USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 1 > Part 10
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HARLES H. HALLOCK. In this sketch we present to our readers a short record of the life history of a man who is well known in the town of Riverhead. He is now living in Northville, and has followed farming for many years. He is a native of this portion of the count- ty, and was born September 7, 1833, being the eldest in the family of Herman W. and Arminda (Young) Hallock. Daniel Y. is engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements at York, Pa .; David Halsey is a farmer at Northville: Ad- elia Jane is the wife of S. O. Benjamin, also a farmer of Northville; Hannah Jemima is the wife of Marshall P. Dedrick, a coal dealer of Berwyn. Il1. (For further history concerning the Hal- lock family, the reader is referred to the biography of D. Halsey Hallock.)
After reaching his tenth year Charles Hallock attended the winter term of school in his district until a young man of nineteen. Being ambitious to prosecute his studies still further, he entered Franklinville Academy, and after taking a thor- ough course there, began teaching at Quogue. He had charge of a school there for one winter, and then for the same length of time presided over a district school at Mattituck. About this time he was married, and, going to the town of Smithtown, purchased a farm, and there remained engaged in agricultural pursuits for thirty-six years. Renting this tract of land, he came to Northville and purchased a farm for his son, with whom he has resided ever since.
Our subject's marriage with Miss Laura M., daughter of Deacon Joshua Wells, of this town,
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was celebrated December 5, 1854. To them have been born two children. Herman H., the eldest, is a prosperous farmer of this town, with whom the parents live; and Marietta is the wife of George W. Aldrich, who is also a well-to-do farmer of this town.
In politics Mr. Hallock is a Republican, and has been active in the interests of his party ever since its organization. He was President of the Republican Club during a Presidential campaign, and for three terms efficiently discharged the du- ties of Assessor of the town of Smithtown. Re- ligiously he and his family are connected with the Congregational Church, and are always interested in the various phases of church work. His ge- nial manners and integrity of purpose are traits of character that have made him popular in what- ever community he has resided.
Mr. Hallock and his son are the possessors of two hundred and twenty-five acres of fine farming land in the town of Smithtown, the greater part of which represents the former's earnings, and of that fact he is justly proud. Our subject has al- ways been industrious, and has not been inactive in aiding in the npbuilding of his community.
EV. WILLIAM THOMAS DAVIS WALKER, a minister and a farmer of the town of Babylon, where he has also earned many an honest dollar in the painting business, was born in Oxfordshire, England, March 2, 1836, and is the son of William and Frances Hepzebah (Davis) Walker. The father held a position under the Government, and was a man of some prominence in his time. The home of our subject was in that country until he reached the age of fifteen, and during the years that pre- ceded this he was taught in a private boarding- school, under the preceptorship of Rev. Thomas Cook, and was prepared for entrance to Christ's College at Oxford. He had been in that institu- tion a little more than a year when his parents came to this country, bringing him with them. They made their home for a time at New York,
and then bought a place in Brooklyn, near Greenwood Cemetery, which was sold after a time, and the farm was purchased where our sub- ject now makes his home. The father moved his family to the farm, and did business in New York, going back and forth daily. In 1868 he was killed by an accident on the Long Island Railroad. Of his five children, four are living. William Thomas Davis being the eldest son.
Soon after the family came to New York, our subject began to study law in the office of Judge Charles N. Black. But the legal profession did not seem adapted to his tastes, and he abandoned it, taking up instead the trade of painting, which he mastered in all its branches under Engene Keene, becoming very expert in it. January 6, 1856, he married Miss Mary Frances, daughter of Abraham and Nancy C. (Selleck ) Vervalen. and a native of Charlton, this state. He made his home for a number of years at Waterford, following his trade, and then removed to New York, where he was thus engaged for several years, moving thence to Canajoharie. About a year later he came back to New York, and then made his home for a time on his father's farm, going back and forth to his business. He also lived in Newark and Jersey City, changing from place to place, wherever his contracts for work called him.
