Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 41

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 41

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To Oliver B. and Jane M. Fowler there were granted six children, of whom five are living, namely: Ruth H. and Mary L., at home; Thomas L., who is engaged in business at No. 104 Fulton Street, New York; and George L., interested with our subject in the real estate busi- ness. The latter was given a good education, completing his studies in the Guilford (Conn.) Academy. He came to Richmond Hill at the time the family removed here and for many years thereafter was engaged in the railroad busi- ness, contracting for building roads in various portions of the Middle and Western states. In 1892, however, he became interested in real es-

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the most prominent physicians and skilled sur- geons of this portion of the state. He is now re- siding at Glencove and those who are interested in his history will find it published under his name on another page of this volume.

The subject of this sketch was a charter mem- ber of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Roslyn and was also connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a well read gentleman and had few equals in debate. During the year 1860 he represented his district in the General Assembly and was very popular with the people, making friends wherever he went.

Some time during the '40s Dr. Hall went to Kansas, where he helped to start the town of Quindaro. He practiced dentistry in that state for some time and invested his means in property, nearly all of which he later lost through the bor- der ruffians. Besides Dr. Charles J. Hall and Mrs. Brenton, of whom we have already made mention, our subject had another daughter, Mrs. Charles H. Harris, a resident of Jamaica.

R EV. URIAH DE HART GULICK. The Reformed Church of Steinway is fortunate in having for its pastor a gentleman of blaineless character and upright life, a sympa- thizing helper to the needy, and a practical Chris- tian in all the details of everyday existence. He is richly endowed with those gifts of mind and heart that appeal most strongly to the deepest af- fections of his parishioners. His pen is that of a ready writer, who feels keenly every truth that he writes, while he is also a deep thinker and a fluent speaker.

The Gulick family was for several generations identified with the history of Somerset County, N. J., where were born our subject, his father, Isaac J., and grandfather, Jacob, the latter being a far- mer and an old settler there. The original home of the family was in Holland, and its first repre- sentatives in this country settled in New York City. Isaac Gulick was a farmer in New Jersey for some years, but in middle life removed to Jer- seyville, Ill., where he died at the age of about sixty-two. His wife, who is now ninety years of age, resides near Jacksonville, Ill. She bore the maiden name of Siche de Hart and was born in New Jersey, where her father, Uriah de Hart, was a farmer. The family is of French Huguenot de- scent and was represented among the early settlers of New York.

The family of Isaac J. Gulick consisted of six children, of whom two sons and a daughter are still living. Those besides our subject are Rev. Jacob I., who is pastor of the Reformed Church at Constantine, Mich., and Mrs. Martha Cark- huff, of Roodhouse, Ill. Our subject was reared in Somerset County, N. J. At the age of four- teen he entered a grocery store at New Bruns- wick, N. J., and while employed there devoted his leisure hours to preparation for college. At the age of twenty he entered Rutgers College, from which he was graduated four years later with the degree of A. B. He then began his preparation for the ministry by entering the theological sem- inary of the Reformed Church at New Brunswick, N. J., from which he graduated in 1862 with the degree of A. M.

Immediately after concluding his studies, the young minister accepted a call to Pekin, Ill., where he was ordained and installed as pastor of the Reformed Church in the fall of 1862. After a pastorate of eight years there he started a new church at Norwood Park, a suburb of Chicago, where he organized the congregation and built a house of worship, remaining two years. He was then called to a Reformed Church in Chicago, where he remained three years, and in the sum- mer of 1875 he resigned to accept a call to Brook- lyn, N. Y. For twelve years he was pastor of the Twelfth Street Reformed Church, which has a large congregation and splendid Sunday-school. In 1888 he resigned and soon afterward began to gather together the scattered members of the denomination living in Long Island City.

