USA > New York > Nassau County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 86
USA > New York > Suffolk County > Long Island; a history of two great counties, Nassau and Suffolk, Volume III > Part 86
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In choosing the law as his career, Giles Macord Wright is following the example of his father, Edwin G. Wright, who is an attorney of note with many years of experience. To him and his wife Mabel L. Wright, the son whom they named Giles Macord was born at Rockville Centre, Nassau County, in 1918. After graduating from the South Side High School on Long Island, Giles Macord Wright attended the Blair Academy at Blairstown, New Jersey, from which he graduated in 1935. His college was Amherst, at Amherst, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1939. Having by this time picked his future profes- sion, he entered the Brooklyn Law School, from which he was graduated and admitted to practice in 1942.
During the second World War Mr. Wright was in the armed service of our country, as a member of
the headquarters detachment of the 15th Corps, with the rating of a staff sergeant. He participated in the campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhine- land and Central Europe, and for his services and con- duct in action was awarded the Bronze Star medal.
Giles Macord Wright is now a member of the law firm of Wright and Wright, with offices at Number One Village Avenue in Rockville Centre. He is an active figure in constructive civic affairs in his native community, particularly in connection with the Rock- ville Community Centre, of which he is serving as secretary for 1947; in the Rockville Centre Lions Club, of which he is also at this time secretary, having been elected to that post in 1946; in the Eureka Hook and Ladder Company of the Rockville Centre Fire Department. He is a member of the Nassau County and New York State bar associations. Mr. Wright is a Methodist in religion. Much interested in fra- ternal affairs, he belongs to Theta Delta Chi, in which he was president of the Amherst Charge in 1938-1939; to the Brooklyn Law School Chapter of Phi Delta Phi; and to Scarab, a senior college honorary frater- nity. At Amherst college, he was a captain of the varsity swimming team and was named as a member of the all time varsity swimming team.
At Little Neck, New York, on June 13, 1941, Giles Macord Wright was married to Monda L. Friberg. Of this union there is one child, Jacqueline Diane, who was born on May 17, 1942.
HARRY L. HEDGER-Reminiscent of an Horatio Alger story is the career of Harry L. Hedger, who began as a farm boy and eventually achieved the dis- tinction of becoming one of Nassau County's leading business executives, as well as a popular public offi- cial who was serving his fourteenth year as County Treasurer at the time of his death on November 12, 1946. As a youngster, Mr. Hedger tilled the land of his father's farm in Brooklyn, which had been settled by his ancestors in the 1630s. At the time of his pass- ing, Mr. Hedger was an executive in a number of busi- ness firms, and since 1932 had served as county treasurer.
Mr. Hedger was born in Brooklyn on October 26, 1875, a son of Richard W. and Emma Renson (Van Wicklen) Hedger. His mother was a descendant of the Van Wicklen family who settled Flatlands in 1636, and Brookville in 1639. Young Hedger spent much of his time on his father's farm in Suffolk, and was educated at Jamaica High School in Jamaica, Long Island, when that present-day thriving town was a community of farms and general stores. After working for two years on his father's farm, the younger Hedger turned his efforts to learning the railroad business, first as a telegrapher and later as a railroad agent. A resident of Glen Cove after 1896, the late county treasurer served as an employee at the local Long Island Rail Road Company until 1905 when he accepted the position of superintendent of a country club. Leaving this post in 1915, Mr. Hedger joined the staff of Aldred and Company, staying with them until 1922. During that same year he was ap- pointed postmaster of the village of Glen Cove and also president of the First National Bank of Glen Cove. He was serving his third term in this position when he was elected, in 1932, to the office of treasurer for the county of Nassau on the Republican ticket.
His various business interests were centered in his home town of Glen Cove. He was president of the Glen Cove Investors, and served as a director of several other enterprises, including the Glen Cove Amusement Company, the Glen Cove Associates, the
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Glen Cove Investors, Incorporated, and the Glen Street Garage, Incorporated. During the period of his bank presidency in 1928, the late Mr. Hedger was selected to preside over Group Eight of the New York State Bankers' Association. When the Nassau County Clearing House was formed in 1930, Mr. Hedger was named vice chairman. He was one of five commissioners, appointed by the Board of Super- visors, to erect Meadowbrook Hospital in East Meadow. He resigned from this commission when he became county treasurer, but Mr. Hedger devoted considerable energy to the hospital as a director.
