USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 26
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child, and he and his younger brother, Stephen B., are engaged in the same industry, and rank among the largest duck raisers of the county. The latter has his place of business in Center Mor- iches, and is considered a very prosperous and highly successful man. The youngest member of this family is Emma S., the wife of David P. Tuttle.
Orville Wilcox, a native of Orwell, Vt., was born in the year 1826, and as he was reared under the shadow of mighty mountains there was some- thing strong and rugged in his own character, and it is not to be doubted that he took in some- thing of the grandeur and strength of his sur- roundings. When he had reached his twentieth year he struck out for the new West, and was lo- cated at Excelsior, Minn., for four years, when he tried the state of Missouri. There he remained until the year 1873, when he came to the island. and here he has since lived. He has followed various occupations, farming, saw-milling and mining, and has interests in many enterprises. Al- though he has met with reverses common to all human experiences, on the whole, he has been successful and feels that his life has been rich and fruitful.
Mr. Wilcox, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood at home, attending the common school, and grew up to a sturdy manhood. In the year 1883 the raising of ducks began to be dis- cussed and tried in that neighborhood as a side issue to farming. Our subject experimented in that direction, and soon found that he had opened up a business that had no limits but ca- pacity and cash. As his capital increased he went into it more largely, until it has now become an industry of great magnitude, he sending to mar- ket annually from eight thousand to ten thousand ducks, making him one of three men who stand at the very head of the duck business in the county. This industry is yet in its infancy, and in the near future a great improvement will be made in the flavor of the choicest ducks now on the market, which will be brought about by the scientific ar- rangement of their food, to which end Mr. Wil- cox is experimenting.
Mr. Wilcox and Miss Edith M. Smith were
married February 2, 1892, she being a daughter of Charles T. Smith, of West Hampton. To this marriage there has been born one child, Helen M., whose birth occurred November 1, 1893. Mr. Wilcox works and votes with the Republican party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Trustee both in the church and in the school district. and is a man of unblem- ished character and standing in the town.
C W. VAIL. Among the representative business men of Bay Shore stands C. W. Vail, whose high reputation and mate- rial prosperity came as the reward of unusual nat- ural abilities, industriously applied. He is now a prominent merchant of that place, dealing in stoves, ranges, furnaces, tin and sheet iron ware, house furnishing goods, crockery, cutlery, etc., etc., and has a good share of patronage. Such of our readers as reside in Bay Shore, or vicinity, and especially those of them that "keep house" should note the address of Mr. Vail, for not only does he deal in cooking and parlor stoves, garden tools, etc., but he makes a specialty of plumbing, gas fitting, etc., and is prepared to fix up cooking or heating stoves so they will be practically "as good as new," and to fill such orders promptly and skillfully. He is moderate in his charges, as well as thorough in his work, and during the twenty- four years he has been in business his trade has in- creased in a very flattering manner.
The shop and store are well equipped and com- prise one floor, 50x65 feet, centrally located on Main Street. These premises are fully stocked with house furnishing goods, crockery, cutlery. glassware, woodenware, hanging lamps, plated ware, builder's hardware, window glass, felt, nails, farmi implements, paint brushes and hundreds of other necessary articles." Mr. Vail employs six thoroughly competent assistants, and has every facility at his command to do anything in the line of plumbing, jobbing and repairing in a prompt and satisfactory manner. He keeps nothing but the best of articles, and as lie is a gentleman of
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keen business acumen, it is not strange that he has been successful.
Mr. Vail was born at Center Moriches, this county, January 1, 1847, and with the exception of about four years when his parents lived in New Jersey, he made his home there until 1871, when he came to Bay Shore, this county. He was edu- cated in the common schools, but at an early age displayed business ability, assisting his father in a general store and in conducting an hotel. The father, L. D. Vail, was born in Orange County, N. Y., but the family was for many years previous to his birth, residents of Long Island. He married Miss Nancy Bishop, and our subject was the only child born to this union. Mrs. Vail passed away in 1871.
