Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 29

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Chapman
Number of Pages: 926

USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 29

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).

William H. Tuthill has passed his entire life

in East Marion, and has followed the occupation of a fisherman. Industrious and persevering, he has met with a fair degree of success in his call- ing and is highly esteemed in his community. In Albany, N. Y., December 31, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Adelia Mull, a na- tive of that city, born July 5, 1847. Their union resulted in the birth of two children, Cora E., born March 23, 1869. and who became the wife of Charles Gardner, of East Marion, and Irving W., born February 27, 1877. Deacon Tut- itill is thoroughly identified with all enterprises of importance in his community and particularly is he interested in religious matters. With his wife and children he is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has been Deacon for nearly twenty-five years.

Mrs. Tuthill's parents, Cornelius and Hannah (Van Steinburgh) Mull, were natives of Albany County, N. Y., where the father passed his last days. The mother subsequently moved to East Marion, where her death occurred. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom lived to mature years: Jolin C., James, Elizabeth, Aaron, Jonas, William H., Benjamin E., Peter G., and Adelia.

C HATFIELD R. BUFFETT. A large proportion of the permanent residents of the county have adopted for their occupa- tion the calling of a farmer, and in this they have displayed excellent judgment, for the soil re- sponds readily to cultivation, and large crops of cereals are raised. In connection with general farming, the raising of stock can be carried on to advantage, as Mr. Buffett has ascertained, and he therefore combines these two lines of agriculture on his large farm at Fresh Pond.

The Buffett family is of French Huguenot origin, and its ancestors were among those ref- ugees who, on account of religious persecution. fled to England and thence came to America. There were four brothers who sought homes in this country, and of these two married and reared families, the other two dying single. One brother

773

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

located in Queens, the other in Suffolk County, and from the latter Joseph Buffett was descended. His son, Isaac, our subject's grandfather, settled in the town of Smithtown, in the sunken meadow vicinity, purchasing three hundred acres, and re- maining there until death. His family consisted of a son and a daughter.

William P. Buffett, our subject's father, was born April 1, 1800, and was the only son of his parents, his sister being Maria, wife of Rev. Henry Fuller, of Connecticut. He was reared on the homestead and received a splendid education, graduating from Yale College. After his grad- uation he entered the law school at Litchfield, Conn., where he took his degree. On being ad- mitted to the Bar, he began to practice his pro- fession in the city of New York, remaining there until the death of his father. The homestead then became his property and he removed to it, though he still continued his practice and was recognized as one of the foremost lawyers of the metropolis, as well as of the island. He stood at the head of the Riverhead Bar and for four years was Surro- gate of the county. An active church worker, he was Elder and Trustee of the first Presbyterian Church at Northport, and took a warm interest in all religious movements. His death occurred at the old homestead in 1881.

By his marriage to Nancy Rogers, William P. Buffett had five children, of whom our subject, the eldest, was born in the town of Smithtown, October 15, 1826; William T., for some years a real estate dealer in New York, is now living re- tired at City Heights, N. J .; Dr. Edward P., a graduate of Yale, has for years been a practicing physician of City Heights, N. J .; Mary E. died unmarried; Anna E., who is single, resides with Edward P.

After completing the common school studies, our subject entered Clinton Academy at East Hampton, one of the oldest colleges on the island, where his education was completed. In April, 1852, he married Adelia T. Rogers, daughter of Lemuel B. Rogers, and a native of Smithtown. At the time of his marriage he settled on his pres- ent farm, purchasing one hundred and three acres and afterward adding sixty acres. He was be- I

reaved by the death of his wife in December, 1881. Six children were born of their union, namely: Ella A., who died in 1889; Hattie E .; Mary A., wife of Edwin Rowley; William R .; Gertrude; and Robert C., who is a student in a business college of New York City. Mrs. Buffett was a devoted and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, to which our subject be- longs and in which he has served as an Elder and Trustee for twenty years, having taken a very warm interest in all church work.

C HARLES M. BLYDENBURGH, the carriage manufacturer of Riverhead, and ; one of the leading business men of this place, was born in Bay Shore, June 15, 1849. His great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph Blyden- burgh, was a descendant of Holland-Dutch pro- genitors, and was one of the first settlers on Long Island; he lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and one years. In the grandfather's family there were two sons, Bennett and Alfred, both mechanics, the former now a resident of Bay Shore; a daughter, Mary, who married John Hendlen, an architect and builder, and died in Washington, D. C .; besides our subject's father, William.

