USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
.
G UGY S. TAYLOR is an enterprising dealer in locust, chestnut and cedar mouldings, builders' material and kin- dling wood at Babylon, and here he has also es- tablished a feed mill, which is largely patronized by stock-owners in the vicinity. He was born in Sherbrooke, in the Province of Quebec, Septem- ber 23, 1831, and is the son of Archelus and Eliza- beth (Nichols) Taylor. His father was a farmer and a mill man, so that our subject had the priv- ilege of passing his early boyhood in the simple and healthy way that belongs to a home in the country. He attended the local schools until he was fourteen, and by close application acquired even by that time a very fair education. His fa- thier was a native of Essex County, N. Y., and his mother was reared under the shadows of the grand old mountains of Vermont. They first met
each other in Canada, where her father had won reputation as a progressive physician.
With the removal of his parents to Boston when he was fourteen years of age there came a great change in the life of our subject; how great that change can only be known by those who have left the peaceful seclusion of a country town to suddenly be immersed in the roar and commotion of a great city. Three years in Boston were fol- lowed by a removal to Brooklyn, where his pa- rents remained until their death.
When Mr. Taylor was a little past twenty-two years of age he fell a victim of the gold fever and determined to go to California and see what fate had in store for him in that distant land of fabu- lous riches. He arranged to join a company or- ganized for journeying West, but his brothers would not consent to his going. For the sake of the family he denied himself this much-desired expedition and applied himself closely to the car- penter's trade, which he had learned in Boston by serving an apprenticeship of three years. It is very fair to suppose that in this honest and re- munerative trade he found his true Eldorado. He followed it for more than ten years in the cities of Brooklyn and New York.
In 1854 Mr. Taylor married Miss Ursula J. Goff, a native of Johnstown, and she has made a good wife to him and a devoted mother to their four children. Stephen, the oldest, was well ed- ucated and found his first employment in a dry goods house in Boston, Mass., where he was en- gaged for eleven years: an expert bookkeeper. he lias filled responsible positions in Boston and in the Colchester Rubber Manufacturing Com- pany and is now located in this village, where he has business engagements with his father. He is married and the father of two children. Charles C., who was educated in this village, began his business life in New York, but soon came home to work with his father and was steadily employed in that way until 1801, when he secured a good po- sition with the Long Island Railroad. In 1803 he married Miss Mattie Maginley, of Philadel- phia, Pa. At the present time he is located at Babylon and is working in his father's establish- ment. Ursula A., who was carefully educated
767
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
4
and had a good business instruction, was book- keeper in the store of Higbie & Robinson for a long time; she is now the wife of Frank E. Hoff, of Long Island City, who has worked up to an important position in the service of the Long Is- land Railroad; they have two children. Ray- mond J. was a pupil in the Babylon schools and received his diploma when in his eighteenth year ; he was for a time in the Broadway (New York) office of the United States Express Company, but is now timekeeper of the Long Island Railroad in the Morris Park Car Works.
In 1860 Mr. Taylor embarked in the building business, and in this he did a very satisfactory amount of construction during the next twelve years. In 1870 he established a steam mill. Dur- ing the panic of 1872, in common with thousands of others, he was swept over the brink into finan- cial failure. But failure could not keep him down and he resumed business by leasing a water power. He has worked up a wide business and is the exclusive manager by lease of John M. Oakley's water privilege.
Mr. Taylor is a stanch Republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. His people are all Republicans, and a wanderer from that party would be an object of great curiosity throughout the family. He has been twice elect- ed on the Board of Education, the first time in 1891 and the second time in 1804. He and all his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, where he is active and influential, being Treasurer, an Elder and Trustee.
C HARLES E. SHEPARD, editor and manager of the "Long Islander" at Hunt- ington, was born in this village June 25, 1848. His father, George H. Shepard, was a na- tive of Cornwall, Conn., whence he came to Hunt- ington, and from January, 1854, to January, 1875, he was editor and proprietor of the "Long Is- lander," retaining its management until he was . succeeded by his son, our subject. In addition to his newspaper work he filled many places of
honor and trust, including the positions of Jus- tice of the Peace and member of the Board of Education. His death occurred in 1879. He married Sarah Silliman, a native of Flushing, and at present a resident of Brooklyn.
