USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 16
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Captain Halsey has circumnavigated the globe eight different times, his longest voyage extend- ing over forty-five and one-half months. Dur. ing his experience as seaman he has seen much of the dark as well as the bright side of life. It has been his privilege to save many a life from wrecked and sinking vessels; this was notably the case in Behiring Sea. Altogether, he was on the ocean about thirty years. It is worthy of note that he never lost a vessel that was under his management. In his chosen calling he was successful. and acquired an interest in the ship, "Tuscany." His interests were always those of the whaling trade. He has visited many strange lands and seen many strange people, and his home is a veritable repository of rare and curious souvenirs of his foreign travels.
Retiring from active business in 1867, Cap- tain Halsey at that time took up his residence on a farm about a mile from Bridgehampton, but later moved to the vicinity of Sag Harbor. and in 1800 came to his present place of residence. In politics he takes little interest, and has never had any aspiration for public office. He is a mem- ber in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. In 1865 he was a participant in the encounter
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with the pirate steanier "Shenandoah" in the Arctic Ocean.
The only surviving chil.1 of Captain Halsey be- came the wife of Henry B. Pierson November 14, 1871, and their union was blessed with two chil- dren, Edwin H. and Mary E. The son gradu- ated from the local schools of Bridgehampton at the age of sixteen and then entered the Wesleyan University. Mr. Pierson was born in New York City, November 9, 1848. At the age of fifteen he was a drummer boy in the Union Army, having enlisted June 17, 1863, in Company C, Eighty- fourth New York Infantry. July 12, 1864, he again enlisted, becoming a member of Company C of the Twenty-sixth Infantry. He received his honorable discharge October 29, 1864, and in 1868 came to this city, where lie was engaged as 'a farmer for one year. His death occurred De- cember 10, 1877.
O RANGE D. PETTY. It may be a ques- tion whether men make the times in which they live, or the times make the
men. This is certain, however, that they are moving along together and are closely related; and, whilst one's environments are not of one's own choosing, there is a self-determining power of judgment, of energy and acquisitiveness, by which the individual may not only take advantage of existing conditions, but may improve them, may create other and better conditions of suc- cess. Thus it has been with Orange D. Petty, whose life work has been farming and who is recognized as one of the most progressive and substantial agriculturists of Orient. He was born January 6, 1832, in Orient, where his father, Orange Petty, was born July 27, 1796.
The father selected farming as liis occupation in life, and being a man of energy and steadly habits, prospered in that calling. On the 6th of July, 1823, at Orient, he married Miss Harriet A. Tuthill, who was born there August 14. 1794, and who passed away July 23. 1871. To this union were born two children, Harriet, whose
birth occurred June 15, 1824, and Orange D .. our subject. The former became the wife of Moses A. Latham, and died in Orient. After an active and useful life of over fifty-five years, Mr. Petty passed away June 3, 1881.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm and there acquired habits of thrift and industry. which, when he came to face the serious work of life, were of incalculable value to him. His edu- cational advantages were fair during his youth. but much of his time was passed in assisting his father on the farm, on which he has made his liome up to the present time. In selecting ris companion in life he chose Miss Caroline Adelia Rackett, a native of Orient and sister of Elisha Rackett, also of that place. Her death occurred August 17, 1885. The two children born to their marriage were Eugene E., whose birth occurred in January, 1858, and Wilson L., born July 4. 1863. The former married Miss Lena Bower and the latter Miss Annie Robinson. Mr. Petty was married to his present wife, whose maiden name was Ella L. Eldredge, May 28, 1800. His success in life is largely due to his inflexible in- tegrity, liis marvelous foresight and his habits of thoroughness, perseverance and honesty. He has been identified with all enterprises oi im- portance in his section and takes a deep interest in all local affairs. In politics he adheres to the principles of the Democratic party.
