Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 17

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1220

USA > New York > Queens County > Long Island City > Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York > Part 17

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The success of Mr. Payne as a lawyer has been gradual and he is regarded as a strong, able, all- around attorney. He has been retained as coun- selor in many noted cases, among them being the famous Hoffman lunacy and will case and the Almquist poisoning and divorce cases, in which he was successful. He was also counsel in the quo warranto case against Mayor De Bevoise upon the ground of fraud in his election. The action was a noted case and an extraordinary circuit was appointed by Governor Dix. Judge Rumsey, father of the present judge of Steuben County, was appointed to hold this court. After two weeks' trial, Mr. Payne was unsuccessful, but subsequently, upon a re-election, Mr. De Bevoise was ousted in an action brought by Mr. Payne, by consent of the Attorney-General, on behalf of George Petry, the contestant.

In Steuben County, N. Y., in 1860, Mr. Payne was united in marriage with Miss Martha Brown, a direct descendant of the patriot, Arnold, who with his seven sons served in the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are the parents of eight children, of whom George E. is engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Long Island City. Nettie is the wife of S. H. Cornell, of New York City, who has been connected with the importing house of P. W. Engs for nearly twenty years past. Helen married James C.

Fincke, manager of the John Williams Architec- tural Iron Works in New York City. Mary be- came the wife of Franklin W. Scutt and they re- side in Queens, L. I., Mr. Scutt, however, being engaged in the real estate business in Long Island City. A. T., Jr., is in partnership with his father in the law business. John is a medical student in New York City. Alice and Benjamin are stu- dents in an institution at Chautauqua.

For several years Mr. Payne was corporation counsel for Long Island City, and at present is attorney for the Queens County Bank of this city. He is a trustee of the Long Island City Savings Bank, for which institution he was the first and has been the only counsellor. He has the dis- tinction of being the oldest practitioner in Long Island City and the third oldest in the county. In social affairs he is a member of Island City Lodge No. 586, F. & A. M., and religiously is identified with St. John's Episcopal Church. The Suffolk County Historical Society numbers him among its members. In politics he is an inde- pendent Democrat. He is an able financier, a public-spirited citizen, and in all circles in which he moves has many true and sincere friends.

W ILLIAM RAYNOR, who, though passed to his final reward, still lives in the gracious influence which emanated from him while on earth. We find no one more worthy of mention or whose long life of useful- ness is more worthy to be chronicled than this gentleman, whose honesty and integrity were pro- verbial in the community. He was born in Free- port, April 13, 1826, and for many years was one of the foremost business men in that thriving village. His parents, Daniel and Mary Ann (Bedell) Raynor, spent their entire lives on the island, where they were well respected. Our sub- ject received only the advantages of the common schools during his youth, but, being possessed of an active brain and unlimited perseverance he became a well informed man of his section.

Reared near Hempstead Bay, L. I., Mr. Ray- nor worked at any honest employment he could find there. When about twenty years old he went to the city of Brooklyn and accepted a clerkship in the grocery establishment of Valentine & Ber- gen, and remained there a number of years. Later he came to Freeport, where he was engaged in the lumber business with Mr. Carmen for about fifteen years, when he withdrew, afterwards living

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in retirement for several years. He then em- barked in the shoe business and was following this most successfully at the time of his death, in 1886.

In the year 1854 Mr. Raynor married Miss Catherine G. Smith, daughter of Willet and Phoebe Smith, natives of the island. Mr. Smith was prominently identified with the agricultural pursuits of his section and was also a popular business man, having followed merchandising many years of his life. He and Mrs. Smith passed their entire lives on the island. Mrs. Raynor is the only surviving member of the family, which consisted of one son and four daughters. She has no children and resides in her comfortable home in Freeport, highly esteemed by the many who are favored by her acquaintance.

J OHN M. SMITH, who is now living retired from active business, has been remarkably successful in his various undertakings, and is very justly numbered among the leading citi- zens of the county. In 1894, after having secured ample means for his remaining years, he left his business career and has since passed his time in his beautiful home in the town of Hempstead.

