History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 78

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 78

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In 1877 the new features of the preceding year were retained and a new department, an "exhibit of school work," was introduced, whereby the public schools be- came interested in the society; also exhibits of minerals and Indian relics. This fair was made more attractive by a fine display from the Long Island Historical Society of Brooklyn, through the kindness of Elias Lewis jr. The attendance was larger, by reason of the improved railroad connections and facilities, whereby people were brought from all parts of the island and returned at re- duced rates. Not only the society, but many people throughout the county were "much benefited by a dona- tion from J. N. Hallock, formerly of Suffolk county, now publisher of The Christian at Work, New York city, of subscriptions amounting to $roo, which were largely used as premiums. This year $600 was paid on the debt, and in 1878 $400.

In 1879 more new features were introduced-displays of decorated pottery, rare china, native woods, and leaves and nuts of trees growing in the county. Among the cat- tle exhibited were a pair of immense oxen, weighing over 4,600 pounds, exhibited by Elbert Rose of Bridgehampton, and some superior Jerseys from the well known stock- yards of William Crozier of Northport. Point judging on cattle and horses was now introduced. The exhibit of school work, first introduced in 1877, showed gratify- ing progress. The hall was made more cheerful by the exhibit of a large number of the bills and posters of the different county societies of the State. The debt was re- duced $250 this year.

A very important feature of the fair of 1880 was the addresses of P. T. Barnum, at the hall in the afternoon and at the court-house in the evening, replete with humor and wisdom. Some very fine Early Rose potatoes, that took the first prize, were grown in beach sand. One man reported a crop of 500 bushels of potatoes raised on an acre of ground. This year the debt was again reduced $250.

At a meeting of the board of managers held at River- head January 27th 1881 Austin Corbin, the newly elected president and receiver of the Long Island Railroad Com- pany, and several of the directors were present; also re- porters from the city papers. Mr. Corbin and others explained the condition of the road and the company

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD.

and their plans and intentions for the future. Mr. Cor- bin, as a Suffolk county farmer, made a donation to the society of $250.

Before the fair the railroad company offered $500 in special premiums for stock, grains, fruit, etc., which greatly stimulated the exhibitors and added much to the interest of the exhibition. H. W. Maxwell, one of the directors of the railroad company, offered five gold medals, of the total value of $100, to be competed for during the fair by the pupils of the public schools of the county, in reading, arithmetic, United States history, geog- THE VILLAGE CEMETERY raphy and English language. Three of these were taken by pupils of the Greenport school, one by a pupil lies in the northern part of the village, adjoining the fair at Yaphank, and one by a member of the school at Patchogue. During this year the grounds were im- proved by planting more trees. The addresses at the fair were on fish culture, out of the regular course, but of great interest to the whole county. The debt was still further reduced $500.

Again a new departure: The officers of the society, not content with showing their county's products to those that might come to the county fair, proposed to the farmers and others of the county an exhibit of their good things at the State fair at Elmira, which exhibit, although an experiment, was very encouraging in its re- sults, the first premium ($25) being awarded to R. O. Colt, of Bay Shore, for the best collection of vegetables" besides other premiums to different exhibitors; while a new wagon gear invented and exhibited by C. M. Bly- denburgh, of Riverhead, attracted great attention, as did also the wood of which the wagon was built-Suffolk county oak. The exhibit brought the county into very prominent and favorable notice.

SCHOOLS.

The public school of this village occupies a handsome building standing on a lot which adjoins the Methodist Episcopal church grounds on the east. The building is two stories high, and it reached its present size by an en- largement in 1867, and another in 1871. The school was organized as a union school in April 1871.

In view of the particular neglect of female education, which seemed to be a conspicuous fact half a century ago, two enterprising citizens of the village, Dr. Joshua Fan- ning and George Miller, undertook the task of establish- ing a female seminary here. In 1834 they erected a commodious building, for the times, and in the spring of 1835 the school was begun. Miss Leonard, of Massa- chusetts, was employed as the first teacher, and she oc- cupied the position at different times afterward, making an aggregate term of 21 years. Later she became the wife of George Miller, and whether actively engaged in teaching or not she held the supervision of the seminary during its entire existence, which closed some ten years since. During this term the school had an average at- tendance of from thirty to forty pupils. It was said of this school by one who knew its history well: "Its object was to give thorough instruction in all the primary branches of an English education, with Latin and mathe-

matics. The effect of the school was almost magical upon the community. The ideas of people in regard to thorough primary education soon became great, and told upon the academies of the country, and the examination day at the close of the terms was for years among the proudest days of Riverhead." The seminary building still occupies its site, beside the Congregational church, which may be called its offspring. as for many years before the erection of the church religious services were conducted in the lower room of the seminary.

