaced in 1881, but with one not as large as the old one.


In 1880 Mr. Gardiner bought a farm of 200 acres at East Northport, on the sound, on which are extensive steam brick works and the largest and most valuable bed of clay and also of moulding sand on Long Island. A part of this he has sold, but still retains the brick yard, which he is working to its greatest capacity, as the de- mand for brick is good, at fair prices.


In politics Mr. Gardiner has always been a staunch Democrat.


Joel B. Gardiner, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born July roth 1800 and died February Ist 1849. He was a descendant of the Gardiner family of the east end of Long Island, and was the son of Matthew Gardiner, who had seven sons and seven daughters. Joel B. Gardiner married (April 27th 1820) Fannie


One of the darkest tragedies in the history of Long Island befell the family of Mr. Gardiner's mother. She was an only child and her own mother was dead. Her father's name was Alexander Smith and he was living with his second wife, Rebecca. On a cold evening in November 1842, as they were sitting by an open fire- place in their own house, a German who had been in. their employ only a few weeks seized a large stone ham- mer that was kept in the room, and brutally murdered them by blows that would have crushed the head of an ox. He did it for plunder, but, being frightened by an unexpected noise outside the house, he hastily fled with- out getting the money he was after. When found by the neighbors the next morning Mr. Smith was lying in the fire with nearly half his body consumed. The mur- derer was caught, and confessed his crime. He was tried, convicted, and hung.


Alexander S. Gardiner was married December 28th 1858, to Elizabeth P., only daughter of William and Lettie Jarvis. Their children were born as follows: William J., July roth 1860; Joel B., September 22nd 1862. (died February 12th 1864); Fannie E., October 19th 1864; John A., September 14th 1869; Lettie J., March 27th 1873; Frank H., October 13th 1875; Eg- bert C., September 19th 1877.


By his mother's death Mr. Gardiner fell heir to about 400 acres of land. His present farm contains 600 acres, and is managed with the same energy he has always displayed. Some new improvement is added every few months. The last is a wind-mill, and very soon addi- tions are to be made to his house. There is a mistaken notion entertained by many people that he inherited his property, and is a rich man merely because he was born lucky. . Of what use was it for a rich boy to learn by practice, without instruction, two or three trades, and why does he still practice them with his own hands ? Why should a man born rich build cider, saw and grist- mills, working as hard as any of his men in their con- struction and afterward in their operation ? The fact is he has an active mind, and belongs to an active family, who never sit down and rest on what they have, but are always pushing for more. Either his farm or his brick works would furnish enough business for one man, but Mr. Gardiner controls every detail of each, and finds time to pull off his coat and pitch into various kinds of work with his men. Young men who may study his history will find that his has been no royal road to wealth, but a dusty road, every inch of which has been trodden by plodding industry and wide-awake perse- verance.


FORREST VIEW, RESIDENCE OF J. R. ROLPH, HUNTINGTON, SUFFOLK CO., L.I.


71


J. Sp Groeps


JARVIS R. ROLPH.


About the year 1740 Moses Rolph moved from Rah- way, N. J., and settled in Huntington. The family were originally from Newbury, Mass., where John Rolph, grandfather of Moses, was born in 1660. Moses Rolph was born April 28th 1718, and about the year 1742 he married Phebe Smith, who was born in 1720. Reuben, their oldest child, was born August Ist 1744. In the course of time Reuben married Mary Carman, and two children were the fruit of their union. Elizabeth, the oldest, was born February 19th 1770. The second child, born January 23d 1775, became Judge Moses Rolph, well remembered by people still living in Hunt- ington, and the father of Jarvis R. Rolph, whose likeness is herewith shown, and who is the principal subject of this sketch."By a cursory recapitulation of the fore- going genealogy it will be seen that six generations of Rolphs are included, the names of five generations being given. This is so much fuller and more concise a record than most families have of even their immediate prede- cessors that the fact deserves special mention and com- mendation.


in common with those of all well-to-do farmers, were oc- cupied by the British during their stay in these parts. A few hours before the troops arrived in force Mr. Rolph was awakened in the middle of the night by a British officer, who said to him, " If you have anything valuable that you want to save put it out of sight at once, for I have got the worst set of devils you ever heard of among my troops-they are Hessians." Acting at once upon this generous hint, Mr. Rolph put things to rights, and in a few hours the officers had taken his house for their use, allowing the family so many rooms, in which they were not disturbed, and the barns were occupied by the soldiers. For once the apprehension was worse


than the reality. The officers behaved like gentlemen, doing no damage and keeping the men from doing any. They were not even allowed to rob the pear trees. Grandfather Reuben, however, was afterward pressed into working with his teams for the invaders, during which compulsory service he took a heavy cold, the ef- fects of which shortened his life. He had a favorite saddle horse that the officers became very fond of riding. On one occasion an officer called for it very peremptorily, and Mr. Rolph instructed his hired man to substitute a vicious horse in its place, which was done. The officer mounted and started, but when opposite the barn the horse stopped, and dropped his forward and elevated


Reuben Rolph, the father of Judge Moses, was in his prime at the time of the Revolutionary war. Some short reminiscences obtained from his grandson Jarvis are well worthy of being recorded here. Reuben's premises, his rear extremity so suddenly that the officer was


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THE TOWN OF HUNTINGTON.


dumped at full length in the mud. Practical jokes were much in vogue in those days, and this one was greatly relished.