There are three sons in the parental family. J. Wolsey is a prominent New York lawyer, with office at No. 280 Broadway, and was formerly in partnership with Judge D. Quinn. George A. is connected with a large wholesale drug house in New York. Our subject was educated in the schools of Huntington, graduating from the high school in 1864. From that time until the first of 1875 he was in business in New York City and at Morristown, N. J., but returning to Hunting- ton at that time, he succeeded his father as editor and proprietor of the "Long Islander" and also engaged extensively in publishing law books. In April, 1894. he organized a stock company com- posed of several leading business men of the place, and he is an officer of the company and ed- itor and manager of the paper. It wields a powerful influence in local politics and has a large subscription list among the people of the locality.
In the advancement of the interests and princi- ples of the Republican party Mr. Shepard has taken an active part. At different times he has served as delegate to county and State conven- tions. His name has been mentioned in connec- tion with county political offices, but he has never aspired to such honors, being satisfied to confine his attention to his business interests and the welfare of the party. For nine years he has been a member of the Board of Education, of which he was President for three years. At one time he was Chief of the Huntington Fire Department. He served as Secretary of the Soldiers' and Sail- ors' Memorial Association from its organization until the completion of the beautiful monument. He is a Director in the Huntington Public Li- brary and identified with other progressive en- terprises for the benefit of the people.
Socially Mr. Shepard has been connected with the Royal Arcanum for some time. For fif- teen years he has been an Elder of the Second Presbyterian Church. Besides the publication
768
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of his own paper he is on the regular staff of the Brooklyn "Daily Eagle," and a portion of his time he spends in the office of the "Eagle" at Brooklyn and in his office at Jamaica. His marriage November 28, 1872, united him with Miss Juliet Loper, of Huntington. They have two daughters, Carrie Eleanor, a student in the Brooklyn Training School, and Jessie Louise.
G EORGE BROWN. The pottery firm of Brown Brothers, of Huntington, was originally composed of three brothers, Stephen C., Thomas F. and George Brown, and. although business is still done under the above mentioned firm name, its members are George Brown and his son, George W. Brown. This old pottery is a land-mark of the place, for it was es- tablished over a century ago by a Mr. Scudder and has been in active operation ever since.
George Brown was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., May 27, 1822, being one of the five surviving members of a family of eight children born to Stephen C. and Elizabeth (Frost) Brown. The father was born in Dutchess County, and there he spent his entire life, with the exception of about five years, when he was in New York City. His life occupation was that of a dresser of morocco leather, and from his labors he obtained a com- petency.
. The common schools in the vicinity of his boy- hood's home afforded George Brown his initia- tory educational training, and after finishing his education he began learning the potter's trade, and completed his apprenticeship at about the time he attained his majority. Soon after this he went to Rome, N. Y., entered the employ of a pottery firm there and for two years thereafter did the work of a journeyman. He removed from this place to Perth Amboy, N. J., where he did journeyman's work two years longer, then re- moved to the city of New York, where he worked for Washington Smith of Eighteenth Street for about five years. His next location was at Somer- set, Mass., where he was with the firm of Chase &
Co. for the long period of twenty years, and was a valuable employe, for he not only understood every detail of his work, but was faithful to his employers' interests. By this time he had become tired of working for others and decided to become an employer instead of an employe, and he and his two brothers became owners of the pottery at Huntington, and continued the business to- gether very successfully until about 1880, when the subject of this sketch bought his brothers' interests, and associated with him in business his son, George W. Brown. Under this manage- ment the business has continued to prosper and has grown to large proportions, but as mentioned above it is still conducted under the firm name of Brown Brothers.
December 1, 1850, Miss Eunice F. Breed be- came the wife of Mr. Brown, at which time she was a resident of Lynn, Mass. To this union were born two children, of whom George W. is the only survivor. The principles and platform of the Republican party have always received the indorsement of Mr. Brown, but he has asked nor desired no political favors for himself. He is a be- liever in secret societies, at least to the extent of becoming a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a regular attendant of the Universalist Church.