November 27, 1891, a church was organized by the North Classis of Long Island. The work has steadily grown from the first and there has been an encouraging increase in numbers and interest. A church building has been erected at a cost of nearly $20,000 and a parsonage built costing $7,000. Since the church was organized nearly $50,000 has been raised for various purposes and the congregation is entirely free from debt. There is a Sunday-school of about four hundred mem- bers, under the charge of an efficient superin- tendent and teachers. That the church is not sel- fish in its aims is proved by the fact that the con- tributions for foreign and home missions average more than $5 per member. Mr. Gulick is still connected with the South Classis of Long Island, of which he was president at different times. For six years he was a member of the board of edu- cation of the Reformed Church in America and

SAMUEL J. UNDERHILL.

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was chosen its secretary, but declined the honor. In national politics he is a Republican, but in local matters he votes for the best man, no mat- ter to what party he may belong.

At Millstone, N. J., in 1863, Mr. Gulick mar- ried Miss Virginia, daughter of Ernestus Schenck, who was prominent in business, politics and church work in New Jersey. He was an elder in the Reformed Church and a stanch defender of the faith of his Dutch ancestors. Mrs. Gulick received an excellent education in the female seminary at Lawrenceville, N. J., and at Great Barrington, Mass., and is an accomplished lady, a helpmate to her husband in all his work. They are the parents of four children. Ernestus S. is one of the leading real estate men of Brooklyn; Marie Antoinette, who was educated at Professor West's school in Brooklyn, is the wife of George W. Copley, of Jefferson County, N. Y .; Virginia, who is well educated and an accomplished musi- cian, attended Miss Dana's Seminary at Mor- ristown, and Herbert de Hart, the youngest, is a student in the Berkeley School of New York.

S AMUEL J. UNDERHILL comes of an old and highly honored family of Long Island, and traces his ancestry back to his great- great-great-grandfather, Adonijah Underhill, who was the first known member of the family to settle in this country. He was eventually married to Miss Phoebe Willits, a native of Queens County, and located on the old Underhill farm, which is still in possession of the family, and which has been added to until it now contains two hundred acres. One of the early ancestors of the subject of this sketch was Capt. John Underhill, who obtained his title in one of the early Indian wars. The great-grandfather of our subject was Daniel Un- derhill, his grandfather was Samuel Underhill, and his father bears the name of Daniel. The latter was married to Miss Caroline Post, whose people had long been residents of Westbury, Queens County.

Our subject was born in the village of Jericho, Queens County, November 14, 1848, and was the only child of his parents. He was reared on the old home farm, received a practical educa- tion in the common schools in the vicinity of his home, and this was supplemented by attendance at a seminary in New York City, conducted by the Society of Friends, with which his family had long been identified. At the time he attained his

majority he assumed the management of the home farm and entered actively into the various duties of stock-raising and farming. October 30, 1872, he married Miss Emma Albertson, daughter of Richard Albertson of Mineola, now deceased. His wife was formerly Miss Phoebe W. Prior. Mr. Albertson was a prominent and well-known farmer, as was his father, Benjamin Albertson, before him. Mr. Underhill com- menced his married life under the roof which had sheltered him from infancy and he pursued the various duties of his calling with energy and foresight.

Mr. Underhill has always been a Republican politically. In the spring of 1894 he was elected to the office of town supervisor, in a Democratic town, and in 1896 was re- elected for two years, discharging his duties faithfully and efficiently. He has always taken great interest in county matters, and for twelve years was trustee in his school district, and for a number of years has been trustee of the Friends' Academy, founded by Gideon Frost, and of which for about ten years he has been treasurer. For the past ten years he has been a director of the Roslyn Savings Bank, and for some fifteen years past has been actively engaged in settling the estates of others, in which capacity his good judgment and intelligence have made him univer- sally successful. His family consists of the fol- lowing children: Daniel, Jr., a graduate of the Swarthmore College, near Philadelphia, and now a student of the New York Law School; Henry, who is receiving an academic education; and Helen, who is still at home with her parents and is attending the schools of Jericho. Mr. Under- hill and his family are members of the Society of Friends.