grounds on the east. It contains about ten acres, and was opened for burials in September 1859. A consider- able part of it is occupied by a grove of native oaks. The grounds were laid out at considerable expense by a professional landscape artist of repute, and abound with graceful curves and varying effects. There are many neat and elaborate monuments, and well kept burial plats_ Near the entrance stands the soldiers' monument, erected through the generosity of Hon. John S. Marcy, as a tribute of honor to the soldiers of the village who joined in the war of the Rebellion. It occupies a circular en- closure surrounded by an evergreen hedge.

THE CHURCHES OF RIVERHEAD.

Congregational .- The people of this village in their re- ligious connection had been united with the church at Upper Aquebogue, and were mainly among the seceders- from the old church, who in 1829 formed a new congre- gation and built a church between the two villages men- tioned. About the year 1825 the minister of the Aque- bogue church preached in the court-house on alternate Sunday evenings, at 5 o'clock. In 1827 regular weekly prayer meetings were commenced and a Sunday-school established, with nearly roo scholars, both of which have since been steadily maintained. At that time a Method- ist "circuit rider" also preached in the court-house, his ap- pointment being Friday afternoon or evening once a fort- night. After the secession above spoken of services were conducted in the court-house regularly at 11 o'clock on Sunday morning for several years. The seceding congre- gation, which consisted mainly of the people of North- ville and Riverhead, in 1834 divided harmoniously, and, the churchi being removed to Northville, the congrega- tion of Riverhead established its place of worship in the seminary, then just built. At that time the society con- sisted of about 20 members, among whom were some of the leading men of the village. The congregation being strengthened, a church was erected in 1841, which still: remains. It was enlarged in 1868, and further repairs and improvements were made in 1880 and 1881. John Moser was pastor of this church from its organization to. 1836; his successors have been: Ashley M. Gilbert, 1836, 1837; Charles I. Knowles, 1837.44; Mr. Brooks, a short time in 1845; Mr. Knowles again from June 1846 to. his death, in October 1850; Clarke Lockwood, 1853-57; George H. Entler; Henry Clark, 1861-65; Mr. Hoover,

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD.

till 1870; Samuel Orcutt. 1871, 1872; William I. Chal- school connected with it, numbering about 40 pupils. A burying ground belonging to this church lies in the northern part of the village, adjoining the Roman Catho- lic church grounds on the northwest. The regular minis- terial supply of this church began in 1844, when M. M. Carl divided his time between this and the Baiting Hol- mers, July 1872 to the present time. Since its organiza- tion 332 persons have united with this church, and its present membership numbers about 150. A flourishing Sunday-school is connected with it, of which Hon. James H. Tuthill has for many years been the superin- tendent. The school numbers 200 pupils, and has a low church. He was succeeded by Revs. George F. library of nearly a thousand volumes.

Riverhead M. E. Church .- Regular services by the Methodist Episcopal Church were established here about |is Rev. Benjamin D. Palmer.

the year 1825. In 1828 or 1829 services were held by this denomination and the Congregationalists in the court-house on alternate Sundays. A church with nine members was organized in April 1833. In 1834 a house of worship was erected, the size of it being 34 by 42 feet. This was dedicated the following year. In 1845 the num- ber of members had reached 100. In ministerial ser- vice this was at first a part of the Suffolk circuit. After- ward it was for several years connected with Jamesport. The present church, a stately edifice, was commenced in 1869 and completed and dedicated in the following year, at a cost of about $12,000, all of which was paid soon after its completion. It occupies the site of the first church, which was sold and removed to the opposite side of the street, not far away. A burying ground, estab- lished about the time of the first church, occupies the yard about the church. The following are the ministers who have served this church since its organization:

