USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 12
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In a few years the state established at Jefferson City a high grade school for colored students, to prepare thiem to be teachers among their own people. Mr. Smith was called to the principalship of this important institution, "Lincoln Institute," and enjoyed the friendship and co-operation of the state legislature and of the most prominent educators in the Southwest. The work brought about remarkable results for the elevation of the ignorant and degraded negro population. When through his labors, colored teachers were fitted to take charge, he went to Kansas and entered the field as a home missionary pastor in the small struggling prairie churches. His work has been. greatly blessed with frequent revivals in his dit- ferent pastorates.
While in Warrensburg, Mr. Smith's efforts were largely instrumental in the founding of a state normal school for white students. From this excellent institution, of which the famous educator, Prof. James Johonnot, was the first President, Clara Porter Smith graduated at the early age of seventeen. and was at once elected to a position in the public schools of the city of Topeka, Kan., being the youngest teacher ever appointed there. She taught with great success for two years and then resigned to carry out her ambition for higher attainments. She went to Oberlin College and graduated from that ia- mous institution in 1881 in the same class with her future husband. She accepted a position as instructor in Latin in one of the four state nor- mal schools of Wisconsin and was called from there to a position at a salary of $1.000 in the Nebraska State Normal School, her department being that of Methods in English Composition. together with Latin. This position she hell until her marriage.
As the wife of a pastor, Mrs. Colton has been prominent in all religious work in the states of Illinois and New York. She has been editor of a missionary paper and has written missionary booklets, which have been published in thousands of copies by the National Missionary Societies, and used by them in Congregational Churches throughout the land. She has also become widely known by her miscellaneous writings, being a favored contributor to some of the best known home and religious journals. Her greatest work, however, is that of author and inventor of a system of objective means for Bible study for children, called "Sunday Occupations for Boys and Girls," or "Hand and Eye Helps for Boys' and Girls' Bible Study." These consist, first, of a series of practical lessons which appeared as a two-years' series in the "Congregationalist" of Boston, where they attracted widespread and most favorable notice of both the religious and secular press; and second, of two inventions or Sunday games by which a vast amount of Scrip- tural knowledge is given in a way delightful to children and most helpful to mother and teacher. These are called "The Bible Time Ladder" and "The Puzzle Cross." They have become ex- ceedingly popular, having been sold in nearly every state in the Union and in foreign countries as well, for the special use of missionaries. This work is highly endorsed by scores of the most prominent religious workers in the land and by hundreds of parents. The well known Sunday- . school worker and author, Dr. Peloubet, says of them: "Your plans are all excellent. Your in- ventions are unique and meet real needs. I hope you will soon put your lessons into book form."
The widespread interest in this special work has led to Mrs. Colton being souglit for to give addresses before some of the most im- portant religious conventions and clubs of the country. Her duties as pastor's wife and mother of little children have made her feel that she must limit such public work, and she has declined many flattering invitations. She has, however, spoken before the Cleri- cal Club of New York City, the Brooklyn Sunday-school Union, and also received the high
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honor of addressing the annual meeting of the Boston Congregational Club, with Miss Lucy Wheelock, the kindergartner of national fame, and Mrs. Mary J. Hunt, the renowned temper- ance worker. In regard to this, a press notice aid: "There is no more cultured, critical and esclusive audience in the country than that rep- resented in the scholarly membership of the Bos- ton Congregational Club, and yet each of these three gifted ladies won the enthusiastic interest of their audience with the foreible and pleasing presentation of their different themes."
C APT. JOSEPH R. POTTER. To a per- son who closely applies himself to any honorable occupation which he has chosen as his calling in life, there can only come one result-that of success. Capt. Joseph R. Pot- ter has been reasonably successful from a pecun- iary standpoint in the conduct of his affairs, and his correct mode of living has gathered about him a large circle of friends and well wishers who ad- mire him as a liberal, generous and high-minded gentleman. The ocean has ever had an attrac- tion for the Potter family, and our subject, in starting out in life, selected "a life on the ocean wave" as his calling, his father and grandfather both being seafaring men.
