USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 20
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At the age of twenty-four Mr. Latham estab- lished domestic ties. December 29, 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Petty, who was born in Orient, June 15, 1824, and died here February 11, 1878. She and her brother, Orange D., who is a resident of Orient, were the only children to attain mature years in the family of Orange and Harriet (Tuthill) Petty. By this mar- riage our subject had six children, of whom we note the following: Isabella M., who was born February 6, 1844, became the wife of George HI. Terry, of Orient; Melvina A., born August 23, 1846, married Richard Tucker, of Saybrook, Conn .; Alonzo was born November 10, 1849, and died October 2, 1852; Henrietta D., born No- vember 15, 1852, is the wife of John Waterhouse,
of Greenport; Fred L., whose birth occurred July 9, 1859, married Miss Fannie A. Luce and resides in Orient; and Elmer E. was born January 9, 1863, and chose as his wife Miss Jennie Beebe, of Orient.
The second marriage of our subject took place at Northville, town of Riverhead, November 19. 1878, his wife being Miss Sarah L. Luce, who was born in that place, May 3, 1838. Her father, Hal- lock Luce, was born in Northville, May 2, 1801. and died May 29, 1880; her mother, Sarah Fan- ning, was born in Flanders, town of Southamp- Of their seven children, the eldest died in infancy: Dency J., who was the wife of N. W. Young, died September 1, 1893; Eleazer and Alfred died at the ages of eleven and fourteen months re- spectively : Hallock F. is a farmer at Northville; Leander H. died September 12, 1861 ; and Sarah L. is the wife of our subject. One child blesses this union, Ida Luce, who was born August 15, 1879.
Since the organization of the Republican party Mr. Latham has given his ballot and influence to its candidates and principles. He has held some local offices, discharging every duty as a citizen in an honest and law-abiding manner. For nearly a half century he has been identified with the Greenport Baptist Church, and his conduct through life has been at all times consistent with his religious professions. Farming has been his chief occupation, but he has also engaged in fish- ing to some extent. He is well known through this locality and is regarded with esteem as a genial, persevering and industrious man.
M ARTIN LEHR. Among the worthy Ger- man-American citizens of the town of Southold is this gentleman, who has been a resident of Long Island for over twenty-eight years, during which time he has been actively in- terested in the welfare of his community. Mr. Lchir was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, De-
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cember 8, 1849, and is the son of Joseph and Mar- garet Lehr, also natives of the Fatherland, where they were content to pass their entire lives.
The father died when Martin was a lad of seven years, and the year following this sad event he started to school, continuing to reside with his mother until nineteen years of age. At that time he desired to see something of life in America, and March 14, 1868, I:e set sail from his native land, taking passage on the "Union." After an ocean voyage of fourteen days the passengers of this vessel were landed in port at New York, whence our subject made his way directly to Long Island. He found no difficulty in obtain- ing employment, and for several years worked as a farm hand. Subsequently he worked at what- ever he could find to do that was profitable and honorable, and in 1875 located on the farm where he now lives. It is twenty-five acres in extent, well cultivated, and under his efficient manage- ment is made to produce good crops.
December 18, 1873, Mr. Lehr was married to Miss Annie Leicht, and to them was born a son, John H., now a young man twenty-one years of age. After procuring a good education in the public schools, he took a course in the business college at New London, Conn., and is now teach- ing bookkeeping in Southold Academy, in addi- tion to which he is interested in the insurance business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lehr are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church at Southold. The former is a Democrat in politics, although not very active in its ranks. Personally he numbers many warm friends in all circles, and as he is very good-natured and of a happy disposi- tion, his companionship is very much coveted. Mrs. Lehr is the daugliter of Ernest and Catherine (Bruder) Leicht, natives of Germany, where also her birth occurred. She was fifteen years of age at the time of coming to America and was there- fore given a good education in her native tongue. She rapidly acquired a knowledge of English after making hier home in America and is now recognized as one of the intelligent and esteemed ladies of her community. In 1887 she returned to the Fatherland, visiting relatives and friends, whom she had not seen since she was a little girl.