C. W. Vail was married in his native village to Miss Mary E. Robinson, who was born in that place, and one child has blessed this union, C. Wilford. Socially Mr. Vail is a Mason and a member of the Royal Arcanum. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, takes an ac- tive interest in religious work, and is alive to every enterprise of importance. Politically he is a Re- publican and as a loyal citizen he takes some inter- est in the welfare of his party, but he has never sought office. He has often been solicited by his many friends to accept nominations, but he has steadfastly refused to do so, preferring to give his undivided attention to his flourishing business. He has a keen analytical mind and is classed among the stirring, influential mien of the city. In the spring of 1893 he was elected Justice of the Peace and has since adjusted the difficulties of his neighbors in a most efficient and satisfactory man- ner. At present he is the Secretary and Treasurer of the electric light company of Bay Shore.
W ILLARD P. REID, attorney-at-law, well known among the legal lumina- ries of Brooklyn, and a resident of Babylon, was born in this village, April 24. 1862, being the son of Judge John R. and Angie (Davis) Reid, a sketch of whom appears etse-
where. He attended the public school at Babylon after he reached the age of twelve years, having had private instruction prior to that time. At the age of fifteen he was sent to Albany Academy, and spent five years in attendance upon the in- struetion of that famous institution. He was a good scholar, and took prizes in philosophy and physics. During his stay at this school, Prof. Merrill E. Gates was at its head, and the young student was received into his family, which was a mark of special favor, as the eminent professor was very reluctant to take any student as a board- er. Professor Gates went from Albany to Rut- ger's College, and is now President of Amherst College. Albany Academy is now a place of historical interest, as experiments in electricity were performed there before the invention of Morse's telegraph system. It was also the home of J. Fenimore Cooper.
On the completion of his academic labors Mr. Reid began the study of law, and after a year of private reading, was received as a member of the law department of Columbia College. His class had the distinction of being the last to re- ceive instruction from Professor Dwight, and the first to graduate from the new Law School up town. It stands in the college records for the year 1885, and the young lawyer having been admitted to the bar before graduation, was ready to form a partnership at once with Attorney Fishel. This he did, and the two maintained offices in both Babylon and New York City. The partnership lasted for five years, when it was dissolved, and a new one formed, which brought Mr. Reid into close business relations with Judge Ney of Brooklyn, and this firm is still in existence. Mr. Reid has been connected with many important cases, perhaps the most famous being the injunction suit against the state in the, Fire Island quarantine matter, and the murder case of Breslau, in which he succeeded against much opposition in proving the defendant insane.
Mr. Reid is Democratic in his political pro- clivities, but takes no active interest in party man- ipulations. He has been President of the Cleve- land Club, but refused to become a candidate for
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the Assembly, or for the position of District At- torney. He has Masonic membership in the Babylon Lodge, and is also a member of the local branch of the Royal Arcanum, in which he has served as Orator. Mr. Reid was married in 1891 to Miss Ada Kitching, a native of Brooklyn. He has membership in the Brooklyn Club, in the Reform Club, and in the Bushwick Demo- cratic Club of Brooklyn. An expert bicycle rider, he takes much interest in the affairs of the Brooklyn Cycle Club. As all professionals should who desire to progress in their work, he is a mem- ber of the Bar Association of Brooklyn. The Ce- dar Island Club of that city counts him a mem- ber, and as a loyal son of Old Columbia hie is active in its Alumni Association.
C APT. AUGUSTUS E. HALSEY, who owns and occupies a sixty-acre farm in the town of Southampton, was born in Bridgehampton, November 22, 1822, being a son of Elihu and Ruth (Pierson) Halsey. The family of which he is a member consisted of six sons and six daughters, of whom two sons and three daughters are now living. At the age of eight years he went to live with Enoch Halsey, with whom he remained until sixteen, after which he worked out by the month for one season. For three years following he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and then went to sea as carpenter on a whaling vessel.