While serving as president of the New York State County Officers Association early in 1946, Mr. Hed- ger was invited by Governor Thomas E. Dewey to be- come a member of the State Youth Commission. He met with Mr. Dewey, taking that opportunity to dis- cuss state financial aid to communities, for the pur- pose of preventing juvenile delinquency. Long active in philanthropic work in Nassau County, Mr. Hedger was annually the treasurer for the Nassau Cancer Committee drive, and he conducted the appeal for the Salvation Army each year. He also was treasurer of the United Service Organizations drive in Nassau.
Numbered among his fraternal affiliations were the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, the Ma- sonic Order, and the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Hedger was a past district deputy grand master in the Masonic Order, and in the evening following his sudden death Masonic services were held for him. Then on Thurs- day, November 14, funeral services were conducted at the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove, with the Rev. Ward Glenn Gypson officiating. Mr. Hedger was buried in East Hillside Cemetery.
During his lifetime, Mr. Hedger was interested in golfing and yachting, and belonged to the Brookville Country and the Hempstead Harbor Yacht clubs. His other outdoor activity was swimming.
On June 3, 1896, the late county treasurer married his first wife, Jessie Ella Raynor, a member of an old Long Island family. The couple had four sons: I. Ralph Merideth of Philadelphia; 2. Randolph War- ren of Los Angeles; 3. Harold Chester of Glen Cove and 4. Raymond Carter, also of Glen Cove. A daugh- ter, Marion, died during the flu epidemic here in 1918. She was the oldest child. In 1935 his first wife died, and in 1937, Mr. Hedger married Mrs. Helen Anne Dondero of Meriden, Connecticut.
In a resolution of regret and sympathy adopted by the Glen Cove City Council, Mr. Hedger's colleagues paid him the following tribute: since "it has pleased Almighty God to call from this earth Harry L. Hed- ger, long a resident of this city .. . (who) lived a full life, holding many positions, accepting great respon- sibilities and fulfilling them all with honor and dis- tinction, and ... as Postmaster of Glen Cove, Treas- urer of the County of Nassau, was an inspiring leader in civic, fraternal and benevolent matters too numerous to enumerate; that such a life cannot end without real loss to our City and to the multitude of his friends and admirers throughout the County and State . . this Council does express its deep regret at the death of Hon. Harry L. Hedger and extend its condolences to Mrs. Hedger and to the members of his family.
ARTHUR J. HENDRICKSON-Two generations of Hendricksons have been engaged for more than forty years in basic activities connected with the amazing development and modernization of Nassau County's South Shore communities. As excavators and contractors, beginning in a small way with a single team of horses, they have constantly expanded
their operations with the growth of Nassau's modern suburbs, and units of their large fleet of up to date equipment are familiar sights wherever construction is in progress.
The headquarters of Hendrickson Brothers, Inc., as the firm is now known, are at Valley Stream, where John C. Hendrickson was born on May 31, 1871. John C. Hendrickson, who is now living in retirement, mar- ried Lillian Pflug, a native of Brooklyn, New York, where she was born when that Borough was an in- dependent city, on April 24, 1875. She died on Sep- tember 19, 1944. Arthur J., the son of John C. and Lillian (Pflug) Hendrickson, was born on Central Avenue, Valley Stream, Nassau County, on September 12, 1892. He attended public school in his native village and Wright's Long Island Business College on South Eighth Street in Brooklyn.
At the age of twenty-one Arthur J. Hendrickson became associated with his father, who had established his excavating and contracting business at Valley Stream in 1905. When John C. Hendrickson retired from active management of the concern in 1918, his sons Frank C. and G. Freeman Hendrickson became associated with Arthur J. Hendrickson in the con- tinuation and expansion of the business, which in 1922 was incorporated with Arthur J. Hendrickson as president, Frank C. Hendrickson as treasurer and G. Freeman Hendrickson as secretary. With offices on Central Avenue, Valley Stream, Hendrickson Brothers, Inc., today rates as one of the largest and busiest concerns in its line in all Long Island, and frequently employs as high as two hundred men in its operations.