Although very glad to renew these friendships, she is perfectly contented to make her permanent abode in this country, and has become well ac- quainted with the customs and habits of the Amer- ican people. Both she and her husband occupy a high place in the regard of the best people of the county, among whom they have passed the best years of their lives.
B ENJAMIN DRAKE LATHAM is one of the well-to-do farmers of the vicinity of Orient, and his life is of that manly type that has been described as "four-square to all the winds that blow." His home has always been in this locality, and he is a member of one of the pioneer families of Suffolk County. Of his grand- father, Jonathan Latham, further mention is made in the sketch of Daniel T. Latham, on another page of this volume.
The parents of our subject, Elias and Hetty A. (Young) Latham, were lifelong residents of tlie island, and the father died in Orient, July 3, 1877. The mother, who was born in Orient, November 18, 1810, was reared to womanhood in that place, and by her marriage became the mother of five children, of whom Benjamin D. was third in order of birth. Of the others we note the following: Frances M. is the wife of Orange S. Webb, of Greenport; George E., who during the Civil War became a member of Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York Infantry, was wounded in a skirmish at Deveaux Neck, S. C., and died not long afterward from the effects of his injuries; Rhoda married Orville HI. Terry, of Orient; and Alice G. is the youngest.
The subject of this sketch was born in Orient, November 14, 1841, and here was reared to :an- hood, receiving such educational opportunities as the neighborhood schools afforded, which, while meagre in comparison with that offered in the present day, was nevertheless practical. He remained at home, assisting his father on the farm, until his marriage, when he settled at his present location. October 20, 1874, he was united
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in marriage with Miss Mary L. Corwin, who was born in Orient, April 24, 1849. She was the eld- est of the six children of William G. Corwin, of Mattituek, and Elizabeth R. Brown, of Orient, the latter being a daughter of the late Deaeon Peter Brown. Her brothers and sisters were Frank H .; Charles H., deceased; Willis G .: Grace I., wife of Elmer E. Vail; and George I)., de- eeased.
Mr. and Mrs. Latham are the parents of four children, whose names and dates of birthi are as follows: Elias Vernon, September 20, 1877: Wil- lis Elton, Mareh 20, 1881; George Embree, De- eember 14, 1889, and Benjamin Dwight, August 26, 1892. In sehool matters Mr. Latham has taken a deep interest and has served as Trustee. In his party belief he is a Republican, but appreciates manhood and firmness of eonvietion in whatever party it is found. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, in which he has held the position of Trustee, and at present is Deacon.
D ANIEL TAUT MACK. By the death of an upright and honorable citizen, the eommunity sustains an irreparable loss, and is deprived of the presence of one whom it has come to look upon as a guardian, benefactor and friend. Death often removes from our midst those whom we ean ill afford to spare; whose place it is difficult to fill; whose lives and actions have been all that is exemplary of the true and thereby really great eitizen, and whose whole eareer serves as a model to the young and as a rejuvenation, as it were, to the aged. Such a eareer sheds a brightness and a luster around everything with which it comes in contaet. It ereates by its usefulness and general benevolence a meniory whose perpetuation does not depend upon brick or stone, but upon the spontaneous and free-will offering of a grateful and enlight- ened people.
By the death of Daniel Taut Mack, July 21, 1895, Suffolk County lost one of its most re- spected and prominent eitizens. Born in New
York City, August 9, 1819, he thiere spent his early life and seeured a good practical education. Later he began elerking in a stationery store and was thus employed for two or three years, after which he began as a painter in the vicinity of Brooklyn. While a resident of New York City he married Miss Bridget MeEnroe, a native of the Emerald Isle, and afterward he and wife took up their residence in East Marion, L. I., where he followed the business of a painter until his death. In addition to his trade, he also farmed to some extent and was the owner of seventy aeres. He lost his wife on the 8th of March, 1878.
Three children comprised the family of Mr. Mack: Mary Elizabeth, born in Newtown, Queens County, September 18, 1854, became the wife of Atwood E. Brown, resides in East Marion, L. I., and is the mother of eight children: Addie E., Herbert R., Eva C., Daniel F., Hattie A., Le- ona L., Annetta G. and Wayland C. The second child born to Mr. and Mrs. Maek was Carrie, who died August, 1883. Robert, the youngest, was born Deeember 5, 1859, and is now the adminis- trator of his father's estate and earries on the farm.
