USA > New York > Nassau County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 8
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 8
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Sperry, Edo, and others.
In 1941 Liberty, with thoughts for the future, ac- quired stock control of the Autocar Company of Philadelphia, one of the largest truck manufacturers then building military tanks. After Pearl Harbor all aircraft plants were mobilized and production stepped up to meet the increasing needs of the armed forces. Liberty became the major subcontractor for Grum- man and produced the control surfaces and most of the machined parts and assemblies for the world- famous "Wildcats." "Hellcats," "Bearcats," and "Avengers." although parts still were being produced for Curtiss. Martin, Sperry, Edo, and others.
During the war years the employees of Liberty were outstanding in their efforts: The first plant in Nassau to subscribe one hundred per cent for pay- roll participation of war bond purchases; for the Red Cross and National War Fund Drives; and not only received the Treasury "T" Flag but achieved the Army-Navy "E" Award with three stars and were within one month of obtaining the expected fourth star on "V-J" Day. The greatest number on
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the payroll approached two thousand, eight hundred employees, of whom seven hundred and nineteen saw service in the armed forces and ten made the su- premie sacrifice.
To maintain the spirit of production through the grind of the war, the employees of Liberty also participated in many activities; such as, softball com- petition in which the Liberty "Cardinals" won metro- politan and industrial championships. The bowlers won the Swirbul Trophy for three years in twelve- team competition. The Liberty Athletic and Social Club maintained inter-departmental activities and participated in basketball, track, orchestras, shows, and chorals. The Liberty "Hillbillies" staged per- formances for many veterans' hospitals and local en- tertainment. The Liberty "Echo," the plant publica- tion, was edited by the employees for three years and was sent to all Liberty men and women in service throughout the world.
After the end of hostilities Liberty expanded for its peacetime effort by acquiring the Highway Trailer Company of Wisconsin and the Davisbilt Company of Cincinnati (a producer of truck tanks and fuel equipment) and endeavored to set up eastern opera- tions for both companies. Liberty had developed its own "Zephyr" aluminum trailer during the closing years of the war. It also designed and developed the "Phillips" Starting Gate known to thousands of horse trotting enthusiasts at Roosevelt Raceway and else- where.
In 1947 the stockholders, feeling that the interests of Liberty production were so spread over other fields in addition to aircraft, decided to change the name of the company to Liberty Products Corporation- although that move seemed to initiate its return to aircraft production by new contracts for control sur- faces and parts from Republic for their P-84 "Thun- derjet" planes as well as for the Grumman F8F "Bearcat," and later F9F "Panther" jet planes and also orders for Chance Vought's new "Pirate" jet plane parts, far overshadowing the production of commercial projects. The reputation for quality, re- liability and service in military aircraft production earned by Liberty in its war efforts has brought re- newed production in aircraft and also a part in the development of the new atomic project at the Brook- haven National Laboratory, which will play an im- portant part as well as the aircraft plants on Long Island in the future defense of this country.
WILLIAM G. HOLMAN-Mr. William G. Hol- man has been associated with the aviation industry in Farmingdale since 1927. A native of Hamilton, Missouri, Mr. Holman was born April 28, 1903, son of Willis C. and Bertha (Smith) Holman, both now deceased. Mr. Willis C. Holman, who was born in Virginia, became a produce buyer and owner of a retail store in the West. He rendered valuable public service through his position as a superintendent of schools in Missouri.
William G. Holman received his public school and high school education at Olathe, Colorado. This was followed by two years of study at the University of Colorado and more than three years at Western State College of Colorado, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1924. In 1935 Mr. Holman completed his Master of Arts degree at Columbia University, New York.
When Mr. Holman first came to Farmingdale he was associated with the Fairchild Airplane Manu-
facturing Corporation as auditor. Later when the corporation became the American Airplane and En- gine Corporation he functioned as auditor and pur- chasing agent. Leaving this company in 1933 Mr. Holman joined Liberty Aircraft Products Corpora- tion in Farmingdale as secretary and treasurer in which position he is now engaged. He is also a direc- tor of this company. Mr. Holman is a member of the Controllers Institute of America. In his leisure Mr. Holman participates in two sports, swimming and golf. His club memberships include the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the Nassau Shore Country Club. He is a member of the Republican party and attends the Episcopal Church.