The last-named was born in the city of New York in 1817 and was a mechanic by occupation, which he followed in Bay Shore until his death in that village. For a number of years he was a member of the Board of Education. Socially he was prominent in the Order of Odd Fellows. He was a man of rugged and honorable character, one who lived an upright life, endeavoring to pro- mote the welfare of his family and his fellowmen. His wife, Jane Burr, was born in Commack, in 1821, and was a daughter of Aaron Burr. The latter was a descendant of the brother of the Aaron Burr who gained a national reputation in days gone by. She had two brothers, namely: Smith Burr, a blacksmith by trade, who went to California in 1849 and was never heard of again; and Philetus, by trade a shipbuilder, who, about

774

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1855, went to the Sandwich Islands, where he re- mained until his death.

The subject of this sketch was the third among eight children, there being five daughters and three sons. Of the family we note the following: Martin and George are contractors and builders at Bay Shore; Julia is the wife of L. D. Hatton, an importer and dealer in glassware in New York City; Ella married Josiah Robbins, a merchant and wealthy citizen of Bay Shore; Elizabeth is the wife of Lewis Downs, a seafaring man of Bay Shore; Eva and Emma are twins, the former the wife of William R. Jones, who is interested in looking after large estates, and the latter the wife of Lewis Hubbard, who has been largely inter- ested in the sawmill and lumber business, and lives at Bay Shore.

In Bay Shore, where his boyhood days were passed, the subject of this notice received his education in the public schools and in Nassau Institute. At the age of eighteen he commenced to learn the carriage builder's trade, which he completed in Brooklyn. Instead, however, of engaging in it at once, he was with other parties interested in the butcher and fish market business in Brooklyn, but in this he continued only a-short time. In 1871 he came to Riverhead and secured work at his trade with Anderson & Pugsley, who were engaged in the carriage manufacturing bus- iness. In a short time hie bought Mr. Pugsley's interest and became a partner with Mir. Anderson in the concern, but the connection not proving satisfactory, he made a proposition to buy the whole business. His partner refused to sell, so he withdrew from the firm and established himself in business on his own account. Success has crowned every effort from that day to this, and he is now numbered among the solid manufacturers of the island.

The fact that Mr. Blydenburgh possesses con- siderable inventive ability has aided him not a little in his enterprises. He has patented about twenty-five articles, and these have tended largely to his financial success. The right to one of his patents lie sold for $10,000, another for $9,500, and there are many that he lias used exclusively in his own factory. During the New Orleans

Exposition, the United States Government sent to Mr. Blydenburgh for a model of a carriage which he had patented and placed the same on exhibition. He is one of the Trustees of the Riverhead Savings Bank and is a member of the examining committee. Since the first year of the organization of the Suffolk County National Bank he has been one of its Directors. Aside from this, lie has other important interests, among other things being extensively interested in real estate in Galveston and San Antonio, Tex., in company with other capitalists of Riverhead. That his ventures have been successful is ap- parent to all, though he, being a modest man, has never been known to boast of his success, but quietly and methodically attends to the duties which each day brings to him.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Blydenburgh is always pleased when that party wins a victory at the polls. Among the positions of trust filled by him are those of Excise Commissioner and member of the Board of Education. He was united in marriage, in 1876, with Miss Kate L., daughter of Hubbard Corwin, of Riverhead, and they have one child, Earl Dean, who was born in 1882. The family has a pleasant home on Main Street.

H ENRY H. SANFORD was born May 29, 1841, upon the farm where he now resides in the town of Southampton. He is one of seven children, two sons and five daughters, born to the union of Edward and Martha (Strong) Sanford. Of the family three are deceased, there being four survivors at the present time. His boyhood years were spent beneath the parental roof, and he was still with his father at the out- break of the Rebellion. Like thousands of val- iant and patriotic men, his martial spirit was roused, and he determined to defend the Union. He enlisted in the service November 6, 1861, be- coming a member of Company H, Eighty-first New York Infantry, and was mustered in at Os- wego, from which place he went to Albany and thence to Washington.

