USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 1 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
The boy had to work in the factory even while at Fall River, and at Paterson he followed wear- ing in his father's manufactory. In that mitt bis fatlier turned one loom to the making of lamp wicks, and he himself wove the first lamp wick ever woven in this country, it having been c :- dered by Gen. Thomas D. Hoxey, of that city. who furnished the samples that had come i . England, and gave a liberal order for wicking. Our subject had the packing in charge, and started the loom himself, and thus did the Ss: weaving of lamp wicks. He continued in this business with his father for some years. but re- tired when the war was nearly over. The father. however, continued to live in that city until his death, which occurred in 1872.
When the factory had closed, young Dentos began to work at carpentering, being handy with tools of all kinds, and, finding opportunity :5 work, pursued it for several years, and maie good wages. July 2, 1869, he married Miss Sarah E. Denton, a native of Oldham, Lancashire, E=s- land, born June 11, 1846, and the daughter :: Francis J. and Ann (Taylor) Denton. She was one year old when her parents came to this coun- try, locating first in New York City, and after- ward removing to the place where she was mar- ried.
The subject of this writing retained his home in Paterson until 1873, when he came to his present location, and bought from Mr. Taylor the farm which he now occupies. To this He has added, until he lias about eighty acres unddc: good cultivation. His family consists of seve :: children. Francis M. was born at Paters !. June 27, 1870; and the second son. George W .. was born at that place May S. 18;2. The offer children were born on the farm where he is sow living: James P., May 1, 1874: Caroline. Jul 29, 1877; Jolmi W., June 15, ISSO; Alice Now-
338
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ton, May 16, 1882; and William A., October 22, 1886. All the children are living and are the source of pride and comfort to their parents.
.
Mr. Denton was reared a Democrat, but be- came a Republican during the war, and voted for General Grant in 1868. He was Highway Com- missioner for six years continuously, dating from 1883, and was instrumental in securing a start in the making of good roads in the town of Babylon, converting the highway from a narrow brush road to broad and well made boulevards, and his town is said to have the best roads in this county. In 1890 he was elected Assessor, and has filled that position up to the present time. He has acted as delegate to various political con- ventions, and has had an influence in the town and county administration of his party. The order of the Knights of Pythias has made him a member at Amityville, and he is a Trustee of Union School No. 22, in the town of Oyster Bay, Queens County.
YRON GRIFFING, the efficient and popular Supervisor of the town of Shelter Island, is also a member of the well known firm of Griffing & Young, intelligent and thoroughly wide-awake business men of Shelter Island Heights, to whose prosperity they have very ma- terially contributed.
Our subject is a native of Suffolk County, and was born August 9, 1840. His parents were Charles C. and Maria (Havens) Griffing, also born in this portion of Long Island. Charles C. Grif- fing was captain of the first whaling-vessel, the "Patosa," which sailed from Greenport. He met with ordinary success in this business, and con- tinued to follow it during the remainder of his life. He was the youngest of six brothers, who also followed the sea, engaged in this business, during their active years.
On his maternal side, our subject is descended from one of the most prominent and oldest families on Long Island. Several members of the Havens
family were present at the first town meeting hield on Shelter Island, in 1730, and of the twenty voters then making their home on this now most beautiful island six bore the name of Havens.
Byron, of this sketch, was a lad of seven years when his father died. He was given a common- school education, and remained at home until a young man of sixteen years. He was very fond of the water, and at that time engaged in the coasting trade, following this business with grati- fying results for some time. Then, from 1862 until 1875, he gave his attention to the fishing business, which is still carried on with profit by many in this neighborhood.
In the latter year Mr. Griffing formed a partner- ship with A. S. Cartwright, and together they purchased the stock of general merchandise owned by Capt. D. C. Osborne at Shelter Island Center. The firm name of Cartwright & Griffing existed until May, 1878, when our subject sold out his interest in the business, and the summer of that year he spent in traveling through the West, re- maining the greater part of the time in Kansas. On his return to Long Island, he again launched out in the fishing business, giving this industry his attention during 1879-80. The following year we find him established in business at Shelter Island Ferry, where he operated alone until 1891. That year he took in as partner D. H. Young, and the firm now has a wide reputation, doing an extensive business under the style of Griffing & Young. Their storeroom is provided with all the necessary cases and shelves for displaying their goods, which include everything usually found in a first-class general store. The business shows an increase month by month, which result is ob- tained by the skillful management of Mr. Griffing, who is thoroughly acquainted with the business in which he is engaged.
