USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 3
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SAMUEL P. HEDGES.
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fatlier. Mrs. Mary Skidmore, the mother of our subject, was born in the town of Riverhead, and was ninety years of age at the time of her de- cease. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, with which congregation her honored husband was also associated.
George remained with his parents until their death, and then, the property being divided, he located apon his share and has lived here ever since. He has made the most of his money by dealing in live stock, although he does not neg- lect the raising of grain and vegetables, for which this locality is particularly noted. He was mar- ried in 1840 to Miss Sarah J. Vale, a native of New York city, and the daughter of Nathaniel and Irene Vale. She survived her marriage many years, dying in 1880. In political matters Mr. Skidmore is a stanch Republican. He is a leading and influential citizen, and has the confi- dence and highi regard of a large circle of warm friends.
S AMUEL P. HEDGES. The life of any man is of great benefit to the community in which he resides when all his efforts are di- rected toward its. advancement, and when he is honest, upriglit and progressive. The reputation of Samuel P. Hedges as a man of business probity is well known, and his career has been distin- guished for enterprise and push. He is engaged in one of the most important callings of the day, that of invention. His birth occurred in Bridge- hampton, September 18, 1846, his father, Robert Hedges, having been born at the same place in 1809. The latter was first a carpenter by trade. but later turned his attention to tilling the soil and was devoting his attention to this honorable calling at the time of his demise in 1893. Jared Hedges, the paternal grandfather, who was also born at Bridgehampton, was a farmer, and at- tained the age of ninety-two years. The Hedges family tree took root on American soil at the time of the landing of the famous old ship, the "May- flower," and since that time its members have been almost universally useful and law-abiding citizens.
Robert Hedges was married to Phoebe Parker, a native of Bridgehampton and a daughter of Rodney Parker, who was a member of an old and prominent Long Island family. He was one of four brothers, the others being James, a sea cap- tain; Robert, also a seafaring man; and Stephen, a carpenter by trade, who now tills the old Hedges homestead. Up to the age of sixteen years Sam- uel P. Hedges was engaged in farming and in acquiring such an education as the common schools afforded, two winters being spent in at- tending a select school. He possessed a decid- edly inventive turn of mind and his genius in this direction showed itself in his early boyhood, his leisure hours being usually spent in making something. New machinery charmed him, and after he had paid a visit to the steam flouring mill at Bridgehampton he went to work and made a duplicate of it, machinery and all, and this when he was a small school boy. When he was still small enough to wear dresses he made a duplicate of the first mowing machine that was brought to the neighborhood. At the age of sixteen years he went to Sag Harbor to learn the blacksmith's and machinist's trade with John Fordham, and four years later he became this gentleman's part- ner, and as such continued for three years.
Upon his arrival in Greenport, soon after this, he became associated with William E. Shipman on the site of his present shops, but three years afterward purchased his partner's interest, and two years later became the owner of the shop and grounds. During his early business career he was too much interested in getting a foothold in the financial world to give much thought to in- vention, but in 1876 he obtained his first patent on an eel spear, which he manufactured quite exten- sively and which had large sales all over the coun- try. This was followed by a fish machine, for use in the Manhattan fisheries factory, which soon came into general use as a great oil saver, and netted him considerable money. It would occupy too much space to enumerate all his inventions, but the last and most important one is his patent sectional water tube boiler, which is destined to eclipse all his other patents. One of these is in use in his private steam yacht "Rialto," which is
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one of the most beautiful vessels of the kind on the bay and attracts much favorable comment as it plows its graceful way through the water. This boat is seventy-eiglit feet long and was built com- plete in his shops.
Mr. Hedges was married in 1871 to Miss Mary B. Smith, of Sag Harbor, and they have three children, Addie, Frank and Edna. Socially Mr. Hedges is a Mason of the Chapter degree, of which he has been King and Scribe, and he is also Past Master of the Blue Lodge. He has been a member of the Board of Education for the past five years, and in all local affairs and all enter- prises that tend to build up and improve his sec- tion he takes a deep and abiding interest; in fact, he is one of the foremost and most useful citizens of his locality. His home is a pleasant and com- fortable one on Main Street and he and his amia- ble wife and family are well known for their hos- pitality. He is one of the rising inventors of the day and without doubt a brilliant future awaits him in this most important field. Politically he is a Republican.
