USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 1 > Part 28
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CAPT. MARCUS B. BROWN.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in this section of the state, the incumbent of the postoffice, who held the position by our subject's favor, was removed, and thus Mr. Carman's po- litical influence was broken. In all political com- plications his manhood and honor were preserved. His integrity as a citizen or in the administration of public affairs was never assailed. Beginning life with nothing but his sturdy hand and a quick, untiring brain, he early had the determination to work and win, and studied grammar and other branches in which he was deficient as he worked at the carpenter's bench. When on the School Board none of the members was feared as was he by graduates when passing examinations. He had mastered many of the most abstruse subjects, as well as attained great familiarity with more common studies. He was President of the Board of Education for ten years.
Our subject was a natural conversationalist, with a large grasp of subjects, expressing his views in a concise, exact manner, with a winning mix- ture of humor. He had prompt decision and in- cisive action, which were probably the cause of his weight and momentum in public life. He was President of the Patchogue Bank from its organi- zation up to the time of his death, attending to the duties of the institution the day before his de- mise, which came most unexpectedly. Though not a church member, he was a liberal supporter of the churches. Fraternally he was a Mason. He was a great lover of sport, being a skilled marksman, and his home contains many trophies of his prowess in that line.
C APT. MARCUS B. BROWN. It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a state lies not in its machinery of government, not even in its institutions, but in the sterling quali- ties of its individual citizens, in their capacity for high and unselfish effort, and in their devotion to the public good. The career of Capt. Marcus B. Brown, of Orient, fairly illustrates what one may accomplish who is actuated by an honest, manly purpose, and a determination to make the most
of his opportunities and ability. After the bur- den and heat of the midday of life, this enterpris- ing citizen has retired from active duties, and is in the enjoyment of a competency that his early industry brought him.
A native of Orient, Captain Brown was born February 7, 1817. His father, Capt. John Brown, also a native of Orient, commanded a vessel on the sea, and spent the most of his life in the trade with the West Indies, a business in which he was a pioneer. He died at Orient in 1858-59, when seventy-nine years of age. He had three broth- ers, David, Peter and Phineas, the first two of whom were seamen, and the latter a mechanic. John Brown, grandfather of our subject, followed . the sea early in life, and died at Orient. He was a direct descendant of Richard Brown, who was born in England. It is thought he came from Wa- tertown, Mass .; , to Southold, where he was a pio- neer, and where he owned a large tract of land. His death occurred in the latter place, October 16, 1655. He had four sons, Richard, Jonathan, Will- iam and Walter, of whom the first-named became the owner of most of the land in the western part of the village of Orient. His son, Walter, Jr., was the great-grandfather of our subject. Capt. John Brown married Miss Phoebe K. Taber, a native of Orient, whose father and grandfather were both named Amon Taber. The latter was the first of the name to settle in Orient, coming from New London, Conn., or New Bedford, Mass. Mrs. Brown's mother was Sybil Terry, daugliter of Col. Thomas Terry, who gained his title in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Brown died when sixty-six years old. Our subject is a regular de- scendant of both the Richard and Walter branches.
Capt. Marcus B. Brown was the youngest of six children, there being tliree sons and three daughters. Ruth, the eldest child, married Sam- uel B. Tuthill, and resides in Brooklyn. Sybil married Christopher Tuthill, of Orient. Ange- line is unmarried. David went to sea in early life, but received injuries that compelled him to give up the life of a sailor. He took up the study of languages, mastering Latin and Greek, and at the time of his death was well advanced in He- brew. He taught school for many years, and
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was one of the best known educators on the isl- and. Jolin B. followed farming at Orient, and his sons, John H., Waldo and William T., 110w reside in this village.
During his boyhood days our subject received but a common-school education, and when six- teen years old decided to try life on the ocean. Ambitious and pushing, he eventually became the master of a coasting-vessel called the "Trav- eler," and later was commander of the "J. J. Worthington," "Red Eagle" and "Thomas W. Haven." During the Civil War he was with his ship in the employ of the Government, taking supplies from the Brooklyn Navy-yard to the South. Previous to this, about 1850, he was shipwrecked on the coast, but with this exception has met with no mishaps in his nearly fifty years of sea life. In 1880, having accumulated an am- ple competency by his thrift and industry, he re- tired from sea life, and since that time has been living a quiet life in his pleasant home in Orient, the same place where his father and grandfather resided before him.