Judge Moses Rolph was elected town clerk of Hunt- ington in 1800, which office he retained to the day of his death-38 years. Soon after 1800 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he retained until he was ap- pointed one of the county judges. In those days there were four county judges, who received their places by appointment. This office Judge Rolph also retained till his death. He was one of the largest land-holders in the town, owning about 500 acres. He was eminently a man of affairs, and was chosen as administrator in the settle- ment of a great many estates. This is abundant proof that he was an upright man and enjoyed the confidence of his fellow men. He was a presidential elector in 1832, when Andrew Jackson was re-elected, and in 1836, when Martin Van Buren was elected.


Moses Rolph married Deborah Rogers, January 11th 1800. Their children were Reuben, Jarvis R., Mary, and Elizabeth. The last died when she was four years old. Mary, who became Mrs. George A. Scudder, is also de- ceased. Judge Rolph died September 18th 1838, at the age of 63. Reuben was born in 1811 and staid at home until his marriage, when he went to Chenango county, and engaged largely in the dairy business. He owned at one time a farm a mile square and milked 100 cows. He sold out there and went to Caroline county, Vir- ginia, where he purchased plantations aggregating over 1,600 acres. He died there in 1879.


Jarvis Rogers Rolph, the present representative of the Rolph family, was born on the old homestead in the eastern part of Huntington village, September 4th 1813, and received his education in the village schools and academy. He studied surveying and has done a good deal in that line; was the principal surveyor in the town for several years. He always staid on the farm. In early manhood he took an active part in military matters; he was appointed paymaster when 19 years of age, and rose by regular gradations to be colonel of the 137th regiment, 33d brigade, ist division of infantry of New York. After 10 years' service in these various capaci- ties he resigned in 1842.


He was early called to civil positions of trust and responsibility, being elected inspector of common schools, appointed town clerk at the death of his father, and elected for one term following, and elected justice of the peace in 1850 and for four terms thereafter, serving 16 consecutive years. He is now president of the board of education in Huntington village. His father and himself have both been supporters and members of the First Presbyterian church, and the latter has been an elder over 40 years. He was a delegate to the General Assembly held in Philadelphia in 1870, on which memor- able occasion was consummated the reunion of the Old and New School branches of the Presbyterian church.


At his father's death the landed estate all came into his hands. He sold all but roo acres. In 1848 the old homestead was destroyed by fire; one of the irre-


parable losses experienced was the burning of the old family Bible and many valuable records. Mr. Rolph's health failed in 1853 and he moved to Brooklyn and built a house, where he lived until 1860. He then re- turned to this town and bought ten acres, on which he built "Forest View," his present beautiful home. At that time but one tree was growing where is now a wealth of trees and shrubbery. After so long a life of public service Colonel Rolph still resides in his native village, in comparative retirement, executing various civil trusts, such as executor, administrator and trustee of estates of deceased persons, and at this date holds no public office excepting that of notary public.


THOMAS YOUNG.


Judge Thomas Young of Huntington was born at Franklinville, in the town of Southold, January 10th 1840. This town was certainly one of the first settled on the island, and is claimed by some to have been the very first. The family name of "Young " is older still. John Milton had a teacher by the name of Thomas Young, and in Dr. Whitaker's History of Southold we find the following: "Colonel John Youngs was the eldest son of the Rev. John Youngs, minister of the Word and first settler of Southold. In the second gen- eration of this place he was the foremost man in South- old and no other man on Long Island was so prominent. Rev. John Youngs died February 24th 1672, beloved and mourned by all. He and six of his children were born in Suffolk county, England."


The subject of this sketch is a descendant of the Rev. John Young's son Benjamin, who was born at Southold, some time after 1640, and died about 1696. He was probably the first justice of the peace of the town, and deeds were acknowledged before him in 1682, 1688, 1690 and thereabout. His son Benjamin Youngs jr. was born about the year 1678, and died at Aquebogue De- cember 17th 1768, aged 89 years; he is called a "weaver" in the old records.


His youngest son, Israel, was born November 11th 1721. To him the property at Franklinville, forming afterward the family homestead, was conveyed by Aaron Howell, August 6th 1761, and he died here. This home- stead property, with subsequent additions, forms a large and valuable farm, extending from the "King's high- way," as it was called, south to the Great Peconic Bay.