Richard Wymond, 1833; William K. Stopford, 1834; John Trippett, 1835; James Floy, 1836; William Mc- Kendree Bangs, 1837; Orlando Starr, 1838, 1839; Theron Osborn, 1840; David Osborn, 1841, 1842; Samuel W. Law, 1843; Oliver E. Brown, 1844; Isaac Sandford, 1845; George W. Woodruff, 1846, 1847; Henry D. Lath- am, 1848; Frederick W. Sizer, 1849; David Robinson, 1850, 1851; Nathan Tibbals, 1852; Francis C. Hill, 1853; Samuel F. Johnson, 1854, 1855; Nicholas Orchard, 1856, 1857; Justus O. Worth, 1858; John S. Haugh, 1859; Daniel F. Hallock, 1860; D. A. Goodsell, 1861, 1862; , Samuel M. Hammond, r863, 1864; Thomas N. Laine, 1865, 1866; Thomas G. Osborn, 1867, 1868; E. F. Had- ley, 1869-71; J. Cromlish, 1872, 1873; J. S. Mitchell, 1874; L. P. Perry, 1875, 1876; Thomas G. Osborn, 1877- 79; B. T. Abbott, 1880, 1881. The membership at pres- ent is about 200, and the church and parsonage are valued at $15,000. The Sunday-school connected num- bers about 230.

The New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) Church of this village was established mainly by the efforts and influence of Elijah Terry, a citizen of the village who joined the church of that sect at Baiting Hollow in 1831. A church consisting of ten members was organized here May 12th 1839. Public worship was at first conducted in a school- house, then in a private hall built by Mr. Terry, which was also used as a select school room. In 1855 a house of worship was erected in the cantral part of the village. It is a creditable structure and its tall spire looks far out over the surrounding settlement. church number about 35 families. There is a Sunday-

Stearns, C. C. Lord and Charles A. Dunham, the service of the latter reaching to May 1880. The present pastor

St. John's Roman Catholic Church .- The first move- ment of the Roman Catholic church in this town was in 1844. In that year mass was celebrated here for the first time. The ceremony took place at the house of James Magee, at Upper Aquebogue, being conducted by Father Curren of Astoria. There were in attendance on that occasion four persons. In 1848 Father McGiness of Jamaica began visiting here twice a year, and afterward Father McCarty of Hicksville received it with some other parts of Suffolk county into his charge, visiting and celebrating mass here once in three months until 1856. His successors were: Father O'Neil, 1857; Father Brun- neman, 1857-67; Father McKenna (once in six weeks), 1867; Father Cassella, of St. Peter's, Brooklyn, placed in charge of Smithtown, Patchogue and Riverhead in 1868, on the division of the parish of Suffolk county, living at Riverhead; Father Kearney, who succeeded to the position in 1872 (since which time mass has been said once a month) and remained until December 23d 1878; Father Hanselman, till May 1880, and Father McNulty, who still remains in charge. A small house on East street, in the eastern part of the village, was purchased for use as a chapel in 1860. This, having become.too small to accomodate the increasing congregation, was sold in 1870 and a new church edifice erected. This is a handsome building, located on a spacious lot in the northern part of the village, and a parsonage adjoins it. A part of the lot, which is about two acres in size, con- tains the denominational burying ground. The church was consecrated by Bishop Loughlin in 1871; it is called St. John's church. The house will seat three hundred persons, and its cost, with that of the parsonage, was about $6,000. There are said to be about 450 Roman Catholics in this town. A Sunday-school of 60 scholars is connected with the church. The facts in this sketch of St. John's Church were furnished by Samuel Tuthill of Northville.

A church of Free Methodists was organized here Jan- mary 20th 1870, by Rev. William J. Selby. It occupies a neat chapel on Concord street, in the eastern part of the village, built in 1869. The congregation is not large. Three years after its organization it numbered only 30 members. The following ministers have supplied it: John Gimson, 1870; William Dixon, 1871; Thomas Ross, 1871, 1872; Lewis Hough, 1873.

Grace Episcopal Church .- Worship according to the Protestant Episcopal form was commenced in this vil- northern part of of the village, between Washington and

The adherents of the | lage in 1870. A house of worship was erected in the

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD.

Roanoke avenues, fronting the latter. The parish is prosperous. Rev. Thomas Cook is the rector.