Arthur J. Hendrickson has long taken an active part in civic and political affairs in Valley Stream, and for three years served as mayor of that village. He is a member of the Republican party. He also belongs to the Valley Stream Kiwanis Club, he is an active Mason in that part of Long Island. He is affiliated with Lynbrook Lodge Number 1018 of the Free and Accepted Masons; with the Consistory of the Valley of Rockville Centre; and with Kismet Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Brooklyn, New York. His other fraternal connec- tions are with Lynbrook Lodge No. 1515 of the Bene- volent and Protective Order of Elks, with Rockville Centre Lodge No. 279 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Valley Stream Lodge No. 41 of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. In religion, Mr. Hendrickson is a member of Grace Meth- odist Church. Horseback riding is his hobby and recreation.
At Valley Stream Arthur J. Hendrickson was mar- ried on January 2, 1911. He is the father of one son and three daughters: I. Milton A., who during the second World War served in the Air Force and held a commission as captain. 2. Ella L., who is now the wife of George P. Lederle. 3. Eudora E., who is married to Howard Hruschka. 4. Margaret E., who is now Mrs. Edward J. Carey.
Arthur J. Hendrickson takes particular delight in his seven grandchildren, namely Beryl Nancy and Arthur Leonard Lederle; William Ray and Peter Hruschka; and Edward Martin, Michael J. and Susan H. Carey.
FRANK CALDWELL HENDRICKSON be- came identified with the trucking business several years before he became of age. He began to operate in Valley Stream, New York, of which he is a native
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and lifelong citizen. In 1922 he became one of the incorporators of the firm of Hendrickson Brothers, one of the outstanding excavating and grading con- tracting concerns on Long Island, the corporation comprising Arthur J., George Freeman Hendrickson, and Frank Caldwell Hendrickson. The latter has been vice president and treasurer of the company for the past quarter of a century, and is exceptionally promi- nent in his field of work.
Mr. Hendrickson was born in Valley Stream, on December 4, 1895, son of John C. and Lillian (Pflug) Hendrickson, his father being now retired from the concern he started on a small scale. Frank Caldwell Hendrickston attended District School, No. 13, Town of Hempstead, but early began making his own live- lihood. He had his own trucking business at the age of nineteen years, and he ran this most successfully to 1922, when he was persuaded to join his brothers of above mention, to organize and incorporate Hen- drickson Brothers, Inc., which, as indicated, is one of the largest firms of its type operating on Long Island.
Frank C. Hendrickson has also been the secretary of Henbro Corporation and president of the Hensigro Corporation, both holding companies. Without osten- tation he has lent his services and abilities to civic or- ganizations and projects. Fraternally he is affiliated with Massapequa Lodge, No. 822, Free and Accepted Masons, Long Island Scottish Rite, and Kismet Tem- ple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Brooklyn, New York. He is a member of the Valley Stream Thirty-second Degree Club, and the Valley Stream Square Club. He worships at the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, of Valley Stream. On June 2, 1917, at Valley Stream, New York, Frank Caldwell Hendrickson married Myrtle H. Keller, daughter of Henry and Alice Keller. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson are the parents of two children: I. Alice Myra, born September 17, 1918; married Ber- nard J. Pelgrim of Oceanside, New York. 2. Frank Caldwell, Jr., born September 13, 1923; served in World War II with 342nd Infantry Division, overseas in France, Belgium, Germany and Austria.
GEORGE FREEMAN HENDRICKSON-Since 1922, the Hendrickson Brothers, Inc., has been operat- ing with steadily increasing progress as excavation and grading contractors, with headquarters at Valley Stream. George Freeman Hendrickson, one of the younger sons of the founder of the firm, had acquired a varied, if somewhat limited business experience, and he later became associated with two of his brothers in contracting.
A man of the present century in birth and ideas, Mr. Hendrickson was born on April 1, 1900, at Valley Stream, son of John C. and Lillian (Pflug) Hendrick- son, mention of whom can be found in the biography of Arthur J. Hendrickson, in this volume.
After completing his education, George Freeman Hendrickson entered the employ of the Stuyvesant Insurance Company, at John and William streets, New York City. But then the United States became in- volved in World War I, and young Hendrickson served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1921. Upon returning to civilian affairs, he joined what was then the Arthur J. Hendrickson Company, of Valley Stream (1921), that a year later became Hendrickson Brothers, Inc., with offices and headquarters at No. 63
North Central Avenue, Valley Stream. John C. Hen- drickson started this business of contracting with a single team of horses, as long ago as 1908, and remained in charge for a decade. The development of the concern to one of the largest of its type in Long Island is very much the accomplishment of the sons, Arthur J., Frank C. and George Freeman Hen- drickson.