On May 17, 1936, Mr. Holman married Ethel Sim- monds of Corning, New York. They are the parents of one child, Susan Alice, born August 27, 1946.
ARTHUR ERVIN HOWLAND-One of the best known names in highway and parkway engineering, public works construction and maintenance and park development in New York State is that of Arthur Ervin Howland. After seventeen years with the New York State Highway Department and the State Department of Public Works, he has been chief engineer and general manager of the Long Island State Park Commission, with headquarters in the Belmont Lake State Park, Babylon, since 1927. One of his associates is Herman Boettjer.
Mr. Howland was born at Mechanicville, New York, on June 13, 1890, the son of Ervin L. and Leora A. Howland. His father was the owner of a grist mill, and also a supply dealer. Arthur E. Howland began his education in the elementary schools of Mechanic- ville in 1895. In 1908 he was graduated from the Mechanicville High School. From 1908 to 1910 he studied civil engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York.
On leaving the institute, he became engineer in charge of design and construction for the New York State Highway Department, a post he held until 1913. He was then appointed county assistant engineer in charge of state highway construction and mainten- ance work in western Orange County for the New York State Division of Highways of the Department of Public Works which post he held until 1924, when he was transferred to the headquarters of the Pough- keepsie division as resident engineer in charge of state highway construction and maintenance. Two years later his superiors put him in charge of or- ganizing and supervising the Long Island division of the State Department of Public Works, with the title of resident engineer. Here he remained only one year, leaving in 1927 to accept his present post of chief engineer and general manager of the Long Island State Park Commission. Among the important projects with which he has been identified, he was chief engineer and general manager of the Jones Beach State Parkway Authority which issued $5, 050,000 in bonds in 1933 to finance the construction of the Meadowbrook State Causeway with loop to Long Beach and reconstructed the Wantagh State Causeway to Jones Beach State Park as a self-liquidating toll project. He is also chief engineer and general mana- ger of Bethpage Park Authority which constructed and operates Bethpage State Park as a self-liquidat- ing project.
He has also served as special consultant under Rob- ert Moses on major parkway, expressway, beach and park planning reports for several large cities including arterial plan for Pittsburgh, 1939; survey of congested
M.J. Holman
Hollis V Warner
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war production areas for the Army and Navy Muni- tions Board, 1943; postwar improvement plan for Portland, Oregon, 1943; arterial plan for Baltimore, Maryland, 1944; and arterial plan for New Orleans, Louisiana, 1946.
Mr. Howland is a member of the Freeport Lodge No. 1253, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Poughkeepsie Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He worships at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Babylon. Mr. Howland is a veteran of World War I, having served in the United States Signal Corps.
Mr. Howland married Catherine Brisiskie in Wash- ington, D. C., on April 21, 1921.
HERMAN BOETTJER-Long an engineer with the New York State Highway Department, with responsibilities in design, construction and mainten- ance, Herman Boettjer is now general superintendent of the Long Island State Park Commission, with headquarters in Belmont Lake State Park, Babylon. In this work he is associated with Arthur E. How- land (q.v.).
Mr. Boettjer was born in New York City on July 15, 1888, and began his education there. On completing high school in 1906, he attended the famed Cooper Union Institute until 1910. When he was graduated he was awarded the degree of Bache- lor of Science in civil engineering.
Immediately thereafter Mr. Boettjer accepted ap- pointment as engineer in charge of surveys, design and construction for the New York State Highway Department. In 1922 he was promoted to county assistant engineer in charge of state highway con- struction and maintenance work in eight easterly towns of Suffolk County, and this position he held until 1926. Since then he has been general superin- tendent of the Long Island State Park Commission.
Mr. Boettjer is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Columbus, and in both of these he is past secretary. Mr. Boettjer is also a member of the Rotary Club of Babylon. With his family he worships at the Church of St. Joseph, Roman Catholic, in Babylon.
Mr. Boettjer and Helen Earley were married in New York City on June 26, 1912. They are the parents of six children: Joseph H., born 1913; Charles J., born 1915; Arthur F., born 1917; Robert L., born 1922; William J., born 1925; and Helen J., born 1930.