Politieally Mr. Griffing believes that the best interests of the country are maintained by a loyal support of the Republican party. In the spring of 1891 he was elected Supervisor of his town, and such was his popularity that the following ycar his name was unanimously endorsed by both parties. He was still retained in office the third terin, and is now serving as Supervisor with credit
1
339
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and efficiency. He is one of the Trustees of the Shelter Island Public Library, which was founded by Professor Horsford and his family .. By his straightforward and honest dealings, he has won the universal confidence of the people in his com- munity, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present this brief sketch of his life to our readers. He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and contributes liberally to its support.
00 AVID HENNESSY, one of the reliable bis- iness men of the village of Bay Shore, is the senior member of the firm of R. K. Cor- neille & Co., who conduct a real-estate and ill- surance business, their offices being situated at the . corner of Union and Park Avenues, opposite the Long Island Railroad Depot. The partnership, which was formed some two years ago, has been very profitable and satisfactory to both parties. Mr. Hennessy was formerly located in Brooklyn, where he was engaged in this business, but re- moved to Bay Shore some twenty years ago. The office business at this point is in his hands, and he feels very well pleased with the patronage that he has been able to secure in so short a time. It is a business for which he is well adapted, and his wide acquaintance and excellent reputation have been important factors in the success he has achieved.
The father of our subject, John F. Hennessy, died at the age of seventy-two. For many years he was a prominent and successful real-estate man in Brooklyn, where he held the position of Assessor for sixteen years, and was a member of the Board of Education in that city for twelve years. He was a native of the North of Ireland, and was a man of great force of character, exer- cising much influence in the locality in which he lived. About 1835 he was united in marriage with Hannalı Page, who died in 1873, at the age of sixty-three. To this couple were born four children, David being the only one living. John F., William and Francis are deceased. . David Hennessy was born in Brooklyn, Decem-
ber 13, 1842, and resided in that city until he reached the age of fourteen. Then, boy-like, he determined to be a sailor, and was on the water for the next fifteen years. His early education had not been neglected, and, being active and quick, he became a man of much force and influ- ence. When he left the water he entered politi- cal life in Brooklyn, and soon became a positive force, being in the Department of City Works for fifteen years. Tiring of politics, however, he sought a more independent and quiet life, and came here thinking he might do well in the real- estate business. He has won a success beyond an- ticipation, and the firm of which he is a member, though young in years, outranks many of the oldest firins on the island, both in volume and variety of its business. Mr. Hennessy is a Dem- ocrat, but has fettered himself with no obligations of church or lodge, aiming always to be a free man, and holding the truth above all price.
ERBERT R. CONKLING is numbered among the leading business men of the vil- lage of Mattituck. He was born at his pres- ent place of residence, September 26, 1857. His father, Isaac P. Conkling, a native of the same town and a seafaring man, went to California during the gold fever of 1849, and on returning to his native place purchased a farm, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1860. The grandfather, Platt Conkling, was a shoemaker by trade, and his death occurred in West Hampton.
Mr. Conkling's mother was before her marriage Miss Emma L. Reeve, a daugliter of Irad Reeve, 'f this place. Our subject was deprived of lier inaternal care at the early age of two years. Her sister, Frances S., married Clark W. Bryan, sen- ior member of the Clark W. Bryan Publishing Company of Springfield, Mass., and also pub- lisher of the "Good Housekeeping."