J JOHN T. WOOLLEY, who is numbered among the progressive farmers of the town of North Hempstead, was born August 29, 1851, in Lakeville, near his present place of resi- dence. His grandfather, John Woolley, a native of Long Island, was a member of one of the old families here and traced his ancestry to England ; in addition to operating a farm, he was also pro- prietor of a country store. The father of our subject, who was born in this town in 1815, has been a lifelong farmer, but is now living retired. In political views he was originally a Democrat, but since the Civil War has always voted the Re-

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publican ticket. For many years he officiated as vestryman in Christ Church at Manhasset. He was also a trustee of the schools. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Abba Ann Seaman, was born about 1832, and has four children, of whom John T. is the eldest in order of birth and the only son.

As a boy our subject attended the district schools of this locality and later became a pupil in a private school kept by an Episcopal minister at Norfolk, Conn. Afterward he spent a year at Union Hall Academy, Jamaica, where he studied Latin and German and took a course in higher mathematics. When about twenty years of age he began to carry on the home place of eighty acres, and later, by purchase, added to the orig- inal property, so that there is now a farm con- sisting of one hundred and sixty acres in one body.

February 24, 1881, Mr. Woolley married Miss Jane M. Allen, daughter of Benjamin B. and Cath- erine C. (Bergen) Allen, and a native of Douglas- ton, Queens County, though at the time of her marriage a resident of Lakeville. Our subject cast his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1872 and has since always voted for Republican candidates in local and general elections. For many years he has served as a member of the school board, and while filling that position in- troduced some important reforms in the manage- ment of affairs. For one year he served as col- lector of taxes and supervisor of the town, and he also served as commissioner of highways for North Hempstead. At various conventions he has represented his party as a delegate. With his wife he holds membership in the Episcopal Church, in which he has officiated as warden and vestryman. In the Shield of Honor at Hyde- park he has held the office of chaplain.

E UGENE P. HICKS, a leading farmer of Little Neck, was born in 1860 on the home- stead where he now resides, being a son of Ruscum and Addie (Pinkney) Hicks. He was one of four children, of whom the only survivor besides himself is John F., born Christmas Day of 1864, now a resident of New York City. His father was born October 10, 1827, at Little Neck, near the present family homestead, being a son of Thomas and Sarah (Sweet) Hicks, who were born August 1, 1776, and January 22, 1783, re- spectively. He grew to manhood under the

parental roof and then settled down on a portion of his father's property, where he engaged in farm- ing. October 11, 1854, he married Addie Pink- ney, who was born September 4, 1829, and died October 4, 1867. After her death he rented the home place and thenceforth lived in retirement until his death, February 10, 1893.

Educated in the public schools, at the age of seventeen our subject became an employe of Gil- bert & Lever, wholesale commission merchants in Broome Street, New York City. After some three years he returned home to spend a vacation, and the property being without a tenant, he took charge of the place and settled down to agricul- tural pursuits. October 5, 1882, he married Mary Frederick, daughter of Thomas H. Frederick, of Queens. Of their four children, three survive: Ruscum, Edgar and Addie.

After having farmed the place on shares for five years, our subject rented it, in which way he continued until the death of his father. The home farm and property in Great Neck then re- verted to him as his share in the estate. Here he expects to make his home permanently, and he therefore introduces such improvements, year by year, as will enhance the value of the property and make it in every respect an ideal home for his wife and children. In his political belief he is a Democrat, while in religion he is identified with the Dutch Reformed Church.

H OWARD GARRISON, proprietor of Gar- rison's Hotel at Willet's Point, was born in the village of Whitestone, July 28, 1866, to Charles W. and Emily (Kissam) Garrison. His father, who was a son of David Garrison, was born in New York City and settled at Willet's Point soon after the close of the war. In 1881 he purchased a hotel property from Tony Miller, who had established the place in 1870; the house became known by his name and was conducted by him until April, 1895, when his son, Howard, be- came the proprietor. In his family there were four children, as follows: Cornelius V., who is engaged in business in Flushing; Willard, also a business man of Flushing; Howard, and Archi- bald, who is connected with his brother in the hotel business.

The education of our subject was obtained in common schools and the high school of Flushing. His first position was that of cashier of the United States Hotel, New York City, where he remained

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a short time. From there he went to the Hoff- man House and later accepted the position which he now holds. October 28, 1890, he married Ed- na Germain, who was born in Brooklyn and edu- cated in Flushing, where her father, George W. Germain, now resides. Politically Mr. Garrison has identified himself with the Democratic party, but has never taken an active part in public affairs.