Capt. William T. Potter, the grandfather, was a native of Connecticut and commanded a vessel on the ocean He died in Orient. Our subject's father, Capt. William T. Potter, Jr., was born in Orient, February 1, 1832, and when but thirteen years old went to sea. When twenty-two he was master of a vessel engaged in the coasting trade and continued as master of different vessels until 1880), when, after forty years spent on the water, he decided to retire. He accumulated quite a for- time and he is now enjoying the comforts that it brings him. For more than forty years he has been an active member of the Methodist Church, is a strong temperance man, and for several years has voted the Prohibition ticket. After retiring from life on the water he settled at Brooklyn,
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where he is connected with a Methodist mission. During the summer season he resides at Orient.
In the year 1853 the father was married to Miss Lucinda G. Latham, of Orient, and ten children were the fruits of this union: Alphonso, died in St. Louis, Mo., when twenty-two years old: Ed- mond A., is master of a four-masted schooner in the coasting trade: William H. is captain of a coasting vessel: George is in the fishing business in New London, Conn .: Ellis G. is engaged in the upholstering business in New York City: Estell married Alexander Tuthill, a business man of Brooklyn; Lulu and Edna are single, and Elias is still young. The three youngest children are with their parents in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Our subject was born in Orient, March 24. 1856, and when sixteen years old went on a voy- age with his father. When twenty-three years old he commanded a schooner in the coasting trade, and has followed the water ever since. He owns two large vessels, the "Luther A. Roby" and "Stella B. Capplin," the latter a four-masted vessel and 1,8oo ton burden. In the year 1881 Captain Potter was united in marriage with Miss Eveline Young, daughter of Jeremiah Young. and they have three interesting children. Nettie, Gertrude and Mary. They reside in a fine portion of the village and have one of the most beautiful residences there. Both the Captain and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN A. SANDFORD was born in Bridge- hampton in the year 1827, the son of James and Sarah (Hildreth) Sandford. He is the youngest of four children born to this marriage. and is the only surviving child of his parents. Benjamin and James died in the midst of the la- bors and activities of life, while his only sister died in infancy. The Sandfords first settled on this island about the year 1686. Jehiel Sandiord came abont that time, and purchased a tract of land, which has been in the possession of the iam- ily to the present time.
Our subject was born and reared on the farm.
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and here he remained until 1849, when he was one of a party of twenty-five to purchase a sail- ing vessel, which they called the "Cadmus." This was a famous vessel in its time, having been used to bring Lafayette across the ocean on the oc- casion of his last visit to the country he had been so influential in making free. It cost them, with the outfitting, over $5,000, but they felt they were well prepared for a journey to the land of gold. They left Sag Harbor in the month of October, 1849, and landed in San Francisco May 6, 1850. sailing around Cape Horn. Immediately upon landing, Mr. Sandford turned his face to the min- ing country, and engaged in mining and pros- pecting. His most important operations were conducted at Beaver Creek and Bear River, where he was occupied for some three years, be- ing fairly successful in the main object of his trip. He returned East by way of the Nicaragua route, and was only twenty-seven days in coming from San Francisco to New York. He soon lo- cated at Bridgehampton, purchased a farm, and, moving upon it, soon brought it into a high state of cultivation. Here he has carried on general farming some twenty years.
In 1856 Mr. Sandford was married to Miss Charlotte Ludlow, and they have one daughter. who is the wife of Frank Bishop, a farmer in this neighborhood. In early life Mr. Sandford was a Whig, but since the organization of the Republi- can party he has always acted with it in all im- portant matters. He is a member of the Metho- (list Episcopal Church, and is counted one of the solid and reliable men of the community.
E VERETT W. PENNEY, one of the rising young business men of Eastport, where he is engaged as a general merchant, com- bines independence and self-reliance with energy, and with these qualities is bound to make a suc- cess of whatever he undertakes. He is well known in this village, as his birth occurred here in 1864.