C HARLES E. CASE, who is named among the enterprising merchants of Southold, will form the subject of this notice. He was born in this village, November 29, 1841, to Charles A. and Hannah W. (Horton) Case, like- wise natives of this county. His father is now de- ceased, but Mrs. Case is still living and has at- tained the advanced age of ninety-two years, and it is said of hier that she is the oldest lady now liv- ing in the town of Southold.
The grandfather of our subject was Barnabas H. Case, who during his lifetime was a prominent citizen of his community, and was popular in his official capacity as Justice of the Peace. We have before us no further facts relating to the an-
168
FREDERICK C. BEEBE.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
769
cestors of our subject, but refer the reader to the biography of Albertson Case, which will be found on another page in this volume.
Charles A. Case was well known in agricul- tural circles of this town and in the pursuit of this calling met with substantial results. He lived to a good old age, departing this life in 1883 at the age of eighty-four years. Of the parental family the following survive: J. Horton, Sarah M. and Charles E. The last named, who is our sub- ject, first attended the common schools of his na- tive place, after which he was sent by his parents to the academy at Southold. Here he continued his studies for some time and was then ready to assist his father in the work about the farm. He remained at home until twenty years of age, when he went to Brooklyn and there spent some six months learning the art of telegraphy. When competent to take a position he was placed in charge of the Western Union office at Williams- burg, which was then a separate corporation on the outskirts of Brooklyn. After a stay there of sonie time he was transferred to a broker's of- fice in Wall Street, New York, where he ac- quitted himself as an expert at the instrument. He was next placed in charge of the office at the Grand Central depot of that city, which position he held for a period of twelve years. His health began to fail very perceptibly at this time, owing to the close confinement of office work, and he was obliged to resign his position.
Returning to his old home in 1891, Mr. Case at once engaged in merchandising, in which bus- iness he has been employed ever since, receiving the patronage of the best people of the village and surrounding country. He was married, Oc- tober 20, 1875, to Miss Mary, daughter of the late Capt. Harry Greene, of Peconic, N. Y., and a former sea captain. He was very successful on the water, and after following the whaling busi- ness for thirty years (during which time he never lost a man), he retired in good circumstances. To our subject and his wife there were born two children, Harry G. and May C. Mrs. Case died October 24, 1895.
In politics Mr. Case is independent, reserving his right to vote for the best man, regardless of
party lines. He is an influential member of the Presbyterian Church, and is interested in all good work. He occupies a neat residence and every- thing about the place gives evidence that he is an intelligent man, who has thus far made life a success, both socially and financially.
F REDERICK C. BEEBE, a well known life boat builder of Greenport, was born on Shelter Island, November 27, 1839, and is the youngest of the three children of Capt. Elisha Griffin Beebe. His father, a native of Orient, born in 1811, followed the water all liis life, being in the whaling and coasting trade, and running the first ferry boat from Greenport to Shelter Island. When a young man he was assistant at the Gull Island light house. His death occurred on Shel- ter Island in July, 1851.
The branch of the Beebe family to which our subject belongs was represented among the early settlers at Orient and Greenport. The grand- father of our subject was a seaman, and his brother Henry at one time owned a large portion of the land on which the village of Greenport now stands. He was a wealthy man for his day and as he had no children, distributed his property among various charitable institutions and bene- ficiaries. A rock, which is known on the charts as "Old Silas," and which lies between Gull and Plum islands, commemorates the imprisonment of a relative of our subject there over one night, his boat having floated away. His rescuers named the place after him.
Our subject's father had two brothers, Henry and Sidney. The former was a sea captain throughout his manhood career, and died about 1875. Sidney has been a farmer all his life and now lives at Orient. Our subject's mother, Rebecca C., was a daughter of Squire Fred Chase, of Shel- ter Island, who had charge of the Gull Island light house for many years, and was a man of ed- ucation. having refined literary tastes. He was Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of Shelter Island, and held several other official positions.
32
770
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
He had the honor of being a near relative of the late Chief Justice Chase.