HOLLIS VICTOR WARNER-The world's largest duck farm is located at 373 Riverside Drive in Riverhead. Hollis Victor Warner is its owner ---- a leading figure in the industry which has made Long Island duck celebrated throughout the nation. Dur- ing the peak of his yearly season, in the spring, Mr. Warner has as many as a quarter of a million ducks on his farm at one time. During the fall and win- ter, when eggs are less fertile, the flock dwindles to sixty thousand. His average annual duck output is five hundred thousand. Son of a farmer and duck breeder, Mr. Warner obtained scientific agri- cultural and animal husbandry training to supple- ment his practical knowledge and experience gained from childhood on a farm. His success is credited by him to his use of scientific methods and equip- ment, plus a little of the old instinctive farmer's way of doing things on a farm.
Hollis Victor Warner was born at Baiting Hollow
on May 7, 1897, the son of John Benjamin and Carrie Eliza (Terry) Warner. After completing his preparatory education in the Riverhead High School in 1914, he studied at Cornell University at Ithaca. In 1918 he was graduated from the Uni- versity with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He then enlisted in the United States Navy for service in World War I and was given the rating of machinist's mate second class. In 1919 he was honorably discharged.
Since 1921 he has been operating his two hun- dred and fifty acre duck farm along the marshlands in the eastern area of Suffolk County at Riverhead. His equipment includes numerous incubators and hatchers that hold about one hundred and eighteen thousand eggs at one time. There are as many as seventy buildings on the farm and one hundred and forty persons are employed there. Because of the vastness of the farm Mr. Warner has built three miles of narrow-gauge railway through the buildings and interlacing feeding pens. Feed is shoveled out twice daily as the Lilliputian railway moves slowly along. Thousands of tons of wheat, corn, flour, mixed with special minerals and high protein feed, are used yearly on the Warner farm to fatten the ducks. Six men do nothing but prepare a mash in a huge mixer. Almost half of Mr. Warner's employees are pickers-women who pluck the feathers after the ducks have come from the killing pens. Feathers are a by-product. Six ducks provide a pound of feathers.
Mr. Warner's fame as a duck breeder has been chronicled in such popular magazines as "The New Yorker," and "This Week" the "New York Herald- Tribune" Sunday magazine supplement. He and his farm have been the subject of numerous write- ups in farm and other technical journals.
Mr. Warner is a member of the American Legion and is treasurer of the Riverhead Men's Club. He and his family attend the Riverhead Congregational Church.
On September 29, 1920, at Summit, New Jersey, Mr. Warner married Charlotte Butterworth, daugh- ter of Mary Elizabeth (Scott) and Robert Hollings- worth Butterworth. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are the parents of four children: Betty, born May 23, 1923; John Allen, born August 25, 1925; Nancy Carolyn, born September 13, 1929; and Charlotte Elaine, born May 28, 1935. Two other children died. They were Hollis, Jr., born July 9, 1921; and Mary Ellen, born March 19, 1933.
STEPHEN LEROY WILCOX-Operator of one of the original Long Island duck farms founded in 1883, Stephen Leroy Wilcox is likewise interested in bird life from the scientist's and naturalist's stand- point, as well as in its commercial aspects. As an ornithologist, he has contributed much valuable data to this branch of science but his studies in natural history extend far beyond this. A man of wide in- terests, Mr. Wilcox has proven himself a dependable holder of office both in his community and in his church and an earnest student of history and gen- ealogy. Himself descended from old American stock, he traces his lineage to original settlers of both Long Island and other parts of the Colonies.
Mr. Wilcox is the author of Chapter XLIII, in this work, entitled "Duck Industry."
Mr. Wilcox was born in Speonk, October 9, 1899,
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son of Eugene Orville and Edith May (Smith) Wil- cox. His father, one of the Island's pioneer duck raisers, began his business in Speonk in 1883 and be- came a highly regarded member of the community, by virtue of his constructive interest in its activities. He was born in 1854, and died in 1926. He was a direct descendant of the most renowned of the May- flower Pilgrims, John and Priscilla Alden, as fol- lows: Sarah Sprague Wilcox, 1823-1915; John H. Sprague, 1792-1884; John C. Sprague, 1770-1884; Lieut. John Sprague, 1746-1843 and his wife Rebecca Alden, 1745-1817; Lieut. John Alden, 1694-1762; Isaac Alden; Joseph Alden, 1624-1697; John Alden, 1599-1687 and his wife Priscilla.
