USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 1 > Part 55
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
Great-grandfather Charles Alvord was the son of Thomas Gould Alvord, who was in turn a son of Asahel and Mary (Gould) Alvord. Asahel was the son of Thomas and May (Strong) Al- vord, Thomas was the son of Thomas and Joanna (Taylor) Alvord, and the latter Thomas was the son of Alexander and Mary (Vore) Alvord. Al- exander came from England in the year 1638 and settled in Farmington, Conn. Great-great- grandfather Thomas G. Alvord and his son, also named Thomas G., were both soldiers in the Rev- olutionary War.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood under the parental roof. He was educated in the Owego Academy, where he remained four years, and then entered the junior class of Union College, in Schenectady. From that institution he was graduated in 1860, taking the highest hon- ors. The following year he was professor in Me- chanicsville (N. Y.) Academy, and was also tutor
19
:
500
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in mathematics in Union College from 1870 to 1872. He then attended Princeton Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated in 1875, and in 1878 was a graduate from the post-gradu- ate department of Auburn Theological Seminary. From 1875 to 1877 he served as Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. From 1878- 82 he was adjunct Professor of History in Union College. Rev. Dr. Lawrence is a fluent writer, and has been a contributor to the "New York Ob- server," the "Christian Intelligencer" and the "Christian at Work." He has helped publish the keys for Dr. Thompson's Algebra and Arithmetic and in 1883 published "Historical Recreations." From the Thousand Isles in 1886 Rev. Dr. Law- rence went to Mt. Vernon, Oneida County, to · take charge of the Presbyterian Church of that place, where he presided until 1890, when he was called to the West Hampton Presbyterian Church, his present charge.
Our subject was married to Miss Sarah J. Bur- tis, of Buffalo, N. Y., November 27, 1877, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Ransom B. Welch, D. D., and Rev. Charles Wood, of the Central Presbyterian Church of Buffalo. Mrs. Lawrence was a daughter of Rev. Arthur Burtis, D. D., a Presbyterian clergyman and Professor of Greek in Miami University at Oxford, Ohio. He was a native of New York and was graduated from Union College in 1827. He first studied law, but later theology, becoming an able minis- ter. His father, Arthur, was for years a promi- nent member of the Common Council of New York City, in the days when the office of Alder- man was one of great trust and respectability. For years he had charge of all the public charit- able institutions of New York, holding the office of General Superintendent. He it was who first suggested a home for juvenile offenders. When the institutions for older offenders were consoli- dated within the walls at Bellevue, by his advice Blackwell's Island was purchased and the foun- dation laid for the present noble charities of that great city. Arthur Burtis, a brother of Mrs. Lawrence, is Pay Inspector of the United States Navy, and recently has had charge of the Brook- lyn pay office of the navy yard. A number of
eminent men have been under the tutelage of our subject, and among these may be named the Hon. Daniel Lamont. Dr. Lawrence is a member of the Delta Upsilon and the Phi Beta Kappa Socie- ties. To Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence were born three children: Arthur B., born April 17, 1879; Grace P., July 22, 1881, and John J., November 24, 1883. The eldest son is at present a student at Union College, fitting himself to be an electrical engineer; Grace P. is in Buffalo Seminary, and John lives at home. Mrs. Lawrence died Octo- ber 9, 1892.
W ILLIAM G. NICOLL. Among the legal lights of Suffolk County William G. Nicoll, attorney at law at Babylon. is by no means among the dimmer and lesser flames. He has, at a comparatively early age, won a high position, having had not only the advant- ages of general literary training and special prep- aration for his work at the hands of the best teachers, but having also that rare gift of a clear judicial mind that is able to weigh and measure a subject on all sides, and to discern clearly the exact question at issue. In his practice, he puts aside all irrelevant matters and, seizing with clear- ness and decision upon the kernel of difficulty, makes transparently plain all propositions of jus- tice and right.