Our subject's mother was one of a family of eight daughters and one son. The latter, Capt. Albert Chase, was a seaman and died about 1880. Elizabeth married Capt. Jarvis Wood, who was commander of a whaling vessel. Margaret mar- ried Lorenzo Walters, who was a conductor on the Long Island Railroad and later yard master at Brooklyn for the company. Catherine married Thomas Roe, who was an engineer of the Long Island Railroad and was the first Master of the Greenport Masonic Lodge, but was killed in a railroad accident while running his engine. Har- riet married William Barteau, a prominent ship- builder. Emeline married Capt. Joseph Skill- man, who was commander of Samuel Willet's yacht. Mr. Beebe's mother still lives, bright and hale at the age of eighty-three years. She is a de- voted member of the Baptist Church.
Frederick C. Beebe is the youngest of three children born to his parents. His sister Mary married Capt. Albert Brown, who was a captain of a fishing steamer and connected with the Men- haden Fish Oil Company. Albina married Rev. Lewis Sands, who was a Baptist divine and died in 1893. The Beebe family came to Greenport from Shelter Island when Frederick was only two or three years of age. The lad received his education in the Greenport schools and at the age of sixteen began to learn the boat building trade under Charles Jackson, the veteran boat builder of Greenport. He served an apprentice- ship of four years and remained with the firm sev- eral years longer, after which he became part owner of the Shelter Island ferry from Greenport to Shelter Island, but at the end of three years sold out his interest to a brother-in-law. He then es- tablished himself in the boat building business in this place and since that time has been constantly employed in the construction of life saving boats for the Government. He undoubtedly has the largest business in this branch of any man on the island.
While our subject has never had an aspiration for political honors, his friends brought him to the front two years ago and elected him one of the
Assessors of the town. He is a devoted member of the Methodist church, having joined that de- nomination when but sixteen years of age. For thirty years he has been Trustee and Steward and was for several years Superintendent of the Sunday School. He is one of the strong men upon whom the other officers of the church have al- ways depended. For thirty years he has been iden- tified with the Odd Fellows and he has held the of- fice of Noble Grand. He was married November 29, 1860, to Miss Rosaline, daughter of Isaac Reeve, of Greenport, and sister of Capt. Isaac Reeve, Jr., captain of the steam ferry. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe have had three children, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving child, Libby, mar- ried Isaac T. Corwin, second son of Charles L. Corwin, the prominent builder of this place. They have one child, a son, Fred.
W ILLIAM H. COOPER, a lifelong res- ident of Sag Harbor, was born No- vember 6, 1817, on Main Street, near the center of the village, in the house where, sev- enty-seven years afterward, October 7, 1894, his eyes closed upon the scenes of earth. He re- ceived the rudiments of his education in the com- mon schools of this place and later attended Clin- ton Academy at East Hampton, then one of the most popular institutions of learning in the state. After completing his education, for some years he worked with his father, William H. Cooper. Sr., in the boat-building business, furnishing whale boats to many of the ships engaged in the whale fishery from this and other ports. For some years after his father's death, our subject con- tinued in the business, but with the decrease in whale fishing he gradually curtailed the business. until he closed it entirely. Later he embarked in the mercantile trade with his brother. Gilbert H .. and for a number of years they carried on the dry goods, grocery and hardware business, also acted as whaling agents for the "Noble," "Mary Gardi- ner." "Petrel" and other vessels. After the dis- solution of the firm, which occurred about 1870,
:
r
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
771
he led a retired life, in the enjoyment of the com- forts he had accumulated during his younger years. .
In 1844 Mr. Cooper married Mrs. Nancy (Beckwith) Glover, and they became the parents of six children, who arrived at years of maturity. In religious belief he was for more than fifty years a member of the Presbyterian Church of Sag Harbor, and that faith cheered his closing days of life. For some months prior to his de- mise his health was poor, and he gradually grew weaker until the end. One of his most prominent traits of character was his strict integrity, his high sense of honor. The poor fishermen who sold their fish from door to door found in him a warm friend, and one who, when even the smallest mis- také was made in the making of change, was scrupulously careful to see that it was corrected and that they were not the losers. In his domestic relations he was kind and affectionate. His youngest daughter was the cherished companion of his old age, and he took pleasure in accom- panying her to the skating parties and social gatherings of the neighborhood. His widow survives him and makes her home in the house where his life was passed.
