USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 1 > Part 16
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Having laid by sufficient means to start in busi- ness for himself, with the help of his father, he opened a drug store at Cold Spring Harbor, in Suffolk County, where he was in business for two years, meeting with only fair success. Subse- quently he removed his stock to Amityville, and.
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purelasing the drug store of Charles C. Grove, firmly established himself here in 1892, and since then, by his good judgment and excellent busi- ness aeumen, has built up a good trade, and is prominently identified with the enterprising and successful business men of the place. Socially he is a member of Amityville Council No. 1644, R. A., and of New Point Lodge No. 677, I. O. O. F.
In his choice of a companion in life Mr. Albert- son selected Miss Annie H. Coles, of Glen Cove, Queens County, daughter of William H. and Maria (Norton) Coles, and their nuptials were celebrated April 9, 1893, at the latter place. One son, Harold Coles Albertson, was born to this union, his birth occurring April 14, 1895. In his political views Mr. Albertson is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential ballot for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. Personally our subject is genial and social, enjoys good fellowship, and is a most eompanionable friend. His life furnishes an example of energy, perseverance and loyalty to principle well worthy of emulation.
HARLES HALLOCK HULSE. The truth of Shakespeare's well known epigram, "There is a destiny that shapes our ends, rongh hew them how we will," is proved hundreds of times daily. Even so has it been in the career of our subject. Born in a modest sphere of life, making it necessary for him to work from the earliest childhood, and with the most limited op- portunities to acquire an education, he still has inade of himself that noblest work of God-an honest, honorable man, who takes his place in so- eiety as a good and respected citizen. By calling, Mr. Hulse is a contractor and builder, located at Sayville. He was born in Brook Haven, April 25, 1835, and is a son of Hampton and Eliza A. (Wines) Hulse. A more extended notice of tlie family history may be found in the sketch of W. W. Hulse, of Bay Shore.
As before said, our subject was early put into the harness. His father died when he was four- teen years of age, and he early felt the pressure of the earnestness of life. He was required to work throughout the pleasant weather, while only the dull, inclement days were allowed him to attend school. He learned his trade, that of carpenter and builder, at Port Jefferson, the years from eighteen to twenty-one being spent in apprentice- ship. He then removed to Brooklyn, where he was engaged in business for fourteen years. Dur- ing that time he had accumulated a snug com- petency, and when he came to Sayville he pur- chased real estate, for which he paid $9,000. a large price for twenty-five years ago. It proved. however, to be a good investment, although he carried it for some time at considerable cost, but when at last it was sold, he made handsomely from it. He still owns considerable real estate, and by virtue of his holdings has become quite interested in the business of transferring prop- erty. He has built many houses, having an ex- cellent reputation in his line in this locality. Al- though his first youth is past, he is still as much in the harness as ever, having all he can do to fill his contracts for large buildings as well as private residences.
Charles Hulse was married to Sarah E. Haw- kins, of Brook Haven, December 21. 1856. Mrs. Hulse was born at Bellport, and was taken to Brook Haven by her parents when two years of age. Our subject and his wife are the parents of six children, namely: Arcelia, who is the wife of Henry O. Newton, a resident of this place: Ella, the wife of Thomas Overington, also living here; Charles, deceased; Louis G .: Clarence H., who is a physician, practicing at Sayville; and Archie M., at present attending school.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hulse are devoted Prohibi- tionists, having given much time and enthusiasm to the work for the past sixteen years, and Mr. Hulse can give good reasons for the faith that is in him. He is now a candidate for the Assembly. Fraternally he is a Mason, and has been for the last fourteen years. He is also a Good Templar. He and his family are worshipers with the Method- ists, in which body he is a Trustee, Steward
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and Class-Leader, and has been most of the time for the past forty years. He is also much in- terested in Sunday-school work. It is most gratifying to see such a courteous Cliristian gen- tleman and reliable man at the liead of so fine a home as he possesses in this place.