775

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The first engagement in which Mr. Sanford took part was at Yorktown, Va., his second at Williamsburg, after which he participated in the siege of Richmond, and then marched into the Carolinas. Later he was at Trenton and Swans- borough, then went to Fortress Monroe and took part in a number of General Grant's campaigns. Hle was present at the engagements at Cold Har- bor, Petersburg, Ft. Harrison, as well as a num- ber of smaller, though no less perilous, skirmish- es. In all the hardships incident to war he bore himself valiantly and well. His hardest march was the one made from Newbern, N. C., to Tren- ton, the same state, a distance of fifty miles. Dur- ing the winter of 1864-65 he was forced to sub- sist principally on hard tack and coffee, which were given him in scanty rations twice a day. After a long and honorable career in the ranks he was discharged August 31, 1865, at the close of the conflict.

Returning North, Mr. Sanford resumed farm work at the old homestead, where he has since resided. The place comprises forty acres, de- voted to general farming purposes. Politically he adheres to the policy of the Republican party, and, as would be expected, takes an active in- terest in Grand Army affairs. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a regular attend- ant at its services. He has never been married, but lives at the old homestead with his sister, Elvira.

E RNEST A. BOUTCHIER. In the subject of this notice we have before us thie rec- ord of one who commenced life with a sniall capital, and by perseverance, industry and good management accumulated a goodly for- tune, leaving his family well provided for at the time of his death, November 28, 1885. He was one of the well known citizens of Oregon, town of Southiold, this county, but his birth occurred in England, June 8, 1843. His parents, John and Elizabeth Boutcher, also natives of the British Isle, emigrated to America when he was young, and spent many years in Connecticut. They

afterward took up their abode in the town of Southold, Suffolk County, where they passed their declining years.

The subject of this sketch was well educated and was never too busy in after years to find time to inform himself on what was taking place around him in the world. Early in life he learned the trade of a carpenter, making this his business for many years. Later he took up his abode on a good farm, and, finding great pleasure in its man- agement, retired from work at his trade and gave his attention to improving and cultivating his property. In this he was prosperous, building up a fine reputation as an agriculturist.

Mr. Boutcher and Miss Emily A. Symons were married April 12, 1876. She was a most esti- mable and intelligent lady, but after several years of happy married life she was called to her long home. Our subject chose for his second wife Helen O. Wines, and their marriage occurred Oc- tober 10, 1881. She was the daughter of Barna- bas and Nancy (Terry) Wines, now deceased. The Terry family is one of the oldest on Long Island and the Wines family also located here many generations ago and from their first settlement here to the present time have been identified with the best interests of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Boutcher there were born three children, Ethel W., whose birth occurred July 5, 1883; Frederick H., October 21, 1884; and Ernestine A., August 2, 1886.

In his political relations our subject was a stal- wart Democrat, and during his lifetime was one of the most enterprising men in this community in advancing its best interests. He served for many years as Collector of the town of Southold and in whatever capacity lie was placed exhibited rare executive ability and good judgment.

Mrs. Boutcher still survives and is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church at Mattituck. Her father was twice married and reared a large family of children, of whoin the following survive: Barnabas, Jr., a resident of Northville, this coun- ty; Charles, whose home is in California; Nerva, who makes Illinois his home; John W., who is engaged in business in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Phebe, the wife of James F. Shay, also a resident of the

776

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

above city; Mary, now Mrs. James F. Reeve, "yhose home is in this town; Jeanette, Mrs. James Jones, who makes her home in Mattituck; Martha, now Mrs. Floyd Ruland, also living in this village; George F., who for many years has been a resident of Southampton; James H., a citi- zen of this town; Henry M., also in this village; and Mrs. Boutcher. The father of this family was a veteran in the War of 1812, and was a Demo- crat of the old school. During his lifetime he was a well known citizen of the town of Southold, by whose residents he was held in the highest es- teem and greatest respect.

W ARREN F. CLOCK. One of the life- long residents of the town of Islip-a man of energetic disposition and up- right character, whose experience as a sailor and fisherman has been broad and extended-is the subject of this sketch, a well-known citizen of the village of Islip. While he has never gained wealth, yet he is the possessor of a neat and com- fortable home and a sufficient amount of this world's goods to protect his old age from need.