Israel was a school teacher, and died in middle life. He had a son Thomas, a cabinet maker, who was born March 29th 1763 and died October 21st 1838.


Thomas Young the cabinet maker was the father of Thomas Perkins Young, who was born September 14th 1806 and died August 10th 1880. He was a builder and afterward a farmer; and was the father of Thomas the 3d, the subject of this sketch. Israel, Thomas and Thomas Perkins all lived and died on the old homestead at Franklinville, which is still owned by the family.


The name on the Rev. John Youngs's tombstone is spelled "Yongs," as it usually was in olden times, but


K


2.


Theyoung -


75.


THE TOWN OF HUNTINGTON.


more recently "Youngs," and now by this branch of the family " Young."


Thus it will be seen that the Youngs family is one of the oldest on Long Island. It is believed observation will confirm the statement that people bearing this fami- ly name, wherever found, have usually been largely pos- sessed of that quality of intelligence that comes from a good practical education. The family to which the sub- ject of this sketch belonged was certainly noted in this respect. As has been stated, Israel Youngs, his great- grandfather, was a school teacher.


It was not only determined that Thomas should have a good average education, but that he should enjoy the advantages of a college course. Accordingly he attended the Franklinville Academy immediately after leaving the district school. This academy enjoyed a wide reputa- tion in those days as an excellent school in which to pre- pare for college, and it was well patronized from all the surrounding country. In addition to this he spent a year with Rev. Henry M. Colton at Middletown, Conn., and then entered Yale College in 1859, at the age of 19.


During the four years he spent there our great civil war was inaugurated. The southern students all left liams, of Huntington, December 7th 1870. They have two children, Caroline W. and Bertha L.


Yale, and large numbers of northern students went to their homes and enlisted. Those who remained were thoroughly aroused, each class having its regular organi-


In the fall of 1879 Major Young was elected judge of Suffolk county, on the ticket of the Republican party, zation and drill. This developed the military spirit, and in which he early enlisted and has always served. large numbers offered their services to their country im- Any man with a record like the one hereby outlined has just grounds to regard his past with satisfaction, and his future with pleasant anticipations. Judge Young prepared for, passed through, and graduated with high standing from a renowned college; he served in and emerged with honor from one of the greatest and fiercest wars the world has ever known, and in a single year more had mastered the preliminary preparation and was admitted to the oldest and most arduous of the learned professions, all in the brief period of ten years. mediately after graduating, among whom was Thomas. He graduated in 1863, and went at once to Washington, where he was examined before a military board of which General Silas Casey was chairman, for an appointment as an officer in the army. He passed a successful examina- tion, was appointed first lieutenant in the 8th U. S. colored troops, and entered the service November 20th 1863. His commission was signed by Secretary Stanton. His regiment was ordered to Florida, where, under command of General Seymour, the battle of Olustee was soon afterward fought. This battle was a severe one, the confederate forces largely outnumbering those under General Seymour. Our troops were composed of both white and colored, and they bravely held their ground till dark, when hostilities ceased. It. was said that half of those who went into the fight were either killed or wounded. Lieutenant Young received two bullets through his clothing, neither inflicting any wound.


His division remained in Florida until the next Au- gust, when it was sent to join the Army of the James in front of Richmond, with which it remained connected, participating in various engagements, until Lee's sur- render.


Lieutenant Young was promoted captain October 21st 1864. In January 1865 he was selected to organize and command a company of sharpshooters at division head- quarters of the 2nd division 25th army corps. He or- ganized a very efficient company, armed with Sharps rifles, and continued in command of it until his promo-


tion to the office of major of the 127th U. S. colored troops, March 23d 1865.


Judge Young has since said that the honor of that promotion gave him more satisfaction than anything that ever happened to him before or since. During his ser- vice as major he was frequently in command of the regi- ment. After Lee's surrender his corps was sent to Texas to fight General Kirby Smith, and stationed near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Here it remained till September 1865, when it was mustered out of the service.


The same fall Major Young entered the law school at Albany, from which he was admitted to the bar the next May. That fall he came to Huntington and commenced a successful practice of the law, in which he is still en- gaged.


His father, Thomas Perkins Young, married Caroline Hudson, daughter of Joseph Hudson of Franklinville. She died November 30th 1865. Their children were Lætitia, Daniel H., John Perkins, Thomas, Lucius C., Joseph H., and George. The last named died in infancy. Daniel and John are also deceased.


The subject of this sketch married Martha L. Wil-


He speaks with great earnestness of the amazing ex- periences and transformations of the war. He entered the service practically a boy, and left it a man. He feels that this experience was worth but little less to him than all he received at Yale. He is one of the comparatively few who grasp the fact that a person who is alive now, and was old enough to note the ultimate ripening of the causes that brought on the war, has personally witnessed a procession of more and greater events than were ever before crowded into an equal space of time in human history.




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