Stephen Leroy Wilcox also is desecended from William Wilcox, one of the original settlers of Strat- ford, Connecticut; also original settlers of Southold and Southampton, Long Island, the first English set- tlements in New York State. Eleven of Mr. Wilcox's ancestors served in the American Revolution.
Receiving his primary education at Tanners Neck School, Westhampton, which is in school district No. 16, Leroy Wilcox, as he is usually known, entered Westhampton Beach High School and after gradu- tion there registered for the poultry course at the College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
After completing his course in poultry and game breeding in 1920, he entered into the practical appli- cation of his studies by first raising ringneck pheas- ants. After three or four years, he went into the business of raising trapnested white leghorns. About 1926, he associated himself with his father, Eugene O. Wilcox, in the operation of the latter's duck farm. The elder Mr. Wilcox died in October, 1926, and his widow Edith Mae (Smith) Wilcox became owner of the duck farm until her death on January 6, 1940. On this date, Leroy Wilcox and his brother Carlos became owners of the farm. At present Leroy Wil- cox is its sole owner and the establishment is known as the Oceanic Duck Farm. He has been its only proprietor since January, 1944, when he bought out his brother Carlos' half share. Founded by Eugene O. Wilcox in 1883, Oceanic Duck Farm is one of the first on Long Island devoted exclusively to the rais- ing of this waterfowl. Mr. Wilcox is a member of the Long Island Duck Growers Cooperative Asso- ciation of Eastport, New York.
In pursuit of his primary avocation, Mr. Wilcox has become one of the most active naturalists on Long Island and now is compiling data for a book tentatively titled "The Natural History of South- ampton Town." His particular specialty is ornithology and he has to his credit the adding of a new species of bird to the New York State list in 1929: the white- winged dove. In 1942, Leroy Wilcox discovered the first nesting record for New York State of black- backed gulls. He is an active bird bander and bands about two thousand wild birds annually on Long Is- land. Mr. Wilcox has given illustrated lectures on bird banding at the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City, at the Academy of Sciences, in Philadelphia, and at the United States National Museum, in Washington, D. C. He is a member of the American Ornithological Union, in Washington, the National Audubon Society at 1000 Fifth Avenue in New York City, the Linnaean So- ciety of the American Museum of Natural History, in New York, the Eastern Bird Banding Association, with headquarters at State College, Pennsylvania, the
Wilson Ornithological Club of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, the Lepidopterists' Society, of Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and the American Malacological Union, Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, New York.
A Republican in his politics, Mr. Wilcox, since July, 1940, has been treasurer of school district No. 16, Westhampton. A communicant of the Eastport Gospel Church, as treasurer and trustee of that re- ligious organization he has served loyally in these capacities since October, 1934. His interest in history and genealogy finds expression in his membership in the Suffolk County Historical Society, of Riverhead, and in the Alden Kindred of America, Incorporated, Needham, Massachusetts.
At Eastport, September 6, 1924, Stephen Leroy Wilcox married Georgiana Reeve Robinson, daughter of Raymond Garfield and Vina Etta (Hutton) Robin- son. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have become the parents of three childern: I. Janice Lorraine, born September 24, 1925; now married to Robert Penney. 2. Jean Lois, born October 4, 1926; now Mrs. Emory Tuttle. 3. David Allan, who was born February 24, 1933. Mr. Wilcox and his family live in Speonk.
WILLIAM F. VARNEY-Mr. Varney is known for his extended views on social problems including prohibition, and has devoted his energies to this field since the early part of this century. Starting as a field director of the New Jersey Prohibition Commit- tee in 1912, Mr. Varney has since filled various posts in the national as well as in the New York State branches.
Mr. Varney was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on October 1, 1884, the son of Dr. Frederick Williams Varney, a minister, and Lizzie Jane (Leith) Varney. He received his early education in public and com- mercial schools.
Before Mr. Varney became a field secretary, he held a number of diversified positions. He began his career as a messenger boy for the "Paterson Daily Press" in 1897. Several years later in 1902 he joined the firm of Wright, Veith and Newman, manufac- turers of pillow shams and scarfs, and was eventually named manager. In 1905 he became affiliated with the concern known as Stahli, Reitmann and Com- pany, who manufactured curtains and novelties. He remained with this firm until 1911, and a year later joined forces with the prohibition movement.