The father of our subject was identified with the Episcopal Church, and all his children were reared in that belief. But when Thomas had grown to manhood he reconsidered the whole subject of church and religion, and became asso- ciated with the Baptist Church at Cohoes, where he lived for several years. In 1890 he was in- strumental in organizing the Baptist Church at Deer Park, and was influenced to become its pastor. His independence of thought is illustrat- ed by the fact that thongh his father and brother were Democrats, he himself became a strong Re- publican, and voted for Lincoln in 1860. When drafting was resorted to in order that the depleted ranks of the army at the front might be filled. the name of our subject was drawn as a soldier. but he was already in Government service at Ft. 1. Schuyler, where he had a contract to paint am-
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bulances and other conveyances, and was thus relieved. Hle recalls with satisfaction that he constructed, painted and floated the first banner (Republican) ever raised in Deer Park.
Our subject became the father of eight chil- dren. William A. is a painter and lives in Har- rison, N. J. There are three children in his family, and four in the family of his sister, Mrs. Mary F. R. Corlett, whose home is in Deer Park. George M., a resident of Deer Park, is superin- tendent of road-making for the Deer Park Im- provement Company. Catharine Jane married George W. Harwood, and has two children in her Brooklyn home. John R. C. lives at home and engages in painting. Ida II., who married William Mckeever, and has her home in Deer Park, is the mother of one child. The two younger children, Anna E. and Alice M., are both at home.
The subject of this article stands high in Ma- sonic circles, being a member of Gramercy Lodge No. 537, New York City; Corinthian Chapter No. 159, New York City; Ancient Council No. 1, and Columbian Commandery No. 1, making thir- teen degrees of Masonry. He was made a Ma- son in the lodge where he now holds membership.
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HILIP B. KRICHBAUM, M. D. Among the promising young professional men lo- cated in Sayville, none is more deservedly popular than the gentleman whose name appears above. He has passed his entire life thus far in this locality, but it does not follow in this case as in so many others that a prophet is not without honor in his own country. As his name indi- cates, our subject is of German extraction, both father and mother being natives of the Father- land. The former died in this place at the early age of thirty-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Fredericka Brand, came from Ham- burg, Germany, and is still living with her only child, Philip B., who was born in this place, August 28, 1871.
Sayville is noted for its good schools, and our
subject availed himself of the best advantages to be acquired therein. After completing his course in the public schools, he pursued his classical studies with Rev. J. H. Prescott. He commenced the study of medicine in 1886, his preceptor being Dr. van Deinse, an old and highly respected pro- fessional man of this locality. Later he entered Bellevue Hospital, and was graduated with the Class of '93, receiving his degree as Doctor of Medicine.
In 1894 Dr. Krichbaum commenced his prac- tice in this village. He devotes himself to general practice, and has thus far been very successful. With such energy and ambition as he undoubt- edly possesses, and the inherent traits of his pa- rental nationality, patience and thoroughness, he is bound to make a success. He is numbered among the stalwart young Republicans of the village, and at this period (1895), when the struggle between reform and a polluted, corrupted political machine is foremost in the minds of the people, he feels that there is much room for good work by an intelligent and honest man. Frater- nally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also to the order of Foresters.
LMER E. ROBINSON is a man much re- spected in agricultural circles, and one who, by strict morality and integrity of purpose, furnishes an excellent example to others. He is at present engaged in farming in the town of Riverhead, where he is the owner of thirty acres of land, which he devotes to general farming.
Mr. Robinson was born in this town June 6, 1861, and was the fourth in order of birth of the six children granted to his parents, George O. and Nancy L. ( Hallock) Robinson. The latter are well known to the residents of this county. and those interested in their history will find a full account of their lives on another page in this volume.
The first twenty-four years of our subject's life were passed on the old home farm. After gain-
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ing a good education in the common schools, and when ready to begin life for himself, he was given the tract of land which he now occupies and whereon he has made his home ever since, with the exception of two years and a-half, when he was engaged in catching oysters and scallops in Peconic Bay. In this business he acquired the wherewithal to stock his farm with the necessary amount of machinery, and since that time has given his undivided attention to its improvement and cultivation, now having one of the best places in the town.