In addition to being an official of Hendrickson Brothers, Inc., George Freeman Hendrickson is a member and former president of the Valley Stream Exchange Club, member of the Valley Stream Repub- lican Club, and fraternally is affiliated with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Lodge No. 41, Valley Stream; Lynbrook Lodge, No. 1018, Free and Accepted Masons and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Valley of Rockville Centre. He attends Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, of Valley Stream, and cooperates with several religious, civic and charitable organizations.
At Hempstead, New York, March 9, 1919, George Freeman Hendrickson married Margaret T. O'Shea, daughter of Marcus and Margaret O'Shea. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson are the parents of two children: I. Lillian D., born March 30, 1920; married Decem- ber 14, 1946, Ralph R. Fisher, Jr., of Valley Stream. 2. John C., born February 27, 1922; served during World War II with the United States Navy as an ensign; was married November 3, 1945, to Emily Briggs of Deposit, New York and they have one daughter, Sarah Margaret, born September 3, 1946.
EVERETT C. DE FRIEST-For three hundred years the sound of boat building has been heard in many of the busy little maritime villages of Long Island, and doubtless that industry will always con- tinue to be an important one as long as the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound flow into the many deep bays that mark the coast-line from Brooklyn to Montauk. One of the largest and busiest ship yards on Long Island today is De Friest's at Riverhead, where Everett C. De Friest, a native of that Suffolk County village, has achieved a notable success.
Everett C. De Friest's father, Ralph W. De Friest, is also a native Suffolk Countian, having been born at Sag Harbor. As a young man he moved to River- head, where in 1922 he entered the automobile dis- tributing business, also dealing in electrical supplies. In addition, from 1927 to 1931 Ralph W. De Friest took over the Westhampton Airport. His business since 1931 has been that of an industrial contractor. Ralph W. De Friest married Genevieve M. Brown, a native of Jamesport, New York, and of this union Everett C. De Friest was born on June 17, 1918.
Doubtless as a boy in Riverhead, Everett C. De Friest loved boating and sailing. In any event, it was not long after his graduation from the Riverhead High School that he began to build and sell row boats. From this small beginning has grown the busy De Friest's Ship Yard. This enterprise, with offices at 313-315 East Main Street, Riverhead, engages in boat building, boat repairing and overhauling, as well as in dredging; offers dockage; and deals in marine hardware and accessories, paints and varnishes. It also affords storage for boats. De Friest's Ship Yard is one of the largest of its kind on Long Island, ably carrying on the Suffolk County tradition of excellence in marine construction and service.
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During World War II Mr. De Friest volunteered for service and served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. He has endeavored to afford oppor- tunities of employment for discharged veterans, and at one time had as many as fifteen of them in his yard. At the present time he employs a total of about twenty men. He holds the rank of first mate in the Sea Scout Troop, a branch of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. De Friest is also a member of the Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department. One of his great interests is Masonry. He is a member, and at the present time serves as junior master of ceremonies of Riverhead Lodge Number 645 of the Free and Accepted Masons. He also holds membership in the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Church.
On July 6, 1942, Everett C. De Friest was married to Alberta Scholtz, the ceremony taking place at Mattituck, Long Island. Mrs. De Friest is the daugh- ter of Edward C. Scholtz of Laurel, a retired mer- chant. She is a graduate of the Normal School at Cortland, Cortland County, New York, and is now engaged as a teacher in the public school at Aque- bogue, Long Island. She is very much interested in the work of the Girl Scouts of America, and is at present the scout master of the Riverhead Council of that organization. Mrs. De Friest is also a member of Lodge No. 399 of the Order of the Eastern Star.
JUDGE BRADLEY W. THORPE is the leading Republican of the Town of Babylon, by election. He is also justice of the peace of the town. Since 1904 he has been supervisor of electric light and power for the Long Island Rail Road. Judge Thorpe, known throughout Long Island in political and utility circles, has long dedicated himself to the welfare and pros- perity of the island, especially Suffolk County and his native town.