Mr. Nicoll was born at Islip, August 29, 1845. the son of William and Sarah A. (Nicoll) Nicoll, the former of whom is a farmer, and is now living at Islip. Our subject spent his boyhood days on the farm, and received into his nature that breadth of view and steady courage that have been the only capital with which so many distinguished men of our land began life. IIe was fitted for college at Huntington Union School, from which institution he was graduated in 1861, at the age of sixteen, and the next year entered Yale Col- lege. Four years at this famous seat of learning were well improved, and he was sent forth as a graduate of the Class of '66. Not satisfied, how- ever, he devoted the next two years to the study of law in the law department of Columbia College,
501
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.
and came forth in 1868 as a full-fledged lawyer. He established himself in the practice. of his chosen profession in New York City, and there he has maintained an office to the present time. In the year 1881 he opened an office at Babylon, and removing to this place he has made his home here up to the present time. He is still in the prime of life, and has an influential standing in his chosen calling.
In, his domestic experiences, Mr. Nicoll has been unfortunate, his first wife, formerly Phebe D. Disbrow, having died in July, 1873, leaving an infant daughter, Phebe. Five years later, or in October, 1878, he was married to Miss Kate M. Cornwell, of Elizabeth, N. J. She became the mother of two children, Catharine and Dorothy. Mr. Nicoll is a pronounced Republican, and has taken much interest in the working of the organ- ization. For the past four years and a half he has served as Justice of the Peace and has also served as Supervisor for two ternis, being re-elected in the year 1895. He and his wife are both identified with the Episcopal Church, and are very helpful in that religious body.
J I OHN MULLIGAN. As a representative of the business element, to whose progressive spirit and superior abilities is due much of the prosperity enjoyed in East Hampton, we present the name of Mr. Mulligan, who is well known, not alone in the town, but throughout Suffolk County.
His birth occurred in New York City August II, 1844, his parents being Jolin and Susan Mulli- gan, the former of whom it is supposed was born in the north of Ireland and the latter in Scotland. Jolin Mulligan was a commission dealer in the metropolis and died very suddenly while on a business trip to Rochester. Upon the death of the mother, which occurred shortly afterward, Jolin, of this history, was doubly orphaned. At that time he was but five years old, and, as he had not a relative in the United States, a Mr. Smith, an intimate friend of his father's, placed him in Leake
& Watts' Orphan Asylum in New York City. where he remained until September 15, 1858.
In the above year young Mulligan was bound out to Jolin M. Huntting, a farmer of East Hamp- ton, and was with him four years, when Mr. Huntting was obliged to sell his place and John was released. The original indenture is now in his possession and is endorsed on the back, re- leasing him, with the consent of the orphan asylum authorities, who have kept an eye upon him, even to the present day. It was agreed when Mr. Huntting took our subject that he was to re- main with him seven years, or until of age, when he was to receive $100. Owing to the reasons which we have already given, this agreement could not be carried out, and when leaving that gentleman's employ John worked at various oc- cupations until August 1, 1864, when he went on a three-years' cruise with Capt. James Rogers. commander of the bark "Union," a whaling ves- sel of Sag Harbor. He was to receive his pa; in sharing the profits at the end of the allotted time, and, although the boat came in with nine hundred barrels of oil on board, he had contracted so many bills that when they were paid he was the possessor of but $28. During his voyage he visited many foreign countries and touched port at Brazil and the Falkland Islands.
After his experience on the water, our subject worked on the farm of J. Henry Barnes for three years and was then employed for a twelve-month by John Dayton, also a farmer. This brings us to March, 1872, when he was married to Cath- erine, daughter of David H. Lester, of East Hampton. They then moved to Good Ground. where Mr. Mulligan was in charge of the farm of Elisha Kings for a year. His next position was with William E. Phillips, his duty being to drive through the country and collect eggs, poultry, etc.
In 1874 Mr. Mulligan returned to East Hamp- ton and for the following year drove an order wagon for A. M. Payne, of this village. January I of the succeeding year he was the possessor of $150 and with this went to New York City and in- vested in a small stock of groceries. He then opened a store where now stands the residence of George S. Conkling, in the northern outskirts of
502
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the village, and for some time depended largely on his wagon trade for a living. The furnishings of this store were primitive in the extreme, the counter being constructed of two boards laid over two saw benches. He remained in this building for six years and in 1881 erected a storeroom 16x30 feet in dimensions. His business increased so rapidly that the next year he was obliged to make an addition to his building, and in April, 1894, after thirteen years spent in business at the former location, took possession of his present commodious quarters, also in the northern por- tion of the village, near the railroad bridge. He has shown himself to be a thorough business man and from the $150 which he first invested has grown a large and paying business. Mr. Mulli- gan not only numbers his patrons among the best residents of East Hampton, but has custom- ers in all of the outlying villages.