OBERT W. PENNEY, one of the practical farmers of the town of Southampton, is also manager of the Flanders Club. He was born in the same house in which he at present makes his home, December 1, 1844, being the youngest but one of the nine children born to his parents, Nathan and Hannah (Fournier ) Penney. His father was born at Red Creek, this town, where his early life was passed on a farm. As soon as he commenced to make his own way in the world, he engaged to work on a vessel inter- ested in trading along the coast, and, while re- ceiving his orders from those above him for a number of years, had saved a sufficient sunt of money to enable him to become the owner of a sloop.
In 1844 Nathan Penney retired from boating and purchased a farm, containing one hundred acres of land, in Flanders. On this property he lived in peace and comfort until his decease, which occurred when he was seventy-seven years of. age. He was very successful in life, and left his family 'well provided for. In early life a Democrat, lie joined the ranks of the Republicans on its organization and voted for Jolin C. Fre- mont, bearing the distinction of being the first to cast a Republican ballot in his neighborhood. He afterward returned to the ranks of Democ- racy. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and during the long years of his resi- dence in this community won the approbation of friends and neighbors for his industrious and worthy course in life.
The family of which our subject is a worthy representative traces its ancestry back to one
Joshua Penney, who located here on his emigra- tion from England, and during the War of 1812 participated in that conflict. Mrs. Hannah Pen- ney was, like her husband, born at Red Creek, this town, and is still living, having attained the remarkable age of ninety-one years. She is a worthy member of the Congregational Church, and is an honored inmate of our subject's house- hold. Her father, John Fournier, was a native of Suffolk County, while his father, Francois Fournier, was born in France. During the prog- ress of the Revolutionary War Mrs. Penney's fa- ther was a soldier in its ranks, and on one occa- sion was taken prisoner by the enemy and con- fined in New York Harbor, from which he soon after effected his escape.
Robert W. remained at home until twenty-four years of age. He was ambitious to acquire a good education, and so while attending school found it very easy to apply himself to his studies. During the winter seasons for fourteen years he was engaged in teaching in various districts of the county, spending the summer months in fish- ing and coasting. As his father was advancing in years, he was needed at home, and upon his return to Flanders took charge of the estate. Very shortly thereafter he enlarged and remodeled the residence, and until 1893 kept summer boarders. That year, however, he sold a portion of the old place to several New York gentlemen, who built thereon what is known as the Flanders Club, of which Mr. Penney was appointed manager. It is composed of eighteen members, who own three thousand acres of land and lease seven thousand more. This they have stocked with pheasants and large game, and have filled thie lakes with trout and bass. During the hunting and fishing season they take up their abode at the club and pass their time in a much more delight- ful manner than they possibly could were they to go to the far western states, where fishing and hunting are said to be of the finest.
The lady to whom our subject was married October 22, 1874, was Miss Carrie L. Wells, of Good Ground, this town. To them have been born two sons, Robert W. and Charles F., both at liome. In his political relations our subject is
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a stanch Democrat, and is very prominent in the councils of his party in this section. Although the town has two hundred and twenty-five Re- publican majority, Mr. Penney was elected Over- seer of the Poor by forty-one votes over his oppo- nent. His life record has been a good one and such as to commend him to the respect and es- teem of the entire community. Mr. Penney and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal . Church.
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EDWARD WELLS, one of the old and prominent citizens of the village of River- liead, was born two miles from the village, September 9, 1819. Hisfather, Daniel T. Wells, who was born in the same place in 1798, was in his early life a farmer, and in his later years a merchant, his last business activities being de- voted to the woolen-mills. He was one of the leading business men of his day, and was widely known as a plain and unassuming, but capable and thrifty, man of affairs. He took a prominent part in the work of the Congregational Church. His death occurred at the old home place. He had one brother, James, who was two years his senior, and followed farming all his life.
The grandfather of our subject, James Wells, was born at the same place where his son and grandson were born, but the date of his birth can not now be learned. The Wells family lias long been established on the island, and the name fre- quently appears in the carly liistory of this coun- ty. The great-grandfather of our subject, Man- lcy Wells, devoted liis entire life to the ministry of the Congregational Church, and, as far as can be ascertained, was the only minister in the direct line of the ancestors, but the family through all the generations las sustained the closest relation to the church in which he was a minister.