Mr. Smith was born at Rockville Center, L. I., in 1844. His parents were Hewlett and Ann Eliza (Meeks) Smith, also natives of this com- munity, where they were content to pass their entire lives. The father was a shrewd business man, and during the active years of his life was prominently engaged in mercantile pursuits in Rockville Center. His pleasant and genial way of dealing with his customers and all others who came in contact with him was the means of his securing many warm friends. He departed this life in 1877. His good wife survived him many years, closing her eyes in death in 1891.

When first starting to school John carried on his studies in the district, but was later sent to Jamaica, where he received private instruction. At the early age of fifteen, however, he left school, and, going to Brooklyn, obtained the position of timekeeper in the office of Public Works. He was thus engaged at the outbreak of the late war, and, resigning his position in order that he might en- ter the service, he became a member of the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery as sutler. He held this post until peace was established, when he made arrangements to remain in Georgetown, D.

C., and for the following two years was "mine host" of a hotel there.

At the expiration of the above time Mr. Smith returned to New York and was immediately given a position in the Brooklyn Water Works, re- maining in the employ of the city for over a quar- ter of a century, and during eight years of this time he was superintendent of the Brooklyn City Storage Reservoir. Desirous of living a more quiet and independent life, he handed in his resig- nation to the board, and coming to Hempstead, purchased his beautiful home. On it is located a residence of modern build, a substantial barn, and everything about the place is kept in a first- class condition, making of it one of the most at- tractive spots in the town.

In the year 1867 Mr. Smith was united in mar- riage with Miss Joanna, daughter of Michael Croley, a native of the Emerald Isle. Mrs. Smith was, however, born in New York City and there received her education. One son survives of the union of our subject and his wife, Harry Kings- ley Smith, at the present time head bookkeeper in the United States Internal Revenue Collector's office at Brooklyn.

As we have shown, Mr. Smith is entirely self- made, having been equipped for the battle of life with only an ordinary common school education, but he carried into the struggle what no amount of academic training could supply, of indomitable pluck, tireless energy and a determination to suc- ceed. In politics he supports the Democratic can- didates and takes great interest in the success of his party, although he could never be prevailed upon to accept office.

M ENZO W. HERRIMAN, M. D., visiting physician to St. John's Hospital, ex-po- lice surgeon of Long Island City and a general practitioner with office at No. 330 Stein- way Avenue, is one of the most influential and prominent physicians and surgeons of the county. He was born in the city of Syracuse, this state, in 1857, being a son of Richard and Alvira (Hart- son) Herriman, natives respectively of New Jer- scy and Schuyler Lake, Otsego County, N. Y. The maternal grandfather, Horace Hartson, was a farmer and inill owner. The maternal great-grandmother was a granddaughter of Gen- eral Ethan Allen. The paternal grandfather, Trustum P. Herriman, was born in Rockaway, N. J., but removed to Onondaga County, N. Y.,

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where he died at the age of ninety-six. Dur- ing the War of 1812 he went to the front and assisted in defending our country against the encroachments of the British. His father, John Herriman, was a lieutenant in Washington's army at Valley Forge, and crossed the Delaware with Washington.

In the manufacture of brick and tile, as well as in his various real estate transactions, Richard Herriman met with noteworthy success, and at the time of his death was quite wealthy. His religious views were in accord with the doctrines of the Episcopal Church, of which he was an earnest member. He passed away in 1892, when eighty-five years of age. His widow is still liv- ing, and is now about sixty-eight years old. Four children comprised their family, of whom M. W. is the eldest and the only one of the num- ber who entered a profession.

Attending school for a number of years, our subject was, in 1877, graduated from the Syra- cuse High School, which, in its curriculum, ranks with the colleges of the state. The year after graduation he entered the medical department of the University of Syracuse, and remained there until 1881, when he was given the degree of M. D. He began the practice of his profession in his native city, but after about eight months re- ceived an offer from a relative, Dr. J. A. Lidell, to come to New York City, which he did. In 1885 he was appointed surgeon for the United States & Brazil Mail Steamship Company, which position he held for four years, meantime making nine or ten trips each year between New York and Rio Janeiro. On one occasion he was wrecked in a storm, and for three days the ship was unable to proceed on its course; at another time, on Christmas Day, the vessel was wrecked when en route from St. Thomas, but was finally steered in safety within the New York harbor. While in the service of this company he was surgeon on the steamship "Merrimack" and the "Advance," and later was chief surgeon of the steamship "Colorado." Having frequent inter- course with the Brazilians, he became familiar with the Portuguese language and was able to converse with the natives.

