USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 17
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In politics, Mr. Rhodes is a Republican, but is not tied to the party, and will not vote for a rascal even if lie is on the ticket. He is a be- liever in honesty and fidelity to duty, and would have the political affairs of this country admin- istered on strict business principles. He has never joined any fraternal societies or associated Himself with any church, preferring simply to be a free man and follow the dictates of his own conscience. Liberty to think and act, hie hokls
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as a priceless privilege. He is a relentless op- ponent of all sorts of sham, assumption 'and ostentatious pride, and asks simply that those with whom he deals shall prove themselves to be what they profess by the exhibition of manly qualities in daily life.
G EORGE W. ROBINSON, a well known and representative farmer of the town of Southold, is a native of this county, and was born October 21, 1833. He was a son of Stephen and Caroline (Overton) Robinson, both natives of this county. The father of our sub- ject was a life-long resident of Manor, in the town of Riverhead, and died in the place where he had lived with so much credit to himself and comfort to his family and friends. He was the father of ten children, of whom all but one are now living. We give their names: Barney O., George W., Perry S., Alnieda, the wife of Gilbert Terry; Dolisca, wife of Edward Terry; Alonzo, William S., Huldah, who married James Haw- kins; Arthur M., deceased, and Carrie. He was a man of good character, and had been quite suc- cessful in a business sense. Politically, he was a Republican at the time of his death. The grandfather of our subject was Moses Robinson, a well known settler of the county in an early day.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man- liood in the town of Riverhead, and devoted him- self to agricultural pursuits. He was educated in the district school, which was a very indifferent affair, compared with what is now offered the children. It was, therefore, necessary for him to depend mainly on himself, and he is what we justly call to-day a self-made man. Yet it must be said that, though his education was so de- fective in certain important respects, he lias not permitted that defect to keep him ignorant of the progress of the world.
December 11, 1859, Mr. Robinson married Miss Emma J. Worthington. She was born in this county December 26, 1839, and is the daugh- ter of Linus and Electa (Raynor) Worthington.
Her father, who was a native of Massachusetts, came to the island when about thirty-five years old, married and settled near Riverhead, and lived there many years, departing this life at the home of his son-in-law, our subject, in 1883. Her mother was a native of this county, and belonged to one of the old families of the island. Mrs. Robinson has two brothers and one sister who are now living, her brothers being William A. and Edwin F. Worthington. Her sister, Agnes, is the wife of Benjamin Hovell.
To Mr. Robinson and his wife have been born three children, namely: Laura, who is the wife of Willis A. Tuthill; Alonzo F. and Lila. In 1863 they located on their present farm, and have continued there to this writing. He owns forty acres of land under a high state of cultivation, and has been quite successful in winning a living, and laying by for old age. In anything that looks to public improvement he takes much in- terest. He and his good wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Mattituck. He en- joys the distinction of being the pioneer farmer in Suffolk County to engage in the raising of cauliflower for the New York market, and by his enterprise in this direction he opened new ave- nues of productive labor to the owners of small farms.
H TOLMES W. SWEZEY. There is some- thing essentially American in the life and character of the gentleman who is the subject of this sketch. He was born at Swezey's Landing, town of Brook Haven, Suffolk County, July 22, 1832, and is a son of Charles and Charity Elizabeth (Swezey) Swezey, both natives of this county. The father was an extensive grocer in New York City, at the corner of Grand and Man- gin Streets, but he was reared in his native county and there remained until eighteen years old. He first started as a clerk in New York City, but eventually embarked in the grocery business and there passed the remainder of his days. He was an officer of the Supreme Court of the State at
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the time of his death, which occurred in 1849, when he was fifty-six years old.
The boyhood days of our subject were spent in New York City, where he received excellent ad- vantages in the public schools. He remained in the city until about nineteen years old and worked in the store with his father until the latter closed business, after which he clerked for some time. After the death of the father, he went to live with his grandfather, who had moved from Swezey's Landing to Middle Island, and there remained until after the latter's death, a period of about one year. His mother was living on the farm, and our subject remained with her a year. Later he took a position with his brother-in-law at Cold Spring, Berkshire County, Mass., becoming bookkeeper for the iron works, but remained there only a few months when he returned to his home.