Soon after leaving the ocean, Captain Brown was asked to accept the office of Assessor of South- old Town, and being of an active disposition, and wishing to engage in something that would oc- cupy his mind, he accepted, and so well has he discharged the duties of that position, that he has been re-elected every year since, a period of fifteen years. Although nearly eighty years old, Captain Brown is one of the best preserved, phy- sically and mentally, of the men, few in number, who have attained to his age in the county. He is richer, nobler and grander for the experience that each decade has brought him, although the years that have passed over him have left their impress in the white hair and lined features.
Captain Brown was married, in 1840, to Miss Cynthia A. Taber, and they had two sons, David and John, the latter of whom was a student at Amherst College, and died while attending there. David, who lives in Bordentown, N. J., married Miss Mary Mills, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Brown died in Orient, and in 1863 the Captain married Miss Caroline A. Petty, also of Orient, and a daughter of David and Margaret ( King) Petty.
She had four brothers, Thomas, Jolin, Sidney B. and Sylvester. Sidney B. enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York Infan- try during the Civil War, and died during serv- ice. Sylvester is a leading fariner at Orient Point. Captain and Mrs. Brown are members of the Congregational Church, the former having joined in 1865, and he has been a Deacon in the same for many years. In politics he is a Republican, and a strong temperance man.
ILLIAM H. TERRY was born August 13, 1847, at Southold, where he now resides. His father, William T. Terry, was also a native of this place, and was born in 1819. Early in his career he was a produce dealer, but later went to Brooklyn, and was there engaged in the grocery business at the time of his death, which occurred August 11, 1854. He had been a Cap- tain in the militia at Southold.
Our subject's grandfather, Ezra C. Terry, was born at Orient, and for a number of years did busi- ness in New York, having a stand in the Fulton Fish Market. Having accumulated a compe. tency, he came back to Southold, and purchased a farm, which is now in the village limits. He was a Justice of the Peace for a long time, and was looked up to as a man of prominence in liis day. His father (our subject's great-grand- father). Thomas A. Terry, was also a man of means and prominence, and at his death left a will, which is now in the possession of the subject of this sketch.
Our subject's father had several brothers, one of whom, Daniel, was a carpenter and builder, and went to California early in the '50s, but later devoted himself to his business in Washington, D. C., where he died two years ago. Ezra A. was for some years in business at Williamsport, and later was Superintendent of Station G, of the New York Postoffice Department.
William T. Terry married Miss Abigail A. Reeve, who was born at Southold, July 8, 1822, and was a daughter of Joseph and Abigail ( Booth )
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Reeve. She now makes her home with our sub- ject, and has attained the advanced age of seventy- three years. Mr. Terry has an only brother, George C., who is engaged in the coal and ice business at Southold. After the death of our sub- ject's father, in 1854, the family returned to South- old, where William H. grew to manhood. He was educated in the common schools of the place, and at the age of thirteen went into a dry-goods and grocery store as a clerk. On reaching years of maturity he embarked in business for himself, and engaged as a dealer in dry goods and groceries for one year, in partnership with Moses T. Horton. In 1869 Mr. Terry went to Brooklyn, and there learned the carpenter's trade with Oliver K. Buck- ley. In 1873 he returned to Southold, and, in company with his brother, started in the furni- ture and undertaking business, in which he has continued ever since. In 1894 he bought his brother's interest in the establishment. Besides this he has quite an extensive business in insur- ance, and is one of the Trustees of the Southold Savings Bank. He is a member of the Board of Education, and politically is a Republican. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows, and is Past Noble Grand. In church preference he worships with the Universalists. Mr. Terry married, January 17, 1876, Isabelle, daughter of Israel and Nancy (Glover) Peck. They have two children, Milton Reeve and Israel Peck.