Robert Mack, the father of our subject, was a native of New York City, but in early manhood purchased a farm in Oyster Bay, L. I., where he made liis home until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary E. Moore, was a native of East Marion, but died in New York City. This is one of the representative families of the section.
C APT. ISAAC LUDLOW. In order to perpetuate for coming generations the record of one who was very prominently connected with the growth and prosperity of Suf- folk County, but who has now passed to his final reward, a brief aecount of the life of Capt. Isaac Ludlow is placed on the pages of this volume. He was a public-spirited citizen of Bridgehamp- ton, in harmony with advanced ideas, intelligent progress and one always liberal in his contribu- tions to aid the social, material and religious ad- vancement of his section. He was born in 1807
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in the village of Bridgehampton, Long Island, of which place his father, Isaac Ludlow, was also a native.
In that village our subject passed his boyhood and there received liis education in the common schools. When but fourteen years old he went to sea as a cabin boy and gradually rose from that position until he commanded a vessel. He was principally in the South Atlantic and in 1853. while on the coast of the island of Amsterdam and during a terrific storm, he saved one hun- dred and five passengers from an English vessel that had been wrecked. He commanded differ- ent vessels after this and continued on the ocean until about 1857, when he retired to Bridgehamp- ton and there passed the remainder of his life, dying December 7, 1870. His remains are in- terred in Bridgehampton cemetery. When a young man he married Miss Phoebe Pierson, whose birth occurred in 1808, and of the nine chil- dren born to this union, seven daughters and two sons, six now survive. Mrs. Ludlow enjoyed re- markable health until her last sickness, August 23, 1894, when she died, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.
Mr. Ludlow's life was a successful one. His career was upright and honorable, and for many years he was a prominent member of the Presby- terian Church. Socially he was a member of the Masonic fraternity and politically a Republican. We find no one more worthy of mention or whose life of usefulness is more worthy to be chronicled than this gentleman, whose honesty and integrity were proverbial in the community, and of him it may well be said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
S AMUEL H. MILLER was born in the town of Brook Haven, November 7, 1853, on the farm where he now lives. Here also his father, Edwin N., was born October 18, 1821. His grandfather, Charles, who was born January 1, 1797. was the first to settle upon this place, which he did prior to the year 1823. He married Cor-
inna Davis, by whom he had two children, Edwin N., and a child that died in infancy.
The Miller family has an ancient and honorable history on the island. It begins with one John Miller, who came from England and located in East Hampton almost three hundred years ago. His son, Andrew, selected what is now Miller's Place, a considerable and attractive village, as the scene of his farin life, and his possessions en- braced the territory that is now found in that vil- lage. He had a son, Andrew, who had a son, Willian, and the next generation was headed by a son, Timothy, whose son, Nathaniel, was the great-grandfather of our subject.
Edwin N. Miller, noted above, married Cath- arine Ophelia Hopkins, and was the father of six children: Ellen M. is the wife of Elbert M. Davis; Nathaniel D. is engaged in manufacturing in Connecticut; Charles E. is a resident of Port Jef- ferson; Catharine L. died in 1872; Luetta J. re- sides on the old homestead, and is a teacher of music. Here the father spent his life, dying on the farm, October 23, 1872, and his remains are at rest in Mt. Sinai Cemetery. He was a member of the Congregational Church and a man of most exemplary character. His wife was born Jan- uary 25, 1819, and died in 1888, almost complet- ing seventy years.
Samuel H. Miller, the subject of this writing. married September 18, 1878, Miss Alila Tillotson. whose parents were Richard and Julia A. Tillot- son. Our subject has two children, Grace J., born September 18, 1879. and Alila M., born May 25, 1881, both of whom are living. Mr. Miller re- ceived his education at Miller's Place, supple- mented by a year at Schooley's Mountain Semi- nary, New Jersey. His stay at the excellent school in that place was cut short and he was called home by his father's death. This termin- ated his schooling. He took charge of the home- stead farm, which he has continued to operate to the present time. He is the owner of a fine estate of about two hundred and fifty acres, much of which is cultivated. He is regarded as a repre- sentative young farmer of Brook Haven, and his townsmen are justly appreciative of his character , and standing, a fact evident by their selection of
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him to act as Assessor and Trustee of the town.