The father of our subject, Henry Clock, was born in the town of Islip and this continued to be his home until his death, which occurred in 1886. Though his home was here, yet his time was spent principally upon the water, and for nearly fifty years he was a boatman, being cap- tain of a boat during a portion of that time. For over twenty years he was engaged in the wreck- ing business. He married Hannah Berry, a na- tive of Long Island, who died when about fifty years of age. Their nine children were as follows: Warren F., of this sketch; Augusta, Mrs. H. A. Hannas, of Winfield Terrace, L. I .; Moses L., who was drowned at sea; Coleman, who died at the age of thirty-eight years; Ida, who married Brewster Conklin, and lives in Brooklyn; Smith W., whose home is in Bay Shore; Elwood W., who lives at Great Neck; Isabel, the widow of Gilbert Williams and a resident of Islip; and Elsie, deceased.

In Islip, where he was born, July 14, 1839, Warren F. Clock was a student in the public schools during his youthful years. The building in which he gained a knowledge of the three R's and was initiated into accompanying myster- ies of knowledge, was afterward purchased by his father and used for a barn. While quite young he began to accompany his fatlier to sea and much of his time was spent on the water. For two years he had charge of a schooner, during which time he took part in an expedition to Port Royal. On quitting his seafaring life he settled permanently in Islip, and in 1874 was elected Collector of town tax, a position which he filled faithfully for eighteen years.

Mr. Clock married Miss Sarah M. Young, a native of Bay Shore, and daughter of Oliver and Catherine (Ruland) Young. Six children bless their union, as follows: Alice; Carrie, who mar- ried Wilmarth Haff, and lives in Islip; Augusta, a resident of Brooklyn; Gertrude, wife of E. A. Clark, who is a druggist at Center Moriches; and Fannie and Oliver, who are with their parents. Mrs. Clock is identified with the Presbyterian Church. In his social connections Mr. Clock is a Mason, and politically, while not an office-seeker, he is a stanch supporter of the principles embod- ied in the platform of the Republican party.

I SAAC N. TEED is one of the most prominent and progressive farmers of Oregon, town of Southold, as well as an honored veteran of the late war. He is a native of Westchester Coun- ty, N. Y., and was born September 21, 1840. His parents were Horatio N. and Mary J. (Wilson) Teed, the former of whom was also born in the above county. On his father's side he is of Scotch descent, while the ancestors of his mother were French.

Horatio N. Teed was a lifelong resident of Westchester County, as was also his father before him, who bore the name of Isaac. They were farmers by occupation and rose to a good posi- tion among the agriculturists of their county.

777 778

HON. HENRY C. PLATT.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

779

The father of our subject lived to a good old age, dying in 1889. He had been the recipient of thany offices of trust and responsibility in the town of Somerset in his native county, the duties of which he discharged in a thoroughly efficient and worthy manner.

The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm and as soon as old enough began attending school. His studies were first carried on in the public schools of Westchester County, after which he was sent to a private institution, where his progress was very rapid. In order to more thoroughly fit himself for a business ca- reer Isaac took a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, finishing in 1861. When the Civil War broke out he was among the first to spring to the defense of his country, and Sep- tember 25, 1861, enlisted in the First United States Lancers. The following October he was transferred to the Fourth New York, or Double- day's, Artillery, and was attached to Doubleday's command during his service. His regiment formed a part of the Second Army Corps and fought with the Army of the Potomac. Subse- quently, however, he was transferred to other branches of service. During his army experience Mr. Teed took part in many of the hard fought battles of the war, being present at the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg, and in fact in Grant's entire Richmond campaign. Previous to the evacua- tion of Petersburg he had become incapacitated, owing to a wound which he received in the fight at Cold Harbor, and for a time was confined in the hospital. In the fall of 1864 he was honor- ably discharged and returned to his old home in Westchester County.

In 1865 Isaac N. Teed was married to Miss Susan F. Wells, and on her decease chose for his second companion Anna K., daughter of Wil- liam Betts, late of Suffolk County. Mr. Teed came to Long Island in 1867, at that time locat- ing on his present excellent farm in Oregon, and with the exception of one year has resided here ever since. His property includes forty acres, which his industry and energy have placed under the best methods of improvement. He is practi-

cally a self made man as regards his financial standing in the community, for all that he pos- sesses of this world's goods has been accumulated by his own efforts.