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The mother of our subject was Harriet, daugli- ter of Benjamin Homan, of Smithtown, proprietor
of a gristmill in that place. He was a man of high standing in business circles and also in the Congregational Church. She had two brothers, of whom Uriah was a boat-builder, and died in Riverhead at the age of eighty years. His son Daniel is a resident of Riverhead and a seafaring man. Her brother Benjamin was a stage-driver in the early days before the Long Island Railroad was built. His daughter Elizabeth was married to Charles Gassett, of Brooklyn. The motlier of our subject died four years before his father, at the age of seventy-five.
Mr. Wells was the eldest of six children, of whom we briefly speak. Fannie married Wells Hallock, a farmer living two miles east of this village. Alma E. married Edward Fanning, a cousin of ex-County Clerk Orange Faming; they are both dead, and left four children. Dan- iel M. was a real-estate dealer in Brooklyn, and married Mary C. Conklin; he died some twenty years ago, and his widow now makes her home near this village. Mary M. became the wife of Rev. T. N. Benedict, a Congregational minister, who died in Miller's Place; she is living in this village with her two children, Mary and Nelson. Arabella was never married, and died some forty years ago.
The subject of this article was reared on the farm, had a common-school education, and made his home on the old place until about 1875. But twenty years before that time he embarked in the wholesale produce and commission business, which he has followed for some forty years. In this and in the sale of fertilizers he has made the most of his ample fortune. He has now as a working partner his grandson, Ed G. Hudson. who is a son of S. Terry Hudson. In addition to liis otlier and extensive business, Mr. Wells has an interest with his son-in-law, S. Terry Hud- son, in the manufacture of agricultural imple- ments. He is one of the Trustces of the River- lead Savings Bank and acts as one of the exam- ining committee that passes on all loans made by that great institution, with its more than $2,000, - 000 assets. Besides this he is also one of the Trustecs of the institution located at Amityville for the care of feeble-minded orphan children, and
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a Director in the infirmary at Westport, Conn., for the care of insane people. He is one of the owners and a Director of the New England & Long Island Steamboat Company, which runs a line of steamers from Sag Harbor to New London. Besides these he has other business interests, and acts as Deacon in the Congregational Church, in which he is an active member.
In 1844 Mr. Wells married Cordelia, daughter of Col. Nicoll Young, who was a Colonel in the militia service in early days. They have one child, Mary Emma, wife of S. Terry Hudson, one of the leading business inen of this community, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. While Mr. Wells has never sought office, he has been a firm Republican in his political actions.
J. HIGBEE. In this great age of improve- ment in all departments of human endeavor, no greater progress has been made in any calling than in that of the machinist. S. J. Higbee is a practical inachinist, having thorough- ly learned the trade in his youth, and he is there- fore well fitted to carry on the business of which he is one of the lieads. He was born in North- port, November 10, 1859, a son of Capt. Jonas S. Higbee, who was born at Centerport, March 10, 1821. He was a seafaring man, and during the Civil War was for more than three years in the transport business, being attached to the regu- lar United States navy. After an active but well spent life, he is now living a retired life at Northport. His father, whose name was also Jonas, was also a seafaring man, and was born at Centerport. The Higlibee family date their location in this country from the days of Roger Williams. The mother of the subject of this sketch was previous to her marriage Miss Har- riet D). Ackerly, a half-sister of N. S. Ackerly, the well known attorney of Northport.
The subject of this sketchi was the ekdlest of three children, two sons and a daughter, the others
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being Jonas Ellsworth, who is captain of the "Charles W. Miller," a three-masted coasting schooner; and Hattie A., wife of Irving E. Brush, who is one of the leading business men of Hunt- ington, and a brother of Henry S. Brush, also an active business man of that place. S. J. Higbee received the educational advantages of the com- mon schools, and as a boy Jearned thie machinist's trade. In 1890 he came to Greenport, and, in company with E. D. Tuthill, his present partner, opened the machine-shop where they are now in business, and by their upright ways and shrewd, practical foresight have built up a large business as manufacturers and dealers in steam and hot- water heating apparatus. They are also engaged in repairing, and are doing a very extensive and satisfactory steamboat and general mechanical business. The firm has lately taken the man- agement of the Greenport Electric-light and Power Company.