Politically Mr. Miller is a Republican, and re- ligriously is a member of the Congregational Church. For over twenty years he has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school, has been School Trustee for ten years, besides holding minor offices.
T HERON L. SMITH. No name is more familiarly known on Long Island than that of Smith, and it is so thoroughly inter- woven with its history and progress that a work of this character would be incomplete without fre- quent reference to some member of the family. In giving a history of the prominent citizens of Smithtown mention must be made of Theron L ._ Smith, for he is deservedly ranked anrong the representative men of the county and among its most successful and progressive merchants. He is at present holding the office of Supervisor of Smithtown, and is discharging the duties incum- bent upon that position very creditably. A na- tive of that village, he was born February 2, 1859, to the union of Moses R. and Mary H. (Wood) Smith, both natives of Suffolk County. The grandfather, Daniel Smith, was the son of James Smith, of the "Rock" Smith family. Daniel followed the occupation of a farmer all his life and was fairly successful. He was the father of the following children: Daniel, Amelia, Moscs R. and Charles C., of whom only the last two are now living.
Moses R. Smith was born in the town of Islip December 7, 1815, at Hauppauge, and at an early age became familiar with the duties of the farm. After reaching mature years he selected that call- ing as his chosen one through life, and tilled the soil most industriously until 1888, when he moved to Smithtown, and here he resides at the present time. The mother of our subject was born at Smithtown in 1818 and is also living. Mr. Smith was formerly a Whig in politics, but upon the or- ganization of the Republican party he joined its
ranks. He has held a number of local offices: in fact, he is nearly always in an office, being pos- sessed of much more than the average intelli- gence, and he is one of the most honored and highly respected citizens of the county. For years he and his worthy companion have been members of the Presbyterian Church, and for twenty-five years he was Trustee, Clerk and Treasurer of that church. For four years he was Justice of Sessions. His career as a public servant has been above reproach, as will be seen by the length of time he held various positions. For ten years he was Assessor of the town of Islip, twelve years Justice of the Peace, twenty years Trustee and two years Supervisor.
Of the six children in the parental family. five still survive: Emmett W., born in 1844. is now deceased; Wilmot M., ex-District Attorney and ex-County Judge. is now Supreme Judge of the Second New York District; Herman T. resides in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Theron L. is our subject : Mary C. is the wife of J. Newel. and Ellen L. is the wife of E. L. Arthur. Farm work occupied the attention of our subject during his youth, as did also his duties in the district schools, and he was twelve years old when his father moved to Huntington to educate his children. In 1877 Theron L. graduated from Huntington Academy. and when nineteen years old he entered the store where he is now in business. Some time before his father had purchased an interest in the busi- ness, and our subject carried this on for some time. The father then purchased the store and conducted it under the title of M. R. Smith & Co .. the eldest son, Emmett, being a partner.
In 1881 Theron L. Smith and his brother Her- mon bought the father's interest and the firm name became H. T. Smith & Co. and so continued until 1892, when Theron bought his brother's interest. Since then he has conducted the business himself. and has a large and select stock of goods. He handles lumber and all kinds of building mate- rial, also coal, and makes a specialty of contract- ing for building. having at the present time some large contracts on hand. Three years ago Mr. Smith put in a system of water works in his busi- ness house and has made other improvements. He
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is a wide-awake, pushing man of the village and is recognized as one of its most valued citizens.
In politics Mr. Smith supports the principles of the Republican party, and in 1894 he was elected by that party Supervisor of Smithtown, a posi- tion he holds at the present time. In 1895 he was appointed a member of the Board of Mana- gers of the Long Island State Hospital of King's Park, and is also Vice-President of the Long Is- land Farmers' Company of Smithtown. For twenty years he has been a member of the Pres- byterian Church and for ten years has been an Elder and Sunday-school Superintendent. He is a charter member of Smithtown Council, No. 1511, Royal Arcanum. On the Ist of June, 1892, he married Miss Anna B. Blydenburgh, daughter of Benjamin B. Blydenburgh. They have no children.