For eleven months our subject was with the ship in the South Atlantic Ocean. His next voy- age was to the Indian and North Pacific oceans, the ship being out for two years. He was then with the "William Tell" as third mate for a year and a half, second mate on the "Elizabeth Firthi" for two years in the Arctic Ocean, and first mate on the brig "Charlotte" in the Atlantic for two years, afterward being with the same vessel as master. After having been out with the ship for nine months he was taken sick with coast fever and was obliged to return to land. Ile was so ill that the doctors gave him up and his friends
despaired of his recovery, but a strong constitu- tion gained the victory and he finally regained his health.
After having spent eight months at home, the Captain went to California, in the spring of 1854, making the journey by water and landing at San Francisco, where soon afterward he succumbed to a severe attack of typhoid fever. On his re- covery he engaged in mining for three years, meeting with fair success. In 1857 he returned to the Fast and engaged in farming and carpenter- ing. Since 1882 he has made his home on his present farm, which is a portion of the old home- stead that has been in possession of the family for over two hundred years. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian.
June 5, 1850, Captain Halsey married Harriet Halsey, who was born April 19, 1824, and four children were born to their union. Emma C., the eldest, is the widow of William H. Post and the mother of two children; Ella C. and Adele. An- drew A., who married Ella Warriner, lives in Brooklyn. James L., M. D., a practicing phy- sician of Islip, married Elizabeth C. Halsey, and they have a son, Raymond. William H., who re- sides on the home farm, married Clara F. Pier- son, and they have one child, Clarence P.
A NTHONY JOHNSON, dealer in and man- ufacturer of candies and the proprietor of an ice cream saloon at Babylon, was born in Northern Sweden November 28, 1849, the son of Lars and Anna Johnson. As his boyhood was spent on his father's farm, he had but little op- portunity for attending school. When he was about fifteen, an older brother, who had come to this country some time before and had obtained a position here, sent for him to come over to seek his fortune in America. He started without de- lay, and after landing at New York made his way to Williamsburg and joined his brother, who was established in the candy business. Anthony entered his establishment to learn this business,
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remaining for some four years, during which time he mastered the English tongue, and by at- tending night school greatly improved lis ele- mentary education.
Thinking that he could now do better for him- self Mr. Johnson went to New York and found employment in a candy factory on Eighth Ave- nue, where he learned the finer branches of the business. While he was here his father died and liis mother sent for liim to come back to Sweden and settle up the family estate. He remained in liis native land over two years, during which time his health was greatly improved. On his return he spent several months in California for the sake of his health, working part of the time while there for a railroad company as carpenter. Sub- sequently he bought out his brother's candy es- tablishment at Williamsburg, but in about a year lost all the money he had put into it.
Our subject was married October 6, 1875, to Miss Sarah Howe Southard, of Willianisburg. She was born at Astoria October 6, 1850, and was the daughter of Theodore and Jane (Barber) Southard. Her education was obtained in Gram- mar School No. 22, Brooklyn, and she is a woman of much character. Her father, who was pilot at Hurl Gate, died in April 1852, from injuries re- ceived by the explosion of material used in exca- vating obstructions to navigation in East River at that point. It was a sad affair and made a pro- found impression upon the people at that time. He was thirty-four years of age and was a nephew of Hon. Samuel L. Southard, formerly Secretary of the Navy. He resided at Astoria, where he left a wife and four children, the eldest aged nine years, and the youngest one eighteen months, to mourn his loss.
When Mr. Johnson found that he must aban- don the business at Williamsburg he had less than two hundred dollars in the world, but his wife was a great comfort. In 1876 lie came to Babylon and resumed business in a most modest way, buying his material in small quantities and pushing his candies among good customers. He also carried ice cream, and after a little began to make headway once more. It became necessary to remove to larger quarters, and finally he was
able to put a wagon on the road, supplying stores in this part of the island with candy at wholesale rates. After six years in the new establishment he had to seek still larger accommodations, and after remaining in the third location for six years bought the place where his business is now con- ducted.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of three children, of whom the eldest, Theodore Louis, was born in Brooklyn August 15, 1877, while his mother was there on a visit at hier mother's home. He is a scholar of more than usual abil- ity, having graduated from the Babylon high school, and is now a student in the New York University. Edith Agnes was born in Babylon June 30, 1883, and Chesley Heath November IS. 1885.