Mr. Conkling was an only child, and was early orphaned, for his father followed his mother to tlie grave a year after her decease. He was
340
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
adopted into the family of John F. Horton, where he lived until seventeen years of age, his boyhood being spent in the usual pursuits of youth. He attended school until seventeen years of age, fin- ishing his education at Southold Academy. Then, going to sea, he was employed as a seafaring man for two years, and after that lie worked at the Manhaden Fishery for three years. Later he spent three years in farming, and then went into the butcher business at Mattituck. Nine years were spent in this way, after which he engaged in the lumber business. He had a few thousand dollars left him by his parents, and has always been thrifty and provident, so that he has continually added to his original amount.
January 26, 1893, Mr. Conkling married Carrie Wells, a daugliter of John C. Wells, who was . formerly a prosperous merchant of Mattituck. Fraternally our subject is a Mason, and also be- longs to the Odd Fellows. In politics he votes with the Republican party, and in church affairs he inclines with his wife to the Presbyterian Church.
I DMUND HALLOCK. One of the success- ful business enterprises of Moriches is the mercantile establishment of which Mr. Hal- lock is the proprietor. Through the exercise of wise sagacity in all his dealings, as well as uni- form courtesy and reliability, he has become well and favorably known among the people of this village and surrounding country. He is a native of this community, and was born in 1842 to Jolin and Mary (Fanning) Hallock, also natives of Suffolk County, where they were content to pass their entire lives.
In early life John Hallock followed the sea in a whaling-vessel, but seeing a good opening to engage in the mercantile business, he abandoned that occupation and invested his means in a stock of goods, which he retailed at moderate prices to the people of this locality. He was thus em- ployed for a period of seven years, when he sold out his store and devoted his attention to car- pentering, which he followed for a number of
years. He was quiet and unassuming in man- ner, and while an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, never sought political distinction for himself. He assisted forward many enterprises financially, and his death, which oc- curred in 1881, was a great loss to the com- munity. His estimable wife preceded him to the grave.
Edmund Hallock received his schooling in the district near his home. When ten years of age he went to live with his uncle, James M. Fan- ning, who was a well-to-do farmier, and also the owner of a good mercantile establishment in this place. When ready to launch out in life for him- self, he decided to remain at Moriches, and. hav- ing proved a very valuable assistant to his uncle, he took charge of his business, which he has con- ducted with success ever since. He stands high in business and social circles in this community. and is a public-spirited and charitable man. His store is well stocked with the class of goods mostly needed by the people of his locality, and his affable and pleasant manners result in mak- ing him very popular with his patrons.
Mr. Hallock is Postmaster of Moriches, hav- ing been appointed to this office in 1877. It has been held by some member of the Hallock or Fanning family since the year 1815, which speaks well for their popularity in their neighborhood. The grandfather of our subject, James Fanning. was appointed Postmaster June 19, 1815, and held the office continuously until 1827, when he was succeeded by his son, James M., uncle of Edmund Hallock. He held the office until 187;, at which time our subject was appointed, and he is still the incumbent.
Edmund Hallock was married, in 1866, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Elijah A. and Susan Smith. of Freeport, N. Y. Of the children born of this union, two sons survive: Charles H., a resident of this county: and Allen, engaged as a civil en- gineer at Trenton, N. J. Mr. and Mrs. Hallock are members of the Presbyterian Church and are active in all good works. Politically the former is a stanch Republican, and advocates very warmly the principles of the Grand Old Party. Financially prospered and blessed with an abun-
1
H. HOWARD HUNTTING.
.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
343
dance of this world's goods, Mr. Halloek is ranked among the leading citizens of Moriches, and is recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability.
HOWARD HUNTTING, the active and efficient Secretary and Treasurer of the Southold Savings Bank, was born in the village of Southold on the 7th of October, 1843. His father, Jonathan W., was also born in this village, on the 25th of January, 1812, and was in his earlier life a carpenter, but became a merchant as he entered into his maturer years. He was a man of much business capacity, and was interested in various enterprises, at one time having a shoe factory under active operations. For many years he was Postmaster of the village, and also served as Justice of the Peace, School Commissioner, Clerk of the town, and also As- sistant Assessor of Internal Revenue during the existence of the law. He was a man highly re- spected by a wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances, and died a member of the Presbyterian Church, January 9, 1890. He had three broth- ers, who also attained a high standing in life. Rev. William was a Presbyterian minister of much ability. Edward followed farming all his days.