November 27, 1884, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Jennie, daughter of John H. Corwin, of Aquebogue. The Corwins are a very numerous family in the county and are among its most highly respected citizens. By the union of our subject and his wife there were born six children, viz .: Ellis, Hazel and Hildreth, the two latter twins; Mabel, who died when one year old; and two who died in infancy. In politics Mr. Robin- son is a believer in the principles of the Republi- can party and always votes for its candidates. Socially he is an Odd Fellow of good standing, and meets regularly with Lodge No. 462 at Riv- erhead He is pleasant and genial in manner and has many sincere friends. Though not con- nected with any religious body, he is kind as a neighbor, and the distressed ever find in him a cheerful helper.
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e HARLES WARTA. All lovers of good cigars ought to be interested in this name, for he makes and puts on the market cigars that are fragrant and entirely smokable. He is to be found at his place of business in Linden- hurst, and is a "hustler" for trade.
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Mr. Warta is a native of Austria, where he was born February 6, 1846, and spent his boy- hood days at Neugedein, Bohemia. After the Old-Country fashion, he had a very good school training up to the time he was fourteen, and was set at work to learn the business of a locksmith. In this he was to serve an apprenticeship of four
years and thoroughly master the trade. He did this to the satisfaction of his employer, and for two years afterward he followed it for himself. When he was twenty he came to this land of hb- erty, and was seven years a locksmith in New York City.
Mr. Warta was married, in 1870, to Miss Rosa Martinek, also a Bohemian born and bred, being eighteen years old when she came to this coun- try. The next year the blissful young couple located at Breslau, where the husband was in the locksmith business for two years. After that this establishment was sold out and the family re- moved to New York City, where a change in his labors was made necessary by continued poor health. He knew much about tobacco and cigars, and he found he could get on in this line. So Mr. Warta established himself successfully in the manufacture of cigars.
At the expiration of two years his interest was transferred to Boston, where it remained for eight years. Sickness necessitated another change. which brought our subject to Breslau, where his health at once was greatly improved, and where he has since been in the enjoyment of the best of health. Here he has built up a good business, that pays him well. and gives employment to eight hands.
Mrs. Warta died in 1883, while they were re- siding in the city of New York, and ten years later Mrs. Catharine Hladick became his second wife. By his first marriage Mr. Warta was the father of five children. Charles is married and lives in Breslau, and has two children in his own home. Amelia is also married and makes her home in Breslau. She is the wife of Augustus Englert. Frank, Annie and Mary are younger children still at home. Antony and Joseph are the fruits of his second marriage. Our subject has acted with the Democratic party, and has served two terms of three years each on the School Board, the first term filling the position of President of the board. He has taken much interest in the perfection of the fire department of the village. and has acted as Director for three years. He is also an honorary member of the Liberty Hose Company in Breslau. He and his family are
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H. P. Hedges
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members of the Catholic Church, all having been confirmed after the regulations of that church, at the age of eighteen. Mr. Warta is a member of the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias, and was Past Chancellor while in Boston. He is now a member of William Tell Lodge No. 189, at Breslau.
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ON. HENRY P. HEDGES. The family of Hedges is an old and prominent one in the East, and its members, in different genera- tions, have, in one way and another, become quite well known. Judge Hedges, who is a representa- tive of one branch of this family, is a lawyer of more than ordinary ability. Strong individuality and force of character have made for him an en- viable reputation, which marks him as one of the most striking figures at the Suffolk County Bar. A love of his fellow-men, which finds expression in a genial and kindly disposition toward every worthy man and every worthy movement, has made him one of the most popular citizens of Bridgehampton.
On the paternal side, Judge Hedges is of Eng- lish descent. The first of the name to come hither was William Hedges, who emigrated from England in 1639, and purchased a tract of land in East Hampton, L. I., where he passed the re- mainder of his days. His son, Stephen, and grandson, Daniel, and great-grandson, Daniel, Jr., were born on Long Island, as was also the son of the latter, David, our subject's grandfa- ther, whose birth occurred in 1744.