From there Mr. Swezey .subsequently went to Port Jefferson, L. I., and clerked in a drug store for another brother-in-law for a year, when fail- ing health caused him to give up the position. Under the careful nursing of his mother he re- covered. November 12, 1855, he married Miss Alma H. Gildersleeve, who was born at Middle Island, and is a daughter of Ezra and Huldah (Ruland) Gildersleeve. After his marriage, Mr. Swezey remained on the farm and taught school in the winter in the home district.
In 1858 his brother-in-law received a Gover.1- ment position and wanted our subject to take charge of the drug store at Port Jefferson. This he did, and after a few months he purchased the store and carried on business about fifteen years. He met with unusual success and was very pop- ular as a druggist. He also held the office of Postmaster there for four years, and was Sur- veyor of Customs at the port of Port Jefferson for fourteen years. After selling out he accepted a position as clerk in the Custom House at New York, remained in the same for two years, and then received the appointment of keeper of the Suffolk County Alms House at Yaphank, being there at the time Stephen R. Williams was sup- crintendent. After remaining there about foar years, he was nominated by the Republicans for
County Clerk in 1883 and was elected, later re- elected. Upon selling his drug store he was also Collector of Taxes for two years in the town of Brook Haven and held other positions of trust and responsibility. At the expiration of his sec- ond term as County Clerk he moved to his pres- ent home. His first Presidential vote was cast for Col. John C. Fremont, and he has ever been identified with the Republican party.
Mr. Swezey has four children living. Bertha Adella, who died when seventeen years old, was a student at Mt. Holyoke, but was taken with typhoid fever and died after eleven days' sickness. She was an amiable and beautiful girl, and her death was a sad blow to her parents. The sec- ond child, Blanche Violet, was born at Port Jef- ferson, October 28, 1859, and received private in- struction, gaining a fine education. She mar- ried L. Frank Tooker, a graduate of Yale Col- lege, and now assistant editor of the "Century" magazine, and they have two children. Harriet Sophia, born at Port Jefferson, November 8, 1861, also received private instruction and is a stenographer and typewriter; Alice Mabel, born at Port Jefferson, November 19, 1864, married Sylvester M. Foster, has two children, and re- sides at Riverhead, L. I .; Sidney Holmes, born at the same place, January 16, 1872, is an excel- lent scholar, and is now a lawyer in New York City.
C APT. SAMUEL S. HAMMOND, who is the able proprietor of a livery and sales stable at Patchogue, is also carrying on a thriving business as a wood and coal merchant. He was born in this village, April 1, 1824, and is the son of Samuel S. and Charity (Edwards) Ham- mond.
The father of our subject was a tanner, currier and shoemaker, owning a large tannery on Patcli- ogue Creek, which he operated for a number of years. He departed this life about eighteen years ago, when in his eighty-fifth year. His birth oc- curred in Coram, and he came to Patchogue soon after his marriage. The parental family included
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nine children, of whom our subject was the sixth, and of this household three are now living. Francis A., who left home when seventeen years of age, has ever since resided in Utah. He joined the Mormons and for a period of twenty-seven years never saw his parents or brothers and sis- ters. One sister, Mary C., is the widow of Sidney Ackerly, and makes her home in Babylon.
When only twelve years of age our subject en- gaged on a sloop in the capacity of cook, from which position he was promoted until, when at- taining his majority, he became master of the schooner "Charity," which was engaged in the pine wood trade, plying between New York and Virginia. On disposing of this vessel Captain Hammond sailed the "Hiram Girard," which was built for Capt. Alfred Price, at Patchogue. With this schooner he was engaged in the packet trade to Baltimore for a period of four or five years, when he went to Port Jefferson, the great ship- building quarters, where he gave an order for the building of the "R. H. Huntly," named in honor of one of the noted lawyers of New York. He went out as master of this vessel and engaged in trade with Baltimore until 1860, when he took charge of the schooner "S. C. Evans," a large three-hundred-ton vessel, which was built for him at Port Jefferson. He was master of this vessel on her various voyages, cruising along the south- ern coast as far as Pernambuco in South America, and also on one occasion going to Europe.