Our subject is a stanch Democrat and takes an active part in polities. In April, 1883, he was elected Commissioner of Highways, and so well did he fulfill the requirements of the office that he was retained in this capacity for nine years. In April, 1887, he was elected Justice of the Peace for a short term and on the expiration of that time was made his own successor, and is still the in- cumbent of the office. For two years he was Jus- tice of the Sessions and sat with the County Judge at the Court of Sessions held in Riverhead. He is very popular in this office and rather makes it a point to have all differences settled peaceably, rather than by law. Although he has tried various important cases, he has never had his de- cisions reversed in the higher courts. In April, 1893, he was also elected Assessor of his town to fill an unexpired term and in 1894 entered upon the duties of the office for a full term of three years.
.
Previous to her union with our subject, Mrs. Mulligan had been married to David HI. Hamil- ton, and to them were born several children, one of whom, Sarah E., is now the wife of Phineas Dickinson, of Montauk. This daughter was four years old at the time of her mother's marriage to our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan have a son. John Henry Barnes Mulligan, now eight years
old. They also share their love with Floyd P. Lester, now a young man of eighteen years, who has been an inmate of their home since an in- fant of twelve months. The latter is now clerk in Mr. Mulligan's store and proves himself to be a very valuable and able assistant.
B LISHA M. RACKETT. The family of which this gentleman is a member was first represented in America by John and Eliza- beth Rackett, who settled in Rocky Point (now East Marion), town of Southold, between 1685 and 1690. This couple were the progenitors of all the families of the name in the state of New York, many of whom are living in Orange Coun- ty and vicinity. John Rackett had a son, born about 1690, who was the first established Deacon in the first meeting house built at Oyster Pond (now Orient.) He was always addressed as Dea- con Rackett, and with Deacon Tuthill, he was an officer in the church for thirty or forty years. He had two sons, John and Jonathan, and a daugh- ter, Rachel.
Jonathan, the second son of Deacon Rackett, married Hannah, daughter of Samuel King and widow of Nathaniel Tuthill. The children by the marriage were Jonathan, Daniel, Samuel, John, Absalom and Hannah. John Rackett, who married Mehitable, daughter of Jolin and Martha Terry, had three sons, namely: John, who died at the age of about six years; David, who mar- ried Nancy, daughter of Abraham and Hannah Rackett, whose descendants now live in East Marion and elsewhere, and Elisha. The last named son married Abigail, daughter of Jere- miah and Elizabeth Sherrill, of East Hampton, by whom he had three sons: John Albert, born in 1808: Elisha Sherry, 1811. and Sidney Philan- der, 1814. Their father followed a seafaring life and took the yellow fever at a southern port, re- turning home, where he died. His sons, too. loved the water and all became masters of some of the best vessels in their day.
In his later years Jolin left the water and
1
£
503
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
bought a small farm in Orient which, together with an active interest in Democratic politics, oc- cupied his attention until he died. His memory was phenomenal and brought him into consider- able local fame. He married Henrietta A., daugh- ter of Dr. Tuthill, of Hog Pond, by whom he had a son, Walter Scott, and a daugliter, Sarah Jane, both of whom died in middle life of pulmonary complaint inherited from their mother's family.
Sidney Philander abandoned coasting in middle life and bought a very nice property in Green- port, I .. I., where he improved upon nature by building a fine "basin" for the accommodation of pleasure boats and for purposes of sea- bathing, whereby he made considerable money. Ilis large shaded premises are now frequently used for park purposes, for which they are ad- mirably adapted. He died in 1882, leaving a widow and an accomplished daughter, Lila.
Elisha Sherry Rackett, father of our subject, went on the water at an early age, and followed the coasting business all his life, also owned an interest in many, and commanded several ves- sels. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1892, he had accumulated a competency. He was very loth to give up a sailor's life, but ad- vancing age enforced it, and lie then bought a small farm. Like his brother Jolin, he was of a literary mind, and greatly enjoyed the company of those who were cast in the same mold. He took an active interest in church matters and held responsible positions nearly all his life. Dur- ing the Rebellion he was a firm supporter of the Union, and at all times took a deep interest in the prosperity and upbuilding of the country, morally as well as financially. His zeal for the bettering of the race led him to accept the prin- ciples of the Prohibition party and he was a firm supporter of the same until he died. Believing in total abstinence, lie practiced it all his life, liis abstinence including tobacco in all its forms, and he was among the foremost in all temperance work.