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A man of prominence and influence, David Hedges was for fifty years a Deacon in the Pres- byterian Church. He was a member of the Co- lonial Congress that convened at Kingston, and was a member of the convention of the state of New York which ratified the Constitution of the United States. For twenty-two years he was Supervisor, which is a longer period than any otlier man has ever hield that office in the town of Southampton. For seven or eight sessions lie
was a member of the Assembly of the state of New York: By occupation he was a farmer, and in that occupation, as in public affairs, was noted for his great executive capacity. In 1777, when Sag Harbor was occupied by the British, he was coerced to furnish a large supply of hay for the army. In Meig's expedition, all these stores were burned by the American forces, who came over from Guilford, Conn., in whale-boats. The promise to pay for the supplies was not kept by the British in consequence of their loss, and Dea- con Hedges was a large sufferer thereby.
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The father of our subject, Zephanialı Hedges, was born in Suffolk County, in December, 1768. Subsequently he removed from the town of South- ampton, his birthplace, and settled in East Hamp- ton, where the remainder of his life was passed. He was a man of decision of character, unswerv- ing rectitude and unerring judgment, which en- abled him to achieve success. By his first mar- riage, which united him with Miss Susan Miller. he had an only child, Thomas S., who died in in- fancy. December 13, 1809, he married Miss Phebe P. Osborn, who was born October 12, 1781. He passed away September 16, 1847, and his wife died March 12, 1864, when eighty-two years old.
The children of the parental family were as follows: Thomas S., born February 22, 1810: Edwin, December 29, 1811; Maria P., August 13, 1815; Henry P., October 13, 1817: Jeremiah O., August 29, 1819; and Phoebe P., August 23. IS22.
It has been said that the farm is the training ground that produces men of physical and intel- lectual strength. From it have gone forth men now eminent in every profession, business and calling; men of brawn as well as brain, who have been changed into living forces, as crude gold is transmuted into current money. Thus it has been with Judge Hedges. He was born on his father's farm in Suffolk County, and there ob- tained those liabits of self-reliance and persever- ance which have been the stepping-stones to his success.
Not satisfied with the education received in the common schools, our subject entered the Clinton
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Academy at East Hampton when fourteen years old, and three years later became a student in Yale College, from which he was graduated with the Class of '38. The following year was spent at home, after which he spent a year in the law school at New Haven, Conn. Entering the office of David S. Seymour, of Troy, N. Y., he con- tinued the study of law from May until Septemi- ber, and then studied with Judge Miller, of River- head, until April, 1842. From there he went to New York City, and was in the office of J. C. Albertson for some time.
After his admission to the Bar, our subject went to Ohio, with a view to locating, but six months later returned home, and September 26, 1843, began practicing his profession at Sag Har- bor. March 16, 1854, he removed from that village to Bridgehampton, where he lias since re- mained, although he continued his practice in Sag Harbor until 1893. In the fall of 1851 he was elected to the Assembly on the Whig ticket, and later was District Attorney of Suffolk Coun- ty. This was in 1861, and he was re-elected to that position in 1864. His fearless loyalty to his honest convictions, his sturdy opposition to mis- rule in municipal affairs, and his deep insight in- to men and their motives led to his election to the office of County Judge in 1865, and that po- sition he held for four years. In 1873 he was re- elected, and was the incumbent of the office six years more. Since 1869 he has been President of the Sag Harbor Savings Bank. He has been executor for many estates, is himself the owner of one hundred acres of fine land, and has other interests in the county.
Politically the Judge was first a Whig, being a Free-Soiler, and was one of the founders of the Republican party in 1856, since which time he lias always exercised a potential influence in the party in Long Island and the state. During the Civil War he did all in his power to aid the Union cause. As a citizen, lawyer, jurist or public offi- cer, he has endeared himself to his many friends, whose regard he has gained by his probity of character, broad intellectual attainments and grace of mamers.
May 9, 1843, Judge Hedges married Gloriana,
daughter of Samuel and Mary Am (Smith) Os- born. To them were born three children, name- ly: Samuel O., who is a farmer in Bridgehamp- ton; Edwin, who graduated from Vale College in 1869, was admitted to the Bar, and practiced for some years, but died in 1881; and William, a graduate of Yale College, Class of '74, now a minister of the Congregational Church in Har- winton, Litchfield County, Conn. Mrs. Gloriana Hedges died February 1, 1891, and the Judge married Mary G. Hildreth, February 23, 1892.