In 1861 our subject commanded a vessel which visited the ports of Marseilles and Messina, and Sicily, returning loaded with fruit, which was dis- posed of in New York. Subsequent to this the Captain was engaged by the Government to carry supplies to various points, continuing this until the close of the war in 1865, and he afterwards en- gaged in the coasting trade with the same vessel until 1872. During that time he made a voyage to the West Indies and to points in South America. In the year last mentioned he decided to engage in some other business and quit the sea, after twenty-seven years spent as master of various boats and thirty-six years of continual service on the ocean. During that long period he never met with but one serious accident, this occurring
when entering New York Harbor, his schooner sinking. This caused a great deal of litigation and after fourteen years spent in lawsuits Captain Hammond settled in full for $22,000.
Our subject engaged in his present business in 1872, and is now in command of a good trade, both in his livery stable and coal yard. He was married in this village in 1853 to Miss Charlotte H., daughter of James Ketcham, who was form- erly proprietor of Lakeview Hotel, of Patchogue. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hammond, we mention the following: Herbert is engaged in the oyster business in Great South Bay; Adeline is the wife of Dowler Astoria, an engineer on an elevated road in New York City; Forest E. is en- gaged in the insurance business in New York City; Capt. Charles S. is commander of the schooner "J. H. Parker," engaged in the coasting trade; Ella M. died when in her eighteenth year; Lizzie married Nelson Terry, a resident of this village; Edgar E., who resides in Chicago, is en- gineer on an elevated road in that city, and Oliver R. is engaged in business with his father. Mr. Hammond is one of the public-spirited men who do a village good. He is full of energy and am- bition and displays unusual judgment in the man- agement of his affairs. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat and at all times supports the principles promulgated by that party.
JOSEPH IRWIN' was born on Division Street in New York City, May 18, 1843. His father, Thomas, was a native of the north of Ireland, where he remained until after his marriage, but in 1835 he came to this coun- try and located in New York City, establishing himself in the custom brokerage business, and was one of the first to open up this line of com- mercial activity. The business is still in operation, and is known as Thomas Irwin & Sons, the sons being Henry and James D. The father died in 1866, and left a comfortable fortune and the leg- acy of a good name to his children.
The subject of this sketch was the fifth in a fant-
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ily of eight sons, three daughters dying when young. Thomas is connected with the Custom House in New York. Henry, who is now con- nected with the old house founded by his father, was a Captain in the Forty-seventh New York Regiment. James D. is a member of the old house, as noted above. Frank is a business man of Huntington. William served in the Seventh Regiment of New York, which was made up in Brooklyn, and was Adjutant of the Forty-seventh during the Civil War. John J. was First Lieuten- ant in the Ninety-first New York Volunteers, and died at Key West during his term of service. George was in his father's office until his death, while he was still a young man, only twenty-two years of age.
When our subject was small, the family moved to Williamsburg, which is now a part of Brook- lyn. There his boyhood days were spent and his education obtained. Later his father retired to a farm in the town of Huntington, near Centerport, where the balance of his days were spent. Here our subject was engaged for six years in farming. He then embarked in the general mercantile bus- iness at Centerport, in which he continued until 1879. During this time he was Postmaster under both administrations of General Grant. In 1879 . he came to the village of Huntington, and en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business, which he has continued to the present time, being one of the most successful men in this line on Long Island. Aside from this, he has been asso- ciated with many of the leading interests of the village, being Vice-President of the Huntington Steamboat Company, Treasurer of the Hunting- ton water works, Secretary and Treasurer of the Long Island Fair Grounds Association, Director of the Huntington Bank, Trustee of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Society, and is interested in everything that would tend to build up the village of Huntington.
Fraternally Mr. Irwin is a Mason, and is a Trustee of Jeptha Lodge, of which he was at one time Master. He is also a member of the Amer- ican Legion of Honor, and was its Commander for three years, and District Deputy Grand Con- miander for the same time. He has been Commis-
sioner of Highways for the town of Huntington for three years. In politics he is a Republican, and though never seeking official honors, his friends are sure that he could have won them if he had only expressed the desire.