In his earlier life Mr. Johnson acted with the Republican party, but of late lias been classed among the Prohibitionists. He has been a men- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church since he was nineteen years old, and has been Class Lead- er and Steward and is now Trustee. Mrs. John- son has been a member of the Baptist Church since she was twenty years old.
A USTIN B. TUTHILL. The members of the Tuthill family have been active in business affairs and held prominent posi- tions on Long Island since its early settlement. Our subject, who is a worthy representative of this honored family, is now living in Cutchogue, where his birth occurred September 13, 1823. His parents were Abiel and Harmony (Benja- min) Tuthill, also natives of Suffolk County. The former was a well-to-do farmer in this locality, where he was content to spend his entire life. In liis calling he was quite successful and was identified with the best interests of the cont- munity until the year of his death, which oc- curred in 1866. Three of his children now sur- vive, those besides our subject being Famie, Mrs. O. T. Goldsmith, and Julius A.
Austin B. Tuthill began attending the district
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school near his home as soon as he was old enough, after which he was a student in the academy at Franklinville. He is a man who is extremely well read, is pleasant and courteous in manner, and during his younger years was an enterprising and progressive farmer, whose equal in this line could not be found. December 8, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Howell, who was born at Baiting Hollow, April 20, 1827, and who was the daughter of Micah and Anna (Young) Howell, pioneers of Long Island. Grandfather Howell also resided in Bait- ing Hollow, where he became prominent and well known to the earlier residents. The Howells and Youngs are numerous in Suffolk County and many of their members are represented in this volume.
Mrs. Tuthill has one sister living, Lucetta P., who is the wife of B. W. Hulse, of Baiting Hol- low. Our subject and his wife have one daugli- ter, Anna, who is now Mrs. George H. Case. From his earliest youth Mr. Tuthill has been a total abstainer and a strong advocate of temper- ance. When the Prohibition party came into ex- istence he was one of the first in this community to join its ranks and has ever since been an in- fluential supporter of its doctrines, and in Cut- chogue is recognized as leader of the party. With his wife he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, to the support of which he contributes regularly. He is public spirited and has ren- dered his community efficient service as a mem- ber of the Board of Excise of the town of Southold.
G USTAVE REHNBERG, dealer in mu- sical instruments and a jeweler in Baby- lon, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, February 25, 1855, and is a son of Gustave and Elizabethi M. (Lentz) Rehnberg. He grew to man- hood in Stockholm, and attended the public school of that city until he was fifteen, at which time he received a diploma testifying to his high standing as a student and in morals. He was then sent to learn the jewelry business. After the
fashion of the old country, which seeks thorough- - ness rather than time, his apprenticeship ran for seven years, nothing but his board being paid him the first year, and during the last he received $Io a week.
After Mr. Rehnberg had completed this pro- bation he began to work as a master hand, and at the age of twenty-two he married Miss Jennie Strom, of Norrland. This was a brief mar- ried life, for in less than three years his wife died, leaving him with two small children to care for, Thora and Jennie. About a year after this sad bereavement he came to America, leaving his lit- tle ones in the care of his father and mother in Sweden. He landed in New York December 10, 1880, and went to Thomaston, Conn., securing a position in the Thomas Clock Works, which he held about a year.
It was not difficult for the young Swedish student to learn the English language, for he was not only master of his own native tongue, but his mother had taught him German, and he could also speak Norwegian. He was next in Brooklyn, at work at his trade, about a year, and then had a severe sickness, which was pro- nounced typhoid fever, and from which no one expected him to recover. But he rallied against almost hopeless odds, and on the advice of his employer went south to St. Augustine, Fla., where he still followed his trade. He struck out for hini- self there and set up a good business, which he held for eight years. In this city our subject was a second time married, Miss Kate Salano becom- ing his wife. Her parents, Claytano and Leoncea (Solano) Salano, were both of Spanish origin.