The Judge is a speaker of unusual force and ability, and has delivered many addresses in the county. He is deeply interested in local history, and has completed a book relating to the town. At this time he is working on a history of his na- tive town, East Hampton, that will soon be pub- lished. Since the fall of 1841 he has been a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and has been an Elder for many years.
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MADISON WELLS, of Greenport, was born at Upper Aquebogue, in the town of River- head, L. I., April 28, 1842. His father, Alden Wells, who was born in 1810, on the same fari11 as himself, followed agricultural pursuits through- out life, and served as Commissioner of High- ways several terms, in various ways showing the interest he took in the public affairs of his sec- tion. He was a prominent member of the Con- gregational Church, and died in that faith in 1872. His brother, Benjamin F., was for several years Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, was a inember of the General Assembly of the state. and demonstrated that he was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and prominence. His son, William H., was for twenty years associated in the lumber business with the subject of this sketch, but is now living in New York City with a daughter .. Another son, Benjamin F., is in the real-estate business in Brooklyn.
Alden Wells had another brother, Tuthill Wells, who was a carpenter by trade, and had two
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sons: George F., who is a farmer at Jamesport, L. I .; and John, who is connected with the Bay State Shoe Company of Brooklyn. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Wells, was born on the old Wells homestead at Upper Aquebogue, and there spent a goodly portion of his life, but in his early manhood was a sea-captain, and there is evidence to show that he served the United States as a soldier in the War of 1812, but to what extent has not been learned. He died on the farm on which he was born. His father, Samuel Wells, was also born on this farm, and was a prominent man in the affairs of his day. Alden Wells mar- ried Jane Frances Wells, a daughter of James Wells. She was born on the farm adjoining that on which her husband first saw the light of day, and had two brothers, Joshua and George L., the former of whom served as Supervisor of the town of Riverhead, and was at one time wealthy, but afterwards met with financial reverses. George L. is now living on the old homestead, and has an abundance of this world's goods.
The subject of this sketch was left motherless when he was two months old. His father took for his second wife Amanda Young, daughter of Jaines Young and sister of J. Halsey Young, a prominent citizen of Aquebogue. His elder brother, John Wells, has been a school teacher all his life, and is now a resident of Brooklyn. The second union of Alden Wells resulted in the birth of five children. Jane Frances, widow of Ellsworth A. Reeves, lives in Brooklyn; Edna T. is the wife of Capt. Henry Dimon, of Greenport; Rowenna is the wife of William Van Tyle, of Patchogue; Daniel H. is Actuary of the Connect- icut Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hart- ford, where he has resided for twenty years; and Edward Alden is tilling the old homestead that has been in possession of the Wells family for so many generations.
J. Madison Wells was reared on the old home farm, and acquired a common-school education. At the age of twenty-five years he left home, in 1867, coming to Greenport and at once engaged in the lumber business, which has since oc- cupied his time and attention. He also deals in coal, and is the owner of two schooners that lie 1
uses in his business, and is part-owner of another vessel. He owns large real-estate interests, and is one of the original stockholders in the People's National Bank, of which he was at one time a Director. The welfare of his section is dear to him and he has filled several local positions ably, such as Village and School Trustee, and for fif- teen years he was County Superintendent of the Poor. In politics he is a Republican. A Mason of the chapter degree, he has filled the War- den's chair in the blue lodge and was also Act- ing Master of the lodge for a time.
In 1863 Mr. Wells married Miss Catherine M., daughter of Louis H. Terry, a farmer of Aque- bogue, and granddaughter of Maj. John Terry, who gained his title in the War of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells four sous and two daughters have been born. J. Clarence, who was educated at Lafayette College and is now in business at the Fulton Market in Brooklyn, is married and has two children, J. Madison and an infant daugh- ter. J. Sheridan is associated with his father in business. Henry A. is also with his father. Frank T. is a graduate of Cornell Law School, and is now practicing law, with an office in New York. Adisona married Leonard T. Venn, who is in the employ of the Central Railroad of New York, and they have one child, Howard. Kate is now ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Old Steeple Church at Aquebogue. They have a beautiful home in Greenport, located on West Front Street, and are well known for their hospitality and public spirit.
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