In his political relations Mr. Teed votes with the Republican party. His army associations are kept green by his membership with Edward Huntting Post No. 353, G. A. R., at Greenport, in which he has officiated as Senior Vice-Con- mander.

H ON. HENRY CLAY PLATT. There are few profe." ons that require the amount of diligent study and general information that are essential to the successful practice of law. To master legal terms understandingly one must possess a good education, great power of concen- tration of thought and a deep insight into human nature and the motives that impel to action. Such have been the qualifications that Mr. Platt has brought to the profession and to them his large success is attributable. Few of the residents of Suffolk County have attained the eminence that has rewarded his efforts, and as a representative, not alone of the Democratic party, but also of the legal profession, he is entitled to the distinction he has gained.

The position which Mr. Platt occupies, that of Assistant United States Attorney for the South- ern District of New York, has been held by him through three successive administrations, a fact which indicates the value placed upon his ser- vices. While his official duties require his al- most constant presence in New York City, he still has his summer home in Huntington and maintains the interest in this village that he felt when a permanent resident here. Nor has he been forgotten by the people of this locality. They note his success with pleasure and will feel a per- sonal pride in any further political preferment that may come to him. .

The family of which our subject is a member originated in England, and one of the ancestors was Hugh Platt, an English agriculturist of note in his day. The first of the family to come to

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

America was Isaac Platt, who, in 1663, settled at what is now Huntington, L. I. Under the old English charters of 1664 and 1668 he became one of the original patentees of the town of Hunting- ton and was the leading man in the community, having received every public gift within the power of his fellow-citizens to bestow. In the early colonial struggles and the Revolutionary War the family had its representatives, who made many sacrifices for the nation.

The late David Platt, father of Henry C., was a successful business man of New York City and was one of the founders of the firm of Platt Bros., refiners and jewelers, of Maiden Lane, with which concern he was long connected. On retiring from business in 1846 he removed to his country home at Huntington, where he died in 1868. His wife bore the maiden name of Jennie Dusenber- ry and was born in New York City.

The subject of this sketch received his prepar- atory course in the Huntington Academy and also at Ashland Hall, West Bloomfield, N. J., after which he became a student in Princeton College. From that institution he graduated in 1858, be- ing the youngest member of his class. Having resolved to enter the legal profession he entered the office of Van Winkle & Halsey, and after some years of close and careful study he was admitted to the bar in 1863. The following year he was elected to represent Suffolk County in the As- sembly, and in 1865 was re-elected to the office. While in Albany he served with credit on many important legislative committees. For several years after the expiration of his term in the Leg- islature lie was associated in practice with ex- State Senator Christie, but upon the death of his father he removed to Huntington, where he re- sided for some years.

When Mr. Platt first came to the bar in Suf- folk County the active lawyers of the county were William P. Buffett, J. Lawrence Smith, George Miller, James F. Tuthill, Benjamin K. Payne, Jolin R. Reid, Nathan D. Petty, Timothy 31. Griffing, Thomas Young and Everett A. Car- peuter. The first five were then the senior mem- bers of the local bar. Mr. Platt was retained in many of the noted criminal and civil cases of the

time, and readily held his own with his legal asso- ciates, especially in jury cases. He was the lead- ing counsel in the long and bitterly fought New York Avenue litigation at Huntington, which for three years he fought to a successful finish in the Court of Appeals against the publie sentiment of the locality and against an array of distin- guished lawyers. For many years he was coun- sel for the Trustees of the town in important land litigations and for the Commissioners of Highways in the many suits connected with the establishment of ancient roads under old and ob- scure records. He was a safe and prudent ad- viser of the town officials in many contested suits. He was the counsel who tried and argued the suit of the Trustees of Huntington against Lowndes in the United States Circuit Court for the Eastern District at Brooklyn before Circuit Judge La- combe against Martin J. Keogh, opposing coun- sel (recently elected Supreme Court Judge in this district), by which the title of the Trustees of the town to the lands under the waters of Hunt- ington Bay was first established in the United States Court, which was afterward affirmed by the United States Supreme Court on appeal.

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.

Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 29

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Chapman Number of Pages: 926

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Chapman
Number of Pages: 926