The church edifice is a neat and beautiful structure, 60 by 26, roofed with slate, and furnished with a lofty belfry and spire surmounted by a gilt cross. The inside is tastefully ceiled with narrow pine. It has a recess chancel, with a beautiful center window of stained glass, with appropriate emblems. The other windows are of ground glass, with suitable colored borders. The church is capable of seating 250 persons. It was built in 1872, chiefly by the efforts of the Rev. Thomas Cook, head of the Associate Mission, and cost, with the grounds, $6,000.

ASSOCIATIONS.

Riverhead Lodge, No. 465, F. & A. M. was organized in March 1867, with 14 charter members. Its first of- ficers were: N. S. Woodhull, M .; B. V. Chase, S. W .; D. A. Vail, J. W .; J. H. Terry, treasurer; Wesley Fan- ning, secretary. Succeeding masters of the lodge were: N. S. Woodhull, 1868; E. F. Squires, 1869; J. H. Per- kins, 1870; N. S. Woodhull, 1871; George H. Skidmore, 1872, 1873; H. H. Benjamin, 1874, 1875; W. E. Gerard, 1876, 1877; O. A. Terry, 1878; J. E. Young, 1879; George H. Skidmore, 1880-82. The lodge meets in Terry's Hall, on Griffing avenue, every Tuesday evening, except during the months of July and August, when it meets only on the fourth Tuesday of each month. It has a membership of over 100.

Roanoke Lodge, No. 462, of Odd Fellows was organized May 30th 1877, with six charter members. The office of noble grand has been filled successively by the follow- ing: Aaron S. Hait, Cornelius V. Mazurie, Charles M. Hallock, James L. Millard, John Hagen, David C. Vail, Thomas Brittain and Frank H. Hill. The lodge meets every Thursday evening. It is in a prosperous condition and has about fifty members.

Peconic Division, No. 101, Sons of Temperance was or- ganized here in the early days of the order, and for many years exerted a wholesome influence over the morals of the village. In 1875 it reported 112 members. After an existence of more than a quarter of a century it surrendered its charter in 1879.

The people of this village and town have maintained a good character for sobriety, and have been active in the interests of the cause of temperance. Prime, in 1845, said of it: "There are few places in the land in which the efforts of the friends of temperance have been crowned with more triumphant success. Most of the hotels or taverns are conducted on temperance prin- ciples." At the special election held May 19th 1846 to decide the question of granting licenses the town of Riverhead gave 221 votes for " no license " against 82 for license. Hon. George Miller says in reference to the same subject:

"In 1828 the liquor drunk in the town was five times as much as it was two years afterward. The first tem- perance meeting in Riverhead was held late in January 1829, when 17 signed the pledge. At the next meeting, a fortnight later, the signers were doubled, and the con-

sumption of liquor was undoubtedly lessened one-half in three months. Before that liquor was almost every- where. Every merchant and man of business kept his open bottle. On every public occasion drunkards abounded. But as soon as the principles of total absti- nence were adopted a change came over the community. At the very next town meeting the people all went home before night, sober. At the next launching, of Captain Henry Horton's vessel, no liquor was used. Fishermen abandoned it; merchants who sold other goods quit the sale of it. The people soon saw clearly what fifty years has proved to be true, that even the moderate use of liquor is not necessary but hurtful, and that sound morals and good government require that its habitual use should be abandoned. It would be hard to estimate the amount of temporal blessing this great reformation in principle and practice has caused to households and individuals."

By the town election of 1881 the board of excise com- missioners became anti-license, so that no licenses are now granted in the town.

The Suffolk County Mutual Benefit Association, or- ganized a few years since, has its headquarters in this village, and is in a prosperous condition. Its report for last year showed an increase in membership from 172 in the previous year to 284 in the year 1881. Thus during the latter year the membership increased 112. As there were no deaths during the year there were no assessments. The assets for 1880 were $401.75, and for 1881 they were $801.15. The present officers are: W. E. Gerard, president; John M. Price (of Patchogue) and George H. Skidmore, vice-presidents; David F. Vail, treasurer; Ahaz Bradley, secretary.

Two fire engine companies have been organized in the village. Of these the first was Red Bird Engine Com- pany, No. 1, which was organized in 1836. It has two hand engines and several hundred feet of hose. The company consists of about forty members. The second fire company, Washington Engine Company, No. 2, was organized June Ist 1861. Besides an elegant large hand engine which it already had, a new steamer was purchased for it in 1875. This company has also several hundred feet of hose. It has about forty members.

THE PRESS OF RIVERHEAD.