ATHANIEL O. SWEZEY, a prominent res- ident of Patchogue, was born in this village, February 26, 1845. His parents were John R. and Ophelia H. (Terry) Swezey, natives, re- spectively, of Middle Island and Coram, Suffolk County. The father, who was given a good edu- cation, spent liis early life in teaching school, but later moved to Patchogue and became a bayman. He made his home here until his death, which occurred January 18, 1879, when in his sixtieth year. His estimable wife, who still survives, making her home with her son, was the daugli- ter of Brewster Terry, of Coram, L. I.
The paternal grandfather of Nathaniel O. was Capt. William Swezey, a native of Middle Isl- and, who is remembered by our subject as a pleasant, old-style gentleman. To John R. and Ophelia Swezey were born four children, of whom Nathaniel O. was the eldest. William, who was the next in order of birth, sailed to the West Indies in 1872 as mate on the "Mary Pow- er." It is supposed that all on board were lost in a storm, for the captain and crew were never again heard from. He was then a young man of twen- ty-five years, and left a widow and two chil- dren: Arthur D., now a resident of Brooklyn; and Rosalind, who, with her mother, lives in Green- port. Gilson G. Swezey has a position in the . Swan River Mill at Patchogue, and Richard Ed- ward, a painter by trade, also makes his home in this village. Brewster Terry, the maternal grand- father of our subject, was the son of Brewster Terry, whose father bore the name of Gresham. Brewster, Jr., married a lady whose maiden name was Hannah Hulse, but who at the time of their union was the widow of Elisha Hammond. He lived on the old Brewster Terry homestead un- til his death, which occurred in 1841, when he was seventy-one years of age. The farm then passed out of the family. The eldest child and only son of Brewster Terry recently died in Patch- ogue, at the age of eighty-seven years. Rhoda died unmarried, when in her sixty-fourth year. Eliza became the wife of Nathaniel Overton, a ship-carpenter of New York; she makes her home in Patchogue. Charlotte married Gilson Gillette, and some time after his death became the wife of Capt. Edward T. Moore, of Patchogue. Ophelia H. was engaged in teaching in early life; she was reared in the faith of the Methodist Churchi, to which she belonged nearly all her life.
The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood days in his native place, and upon completing a course of study in the public schools began learn- ing the miller's trade. He worked at this for some six years, a year or more being spent in Patchogue, and he then removed to Montgom- ery, Orange County, where he secured employ- ment in the milling business. He remained there for about six years, when he went to New York
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City, and for the following three years was inter- ested in the oyster business. At the expiration of that time he purchased an interest in the West Mill at Patchogue, his partner being E. H. Terry. The firm carried on a thriving business, under the style of Terry & Swezey, for a period of eleven years, owning and running two gristmills. The connection was then dissolved, Mr. Terry continu- ing business in the Patchogue West Mill, and Mr. Swezey became proprietor of the Swan River Mill, which he conducted very successfully.
October 8, 1878, Mr. Swezey married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Anton Lambert, a resident of Patchogue. Her father was one of the promi- nent merchants of this village for many years, and his daughter assisted him in his business. Mrs. Swezey was born in Patchogue, but her father was a Prussian, and some time after coming to America married Miss Amanda, daughter of Silas Hulse, of Sayville. The wife and mother de- parted this life when Mrs. Swezey was thirteen years of age, and from that time on she was her fa- ther's housekeeper. She had one sister, Theresa, who died when sixteen years of age.
Although still the owner of the Swan Mill property, which he leases to his brother, Mr. Swezey does not give any attention to its manage- ment. He is one of the leading men of the vil- lage, and by his influence and progressive ways has helped to push forward to completion many enterprises which have been of great benefit to the community. He is one of the Directors of the Electric-light Company, and for the past ten years has been a member of the Board of Educa- tion. Interested in school affairs, the splendid institution of which Patchogue is the proud pos- sessor has received his hearty support. He was reared by good Christian parents, and for twenty years has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, which he is now serving as Secre- tary, Trustee and Steward. He was one of the liberal contributors toward the building of the new edifice, which the original contract estimated would cost $32,000, but which, when handsome- ly decorated and completed, cost abont $50,000. The building committee was composed of John M. Price, President of the Official Board; George
D. Gerard, Treasurer: Mr. Swezey, Secretary; and Daniel Chichester, Trustee.
There were three children born to our subject and his estimable wife, but one died in infancy. Bernadine M. and Theresa both attend school. In social affairs Mr. Swezey is an Odd Fellow, and belongs to Brook Haven Lodge No. 80, in which he has passed all the chairs, is at present Noble Grand, and has taken the Past Grand de- gree. He occupies with his family a beautiful home on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Main Street.