The Judge was born in Babylon on February 20, 1888, the son of Frederick S. and Catherine Sinclair (Moore) Thorpe. After completing his early educa- tion in the Babylon High School, he studied at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, from which he was graduated. He then assumed his supervisory position with the Long Island Rail Road.
In 1941, he was elected Republican leader of the Town of Babylon and in 1943 was made justice of the peace. Because of his status as a Republican, Judge Thorpe is a member of the board of governors of the Timber Point Club. He is also a member of the National Republican Club. In addition, he is active in the Lions Club of Babylon.
Judge Bradley W. Thorpe married Rosalie H. Osborne, member of a pioneer East Moriches family, at Babylon in 1914. They have a daughter, Madeline H., who was married to Trevor Morgan Rea of Nic- holson, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Rea now live in Babylon. They too have a daughter, Cathy, who was born in Bay Shore on May 9, 1945, and a son, David Osborne, born in Bay Shore September 3, 1948.
THOMAS F. DOUGHERTY-A distinguished barrister and a leader in his community, Thomas F. Dougherty practices his profession in Baldwin.
Born November 13, 1895, in New York City, Mr. Dougherty is the son of Terrence and Bessie (Woods) Dougherty, who are both native to Ireland. The elder Mr. Dougherty was born in County Longford
in 1862, came to the United States in 1880, and entered the real estate and development business in Northport and Baldwin. He died December 18, 1940. Bessie Dougherty, born in County Monaghan in 1864, also came to this country in 1880.
Thomas F. Dougherty first attended public school at Northport and was graduated from Freeport High School in 1913. He was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering by the University of Pennsylvania in 1917 and served as a commissioned officer of field artillery in the regular Army of the United States in World War I. He then furthered his education at the Fordham University Law School where the Bachelor of Laws degree was conferred on him in 1927 and was admitted to the bar in 1928. From 1919 to 1930 he served as an engineer with the Electric Bond and Share Company in the purchase of public utilities in South America. Concurrent with his employment with this company, Mr. Doug- herty, in 1930, entered private practice in law, the pro- fession to which he now devotes all his time.
That his law career has been successful is attested to by the numerous positions he holds in law associa- tions, community business, and civic programs. He is a member of the Nassau County and New York State bar associations; a director, vice president, and attorney in the Baldwin National Bank and Trust Company; attorney for the First Federal Sav- ings and Loan Association of Hempstead; a member of the Baldwin Kiwanis Club; a Past Exalted Ruler and a Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 1253, Freeport Lodge; a New York State trustee of the Elks and in 1946-47 a member of the Grand Lodge judiciary committee; director at large of the Nassau County chapter of the American Red Cross; chairman of the Baldwin draft board since the inception of the National Selective Service Act; a director of the South Nassau Communities Hospital at Rockville Centre. He is an ardent Democrat, and worships at the Roman Catholic Church. He devotes his spare time to the study of early American furniture and homes, subjects in which he is considered an au- thority. The owner of a five acre farm at St. James, Mr. Dougherty is the proud possessor of a sycamore tree which is registered as the second largest tree on Long Island.
On July 2, 1930, Thomas F. Dougherty married Jean M. (Young) Dougherty, the daughter of James and Mary Young of Jamaica. Mr. and Mrs. Doug- herty are the parents of three children: I. Thomas P., born June 7, 1931. 2. James D., born December 28, 1936. 3. Terrence R., born December 18, 1941.
HENRY A. ALKER-Many phases of the life of his native Long Island have been impelled for- ward under the leadership of Henry A. Alker of Port Washington. For Mr. Alker, a banker with exe- cutive and directorial affiliations in other areas of the financial world, has been active in hospital and welfare work, in veterans' affairs and Selective Ser- vice. He is president and a director of the Port Washington National Bank and Trust Company and vice president and a director both of the Port Wash- ington Safe Deposit and Storage Company and the Manhasset Safe Deposit and Storage Company.
Mr. Alker was born at Great Neck on July 5, 1886, the son of Alphonse H. and Florence A. (Ward) Alker. Both parents, now deceased, were born in New York City. The elder Mr. Alker was a lawyer.
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Henry Alker was graduated from Yale University 111 1907. He has been president of the Port Washing- ton National Bank and Trust Company and of the two safe deposit and storage companies since 1934. In addition, he is a director of the Northern In- surance Company of New York and the Assurance Company of America, as well as the Long Island Lighting Company.
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