The marriage of Elisita S. Rackett united hin with Caroline, daughter of Abraliam and Rebecca Tuthill, and a member of the seventh generation from the first settler in the town of Southold.
Jolm Tuthill. She was blessed with many nat- ural gifts and never tired of reading and hearing of the world's advancement. She always said she was born fifty years too soon. Her death oc- curred a few months after that of her husband. They had four sons and three daughters, namely: Leander B., C. Adelia, E. Irving, Elisha M .. E. Augusta, Alsina Rebecca and Myron C. Of these children Leander lives in Orient; Adelia married O. D. Petty, a prosperous farmer, and died August 17, 1885; E. Irving, a graduate of Wesleyan University and Albany Law School, first opened a law office at Greenport, then went to Chicago, Ill., but subsequently became a Con- gregational minister, and is now located at Or- leans, Mass; he had advantages that were not extended to the others and received a larger part of his father's fortune. Esther Augusta was an invalid for twenty years, but regained her health and now resides in Orient; Alsina R. was one of the brightest young ladies in Orient, but died in early womanhood; Myron was for some time a sea captain, but is now a mechanic at Orient.
Our subject was born at Orient, January 27. 1847, and received fair educational advantages during his youth. After attending the local schools, he entered Amenia Seminary in Dutch- ess County, N. Y., and later was a graduate in Eastman's Commercial College at Poughkeepsie. When fourteen years old he entered the store of J. Brown Young, his present partner, receiving $5 per month. In 1868 he was admitted as part- ner, and they have continued together for twenty- seven years, thirty-four in the same building.
For twelve years Mr. Rackett was an officer in the Methodist Church and took a deep interest in the Sunday-school, being a teacher for many years. In politics he has always been a strong Republican, and this did not please his father. who was an ardent Prohibitionist and thought that both of the old parties were the enemy of temperance; but he believed that more good could be brought about for this cause by the Re- publican party than by the Prohibitionists, hence he has been faithful to its principles. In 1802 he was appointed by a Democratic Town Board (of which Hon. Henry A. Reeves was
504
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Chairman) to fill a vacancy in the office of Justice of the Peace for one year. In 1893 he was nomi- nated by the Republicans for the same office for four years and received a majority of the fifteen hundred votes of the town, being the only Re- publican candidate elected, save one, viz .: James S. Dewey. He took an active part in getting an appropriation for a sea wall between Orient and East Marion, and $15,000 was secured from the state authorities for that purpose, and the wall was erected. He married Miss Jane A., daughter of Henry E. Dyer, who was one of the leading church men of Orient. They have two children, Milton, a young man of twenty-six years and a painter by trade; and Ethel, a bright young lady of eighteen years.
As a poet Mr. Rackett has become well known to the press, and his poems have been copied by papers throughout the United States. One of the most extensively quoted of these we give herewith :
THE OLD WOODEN WINDMILL.
At the foot of the lane in the land which I cherish,
By the side of the bay where the sea breezes blow, Stands the old wooden windmill whose fame cannot perish,
So long as the wheat and the cereals grow.
With its queer-fashioned head which is turned to the weather,
With Its arms ever open to welcome the grain, It binds both the past and the present together,
This old rustic windmill that's down by the lane.
With its octagon sides it looms up like a beacon,
While it guides the bold sailor safe over the main,
With its strong oaken pillars, there is nothing can weaken
This storm-beaten windmill that's down by the lane.
This old rustic windmill, This storm-beaten windmill,
That is down by the bay at the foot of the lane.
I have been in the towns where the wheels are kept humming,
In the buildings which money alone can main- tain,
But in all of their grandeur there's none more be- coming
Than the old creaking windmill that's down by the lane.
I have been where the men and the maidens keep busy,
Where spindles and shuttles are endless in chain, I have stood by their side till their work made me dizzy,
But 'twas not in the windmill that's down by the lane.