In June, 1864, Mr. Irwin married Miss Mattie A. Lewis, daughter of Joseph C. Lewis, who for some years was a leading business man in Center- port. Our subject and his wife have two children living, one child, Clarence F., dying at the age of eighteen years. Thomas E., who is associated with his father in business, married Julia N., daughter of Isaac Adams, of Huntington, and two children, Clarence R. and Helen Adams, have been born to them. The daughter, Dasie, was well educated in the schools of Huntington, and is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin are both members of St. John's Episcopal Church of this village, where he has been vestryman for eighteen years and Treasurer for thirteen years. They oc- cupy a fine home on the hill in the eastern part of this pleasant village.
E LLISON W. HURD deals extensively in men's furnishing goods at Amityville, and, although he has met with success in other branches of endeavor, he seems peculiarly fitted for the one he now conducts. He was born in New York City, December 13, 1859, to the union of Ellison and Mary J. (Tawler) Hurd. The father is a native of central New York, but went to New York City when a small boy and there re- ceived his education. Later he learned pharmacy and has since dealt in drugs, now being actively engaged in business in Bedford Station, West- chester County.
During his youth our subject attended the pub- lic schools of New York City and graduated from the grammar school, where he studied the rudi- ments of Latin. When about fourteen years old he entered a law office in New York City and studied law for two years. As his father then needed his services in the store, he gave up his studies there, and as he already had a good knowl-
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edge of pharmacy, he entered the store, where he remained for some time. When eighteen years old he entered the College of Pharmacy in New York City and graduated in 1881. Following this he remained in the drug store all the time and earned enough to pay all his expenses while at school. Later he became the owner of a store in New York City, which.he conducted success- fully for five years.
Mr. Hurd had married, June 12, 1884, Miss Caroline M. Spencer, a native of New York, and the daugliter of Sylvanus V. and Ann Sarah (Lewis) Spencer. They have two interesting children, Violet, born in New York City August 17, 1885, and Mildred W., born in the same place April 20, 1889. While in business in New York Mr. Hurd built a residence in Amityville, and on account of poor health moved his family here, but still continued his business in New York. Later he sold out and opened up his present bus- iness in 1892.
In politics Mr. Hurd is a Republican, as is also lris father, and his first Presidential vote was cast for James A. Garfield in 1880. He is President of the Board of Health and Registrar of Vital Stat- istics; is one of the organizers and charter mem- bers of Amityville Co-operative Building, Loan and Savings Association, having been Secretary from the start; and is a member of the Royal So- ciety of Good Fellows, who have their lodge in New York.
C APT. CHARLES A. PIERSON. That enterprise, push, industry and determina- tion necessary to a successful career in any business are possessed in an eminent degree by the subject of this sketel, whose high reputa- tion and wide acquaintance in social and business circles stamp him as a gentleman with whom business relations must be pleasant and profit- able to all concerned. The practical value of shrewdness and discrimination, combined with strict probity, is exemplified in his prosperous condition.
Captain: Pierson was born in Bridgehampton,
December 1, 1834, and is a son of Silas and Betsey (Brown) Pierson, natives of the same place. The grandfather, Matthew Pierson, was born in Bridgehampton, and the great grand- father, Abraham Pierson, was born at Sag Har- bor in 1693. Henry Pierson, the great-great- grandfather, was a native of Massachusetts and was the first member of the family to locate in Suffolk County. He died in 1701.
Our subject was one of ten children, of whom one died in infancy. The others are: Sammuel B., Hirain, Augustus, Lawrence, George, Caleb, Charles A. and Caroline, wife of George Hil- dretli, of Sagponack. Silas Pierson was a cooper by trade and when a young man went to sea, where he followed his trade on a whale ship for some time. During the latter part of his life he was engaged in farming in Suffolk County and there died in 1860. His wife passed away four years later.
Capt. Charles A. Pierson was born and reared on his father's farm and there remained until seventeen years old, receiving his education in the common schools. He then started out on the whaleship "Edgar," as a sailor and for about four years was in the North Pacific, where the ship was wrecked in 1855. In the spring of the fol- lowing year he returned home, remained there a short time, and then went on the whaleship "Splendid" as boat steerer, in which capacity he served for sonre tinte, but was subsequently pro- moted to mate. He remained with this vessel for about four years and returned with three thou- sand and two hundred barrels of oil.