G ILBERT HUNTTING COOPER was born in Sag Harbor October 29, 1819, and was a son of William and Phoebe (Sayre) Cooper. He was a descendant of Thomas Cooper and on his mother's side of Thomas Sayre, both of whom were among the original in- habitants of the town of Southampton. In the common schools and Clinton Academy, his edu- cation was obtained. While a lad, he made a voyage with his uncle, Capt. Huntting Cooper, who had a whaling vessel, but with that excep- tion his active years were devoted to commercial pursuits.
About 1833 Mr. Cooper entered the store of Anson Brown as clerk. After serving with him for a few years he went to Lyons, N. Y., and clerked for Erastus Rogers, returning to Sag
Harbor in the spring of 1841. In June of that year he and Philander R. Jennings went into the mercantile business under the firm name of Cooper & Jennings, their store being located on what is now the vacant lot south of the Nassau House. After having been burned out there in the fire of November 14. 1845. he moved his stock of goods into a store erected by Thomas Foster, on the opposite side of the street, where he re- mained until he bought the stock of Oscar H. Fordham, who was carrying on business in the Worth building, about the year 1847. Here he engaged in business for many years.
In 1856 our subiect took his brother, William H., into partnership, and the two remained to- gether until 1867. They fitted and refitted such vessels as the "Mary Gardiner," "Nimrod," "Aut- gusta," "Noble" and "Myra," and placed the "Ocean Bell" in the West India trade, making her home port New York City. From the Worth building the firm removed into the Ripley build- ing, now the south half of the Nassau House, but finding that location was too far down town, they moved into the building occupied by Mr. Cooper at the time of his death.
Besides being a successful merchant, our sub- ject was one of the whaling agents during the latter years of that industry, and was also a lead- ing insurance agent of the place. When the Sag Harbor Savings Bank was first started he took the position of a Trustee, and was at divers times executor in the settlement of several important estates. He was selected as a member of the com- mittee of five to make arrangements for the fifth semi-centennial celebration of the settlement of the town of Southampton, held June 12, 1890. He assisted in arranging for the publication of the addresses and proceedings of the celebration. and had arranged to meet the committee at Sag Harbor, August 2, 1800, but on that morning he was found dead in his bed, the victim of heart dis- ease.
For forty years before his death Mr. Cooper was a consistent Christian. He united with the First Presbyterian Church April 7. 1850, and was ordained a Ruling Elder March 9. 1856. In 1847 he was elected a Trustee of the church, was
772
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
re-elected in 1851 and again in 1865, from which year he held the position uninterruptedly until his death. For many years he was Superintend- ent of the Sunday-school, in the welfare of which he always took a deep interest. In respect to his memory, the business houses of the village were closed on the morning. of the funeral services. In his death, one of the old and honored citizens of Sag Harbor was taken from the place which, as citizen and business man, he had so long and worthily filled. He left two sons and two daugh- ters, besides his bereaved widow, Mary, daugh- ter of Hon. Abraham H. Gardiner, and with whom he had been united in marriage January 9, 1844.
W ILLIAM H. TUTHILL. It matters little of what nationality a man is or what the vocation he may select as his occupation so long as he pursues an honorable course through life. If he is an honorable, up- . right man, courteous in his intercourse with his fellowmen and possessed of the average amount of energy and enterprise, he is almost certain to make a success of life."
Among the well known and popular citizens of East Marion stands Deacon William H. Tuthill, who has passed his entire life in this section, his birth occurring at East Marion, December 16, 1841. He is the son of William M. and Hannah E. (Baker) Tuthill, the former a native of East Marion, born July 7, 1815, and the latter of Amagansett, born April 7, 1821. The father fel- lowed the sea all his life and was master of a vessel most of the time. He made his home in East Marion until his death, which occurred in the hospital in New York City January 24, 1884. Mrs. Tuthill's father, John Baker, was a farmer of Amagansett, and was one of the old settlers of that place. She died in East Marion, April 30, 1880. The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Tuthill were in the order of their births as fol- lows: William HI .; Jeremiah M., who died in childhood; Arthur H., and Frank J.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.