Mr. Higbee is an excellent business man, and, being honorable and at all times reliable, he in every way deserves to succeed. He is unmarried. Socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and belongs to the village fire department. Po- litically he is a Republican, but has never been particularly active in political matters.
HARLES SIEGEL, a merchant tailor at Babylon, is one of those German-American citizens of our country who have done so much to make the name of the "Vaterland" dear and lionored in the land of peace and prosperity. He was born in Vienna, Austria, August 17, 1867, his parents being Samuel and Eva Siegel, and in that famous Old-World capital he was brought up, receiving a very good education in the public school, which he attended until he was sixteen. He then went to London, where he was appren- ticed to learn the trade in which he is now en- gaged. For the first year he was to receive eiglit shillings a week, and his remuneration was to be
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increased until he was to have eighteen shillings the last year. His apprenticeship lasted three years, and when it was finished he came to this country and located in Newark, N. J., leaving, as it will afterward appear, his heart behind him in London. He spent three years in his first en- gagement, and then removed to New York, where he worked two years, the greater part of that time being in one shop.
Our subject made two trips across the ocean, and on the last one, or February 25, 1893, was married to Miss Rachel Felcher, who was a na- tive of that great central city of the world. Our subject had located in Babylon before his mar- riage, and one year after this event he started a shop of his own, which has done very well in his care. He is building up a large and increasing business, and has liopes of a sound success in the near future. Our subject and his wife have one son, Solomon, born in Babylon, April 8, 1895. Mr. Siegel has taken out his naturalization papers, intending to become a permanent citizen of the United States.
EORGE H. CORWIN, President of the First National Bank of Greenport, was born in New York City, July 13, 1825, and was the son of Hudson Corwin, who was born at Mat- tituck, in 1791. When a young man he embarked in the grocery business in New York City, in 1833 located in Southold, and four years later established himself at Greenport, where he enter- ested himself in the whaling business, but later in life retired to a farm, where the remainder of his days were spent. His brothers were Abel, Seth, Nathaniel and Grover. Seth became a physician and druggist of Delaware County, N. Y. Nathaniel was in the mercantile business with his father in New York, and later in Green- port, and died in 1868.
In 1812 Hudson Corwin was married to Miss Dorothea Homan, daughter of Mordecai Homan, who was for many years Clerk of the town of
Brook Haven. Mrs. Corwin died when the sub- ject of this sketch was a year and a-half old, leav- ing two children, of whom George H. was the eldest. Samuel B., the other child, was born in 1827, became a farmer and gardener, and died of lockjaw about seven years ago. The father's second marriage was with Miss Lucy A. Borham, of Brooklyn, who died in 1879, having become the mother of one child, Charles, who died in 1851.
George H. Corwin was eight years of age when his father left New York for Southold. and was twelve years old when he located in Greenport. He was given an academic educa- tion at this place, and later entered the New York University Medical College. On the 17th of April, 1849, he engaged in the drug business in Greenport, and has followed this important calling to humanity ever since that time. He has been located in his present establishment ever since 1867, and it is without doubt one of the best established and finest in this part of Long Island. In the management of his financial af- fairs Mr. Corwin has shown the keenest business instincts, but he has not confined his attention wholly to the drug trade; on the contrary, he is largely interested in the fish and oil works at Promised Land, with Capt. George Tuthill and others.
Mr. Corwin was one of the organizers of the First National Bank at Greenport, and is its Presi- dent. He was Village Clerk and Treasurer without any interruption from 1869 to the spring of 1895, when he refused to longer fill these posi- tions, and his son, George H., Jr., was elected in his stead. He is one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge, has been its Treasurer from 1857, and for four or five years has been High Priest of the chapter. He has ably filled various minor official positions, and in numerous ways has shown the deep interest he has taken in the en- terprises that have been inaugurated in his sec- tion, the most important of which are the Electric- Light Company and the Dock Company.