Resigning in 1889, the Doctor again began practice in New York City, but after six months, in September of that year, he came to Long Island City and opened an office where he has since conducted a general practice. While he has been very successful in every line, his spe-

cialty is the treatment of diseases of children, in which his skill is universally recognized. While in Syracuse, he was physician in the dispensary connected with the university at that place. Since 1890 he has been connected with St. John's Hospital, and from 1892 to 1896 he held the position of police surgeon. In the Long Island City Medical Society he is a charter member, and is also a member of the Queens County Med- ical Society.

The commodious residence occupied by the Doctor and his family was erected by him in 1891, and here he and his wife with their son Rudolph are surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mrs. Herriman was born in Austria and accompanied her parents to America in girlhood, settling in New York, where she continued to reside until she changed the name of Josephine Hirsch for that by which she is now known. Socially, the Doctor is connected with Island City Lodge No. 586, F. & A. M., at Hunter's Point; Herrmann Lodge, A. O. U. W., at Astoria; Enterprise Lodge, K. P .; Order of Chosen Friends and Knights and Ladies of Honor, of all of which he is medical examiner. In religion he is connected with the Church of the Redeemer. A Democrat in state politics, he has served on county and city committees, and as delegate to the conventions of the party.

C HARLES WESLEY SPRAGUE stands well among the leading farmers and prom- inent men of the town of Hempstead, and has won his standing by patient and unremitting hard work. His position has not been reached by virtue of any favoring circumstances, but sim- ply because he marked out a course of conduct early in life that, faithfully followed out, has brought him to his present position of respect and comfort.

Mr. Sprague was born in this town in 1852, and is the son of Elijah and Jane Ann (Snedeker) Sprague, both natives of Hempstead, where they spent their entire lives. The father was promi- nently identified in agricultural pursuits during his life and was the owner of a snug little farm. He was widely and favorably known as an hon- est, straightforward citizen and his decease, which occurred in 1888, was greatly lamented. His ex- cellent wife preceded him to the land beyond by several years, dying in 1874.

The subject of this sketch was given the op- portunity for gaining a common school educa-

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tion, and when ready to embark in life for himself chose the occupation of a farmer, to which call- ing he had been reared. He gives the greater portion of his time and attention to truck farm- ing, finding a good market for his products in the surrounding cities. His estate is small when compared with the hundreds of acres which are bound up in western farms, but large when its nearness to the great metropolis is considered. The residence and outbuildings are of modern construction and the estate as a whole is one of the best in the county.

The lady to whom Mr. Sprague was married in 1874 bore the name of Anna Hegeman, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hegeman, also natives of the island. The father of Mrs. Sprague was for many years a well-to-do merchant of New York, and was the owner of considerable property on the island, among his possessions being a good farm near Milburn.

To our subject and his estimable wife there has been born a son, W. Edward, a bright and capa- ble young man who is still under the parental roof. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sprague are members in excellent standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former takes a very prominent part in church work and is at present chairman of the board of trustees and is also steward of his con- gregation. His father, who was likewise a Metho- dist, held these positions during his lifetime.

In politics our subject has been identified with the Republican party since attaining his majority. He gives strict attention to the business in which he is engaged, and, being a man of unswerving honesty, whose word is considered as good as his bond, he has the confidence and good will of the entire community. The Sprague family, of which he is a worthy representative, is one of the oldest and most prominent on the island.