The parents of our subject were Edwin T. and
Alice A. (Robinson) Penney, natives of Moriches and Eastport respectively. The father spent his carly life on the sea and upon abandoning that life became associated with his brother-in-law, Webster S. Robinson, in business. They con- tinued together until the death of the latter gen- tleman, when Mr. Penney became the sole owner of the stock of goods. He was an earnest and energetic citizen, and, although thoroughly de- voted to his business, took an active part in the local progress and leading movements of his home neighborhood. Together with his excel- lent wife he occupied a high social position in Eastport and vicinity and was numbered among the best citizens of the county. Mrs. Penney de- parted this life in 18844 and her husband survived her only four years, when he, too, was called to the life beyond. 1
After carrying on his studies in his native vil- lage for a number of years, Everett W. was sent to Bridgehampton and later to Babylon, both of which places are noted for their excellent educa- tional advantages. It was his desire to thoroughly equip himself for carrying on the business in which his father was engaged, and in May, 1883, he entered into partnership with his father, the business being conducted under the name of E. T. Penney & Son. On the death of his father he assumed entire control of the enterprise, and is now one of the prominent and substantial citi- zens of the place. This business was established in 1839 by Parker S. Robinson, his maternal grandfather, and the firm name has since become a household word to the families of the county.
Mr. Penney was married in May, 1881, to Miss Edna Tuthill, daughter of George W. and Fannie G. (Jayne) Tuthill, natives of Eastport. Their union has been blessed by the birth of four chil- dren, named as follows: Eva D., Alice A., Beat- rice E. and Lester T. Both our subject and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church and they are actively engaged in promoting the good work of the Gospel. Mr. Penney is a member of Roanoke Lodge at River- head, F., &A. M., in which he takes a leading part. Politically, he is a Republican and a warm advocate of its principles. Financially prospered
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and blessed with an abundance of this world's goods, Mr. Penney is ranked among the leading citizens of Eastport, and is recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability. His high social standing and excellent business qualities have gained for him a large circle of warm and true friends.
F RANK D. PETERSON, M. D. The vil- lage of Cutchogue has upon its list of citi- zens able representatives of all the profes- sions. Our subject, who is one of the leading physicians of the placc, is a native of this county, having been born at Patchogue, June 22, 1868. His parents were Gilbert and Frances (Carter) Peterson, the latter of whom is of English descent. The Carter family was first represented in the mid- dle portion of Long Island many generations ago. The father is of Scandinavian origin, and was born on Long Island, while his father, William Peterson, was one of three sons who ac- companied their parents on their emigration from Sweden to America some time during the last century. One of the brothers made his home in Philadelphia, another in the city of New York, and the third chose the southern coast of Long Island for his future home, and it is from the lat- ter that our subject is descended.
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Gilbert Peterson is a man well known to nearly all the residents of Long Island, as for many years he was conductor on the South Side branch of the Long Island Railroad, and is said to be the first man to fill this position on the South Side. He is now well along in years and is living in com- fortable circumstances at Patchogue, which is most beautifully located on the banks of Great South Bay.
The subject of this sketch was given every ad- vantage to acquire a good education, and after graduating from the Patchogue Academy, in his sixteenth year, received such encouragement from those older than himself to study medicine, that he very shortly thereafter entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City, and, taking the usual course, was graduated from that
noted institution with the class of '90. In order that he might obtain more knowledge by actual experience, he spent some time on Blackwell's Island and then returned to his native county and entered upon his work at Cutchogue, his resi- dence here dating from October, 1801. He camie thoroughly equipped, and success has attended his efforts from the start, so that he now holds an honorable position among the influential and skillful members of his profession in the county.
In 1892 Dr. Peterson was united in marriage with Miss Kittie Conklin, daughter of William Conklin, of Patchogue. Dr. Peterson is a Repub- lican in politics, and socially holds membership with the Masonic Lodge at Patchogue. He is likewise associated with the Royal Arcanum and Paumonake Council No. 778, at the same place. He is a man of decided views of his own regard- ing most of the things of this life, but in him the community finds one who is every ready to do what he can toward its improvement.
J I OSHUA PURDY JERVIS, an energetic civil engineer and surveyor, of Amityville. was born near where he now lives, August 15, 1852. His parents, Seudder Carll and Mary (Purdy) Jervis, are still living, and are located ncar the residence of the subject of this article. When he was very young, they removed to Brooklyn and engaged in the milk business, re- maining there until he was fifteen. Meantime he attended school and improved his time so well that when the family moved to Lloyd's Neck, in this county, he was far enough advanced to be- come a pupil in Huntington Academy. His father having bought the old Jervis homestead, he lived on that farm for the next few years.