W ILLIAM P. HOWLAND. In speak- ing of the different occupations in which the people of Suffolk County are engaged, we desire particularly to call atten- tion to the industry in which Mr. Howland is engaged, that of duck-raising, in Eastport. He was born in this community in 1836. to Martin Ray and Elizabeth (Hallock) Howland, the for- mer a native of this State, having been born near Delhi, Delaware County, about 1806. He spen: the first twenty-three years of his life in that place. and was well educated, graduating from the pub- lic schools of that place. He began in life for
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himself as a farm laborer, following this occupa- tion for many years, or until he had sufficient means to purchase property of his own. Fish- ing also engaged a part of his attention, this being a very lucrative business on Long Island. On coming to Suffolk County, he located in East- port, where he was married to Miss Hallock, who was born in this county. He identified himself with the interests of the community and showed himself to be a public-spirited, enterprising and useful citizen.
William P. Howland attended the schools of Suffolk County until a lad of seventeen years, when he determined to try life on the waters. Not unlike other boys of liis age, he was thor- oughly in love with this occupation and followed the sea for fifteen or twenty years. During the trying times of the late war he served as a mem- ber of the State Militia, rendering valuable and efficient aid to his company.
Although our subject has raised a large num -- ber of ducks for the past twenty years, he has not given this business his exclusive attention until within the past three years, and during 1894 raised over two thousand ducks. He keeps him- self thoroughly posted in this particular line of business and has learned many things which are of great value to him in this industry.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Mary Catherine Robinson was celebrated in 1859. At the time of her marriage she was residing in East Moriches, where she was well liked by all who knew her. Her union with our subject has re- sulted in the birth of four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Erastus, now living in Southampton; William G., who makes his home in Southold; and Eva, the wife of Monroe San- ford, of East Quogue. The wife and mother closed her eyes in death in 1863, and the follow- ing year Mr. Howland was married to Margaret Ocame, a native of Eastport. One son and two daughters survive of this marriage-Frederick Perry, whose home is in this county; Bessie and Lydia, who are at home with their parents.
In religious affairs our subject is a member in excellent standing of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is a man whose friends are many
and who possesses the confidence and esteem of all who know him. On attaining his majority. he supported the candidates of the Republican party, but in 1884 he found that he had reason to change his views, and since that time has affiliated with the Prohibitionists, and is looking anxiously forward to the time when rum will be voted out of existence. He has no wish to hold office him- self, but supports those who will best carry out his ideas of how public affairs should be gov- erned.
W ILLIAM H. PYE, one of the active and enterprising citizens of Eastport, is the son of William C. and Esther (Os- born) Pye, and was born in Rockland County, June 4, 1850. He was the eldest of a family of seven children, all but two of whom are still alive. His three sisters are Elizabeth, Ella and Ada. Ernest is a resident of West Chester, Pa., and Wallace is a citizen of Chicago.
William C. Pye was born about the year 1827 in Nyack, where he grew to manhood, and learned the carpenter's trade. This occupation he followed for a time in New York City, when he went to East Hampton, and there met and married Esther Osborn. Shortly after his mir- riage he removed to Eastport, purchased a grist- mill and settled down to milling, which he fol- lowed for a livelihood until 1869. He then re- moved to Kansas, and has made that portion of the West his home until the present time.
The subject of this writing was reared under the care of his parents, attended the local schools, and early learned the miller's trade. Here he spent his boyhood, but when he found himself able to take his own part in life, he determined to see something of the world, and to know some- thing of life beyond the grinding of daily grists. Being a youth of spirit and ambition, he struck out early, and at the age of seventeen turned his steps southward, and the year 1867 found him in South America. There he remained a little more than a year, and then came back to the States,
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and spent the next thirteen years in various oc- cupations and labors, mainly in the West.
In 1880 Mr. Pye returned East, and engaged on a coasting vessel plying between the city of New York and Jacksonville, Fla., and for the next four years was first officer of the "Jacob E. Ridgeway." He then resigned his position on that vessel and came to Eastport. In 1886 hie bought land, where he now lives, erecting a cot- tage, which served him as a home until some two years ago, when it was disposed of and the pres- ent handsome residence erected. Some five years ago he established a duck industry, which has become an extensive business, putting into market each year between ten and twelve thou- sand ducks and chickens.