C APT. JOHN KREUSCHER, who has made his home in Oceanus since 1874, and is one of the best known men of Rocka- way Beach, was born in Prussia, Germany, July 21, 1829. When a lad of ten years he crossed the Atlantic, and reaching New York City at once began to work at any honest employment that he could obtain. For a few years he held a position in the employ of a railroad company, after which he engaged in the grocery business in Brooklyn for twenty-five years, building up a large trade and gaining the reputation of an honest, industri-

ous man. After establishing his home in Rocka- way Beach he became identified with the progress of this section of the county and by his contribu- tions of time and means aided in enlarging the interests of the place. Believing that investments here would prove profitable, he erected a number of houses and bought a hotel, which he enlarged and improved. In 1891, after an active and suc- cessful business career, he retired from work, though he still maintains an oversight of his prop- erty interests.

Captain Kreuscher chose as his wife Miss Chris- tina Worth, who was born in Europe, but has lived in the United States since a child of three years. They became the parents of seven chil- dren, named as follows: Lesa, John, Philip (de- ceased), Louis, Mamie, Robert and Emma. The title by which our subject is usually known was gained through his military service in his younger years, when he was connected with the state mil- itia. For eighteen years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has taken an active part in the various enterprises originated by that society. While he has never sought public office nor identified himself closely with politics, yet he is a stanch Republican and is always pleased when his party scores a success.

R EV. J. HOWARD HOBBS, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Jamaica, was born April 2, 1858, at Lenox, in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, where his father, Dr. S. L. Hobbs, was then missionary to the Indians. From the earliest identification of the family with the history of America they have been noted for unswerving loyalty to the government and a fervent, patriotic spirit. During the wars of the Revolution and 1812 they furnished brave men who fought valiantly in defense of American free- dom and assisted in gaining independence from the yoke of British tyranny. In the Civil War, too, they tock an active part in securing the maintenance of the Union. Mary, a sister of Dr. Hobbs, married T. C. Leavitt, and three of their sons enlisted in the Union army, Dr. Lyman Leavitt being an army surgeon, Horace serving in the cavalry, while Payson, who was in the hospital service, lost his life during the conflict. When the Hobbs family first settled on American soil is not definitely known, but it is an estab- lished fact that they were among the first settlers of New Hampshire.

The life of Dr. S. L. Hobbs was one of sacrifice

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to principle and of devotion to the cause of re- ligion. He was born in Candia, N. H., April 24, 1813, and received his literary education in Dartmouth College. In 1852 he graduated from the Berkshire Medical College of Pittsfield, Mass., and the same year went to the Indian Territory as a medical missionary. His sympa- thies had from boyhood been aroused on behalf of the rapidly vanishing race that once ruled this land. Feeling a deep longing to alleviate their sufferings and improve their condition, he offered himself for the work of a medical missionary, in which he was very successful.

The outbreak of the Civil War, however, caused a complete revolution of affairs. The Northern sentiments of Dr. Hobbs were generally known, and when the conflict burst upon the country, he was given twenty-four hours in which to leave the Indian Territory. He was the leader of a band of about thirty missionaries and teachers, who were among the last to leave the territory; they encountered many hardships, but, in spite of per- ils, reached the North in safety. Dr. Hobbs then offered his services to the Union, but as he had been permitted to leave the Indian Territory on parole, he could not be accepted as a soldier. He continued in his chosen work until his death, which occurred September 1, 1883, when he fell a victim to yellow fever.

The mother of our subject was born August 22, 1828, and bore the maiden name of Mary Cornelia Sears. Her birthplace was the old Sears homestead at Lenox, Berkshire County, Mass., that had been in the family for more than one hundred and fifty years. On that same place occurred the birth of her father, Chauncey Sears, a soldier in the War of 1812. The family traces its lineage back to the four- teenth century in the famous county of Kent, England. . At that time the name was spelled Sayers. One of the prominent representatives of the family was John Sayers, who died in 1509, and a memorial brass now stands in his honor in St. Peter's Church. His grandson, Richard Sayers, espoused the cause of the Protestants in the reign of Henry VIII. and was obliged to flee from his native land, taking refuge in Am- sterdam. His only son, John B. Sayers, died in Holland, and a son of the latter married Maria L. Van Egmont, of the family of Count Philip Lamoral Van Egmont. With his wife he re- turned to England, where he died in 1629.