C EN. NATHANIEL COLLINS MCLEAN, a worthy citizen of Bellport, was born in War- ren County, Ohio, February 2, 1818, and was the son of Jolin and Rebecca (Edwards) McLean. Jolin was born in New Jersey, but went west to Ohio with his father when a young man. He studied law, and by his own exertions made his way into the practice of that profession with very satisfactory results. In September, 1822, James Monroe appointed Mr. McLean to the position of General Land Commissioner, and our subject now has the commission, in a perfect state of preserva- tion, signed by the President and John Q. Adams. In 1823 Mr. McLean was appointed Postmaster- General of the United States by James Monroe, and his services were retained in this connection by the succeeding President. After the inaugu- ration of President Jackson, Mr. McLean was proffered the portfolios of the army and navy, but these high honors were respectfully declined. March 7, 1829, President Jackson appointed Mr. McLean to sit on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, in which position he served to the cminent satisfaction of his country until the time of his death, in 1861. In 1812, 1814 and in 1816, he was elected Member of Con- gress from his district, but resigned to accept a seat in the Supreme Court of Ohio, resigning that also to accept the position of General Land Commissioner, in 1822.
General Mclcan, the subject of this sketch,
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CAPT. ALBERT M. DARLING.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
was first a school-boy in Washington City, and subsequently attended Augusta College in Ken- tucky, where he graduated at the age of sixteen, and then entered Harvard University, in the year 1835, passing the examination necessary to admit him to the senior class as a resident graduate. The next year he entered the Har- vard Law School, which had as its most dis- tinguished professors James Story, then a Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Simeon Greenleaf. After taking the degree of Bachelor of Laws, he entered upon the practice of his pro- fession at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was building up a good business, and winning a wide circle of patrons, when the Civil War broke out. By the advice of President Lincoln and the solicitation of friends, and especially by the request of those acting for General Fremont, who had authority from the Government to raise troops, our sub- ject raised a regiment of troops for the service, and was commissioned. its Colonel in September, 1861. This regiment, the Seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry, was in active service through the war. After the second battle of Bull Run, November 29, 1862, Colonel McLean received his commis- sion as Brigadier-General, and served in that capacity through the war, or until the surrender of General Lee. He then resigned his commission. as the war was practically closed, making the honorable record of having been absent from his post of duty only thirty days during the whole time, from his appointment as Colonel to his res- ignation as Brigadier-General, which was dated April 20, 1865.
Soon after the time of his leaving the service, General McLean settled at Frontenac, Minn., on the Mississippi River, where for many years he engaged in stock and sheep raising. In the year 1885 our subject removed to this county from the West, and entered into possession of the handsome home which he still occupies, and where he lives in an honored and venerated old age.
General McLean has been twice married; first to Caroline T., daughter of Judge Burnett, of Cincinnati. Mrs. McLean died after becoming the mother of six children, four of whom are now
living. Jacob Burnett is the eldest; Caroline is the wife of Colonel Post, of Babylon; Eveline is the wife of Major Whipple, of the United States army; and John is a physician with a growing practice at St. Paul, Minn. In 1858 our subjec: was married to Mary Louise Thompson. who still survives, and who is the mother of five call- dren: Elizabeth, wife of Lieutenant Sage, of the United States army; Mary Louise and Nathalie. living at home; Marshall, a business man of New York; and Henrietta Post, now Mrs. Hill. of Boston.
For further information regarding John Mc- Lean, see Volume 10, American Encyclopedia.