Henry, an uncle of our subject, was one of the founders of the Southold Savings Bank, and was practically the father of the enterprise. It was organized April 7, 1858, and from that time until 1891 lie filled the position of Secretary and Treas- urer continuously. Under his fostering care it became one of the largest and most solid financial institutions in the state. At the time of his re- tirement, on account of failing health, it had de- posits amounting to over $1, 500,000, and was re- garded as one of the safest institutions of the kind to be found anywhere. He is still living in this village, but is in poor healtlı.
The grandfather of our subject, Rev. Jonathan Huntting, was born in East Hampton, February 13, 1778, entered Vale College as a member of
the Sophomore Class in 1801, and was graduated three years later, when he engaged in teaching in the academy at East Hampton, and in the study of theology, under the direction of Dr. Ly- man Beecher. He was licensed to preach in the Presbyterian Church, October 10, 1805, preach- ing his first sermon in the church of South Han- over, N. J., and was then called to fill the pul- pit at Fishkill, which he did for a few months. In the spring of the following year he returned to East Hampton, and preached his first sermon in Southold June 8, 1806, supplying the pulpit here for one year. He was ordained August 20, 1807. Dr. Lyman Beecher preaching the ordination ser- mon. At that time the parish embraced what is now the village of Greenport. After filling the Southold pulpit for twenty-two years, his pas- toral relation was dissolved by his retirement from an active pastorate, but he did by no means re- tire from preaching. He supplied the pulpit of the church on Shelter Island for four years, and also preached at Franklinville and in other vacant pulpits for ten years more, preaching more than four thousand nine hundred sermons during an active ministry of over forty years. He died at his home in Southold, December 30, 1850, uni- versally regretted.
The Huntting family is one of the oldest and most respected of all the families on the island. and traces its founding here to one John Huntting. who was born in England in 1597, was married in 1617 to Hester Seaborne, a second cousin of Jolin Rogers, and came to America in the spring of 1638, settling at Dedham, Mass., where he was admitted a Freeman the following year. He was one of the founders of the church at Ded- ham, and was its first Ruling Elder, dying there in 1689. His son John was born in England about the year 1628, married Elizabeth Paine, April 18, 1671, and died September 19, 1718. His son Nathaniel was born November 15, 1675, married Mary Green in 1701, at East Hampton, and was the first of the family to locate on Long Island. He was a graduate of Harvard, in the Class of 1693, and became the second pastor of the Pres- byterian Church in East Hampton, where he be- gan his labors in the month of September, 1696,
12
344
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and was installed its pastor three years later, this being his first and only charge, and here he labored for more than half a century. Although he did not then ask for liis release, his pastorate Was terminated by a grateful church, and he re- tired to spend the few remaining years of his life on that homestead that came to him directly from King William, and has remained in the hands of his descendants to this day. He died September 21, 1753. His son Nathaniel was born in Au- gust, 1702, and was graduated from Harvard twenty years later. September 11, 1728, he was married to Mary Hedges, and died at East Hamp- ton in the year 1770. His son William, born June 3, 1738, married Puah Osborn, and died July 6, 1816. His son Jonathan, who was mar- ried to Julia A. Sayres, September 20, 1808, was the grandfather of our subject, as given above. The mother of our subject was Malvina A. Brown, daugliter of Daniel Brown, who came to the island from Connecticut. She died August 28, 1880.
H. Howard Huntting was one of two brothers, Jonathan G. being a prominent dentist at Hunt- ington. Our subject was educated in the schools at Southold, and was with his father for a num- ber of years in the postoffice. In the year 1874 he was made local agent of the Long Island Rail- road, filling that position until 1881, when he came into the savings bank as Assistant Treas- urer under his uncle Henry, and in 1891 suc- ceeded him as Secretary and Treasurer. He was married, in 1876, to Miss Anna M., daughter of Israel Peck, of Southold, but they have had no children born to this marriage. In politics he has always been a stanch Republican.
.