Mr. Pye married Miss Fannie G. Tuttle Sep- tember 19, 1870. She was a daughter of Captain Tuttle, a native of this village. To this marriage there were born three children, of whom only two are now living, Elizabeth and Edward. Mr. Pye is a Republican in his party affiliations, and is an interested and active member of the Riverhead Masonic Lodge No. 645.
H ENRY L. PATTHEY. One of the most attractive and beautiful spots in Bay Shore is at the corner of Clinton and South Union Avenues, where the thrifty and en- terprising florist, whose name appears above, has established his business. Here lovers of the beautiful in the flower world are wont to resort, not only that they may purchase the bloom that they may need for especial cecasions, but that they may feast their eyes with visions of floral loveliness not often to be found, even by diligent search.
Mr. Patthey has been established on the island in this business for fifteen years, and in con- nection with it has done a very lucrative business as a landscape gardener. in these years lie has made for himself a name and a business standing that reflect much credit upon himself, both as a man of honesty and of ability in his chosen work.
He is a native of Switzerland, where he was trained to his work from early boyhood, and had a thorough practical preparation for it under tlie instruction of some of the most skillful florists and landscape artists of the Old World. He came to this country when he was sixteen years old, and secured work in the service of different people, where his ability with plants and flowers put him at once in charge of the garden and grounds.
Along the Hudson River, on the elegant estates that adorn the shores of that beautiful stream, Mr. Patthey found profitable employment. He may be considered in many respects quite a remarkable character. His father died three months before he was born, and he lacked utterly all paternal care, and as soon as he was old enough to do anything he had to work, but he can now look back and reflect that he has turned that labor to good account. His work was in the garden, especially in the ornamental part of it, and he has come to stand high as a gardener and artist in landscape work.
Mr. Patthey was twice married, his present wife being Maggie Corcoran, a native of this village. He is the father of six children, whose names are Fannie, Eugene, Blanche, Louise, Lavonie and Earnest. He is of the Protestant faith, but his wife and children are members of the Roman Catholic Church. He has made an excellent start in this village in his business, for which he has had a lifelong preparation, and has become the owner of six buildings here, each 72x16 feet, heated with hot water, and thorough- ly fitted up for his large and growing business.
W ELLINGTON POWELL is the own- er and proprietor of Powell's Livery Stable and a dealer in buggies, wagons and harness. He is a resident of Amityville, and was born at Farmingdale, L. I., February 16, 1862, being a son of Charles S. and Antoinette (Powell) Powell. His father, who was a mer- chant and real estate dealer, laid out the village
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of Farmingdale on land that had come into his possession, shortly after the building of the first store, of which he was proprietor. He died at the age of thirty-three years, and beside their two little ones, his widow was left with many cares and responsibilities. He was a man of fair com- mon-school education and had a certain business faculty which served him well and helped him ac- cumulate a competency. In politics a Democrat, he held a few minor offices in the gift of his party. Reared a Quaker, he remained true to the teach- ings of that faith until his death.
Of the Powell family, as land owners, there is certain knowledge that the farm on which our subject was born, and which his mother heired, had been handed down from one generation to another of the Powell family from the time it was originally deeded to one of the subject's an- cestors by the Indians. Our subject's grand- father, on his father's side, James Powell, mar- ried Phoebe Powell, daughter of Richard Powell, and our subject's mother was a daughter of Wil- lett Powell, and one of her sisters married John J. Powell, a brother of our subject's father. Wel- lington Powell has one brother, Charles S., who is unmarried and is engaged as a bookkeeper in Brooklyn. For a number of years he has held the responsible position of head bookkeeper for a large publishing house in that city.
Our subject was about nine years old when his father died. He remained at home and at- tended school until he was, sixteen, when he went to Brooklyn and was engaged as clerk in a store for one year. He then returned to Farmingdale and continued clerking in a store for about six years. On the failure of his health he removed to Cold Spring Harbor and engaged in the livery business, because of its taking him more in the open air. He spent his summers thus occupied at the place named and in the winter he went to Jacksonville, Fla. After three years, and on re- gaining his health, he removed to Amityville, and lias since prospered in his chosen business.