APT. ALBERT M. DARLING. the popu :- lar Treasurer of Suffolk County. was born in Smithtown Branch, May 11, 1840. being a son of Albert and Tabitha (Hart "Darling. His father, a native of the same place as himself, was in early life engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, but later removed to Brooklyn and became a milk dealer in that city, continuing thus en- gaged until his death. The grandfather. George Darling, was born in Nantucket, Mass .. and came to Smithtown, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until the time of his demise. His father. Capt. John Darling, was born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestors, and it is said that he was commander of the first whaling-ves- sel that ever sailed out of Nantucket. Our sub- ject's maternal grandfather, Capt. Lemuel Hart. was a native of Smithtown and a prominent sea- captain, and had two sons, Moses and Prior Hast. who were large ship-builders at Northport.
The parental family consisted of seven sous and two daughters, of whom only three are now living, namely: Emmet W., an undertaker. resid- ing in Smithtown; Walter, who is living in Riv- erhead; and Albert M. The last-named was a child of two years when the family moved to Brooklyn, and there lie obtained liis education. At the age of fifteen years, after his father's death, he went to sea, and, being by nature and
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training adapted to that calling, he soon received promotion. Before he was twenty-four years of age, he was in command of a ship.
I11 1862, being then twenty-two years of age, our subject sailed from New York as chief mate on the ship "Rebecca," bound for Melbourne, Australia, and for six years he was not in the North Atlantic waters. Early in 1864, at Mel- bourne, he was made commander of the ship "Eli Whitney," afterward transferred to the barque "Tom Brown," and later to the ship "Lillias," of Callao, South America. In 1866, with five men from South Australia, he went to the north coast of that continent on an exploring *expedition, in search of pasture land for sheep- farming. After returning from the inland trip and while on the coast, he discerned a large number of pearl oysters upon the coral reefs which extend along the coast of that country. At once going to Freemantle, he bought a cut- ter, which he fitted out for pearl-fishing, and then returned to the northwest coast. In that field, now the richest pearl fishery in the world, he was the pioneer, and to his efforts subsequent suc- cesses were largely due. However, he met with misfortune himself, being shipwrecked, and losing his vessel, together with about $15,000 worth of mother-of-pearl.
During the fifteen years that he spent on the water, Captain Darling made three trips around the globe, and the adventures and perils of his life on the seas would fill an interesting volume. After an absence of six years, in 1868, he re- turned to America, expecting soon to go to sea again, but during his stay he married Miss Sarah M., daughter of Capt. Joseph Tyler, of Smith- town. He then decided to abandon the exciting but dangerous life of a sailor, and spend the re- mainder of his years on land. Accordingly he embarked in business at Smithtown Branch, and after a time started a mercantile establishment at Kings Park.
The first wife of Captain Darling died in 1881, leaving two children, namely: William Furman, who was associated with his father in business until they were burned out in 1893. and is now in Smithtown; and Albert M., Jr., who resides
with his father. In1 1882 the Captain married Miss Jennie M., daughter of Capt. Samuel Brew- ster Mills, and they have one child, Harold Ray- mond. Socially our subject is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Royal Arcanum.
In 1886 Captain Darling served as Justice of the Peace, and for the following three years was Surpervisor of the town of Smithtown. In the fall of 1890 he was elected Sheriff, which off the held three years. During that time une cholera great excitement over the landh the New York patients on Fire Islandoncous account, in that papers gave a Nich unjust criticism on Suffolk way bringa himself as Sheriff. But it has be- Con --.
come plain that his course in that critical time was the best and wisest that could be taken, and he is now commended by all who know the real facts in the case. He received a letter from Gov- ernor Flower complimenting him on the efficient manner in which he had performed " - duties. So well pleased were the voters of
with his administration of the office that, Free expiration of the term ( under the law lie being not eligible to re-election ), they showed their appre- ciation of his services by making him County Treasurer in the fall of 1893, and he is now serv- ing his second year in that capacity. He has al- ways been a prominent factor in the ranks of the Republican party, and is looked upon as one of the most reliable men of the county.
RANK A. JOHNSON. This gentleman was identified with the fortunes of Suffolk Coun- ty throughout almost his entire life, and as an editor did much to advance the best inter- ests of the people, making for himself a good name and winning for his paper an extensive patronage, but he has now ceased from his labors and gone into the courts of the "great hereafter." He was a man of strong character, great force of will, high morality and an inflexible standard of justice,
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