Then spare the old mill, with its quaint winding ladder,
With its stones and its hoppers and furniture plain, To see it decay would make all my life sadder,
This time-honored windmill that's down by the lane. This old creaking windmill, This time-honored windmill,
That is down by the bay at the foot of the lane.
G EORGE STRONG. Since the days of Adam, agriculture has been an honor- able, useful and most necessary occupa- tion, and the great majority of the men who have followed this calling have been useful and law abiding citizens. It has no more able follower than George Strong, whose shrewd, intelligent and far-seeing ideas have placed his affairs in a sound financial position and have won the re- spect of a large circle of friends. He was born November 15, 1860, at Commack, L. I., to the marriage of George and Marietta (Arthur) Strong. Mrs. Strong was born in Smithtown Branch, this county, and is the daughter of F. O. Arthur, who was also a native of that village, a dentist, and a large land owner.
Silas Strong, the grandfather of our subject, first saw the light at Commack, and in that sec- tion, in later years, became the owner of a large tract of land, and a man of means. His son, George, the father of our subject, died on the old Strong liomestead before the latter was born. The mother still lives and resides on the old Ar- thur homestead. Of the three children born to this estimable couple, two sons and a daughter, our subject was the youngest. He remained with his mother on the oldl home place until grown and received a fair education in the common schools. When twenty years old he secured employment
505
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
as order clerk in the gas fixture establishment of Mitchell, Vance & Co., at Broadway and Thir- teenth Street, New York, and filled that position very creditably for three years.
Returning to his old home, Mr. Strong mar- ried Miss Ada B. Call, May 2, 1889. She was born in Smithtown Branch, L. I., and is a daugh- ter of William E. and Samantha (Conklin) Call, both natives of that place. At the time of his marriage Mr. Strong erected a good house and barn on his present property, and since then has made many improvements. He has a neat farm of forty acres, on which he carries on general farming and market gardening. In politics he is independent, but is a Republican in tendency. He is an attendant at the Presbyterian Church, in which his wife holds membership, and is a young man who has made a host of warm friends. In 1894 he was elected to the office of Collector. He takes an active part in educational matters, is now holding the office of School Trus- tee, and for four years has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Education. He is also Treasurer of the Long Island Farmers' Company of Smithtown, and takes deep interest in all enter- prises of moment.
B ENJAMIN F. POWELL, of the village of Stony Brook, was born at St. James, April 12, 1853, and is the son of William C. and · Magdeline (Nostrand) Powell, being one of a family of seven living children, four sons and three daugliters. In 1876 he married Miss Sarah A. Jones, daughter of Rev. Daniel Jones, who was instrumental in the building of the present Stony Brook Methodist Episcopal Church. This reverend minister is now eighty-three years of age, and is living at Bridgeport, Conn., in the possession of very good health. His first ap- pointment was the charge in this village in con- junction with the one at Setauket, for a term of two years. This was in 1852, and he was the founder of the present church in 1860. Ile was in Port Jefferson in 1852-54; at Middle Island and
Fire Place in 1855-56; Smithtown Circuit in 1857- 58; Stony Brook, 1859-60; Orient, 1861-63; Port Jefferson and Setauket, 1864-66; Locust Valley, 1867; Coram and Brook Haven, 1868; Smitli- town, 1869-70; Stony Brook, 1871-73; Bellport and Brook Haven, 1875-77; Bakerville and Belleville, Conn., 1879; King Street, 1881-82-83; Coram, 1884; and Centerport, 1887. A ministerial record is thus outlined covering thirty-five years of active work stretching from 1852 to 1887, and including the most eventful period of American history, both in state and in church.
Our subject is the father of two children, Mer- win F., who died at the age of twelve years, and Benjamin Merton. He was born and reared on a farm, and started out for himself when he was nineteen years of age, going to New York, where he was at work about two years. On his return home, he engaged in the timber business, pur- chasing timber land or standing timber, and working it up into railroad ties or cord wood. He has developed a very extensive and profitable business, one that demands and receives his whole time and attention. For the last seven years he has made his home in this village, and is regarded as one of the most thriving and energetic business men of the place. In politics he is a Republican. Longevity is a family characteristic. The father and mother of our subject are still living at the ages of eighty-four and seventy-five. The father- in-law and mother-in-law are also living, ad- vanced in years. Grandfather Powell lived to be past ninety, and the youngest of his four children has passed seventy-two.
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.