OUIS JAEGER, of Greenport, was born on the Rhine, in Germany, May 29, 1857, and is a son of Samuel Jaeger, a merchant .of Cob- lenz, who died in the Old Country. Louis re- ceived a practical education in the excellent schools of his native land, and for a time was a stu- dent in the high school of Mayence, from which
he graduated at the age of fourteen years. On completing his studies, he began an apprentice- ship to the trade of a merchant, and for three years was employed in a dry-goods store in Dusseldorf.
On coming to America, Mr. Jaeger was first with B. Altman & Co., of New York City, later with Stern Bros., and for nine years was super- intendent of the manufacturing department for Bloomingdale Bros. Then, with a partner, un- der the firm name of Jaeger & Wolf, he engaged in the dry-goods business at No. 945 Broadway, Brooklyn. This connection continued for two years, after which, in 1887, he came to Green- port, and, in company with Jolin A. Bassarear, purchased the business of N. Kaplan, who was about to retire from the trade. After five years this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Jaeger has since been alone, his store being one of the leading mercantile establishments in the village.
The life of Mr. Jaeger shows what may be ac- complished by one who starts in business in a new country, among strangers and without capi- tal. By his industry he worked his way upward until he was superintendent of one of the largest establishments in the metropolis; and when he had saved sufficient to warrant the venture, hie started in business on his own account. Success- ful in his enterprises, he now owns a fine store and valuable property. He was one of the original stockholders in the People's Bank of Brooklyn, in which he still has au interest. Socially hie is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and one of the Trustees of the lodge at Greenport. In the spring of 1888 he married Miss Fannie Brunswick, for- merly a teacher in the Brooklyn schools, and they and their two sons, Sidney L. and William B., have a pleasant home on Front Street.
As a business man Mr. Jaeger is keen, shrewd, possessing sagacity of judgment and force of char- acter. Few among thie business men of Greenport have displayed greater ability than he. Even when his capital was very limited, he managed it in such a manner that he gained more satisfac- tory results than many with larger capital. In his establishment he carries a full and complete assortment of everything in his line, and through care in his purchases is enabled to sell often at
£
345
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a price considerably below other business men who have not displayed the same forethought and care in watching the market. On the whole, his success is richly deserved, for it has been gained by industry and perseverance.
HARLES A. LUCE, M. D. The noble pro- fession of medicine affords to the student in that science a never-ending source of investi- gation and experiment. New remedies are con- stantly being discovered; steady progress is being made in surgery, and new diseases are presenting themselves under varying forms of civilization. Whatever may be said of the discoveries in the other fields of knowledge, and certainly they are astonishing, it can be truthfully said of this science, that not one can equal it in the great strides it is making toward a comprehensive grasp of the whole subject of man in relation to health and disease, and the prevention and cure of the ills to which flesh is heir. In the noble army of workers in this great field may be found Dr. Charles A. Luce, a successful young phy- sician and surgeon of Amityville.
Dr. Luce was born at Northville, Suffolk Coun- ty, September 26, 1865, and is a son of Septer W. and Jane E. (Corwin) Luce. The father fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, and when our sub- ject was about three years old, moved to Baiting Hollow, this county, where he continued his for- mer occupation. There our subject attended the country schools, principally during the winter seasons, until about 1886, when he entered the public school at Port Jefferson, and soon after- ward graduated therefrom. About a year after liis father's death he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. B. Luce, a distant relative, and was under his tutelage at Riverhead for six months. Following that, he entered Bellevue Hospital Med- ical College, New York City, where he remained during three winters, and in the summer he studied with Dr. Luce. His perseverance and industry overcame all difficulties, and hie gradu- ated from the above institution March 10, 1890.
1.
Returning to his home at Baiting Hollow, Dr. Luce practiced one year and then entered Bruns- wick Home as a physician. After serving three years in that capacity and practicing as much as possible outside, he left the home, in May, 1894, and established a practice in and about Amity- ville. He is a worthy man, an able physician, and a law-abiding and useful citizen. Novem- ber 19, 1892, lie married Miss Frances, daughter of Ambrose and Frances Paddock, a native of Oswego County, but a resident of Amityville at the time of her marriage.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.