S AMIVEL J. HOPKINS. On a farm in the town of Brook Haven, almost sixty years ago, was born a child who was reared and married there, is still living on the same place, and, God willing, will be buried from that farm. That child was Samuel J. Hopkins, who was born on the old homestead December 3, 1836. He was the son of Samuel, who was also born on this ancestral estate in 1781, and the grandson of Samuel, who came here in 1757 with his father. The latter, who also bore the name of Samuel, was born on Shelter Island in 1708. and died in his eightieth year. The great-great-grandfather was the first of the name to locate on Long Island. and was of English descent. It is an interesting fact that three generations have lived on and worked this same farm, which at its first purchase comprised one hundred and thirty acres. At one time enough was added to it to bring it up to over eleven hundred acres, including woodlands.
The father of our subject married Maria Wood- hull, and by that union had ten children, of whom seven lived to maturity. We give their names: Catherine O., Sarah M., Mary, Louisa, Martha M., George W., and Samuel J., the latter being the youngest child. Of these children, at the present
time the only survivor besides our subject is Sa- rah, who is the widow of Ezra S. King and makes her home at No. 1238 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn.
Our subject was reared on the farm, as noted above, and when a little under thirty years of age, May 16, 1864, married Miss Sarah C. Hal- lock. The fruit of their union has been the com- ing of four children into their hearts and home. Their oldest son is Philip H., who is a clerk and a resident of Brooklyn. Their second son, Rupert. is at present assistant professor in physics at the Wesleyan College, taking a post-graduate course. Samuel E. and Merrit J. are still at home. Our subject when he was married, took charge of the old homestead and has remained here until the present time, and is now the owner of some four hundred and fifty acres of very desirable land. which he tills under a system of diversified and profitable farming. He had the usual common school training, which was supplemented by spe- cial work at Miller's Place Academy, and he is a man of solid and varied information. He is a member of the Congregational Church, for which he acts as a Deacon. He votes with the Republi- can party, though not actively engaged in politi- cal schemes and wire-pulling.
B RYANT C. HAWKINS was born at South Setauket February 28, 1810. being the son of Merrett, grandson of Sinicon. and great-grandson of Alexander Hawkins, who settled at South Setauket about the year 1745. and subsequently died there at the age of seventy- five. The ancestors were all long-lived men and covered about the same span of years, all being over seventy when summoned higher. Their re- mains are interred in a private burying ground near the old homestead.
The father of our subject married Annie Haw- kins, and they became the parents of eight chil- dren, of whom two died in infancy. the others liv- ing to mature years. David M. died in 1855: Mary E. in 1804: Laura in 1889, when about seventy years of age, and Sarah .A. in 1880, at the
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age of sixty-six. Our subject has a younger bro- ther. Simeon D., who resides at Patchogue. The mother of these children died in February, 1822.
Mr. Hawkins married Rebecca Brewster, and there were no children born to this union. At the age of seventeen he left home and went to New York City to learn the piano-making trade. serving a five-years' apprenticeship for his board and clothes. After that period was completed he worked for several parties, covering about eight years. He has led an honorable career as a workman, being with one house in the metropo- lis for fourteen years, and then, when the busi- ness was removed to Setauket, following it. and putting seven years more in its behalf, making twenty-one years in a single business. The firm went by the board in 1868, and Mr. Hawkins was employed by the assignee to settle up its ex- tensive business. This he did, and then went back to the city of New York, and was in the ser- vice of a brother of his first employer for twelve years more. He then came back to East Setau- ket and settled down to a quiet and peaceful life on a farm of fourteen acres, which he owns and which he rents. He is also possessed of quite a little other property, and, though a fairly success- ful man, has done it mostly by himself, having the advantage of very little education. He. is a Republican, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
A RTHUR W. TURBUSH, a well known and representative farmer of the town of Southold, Suffolk County, is a native of this State and was born in Greene County, Sep- tember 8, 1839. His parents were John and Lou- isa (Cole) Turbushi, who were also born in that portion of the Empire State. It is said that his ma- ternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, and during that conflict distinguished him- self for gallant conduct and bravery.
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