When Mr. Jervis was about eighteen years old, he began the study of navigation, as he had a natural taste for the water, his ancestors having for many generations shown strong sailor in- stincts. But this desire for the sea not unnatural- ly encountered the strong opposition of the fam- ily, and he saw, as he thought, a way to learn
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navigation by studying civil engineering. He began to qualify himself in this direction by studying algebra, geometry, trigonometry and surveying, and although he had no teacher, lie became so efficient that he drifted into the busi- ness of surveying, doing work for different par- ties in the neighborhood. He entered the Uni- versity of New York by taking the examinations for advanced grade. There he was a hard stu- dent until his health gave way, and he had to de- vote himself to its recuperation. When this was partly accomplished he took charge of the home school, which he taught for several terms.
November 22, 1876. Mr. Jervis married Miss Mary J. Miller, of this village, the daughter of John H. and Sarah A. (Newman) Miller, now residents of Brooklyn. Her father has had charge of construction work in the life-saving service and has superintended the erection of sev- eral stations. He was in the United States sery- ice during the Civil War as one of the engineer corps. Mrs. Jervis was only one year old when her parents left Jefferson County, Ohio, where she was born. to settle in Brooklyn, and she was fifteen years old when they came to this village.
With the exception of one year, when he was in the grocery business at Maspeth. Mr. Jervis lias resided at his present location since his mar- riage. He bought thirteen acres of land from his father in 1882, built a residence, and has made a very attractive homestead of what was then farm land. He has three living children, of whom Grace P., the oldest, was born at this place, April 12, 1879. Sarah Emma was born during the period of his grocery work at Maspeth, June I. 1883. Scudder Carll died in his early boyhood. while Charles Miller was born where his father now resides, October 14, 1885.
Mr. Jervis has been the surveyor for the Amity- ville Improvement Company, and has held a similar position for the Amityville Water Works. and also for the improvement of the land belong- ing to Mr. Clock. The lines between Suffolk and Queens Counties have been run under his direction. When the monuments on the county line were established he acted as the representa- tive of this county. He is a Democrat, and in
1876 voted for Tilden. In 1892 he was a candi- date for Supervisor on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. Interested in the affairs of fra- ternal societies, he is Past Chancellor of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias; Past Supreme Commander of the American Knights of Pro- tection; Noble Grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Amityville, and Past Coun- selor of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
The Jervis families of the United States and of British America are of English extraction, though originally from Normandy. The name of Jervis, according to the "Dictionaire de la Noblesse de France," par De la Cherrave Desbois et Badier. Troisieme edition, is French, the original name - being Gervais. Their seat was at Bretagne, and the first name found is that of Jean Gervais, who lived about the year 1400. In the work entitled "The Norman People, and Their Existing De- seendants in the British Dominions and the United States of America," appears the name of Richard Gervasius, of Normandy, who lived as early as the year 1180. In Parliamentary Writs. we find they were members of the English Parlia- ment as early as 1315. Sir Walter Scott, in one of his works, mentions the name. In 1681 Sir Humphrey Jervis was Lord Mayor of Dublin. The renowned British Admiral, Sir John Jervis. Earl St. Vincent, was a type of the English branch of the family.
That branch of the family to which our subject belongs was first represented in America by Sir Francis Jervis, who settled in Virginia in 1636. Thence he went to Salemi. Mass., and it is sup- posed that the brothers who came to Huntington were his sons. We find that they settled in Huntington before 1670, as they were then promi- nent in their several callings. Tracing the line- age from here, we find that Jonathan Jarvis had one child, William, and the latter had seven sons, namely: Isaiah, born in 1705. died 1737: Bena- jah, born 1710, died 1766; William, born 1712. died 1742; Henry, born 1714. died 1774: Jonathan, born 1718, died 1795: Augustus, born 1727, died 1756: and Eliphalet. Isaiah Jarvis married Hannah Whitman July 4, 1729. and had one child, Robert, born in 1735, died in 1833.
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SAMUEL S. BROWN.