Garrison's Hotel is a popular summer resort for tourists. Its location is superb; near it lies Little Bay, and away in the distance stretches the waters of the Sound. Immediately adjoining it stands the fort, with the barracks for government soldiers and quarters for officers. These diver- sified attractions have brought the place populari- ty, and a number of the best families of the city are regular summer visitors, some being attracted by the delightful, invigorating sea breeze and others by the charm of scenery and association. Mr. Garrison is worthy of special praise from the fact that pool, billiards, cards and gambling are strict- ly prohibited in the hotel. He is courteous and genial, and is popular among his guests.

G EORGE T. VAN RIPER. Many of the public buildings and private residences in Queens County give evidence of the skill and ability of this gentleman and his brother, F. G., who are the leading builders and contract- ors in this section. Honorable and upright in whatever they undertake to do, they merit and receive the confidence of those who know them and have built up an excellent reputation in their chosen business.

Our subject was born in New York City Sep- tember 12, 1857. His father, Isaac Van Riper, was a native of Gravesend, L. I., while the grand- father, also Isaac Van Riper, came from New Jersey. He later in life settled at Gravesend, where he was engaged as a general merchant. His wife was before her marriage Huldah Stout.

The father passed the first eighteen years of his life on Long Island, after which he went to New York and was apprenticed to a good workman in order that he might learn the trade of a plas- terer. Later he engaged in contracting in this line on his own account, and as the years passed by and he was prospered he branched out and became an expert mason and builder. He lo- cated in Long Island City in 1861, being engaged in business here until 1892. That year, on account of ill-health, he made permanent resi-

dence at his country home in Freeport, where he is now engaged in business, having for his part- ners his two youngest sons, E. H. and A: M. Van Riper.

The wife of Isaac Van Riper prior to her marriage was Deborah Talmadge, a native of New Jersey and the daughter of John and Mary (Hegiman) Talmadge. Her father was of English descent and on leaving his native state located in Long Island City. His last years, however, were spent in Brooklyn. Of the ten children born to Isaac Van Riper and his wife seven are now living. Of these the subject of this sketch was the second eldest. His eldest brother, Fran- cis G., is engaged in business with him. Alice is now Mrs. Miners of Freeport, L. I., where her husband is engaged in the practice of medicine. Laura married John Higgs and they make their home in Long Island City. Edwin H. is a resi- dent of Jamaica, L. I. Albert M. lives in Free- port, and Irene is at home.

George T. Van Riper was a resident of this city from 1861, when his father first located here, until 1886. This now large and flourishing city bears but little resemblance to the small village it was when our subject settled here. For fifteen years he carried on his studies, attending school in Sixth Street. He was thus admirably qualified to begin life for himself, and, desirous of learning his father's trade, he served an apprenticeship of three years under him. Later he took up mason work, and it was four years before he was thor- oughly proficient in this trade.

Our subject continued to work for his father until 1889, when he, with his brother, F. G., was taken into partnership with his father and uncle, the firm name being I. & J. Van Riper & Co. This connection lasted until February 15, 1894, when the senior members of the firm retired, leaving our subject and his brother to manage affairs alone, which they have done in a very able and profitable manner. Under the superintendence of F. G. & G. T. Van Riper the Masonic Temple at Green- point, L. I., was built, the Freeport Flats at the same place, the private stables of Fleishman & Co. in Brooklyn, the Borden Building in Sev- enth Street, Long Island City, the Freeport Pub- lic School Building, the Fourth Ward Station House, and several structures in Wallabout Mar- ket, in Brooklyn. They have also erected some of the finest residences in this section and have succeeded in not only making a good living for themselves and families, but by industry and per-

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severance have accumulated a competence. The brothers give employment the year round to fifty or eighty men, and are, perhaps, the most reliable and competent firm of contractors on the island.