Being the county seat this village has been a favorable field for the location of a weekly newspaper. The first one started here was the Suffolk Gazette. It was estab- lished by John Hancock, in August 1849. It was moved to Sag Harbor in the early part of 1851, and back again to Riverhead in December 1854. Its publication was soon after suspended. The Suffolk Union was started here in 1859, by Washington Van Zandt. Its publication was continued until the winter of 1862-3, when the office was destroyed by fire, and the paper was discontinued. In 1865 Buel G. Davis started the Suffolk County Monitor, the publication of which ceased in the follow- ing year.

The Riverhead Weekly News was started by James B. Slade March 3d 1868, and was continued by him till its ownership was transferred to William R. Duvall, May 26th 1875. The latter still continues its publication. It is the only paper published in the village.

Junge Mille

GEORGE MILLER.

George Miller, of Riverhead, perhaps more widely known than any other resident of the county of Suffolk, is the son of Timothy Miller. He was born at Miller's Place, on the 16th of March 1799. His mother was Mehetabel, daughter of Joseph Brown, of Rocky Point. His health has always been delicate. At Clinton Acad- emy, East Hampton, he acquired a good knowledge of the classics.

He studied law first with the late Judge Selah B. Strong, and afterward with Caleb S. Woodhull in the city of New York. In the year 1825 he came to River- head and established his law office; he was then 26 years old, and for 57 consecutive years he has steadily resided there. He succeeded Samuel B. Nicoll, who a few years before had taken the place vacated by the removal of Hall Osborn.

His reputation for honesty, industry and capacity was early established, and he was overrun with official busi- ness at the very outset of his career. Other lawyers soon opened offices there, but he commanded a large share of all the practice, and in important cases he was sure to be retained by clients from every part of the county. He was very thorough, and not less perse- vering; once convinced that his position was right he never abandoned it till he succeeded, or was reduced to submission by the decision of the court of last appeal.

During the 20 or 25 years he has practiced chiefly in | 1857.

the higher courts, and this has been especially the case since about that time he associated with him James H. Tuthill as a law partner. In the face of strong compe- tition the firm has maintained its original reputation and been eminently successful.

Mr. Miller's time and strength have been greatly taxed in the conduct and defense of suits originating from de- fective titles, etc., to an entire township of valuable tim- ber land in the State of Maine, which he and a few associates had purchased. He also had a long and vex- atious contest with the merchants Griswold of New York, in relation to the ownership of some lots at the Atlantic Dock in Brooklyn.

As a speaker his addresses are always to the judgment and without the least attempt at oratory; yet in the courts, and on occasions of religious revivals and tempe- rance gatherings, where his whole heart was absorbed, he has made some very pathetic and touching appeals. The charm of his forensic efforts consists not in their bril- liancy and show but in their logic and power.

The Congregational church at Riverhead owes its early origin chiefly to his labors and contributions, and to it he has ever rendered a hearty and cordial support.

He married, about 1836, Miss Eliza Leonard of Massa- chusetts, for many years a teacher in the Riverhead Academy.

He represented the county of Suffolk in the Legis- lature in 1854, and was county judge and surrogate in

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD.

Mar W Foster

N. W. FOSTER.

Nathaniel Woodhull Foster was born in Riverhead, September 24th 1835. His father, Herman D. Foster, a native of the town of Southampton, was one of the pioneer merchants of Riverhead. His mother was Fan- nie, daughter of Nathaniel Woodhull of Wading River, a near relative of General Nathaniel Woodhull of Revo- lutionary fame.

The subject of this sketch was early trained to " tend the store," and there studied his lessons for the school. On the site of the old store, owned and occupied nearly forty years by his father, he has recently erected a hand- some and substantial brick store, greatly improving the appearance of the village.

His school life was mostly spent at the public school · in the village, but later he studied two winters at the Franklinville Academy.

While in the store with his father he accepted the local agency of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York, then just beginning its operations. A while afterward he took up the business of fire insurance. In 1867 the officers of the Equitable asked him to take the general agency for Suffolk county, and in 1870 added Queens county. In 1874 he sold out his mercantile business.

- Mr. Foster married Fannie, daughter of Sylvester Miller, of Wading River, in 1858. He is a member of the Congregational church, and active in all its meetings and in the Sunday-school. In early life he was earnestly

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