November 3, 1853, Mr. Corwin was married to Miss Elizabeth Miller, daughter of David Miller. a blacksmith of Greenport, who went to Chicago
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in 1852, and opened a machine-shop, but later moved to Dundee, near Elgin, Ill., and there eventually died. Mr. and Mrs. Corwin have liad three children born to them. Fred M., a grad- uate of the medical branch of the University of New York, is a practicing physician of Bayonne, N. J .; he married Julia Smith. George H., Jr., who is a graduate of Lafayette College of Easton, Pa., has for some years been his father's business associate. He married Elizabeth Smith, a sister of his brother's wife. Anna Jeffery is still with her parents. Mr. Corwin and his family occupy a beautiful residence overlooking the bay, and move in the best social circles. Politically he is a Democrat.
OSIAH H. GOODALE is an able instructor, as his long-continued service in various lo- calities of the county fully testifies. He isat present residing at Flanders, where his birth oe- curred August 23, 1857. To his parents, Oscar and Betsie (Davis) Goodale, there were born seven children, of whom he was the eldest but one. Ella B. died at the age of seven years; Zola is now the wife of Harvey P. Fanning, whose sketch the reader will find in another portion of this volume; Georgia departed this life in her third year; Maria dicd in infancy; J. Hadley B. is also deceased; and Millie D. is the wife of Cornelius D. Brown, of this place.
Oscar Goodale was born October 4, 1822, at Flanders, where he was content to pass the great- er portion of his life. For a few summers he was engaged in coasting, but with this exception was identified with the agricultural interests of this community. In this industry he met with signal success, and at the time of his decease, which oc- curred August 15, 1883, he left his family in the- possession of a goodly amount of land. In the trnest sense of the term he was self-made, and took great pride in his farm. In his political faith he was a Republican, and in public affairs lie was always active. Probably there was 110
citizen of his community who was held in higher regard, and he won this kindly feeling by his genial manner and good judgment in his mingling with his fellow-men. He was in turn the son of Josiah and Martha (Vail) Goodale, the former of whom was also born in Flanders, on the property which is now occupied by our subject. His fa- ther, the great-grandfather of our subject, was also named Josiah, and it is thoughit lie came hither from England. This is known, however, that the Goodale family is one of the oldest on the island.
Mrs. Betsie Goodale, who was born at Flan- ders on Christmas Day, 1835, was the daughter of Benjamin and Millie M. (Penney) Davis, the birth of the former occurring in the town of Riv- erhead, where he was reared. In order that he might be where the boating interests of the island were centered, in young manhood he removed to Sag Harbor and engaged in coasting for a great many years. He was fairly successful in his ven- tures, and his death occurred in Michigan when he was sixty-four years of age. In politics he supported Republican candidates, and was a de- voted member of the Presbyterian Church. His parents, the grandparents of Mrs. Goodale, were Chapman and Elizabeth (Corwin) Davis, natives of the town of Riverhead, where they were well. to-do farmers all their lives. The mother of Mrs. Goodale was born at Red Creek, this county, and lived to be eighty-eight years of age. A full ac- count of her side of the house is published in the sketch of Robert W. Penney, on another page in this volume. Mrs. Betsie Goodale is still living on the old homestead, and is now sixty years of age.
The early years of our subject were spent at home in attendance at the common school. When older he took a course in Franklinville Academy, and was afterward a student for a time in Bridge- hampton Literary and Commercial Institute. His education being completed when he was twenty years of age, he left home and engaged to work on a coasting vessel, following this occupation for abont six summers, and during the winter months teaching school. He then returned to his old home in Flanders, where he has lived when not
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engaged in teaching. At Good Ground he was hired by the Board of Education to conduct their school, teaching there for three years, and has also taught at Bridgehampton, East Quogue, Quogue, Northville, Springville, Aquebogue, New Suffolk and Jamesport.
January 4, 1883, Mr. Goodale was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Dickson, of Jamesport, and their household has been brightened by the birth of two children, Oscar and Marion. De- cember 1, 1895, Mr. Goodale purchased the bak- ery and restaurant formerly known as Terry's Bakery, located on Main Street, Riverhead, and here he is building up a fine patronage. In his political belief our subject is a Republican of the deepest dye, and socially is a Mason of high stand- ing, meeting with Lodge No. 645, of Riverhead. He takes a prominent part in all public affairs cal - culated to benefit his community, and is one of the wide-awake and progressive citizens of the county.
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