Next in line of descent was Richard Sears,

who was born in 1590 and emigrated to America in 1630 on the last trip made by the historic "Mayflower." In 1643 he removed with his fam- ily to the site of the present village of East Den- nis, Mass., where he died in 1676, leaving three sons, Knyvet, Paul and Silas. Daniel, son of the first named, settled in Boston and one of his descendants is now the wealthiest man in that city. Isaac Sears, son of Paul, was known as "King" Sears, from the fact that he seized the British stamps in the port of New York.

Silas Sears was born about 1639 and died in 1697. His son, who was his namesake, married Sarah Crosby, daughter of Rev. Thomas Crosby of Eastham, Mass. The next in lineal de- scent was James, who lived at Windham, Conn., and whose son, David, was born at Yarmouth, Mass., August 25, 1731, in early life went to Lenox and settled on what is now known as the Sears homestead. The property is now owned by Chauncey Sears, a great-grandson of the original purchaser, and a brother of our subject's mother. Both Chauncey Sears and his brother, Horatio, have represented their dis- trict in the state legislature. Another brother, Henry C., is a prominent business man in Boston. Our subject's mother died of yellow fever in the Indian Territory, just two weeks before her hus- band's death from the same disease.

The advantages enjoyed by the subject of this notice in his boyhood years were few and meager. Living on the frontier, after the close of the Civil War, surrounded by all the demoralizing influ- ences of such a life, the fact that he was not injured by his environments proves that he pos- sessed from youth sturdy and rugged moral qual- ities. His pursuits were those common to the country. For a time he was a cowboy, and it is said he could throw a lariat with the most expert and could also handle his Winchester with skill. In 1876, while on the range, he determined to devote his life and energies to the elevation of his fellowmen, and with this object in view he set about securing an education. After a short course in the State University at Fayetteville, Ark., he entered a preparatory school at Am- herst, Mass., and in 1878 became a student in Amherst College, from which he graduated with honors in 1882. He at once entered the theological school at Hartford, Conn., and the following summer he accepted a special com- mission to preach among the Indians. Re- turning to the Indian Territory, he spent a few

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months in the Christian work, buried his parents after their sudden demise from yellow fever, and settled up their affairs, after which he resumed his theological studies.

Shortly before his graduation in 1885, Mr. Hobbs was called to the pastorate of the Presby- terian Church at Greenwich, Conn., and became its first pastor; during his service there of four and one-half years, he secured the erection of a new stone edifice. Resigning that charge, he accepted the more important pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, where he has been since 1889. He is greatly admired for his scholastic attainments and has shown him- self to be a profound thinker and close Bible student. The value of his thoughts is enhanced by the ease and grace of his delivery. To an unusual degree he possesses that marvelous gift of word painting, a quality that enables him to adapt his sermons not only to the scholarly and learned, but also to the undeveloped mind of a child. When especially impressed with the im- portance of his theme, he rises to lofty heights of oratory and holds his audiences spellbound by his eloquence. As he is now in the prime of life and manly vigor, it may be predicted that the coming years will undoubtedly bring him added honors and successes in his profession.

In 1886 Rev. Mr. Hobbs was united in mar- riage with Miss Clara M., daughter of the late Rev. H. H. Macfarland and sister of Dr. R. L. Macfarland. They are the parents of two chil- dren, Harold Wade and Helen Louise.

J. RUFUS TERRY, who is a well-known contractor and builder residing in Long Island City, was born in Watts Street, New York City, in 1851, being a son of J. Rufus and Eleanor (Gardner) Terry, natives respective- ly of Riverhead, and New York City. His pa- ternal grandfather, Van Rensselaer Terry, was born in Riverhead and was of English descent; entering upon an active business career, he be- came a ship joiner, and from his yards in New York and Hoboken came some of the largest ships of his day.

The business in which his father had so suc- cessfully engaged became also the chosen occu- pation of J. Rufus Terry, Sr., and the firm of V. R. Terry & Son was one of the most prominent in New York in their line. After the death of the senior member, the yards were carried on by his

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 17

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers Publication date: 1896 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Chapman, firm, publishers
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1220