The subject of this sketch was married in this city to Miss Ida E. Graham, a native of Florida. Her father, Rev. Alexander Graham, who was for many years an active minister of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, is now living retired from pastoral work in Long Island City. Mrs. Van Riper departed this life at Freeport June 21, 1895, leaving a son and daughter, Alexander G. and Estelle G. The family made their home here until 1886, when, on account of the ill-health of Mrs. Van Riper, they went to California, traveling through the state for nine months. At the end of that time they returned to Long Island City and in 1890 located in Freeport, where our sub- ject later erected a beautiful residence.

The firm of Van Riper Brothers built three residences in Jackson Avenue, which they later sold, and also easily disposed of five which they owned in Ely Street, and the same number which were located in Huron Street, besides two in Milton Street. In all business undertakings they display good executive ability and have been re- markably successful. In religious affairs our sub- ject is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Freeport, of which he is steward, chorister and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is also an active worker in the Epworth League and deems it a great pleasure to be able to do what he can toward carrying forward the work of the church in this locality. In his political affiliations he is a very strong Republican and is zealous in everything pertaining to the welfare of his party. He is a man of progressive ideas, and is in favor of giving to the children of this generation the best possi- ble educational advantages that they may be fitted for the duties of life.

B LACKWELL FAMILY. This family is of English origin. That the name is of some importance in England appears from the fact that no less than six towns bear the name of Blackwell. Upon examining Hollen's list of emigrants, I find that the ship "Truelove" came over in 1635, the third vessel after the "May- flower." Among her list of passengers is one Jeremy Blackwell, aged eighteen years-the first

known mention of the name in America. It was evidently a large family in Cape Cod from the frequent mention of the name in "Freeman's His- tory of Cape Cod." Rev. William Leverich left Cape Cod in 1635 and settled in Newtown and surrounding towns, bringing many with him. The first mention of the name whereby a lineal descent to the present family is traced is that of Robert Blackwell, merchant of Elizabethtown, N. J., 1661, a widower with two children. By the burning of the town hall, all record of his birth- place is lost. He removed to Newtown in 1676 and married Mary Manning of Manning's Island, August 26, 1676. He died about 1717. The island belonging to him was called by the Indians Minnohannock, by the Dutch Verken, then Man- ning's, finally Blackwell's, coming into his pos- session by marriage.

By the second marriage of Robert Blackwell were born nine children, the youngest of whom, Jacob, was the lineal ancestor of the Astoria fam- ily. He was born August 4, 1692, and died De- cember 1, 1744. Jacob married Mary, daughter of Capt. William Hallett, August 10, 1711. They had seven children, the third of whom was Jacob, of historical mention. He was a man of extraor- dinary size and strength, six feet two inches in height, and weighed four hundred and twenty-nine pounds several years before his death. It is said it was necessary to remove the door jambs to get his coffin out. Though so large, he retained his strength to an unusual degree and performed many difficult feats. (Annals of Newtown.)

He succeeded to the paternal estate and occu- pied the stone house in Ravenswood which he is supposed to have erected. Upon the double door may still be seen the mark of the broad arrow of confiscation branded there by the British to note that it was the property of a rebel and as such seized by the crown. It was branded there during the occupancy of his son, Col. Jacob Blackwell.

Col. Jacob Blackwell first married Frances Sachett, daughter of Joseph Sachett, by whom he had three children, Joseph, Robert and James. His second wife was Lydia, daughter of Joseph Hallett. Their children were Jacob, Samuel, Josiah, Lydia and Mary. On account of his en- thusiastic defense of American principles, he was known as "Rebel Blackwell." Born November 20, 1717, and dying October 23, 1780, he lived to witness much of the struggle with England, but his death occurred before victory had been

FRED W. DUNTON.

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achieved by the colonies. He was an enterpris- ing man, and with his brother-in-law, Joseph Hallett, erected a grist mill on Sunswick Creek. Prior to the French and Indian War he held a captaincy in the Newtown militia, afterward be- coming a colonel. At the breaking out of the Revolution he stood prominent among the Whigs, but was forced to flee at the invasion of the British, at which time his property was seized by them. (Annals of Newtown.)

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Portrait and biographical record of Queens County (Long Island) New York, Part 41

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