When the business was sold in Florida Mr. Rehnberg located his family in Hastings upon Hudson, and in company with a friend went to California. They devoted a year to traveling. visiting the National Park and many other places of great interest in the United States. When he had finished his journeyings Mr. Rehinberg en- gaged once more with a former employer who had removed to Babylon, and his family came to this point, where he has since maintained his home. He was in this work for four years, when he set up in business for himself, and has won a
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large share of the patronage of the neighborhood. Of his second marriage four children were born, but the three sons died; the daughter, Valerie, was born in this place June 22, 1890.
Our subject has taken strong ground as a Pro- hibitionist, and acts with the political party de- voted to the fulfillment of that great idea. ITis parents came to this country in 1895, and are living in Connecticut. They are members of the Baptist Church. Our subject was converted while on his western trip, and has become a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Baby- lon, where his wife, reared a Catholic, also holds membership. He is a worker in church circles, and is very active in the Epworth League in Babylon, in which society he was the first Vice- President. He is also a member of the choir and takes hold wherever he can be of any use.
J OHN BAGSHAW, Clerk of the town of Riverhead, and a man who though young in years has already come to the front in local commercial and social circles, was born in Man- chester, England, July 28, 1858. His father, Jo- seph, was born December 12, 1821, and was a salesman for a muslin manufacturing company of Manchester through all his active life. The grandfather of our subject, whose name was John, was also with the same firm throughout his entire active years, and was finally retired on a pension for life. The mother of our subject, Hannah Allen, born September 26, 1822, was the daughter of John and Ann Allen and was a mem- ber of a large and wealthy family; she is now living in England, where her husband, the father of our subject, died in 1886.
John Bagshaw was one of a large family of children, of whom five are now living, and all, with the exception of himself and sister Hannah, wife of William Dunkerley, of Utica, N. Y., are still in the old country. They are upright citi- zens and are honorably spoken of in their own lo- calities. He had but little opportunity for edu-
cating himself beyond an early attendance upon the Episcopal school of his parish. He was em- ployed in a manufacturing establishment up to 1879, when he came to America. The next year the County Clerk gave him a desk, and here he has since remained. In 1886 he was elected Clerk of the town, and has been eight times re- elected for that position, this (1895) being his tentlı year.
Besides the duties of his official position, Mr. Bagshaw has done much work in real estate and insurance lines, and especially in the searching of titles, in which line he is recognized by the lead- ing lawyers and business men of the county as being very accurate and reliable. While he was in the County Clerk's office he gained the reputa- tion of being one of the fastest long-hand writers in the State, on one occasion having written sev- enteen hundred words in an hour. December 3, 1881, he married Mary K., daughter of George W. Edwards, and a member of an old Riverhead family, her grandfather, Daniel Edwards, having been the first keeper of the present County Jail. Into their home have been born four children, two sons and two daughters, Kirk, Donald, Inez and Franc. Mr. Bagshaw is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Royal Arcanum, be- ing Past Grand of the Odd Fellows, Treasurer of the Royal Arcanum, and was its first Secretary. A Republican in politics, he takes a commendable interest in public affairs.
W ILLIAM B. WARNER. In North- port there is no man who in a higher degree enjoys the confidence of the people than the subject of this sketch, who is an expert photographer and the proprietor of an art studio here. By his energy and resolute chiar- acter, coupled with a genial disposition, he has not only advanced his own success, but has given an impetus to the growth of the locality, and is now actively forwarding various enterprises for its advancement in important directions.
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The father of our subject, Taylor C. Warner, was born in Pennsylvania. Much of his life was spent in Brooklyn, and for a time he resided in. Providence. By trade he was a hatter, in which line he was an expert, and constructed the first samples of Knox and Dunlap brand of hats. By his marriage to Miss Lucy A. Crowell, a native of New York but now residing in Bethlehem, Litchfield County, Conn., ten children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The others were named as follows: James, Taylor C., Jennie C., Annie R., Reuben A., Helen, Lucy, George P. and William B. The last named was born in Brooklyn January 11, 1856, and spent the first eighteen years of his life in the city of his birth, having excellent educational advantages in the schools of the place. From Brooklyn he went to Providence, where he learned the trade of manu- facturing jewelry, spending three years there. Next he went to Norwalk, where he worked as a hatter and in a jewelry store until 1892, the year of his removal to Northport.
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