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Robert married Sarah Ireland in 1760 and they liad nine children, of whom the eldest, Joseph Ireland Jervis, was born October 28, 1764. His first wife, Phebe Carll, whom he married in 1789. bore one child, Joel, who was an officer of the town about forty years, being Justice of the Peace for a quarter of a century. Joel was born October 24, 1790, married Elizabeth Smith, of Oakdale, November 20, 1815, and died Novem- ber 3, 1863. The eldest of their eight children was Scudder C. Jervis, who was born September 24, 1823, and is still living; December 22, 1847, he married Mary Purdy, and they have two sons, namely: George S., born March 21, 1851, now a resident of Newtown, Queens County, and Joshua P., the subject of this sketch.
S AMUEL S. BROWN. In June, 1840, this gentleman came to Northport, where he engaged in the merchant tailoring business, but later, his trade enlarging, he added a stock of general merchandise, and for some years carried on a large business. On accumulating sufficient means to permit the step, he retired, and is now passing the evening of his days in the enjoyment of the comforts his industry has accumulated. During the fifty-five years of his residence here he has gained a wide circle of friends, who respect him for his worth of character.
The father of our subject, Samuel Brown, Sr., was born at Eaton's Neck, N. Y., lived for a time in New York City, but went from there to Com- mack, where he followed the trade of a weaver, being the only one in the neighborhood. He died at eighty-two years of age. His first wife, Sarah Arthur, was born in Commack of Scotch parent- age, and died at the age of thirty-eight. Of that union nine children were born, namely: Alfred F., who married and is now deceased; Samuel S .; Benjamin F., of Northport; Paul N., who lives at Stony Brook; Sylvester F., of Eureka, Cal .; Thirza T., who died at nineteen years; Anson Hicom, living at Ocean Grove, N. J .; Melinda . 1 .. of Bridgeport, and John P., who died in infancy.
The second marriage of our subject's father united him with Mrs. Louisa (Wood) Craft, who had one child by her first union. This marriage resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Deborah, deceased; Louisa, who died in 1893: Grace, a school teacher, and John, deceased. The third wife of Samuel Brown was a Mrs. Hawkins. who lived to the advanced age of ninety years. Our subject was born in New York City June 14, 1820. and when an infant was taken by his parents to Commack, where he attended the public schools. At the age of thirteen he began to work on a farm, and for two years he farmed during the summers and attended school in the winter. During his last year on the farm he re- ceived $5.50 per month, and worked in the win- ter for his board, walking two miles from the farm house to the school.
At the age of sixteen our subject began to learn the tailor's trade at Commack, but after two years went to New York, in order that he might have the advantage of the best instruction. Two years were spent in that city, when he was con- sidered proficient in the trade. Beginning for himself, he made clothes for friends and acquaint- ances around Commack, who sent to him, know- ing that the work would be honestly done. At the age of twenty he came to Northport, and for twenty years worked diligently at his trade, from which, being frugal and industrious, he was en- abled to save some money. He then bought out another man and moved the two stocks together to the place occupied by the other. For fifteen years he continued work there, building up an excellent trade. Adding gradually to his stock, he finally drifted into the general mercantile trade, though he still continued his tailoring es- tablishment. Finally, wishing to retire, he tokl his clerk, Mr. Tillotson, that if he would get a partner he would sell out to them. This was done, and our subject retired.
The marriage of Mr. Brown March 8, 1843. united him with Nancy S., daughter of James F. Hart and granddaughter of Joshua Hart. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom we note the following: Helen A. is married to Benjamin T. Robbins, of Northport, and
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lias two children, Ulysses and Helen (see sketch of Mr. Robbins); Stafford W. died when six years of age; Sarah A. is Mrs. S. W. Conklin, of Huntington; Samuel Olin died in 1852 at the age of seventeen months; M. Lavinia is with her parents; Nannie S. is the wife of George B. Ackerly, of Brooklyn, and they have four chil- dren, Lavinia, Willard, Wesley and Samuel S .; Cassius M., superintendent of the down-town branch of the "Herald" office in New York City, makes his home in Brooklyn; Samuel S. died when young, and Ulysses G. when five weeks old; Lizzie S., the youngest of the family, is the wife of Samuel D. French, and the mother of two children, Helen M. and Dorothy E. On the 8th of March, 1893, Mr. and Mrs. Brown celebrated their golden wedding, being surrounded by their children, grandchildren and a large party of friends. This old couple are both enjoying fair health.
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