August 16, 1888, Mr. Powell married Miss An- nie L. Ketcham, of Amityville, daughter of Terry and Ruth (Van Nostrand) Ketcham. It was soon after that event that he came to this town.
His place of business was first located on Main Street where the Russell House now is, but after a year, in 1890, he began where he now is. He and his wife are the parents of three children, namely: John J., who was born in Amityville in 1889; Wellington, born in the same place in 1892; and Charles T., who was born in 1895.
Politically, Mr. Powell is a Democrat. He served as Postmaster at Farmingdale for four years, receiving his appointment from President Cleveland during his first administration. For several years he has been a member of the Fourth District Committee. Like his father. he is a be- liever in the Quaker doctrines. Fraternally, he is a Knight of Pythias and a charter member of the Royal Arcanum. Mrs. Powell's father. who is still living in Amityville, is a contractor and builder, and has been closely identified with the development of the village, and at one time owned considerable real estate in the northwest part of the town.
A LVIN PARTHE, a well known contractor and builder at Lindenhurst, is a native of Saxony, Germany, and was born on the last day of October, 1849, to Edward and Erstine (Schultz) Parthe. The father was a builder and an architect, and the boyhood of the subject of this writing was spent in a town of about four thousand people. He was nine years in the schools, and then began to learn the carpenter's trade. for this purpose serving an apprenticeship of three years.
In 1868 the two Parthes, father and son, came to this country and located at Breslau, now called Lindenhurst. In this place our subject was fair- ly introduced into the business world, and has been engaged here continually since that time. He took out naturalization papers as soon as the limits of the law were passed, and identified him- self with the Democratic party. He has served as town committeeman for several years, and was President of the Cleveland Club in 1892. Later he took the side of the "Anti-snappers" in
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local politics. In 1882-83 he was Clerk of the district, and served as Trustee of the school from 1887 to 1889. When the Union School was or- ganized, he was on the first Board of Education, and served as President in 1893, again in 1894, and for a third time in 1805. During this time the school made a marked improvement, and much of the credit for the advancement can justly be given him.
Mr. Parthe is identified with several of the fraternal societies of the village and has taken much interest in their growth. He is a member of William Tell Lodge No. 1899, K. of P., and in the years past has filled all its chairs, and is now serving as Past Chancellor. He was a charter member of Breslau Lodge No. 524, I. O. O. F., was the first Noble Grand, and is now Permanent Secretary. In the building up of the Fire Department, he has taken much interest, and helped to organize the Liberty Hose Com- pany, in which he held the position of pipeman for a few years. In 1893, he was chief of the department, but refused re-election.
The father of the subject of this article died in 1889 from the effects of a fall from a scaffold. He was sixty-five years of age, and had won a very good position as an architect. His people were among the first settlers of this village, as they came here when there were but a few houses erected, and most of those who were here then have since died or else moved away.
A USTIN B. GOLDSMITH. This name is a very familiar one in Suffolk County, as members of the family have been identified with this portion of Long Island since pioneer days. Tradition says that our subject is descended front one of three brothers who came to America ' from England and made his home on this island. Austin B. Goldsmith, who is now deceased, was for many years one of the prominent and sub- stantial citizens of the town of Southold. He was born on Long Island March 29, 1812, the son of Benjamin and Betsy (Terry) Goldsmith.
His education was very limited, as the schools of his day were often presided over by men and women who knew very little more than the pu- pils they were striving to teach. Young Austin attended those of his district, but, not content with the instruction given hint, gained much knowledge by reading and studying at home.
Mr. Goldsmith was married March 11, 1841. to Miss Esther Stratton, of East Hampton, and to them were born eight children, of whom five are now living, namely: George E., a resident of Mattituck; Carrie, the wife of William Waller. of Brooklyn; Benjamin S., whose home is also in the above city; Sidney A., who makes his home in New Jersey, and Harrison C., a representative citizen of this county.