After remaining at home one year Captain Pierson went to New York City and became mate on a vessel bound for Wilmington. N. C. In 1863 he took charge of the vessel "Jouas Smith," as captain and commanded it until 1865. when he purchased an interest in the "George MI. Smith," a merchant schooner. Nine months later she foundered in mid-ocean, three hundred miles of Cape Hatteras. > She was loaded with shot and shell and sprang a leak, but Captain Pierson remained by the ship for eight days, when he was picked up by the brig "Nellie Johnson," of Nova Scotia.
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Returning to New York City Captain Pierson took charge of the schooner "Helene," loaded with lumber and bound for North Carolina. She became water-logged, but he succeeded in get- ting her back to port and then after having her put in fair condition, as he thought, took her out with fourteen thousand and five hundred bushels of grain, about two-thirds of which was dam- aged on arrival at port. Following this he took charge of the schooner "Charles Dennis," and made a voyage to Galveston, Tex. Then for about a year ran between Galveston and Pensa- cola, Fla., and in 1867 returned home. He gave up the sea at that time and came to Bridgehamp- ton, where he has since made his home. He has been engaged in farming for the most part, but has also dealt quite largely in fertilizers and farm produce.
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Aside from the above mentioned enterprises, Captain Pierson owns an interest in eighteen vessels, is President of the Sag Harbor Brick Company, Director of the Southampton Bank and also Director of Peconic Bank. He is Trus- tee of the Home for Feeble Minded Children at Amityville, one of the Directors of the Amity- ville Land Improvement Company, and President of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Church of Bridgehampton. In politics he is a Democrat. He has been twice married, first in 1857 to Miss Fannie (Sayre) Pierson, whose death occurred in August, 1878. September 10, 1889. he married Miss Ellen Cook, daughter of Lodowich and Elizabeth (Ludlow) Cook.
E DGAR MILES, M. D., has had a long and useful career, being one of the leading physicians of Sag Harbor and Suffolk County. He has a large general practice and stands high among his professional brethren. Born in Cheshire, Conn., June 4, 1824, he re- mained in his native place until reaching his ma- jority, when he came to Long Island and has made this section his place of residence for the
past fifty years. He had formerly been granted a diploma by the Connecticut Medical Society and had practiced for a time at Meriden, that state.
When Dr. Miles came to Sag Harbor the place contained a population of three thousand inhabitants, and at that time about sixty-five whaling vessels made this their port. Now, ho ;- ever, all of them are gone, as the business is no longer prosecuted from this port. Dr. Miles at once engaged in practice here and so skillful and successful was he in the treatment of difficult cases that he soon built up a very paying patron- age. He has practiced in the Eclectic School of Medicine, which method has become very popu- lar among the physicians of to-day. He keeps himself well informed regarding the latest dis- coveries in the treatment of disease and is highly regarded by his brethren throughout the island. For a period of fifty years he has been the pro- prietor of a drug store and is therefore enabled to supply his patients and customers with the best and purest medicines. He has been otherwise interested in local affairs and has invested some money in steamboating, etc.
The Doctor is a firm believer in Republican principles and has voted for the candidates of this party ever since its organization. He was clected Coroner of the county and, although al- ways a very busy man, discharged the duties in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. His family attend the Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Miles was married, May 4, 1845, at Meri- den, Conn., to Miss Frances E. Lewis. On the 4th of May, 1895, they celebrated their golden wedding, on which occasion they were congratu- lated by hosts of warm friends who carnestly cicsire that they may yet see many years of hap- piness and usefulness. To the Doctor and his wife there were born six children: Edgar L .. who is in the drug store with his father; Ida R .: Clarence C., a successful physician of Greenport ; Annie S. and Mary L., at home, and Harry S .. a well known oculist and aurist of Bridgeport. Conn. The daughters are accomplished artists and have adorned their home in a most beautiful manner with paintings and fancy articles. They
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