Mr. Varney remained with the New Jersey Prohibi- tion Committee until 1919, and then went into the insurance business with which he has been connected since that time. In 1924 he became a member of the National Prohibition Committee, and has served in this capacity to the present time. Four years later he was chosen as the candidate for the Presi- dent of the United States, under the banner of the Prohibition party. Selected again as a political candi- date, William F. Varney ran for governor in 1934 on the Law Preservation party slate. In addition he has been a member of the National Prohibition Executive Committee since 1932, and at present is chairman of the New York State Prohibition Committee.
Active in the insurance business in Nassau County, as well as in his home town of Rockville Centre, Mr. Varney is a director of the Nassau County As- sociation of Local Agents, Inc., having formerly served as president. He is also director of the Sub- urban New York Association of Local Agents, Inc.
Som Mariey
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By faith, Mr. Varney is a Methodist, and is gen- erous in his contributions to religious and humani- tarian causes.
On August 31, 1905, Mr. Varney married Leonia Beatrice Abrams, and they are the parents of four children, one of whom is deceased: I. Beatrice Leonia. 2. Laura (deceased). 3. William Frederick. 4. Evelyn Marion.
RAYMOND A. SMITH, SR. and RAYMOND A.
SMITH, JR .- The name of Raymond A. Smith has marched with lustre in numerous and diverse causes and it has been in the forefront with those also ac- tive in these causes regardless of whether the wearer of the name has been the father or the son.
. Raymond A Smith, Sr., and Raymond A. Smith, Jr., are by profession lawyers with offices in East Hampton. But their activities have spread far be- yond the boundaries of their profession and of their home community. The elder Mr. Smith had a hand in the incorporation of the Village of East Hampton in 1920 and was the first Village Clerk, Village Col- lector of Taxes and the first Village Counsel. He still holds the last-named office. He is a former president of the East Hampton Board of Education and for nearly a quarter of a century was Counsel of the trustees of the Freeholders and Com- monalty of the Town of East Hampton. He is a former member of the Judiciary Committee of the Second Judicial Department and a former officer of the East Hampton Neighborhood Association, an important health, welfare and recreational agency in the village and town. He is also a former member of the Suffolk County Republican Committee, from the Town of Easthampton, on which he served for about twenty years. He has served, or is serving, as director, officer and counsel of numerous corporations. He is the author of a history of Montauk from 1660 to 1887, published by the Board of Trustees of the Town of East Hampton, and is a member of the East Hampton Historical Society.
His son, Raymond A. Smith, Jr., is a former Justice of the Peace of East Hampton. He left the bench and bar when called to active duty in World War II after years as a member of the United States Army Officers' Reserve. After the war, in which he saw service in the European Theater of Operations, beginning with the invasion of the Nor- mandy beaches, he returned to the inactive status as a Major. He has since devoted himself to his legal practice and to numerous civic interests.
Raymond A. Smith, Sr., was born in Baldwins- ville, Onondaga County, New York, on November 15, 1889, the son of Charles Mervin and Cora (Root) Smith, both also natives of Baldwinsville. Charles Mervin Smith was born on November 22, 1866. Cora (Root) Smith was born October 15, 1866.
In June, 1906, Raymond A. Smith, Sr., was gradu- ated from the Baldwinsville High School. Two years later he was graduated from the Teachers Training School in his native community. In the school year and in vacation periods, Mr. Smith worked full or part time for various construction firms engaged in building bridges, telephone lines and the Barge Canal. While working for Scott Brothers, contractors on the Barge Canal, Mr. Smith suffered an accident, in which his right foot was crushed. This injury necessitated the amputation of four toes at the meta- tarsal phalangeal joints but this did not without in any way impede Mr. Smith's locomotion. He was,
however, to be kept out of military service in World War I because of the injury. But that was nine years later.
In 1908 Mr. Smith started teaching school at Judville, in Madison County, New York. The fol- lowing years he was appointed principal of the Springs School in the Town of East Hampton. In 19II, two years later, he went to Eastport, Long Is- land, as principal. He had, in the meantime, decided to become a lawyer. Accordingly, in 1912 he entered the Syracuse University College of Law, from which he was graduated in June, 1915. At the same time he passed his bar examinations at Rochester, New York. As he had no previous college degree, Mr. Smith was obliged by regulations to serve a clerk- ship before embarking upon the practice of law. He did so, and on March 23, 1917, was admitted to practice. He immediately opened his own office and has practiced law continuously since then.
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