Like many of the old-time residents of Long Island, Mr. Goldsmith was engaged in the whal- ing business for many years. During the go !! excitement in California, however, he joined a party going to that State, and the success with which he met in the gold fields gave him his start in life. On his return home, after an absence of three years, he located in the town of Southoil. where he engaged in farming, following this vi- cation until his demise, which occurred in March. 18So. In political affiliation he was a loyal Re- publican, and was interested in all enterprises which had for their object the upbuilding of his community. As one of the old residents of the county he watched its upward growth and deve !- opment, and until his death was ever one of the first to lend a helping hand in matters of public welfare and improvement. He was a man oi good business ability and upright character, and fully possessed the high regard of the entire com- munity.
Harrison C. Goldsmith, the youngest son of our subject, was born in this county February 24, 1857. He was here educated, and when ready to begin the battle of life on his own account went to New York, where he was engaged as a com- mercial traveler for a large flour and cereal house. He returned to his native home in 1891, and since that time has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, in addition to carrying on his other busi- ness. The tract which he owns is fifty acres in
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extent, and is made to return handsome profits for the care and labor bestowed upon it.
Harrison Goldsmith was married February 29, 1894, to Miss Louisa Case. Following in the footsteps of his honored father in politics, he, too, is a stalwart Republican. He is very successful in all his undertakings, and his pleasant and ge- nial way of meeting those with whom he comes in contact has been the means of his securing many sincere friends.
R ICHARD RHODES, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Bay Shore, is a prosperous and successful wood and coal dealer, having extensive yards on Third Ave- nue near the railroad. He has been a resident of this village now for some sixty-five years, and has seen it grow from a small rural hamlet, bear- ing the suggestive name of Sodom in his early boyhood, to its present remarkable development. In this work of upbuilding he has certainly per- formed his share, being always ready to help on- ward any measure that tends to the welfare of the general public.
The father of the subject of this sketch, Wil- liam Rhodes, was reared at Rockway, in the town of Islip, where he was a farmer of standing and ability. He was born at Rockway (now Rock- way Center) and lived to be eighty-four years of age, having had a wide and varied experience, and turning his hand to many kinds of labor, but making agriculture his main pursuit. Four times married, he was the father of thirteen chil- dren, our subject being the only child of his mother, whose name was Elizabeth Brower, and who died while her child was still an infant.
Richard Rhodes liad very little opportunity for gaining an education beyond the most rudi- mentary instruction in the district school in the primary branches. But he had a good teacher, who did well what she could for him, and he lias supplemented thie deficiencies of early training by close observation and extensive reading. At the age of eigliteen his father gave him his time,
and he began to work for himself, securing a place on a sailing vessel, running from this part of the island to New York City. He has fol- lowed the ocean for thirty years or more, and, by persistence and native courage, coupled with a wise judgment, he has become one of the largest oyster men of his day. It was an accepted fact that he would bring to market at any time the largest cargo of anybody engaged in the busi- ness. In the last year that he was engaged in shipping oysters he took upwards of thirty-five thousand bushels to New Haven.
When Mr. Rhodes had concluded to retire from the oyster and shipping trade, he turned his attention to the hotel business, and erected, near the railroad, a fine and attractive hotel, which he conducted for seven or eight years, then leased it for the summers, and sold it in 1892. While he was acting as its landlord it was run strictly up to date and had a very good patronage. He was well known on the water and in the oyster business, and bears a high reputation in the busi- ness world. He is now in the wood and coal trade, and has a very satisfactory patronage.
Our subject was married January 22, 1850, to Salina, a daughter of John L'Hommedieu, of this village. She died some eight years ago, leaving cight children. Urias, the oldest son, is mar- ried, has five children, and is occupied in sailing the yacht "Alaska" for Mr. Brooks; Norman is living at Norfolk, Va .; Jesse is in Bay Shore; Harry, a railroad man, living at Sag Harbor, is married and has two children; Ellen and Agnes are both residents of Brooklyn, the last named having married Harry Mckenzie, and being the mother of two children; Mary and Elizabeth died at the ages of eight and six years respectively.
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