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M AJ. RICHARD ALBERTSON. This prominent resident of Suffolk County was for many years one of its most pro- gressive and wide-awake business men and man- ufacturers. He is now retired from the active du- ties of life, and is residing in South Jamesport, where he has a very pleasant home, and is sur- rounded with every comfort which money can provide.
Our subject was born February 3, 1827, on a farm in the town of Riverhead, and was the third child in the parental family, which included four children. His parents were Oliver and Beulalı E. (Wells) Albertson. Emily Jane, their eldest daughter, married Daniel Warner; Isaiah died at the age of four years, and Mary L. became the wife of Ebenezer Hawkins, whose sketch the reader will find on another page of this volume.
Oliver Albertson was born in this town, near the village of Riverhead. His father, who was well-to-do, owned a mill in that locality, and Oli-
ver was therefore reared to a knowledge of this calling, but, not finding the business to his taste. did not follow it. When a young man he became the owner of a farm near Jamesport, but this he afterward sold, removing to South Jamesport. where, in 1835, he established himself in the mer- cantile business, remaining at the head of a thriv- ing trade in that community for a number of years. He also owned considerable real estate in the town, and gave his attention to some ex- tent to farming. To the residents of the county he was well known as Captain Albertson. His ca- reer was a fairly successful one, for although he started out for himself with limited means when quite a young man, he was well-to-do at the time of his death, which occurred when he was three score and twelve years of age. He had been a member of the Congregational Church for over thirty years, and during that long period was an active worker in the same. In early life he was an abolitionist, and on the organization of the Re- publican party joined its ranks.
The Albertson family is an old one on the is- land. The first to come here was Stephen Albert- son, a native of Holland, who took up his abode in America many years ago. The mother of our subject was also born on Long Island, and lived to be eighty-six years of age. Her son. Richard. remained at home until attaining his majority, in the meantime gaining a good education in the common schools and in the academy. When not in school he assisted his father in the store and on the farm until reaching the age of twenty-one, when he began doing for him- self. His splendid education enabled him to gain a teacher's certificate and for about twelve seasons he taught with success. About this time he formed a partnership with Albert Young and established a general merchandise business at South Jamesport. They also owned a branch house in Franklinville, and for several years continued to operate together with signal success. On the dissolution of the partnership our subjeet sold his interest in the business, to. Mr. Young and spent the two years following on his farm. He was then offered a position in the War Department at Washington,
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D. C., and, accepting the same, removed to that city, where for three years lie filled a responsible position.
We next find Mr. Albertson located at Nor- walk, Conn., where for three years he was en- gaged in the fishing business. Selling out his interest at the end of that time, he returned to South Jamesport and shortly thereafter was ap- pointed Postmaster, holding the office for a term of four years. Later he was made Deputy Post- master in the same office, and also ran the post- office at Promised Land for several years. Now, however, he is living retired at South Jamesport, where he has a beautiful home.
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Richard Albertson was married in 1846 to Miss Mary Hallock, of South Jamesport. She died in 1858, leaving a family of four children. Elma is now the wife of W. S. Dayton, of Port Jeffer- son, this county; Herbert was for many years engaged in the milk business in Brooklyn, and departed this life in his fortieth year, leaving a wife and three children; Eva married S. B. Hor- ton, and is living in Greenport, this county: Ag- nes makes her home in the city of New York.
In 1859 Mr. Albertson chose his second wife in the person of Sarepta Y. Aldrich, daughter of Roger Aldrich, and to them have been born five children. Alice, the eldest, married Fred W. Vinton, of Brooklyn; Ruth married Fred Tuthill, a farmer of the town of Riverhead; Ralph is pas- tor of a Congregational Church at Springfield, Ohio, and is held in high esteem by the brother- hood; Dora is the wife of Edwin L. Corwin, of South Jamesport, and Maude is Mrs. T. M. Woodhull, of Jamesport. Major Albertson has nineteen grandchildren.
In his political views our subject is a strong Republican, and on that ticket has been elected Commissioner of Highways. Religiously he is a member of the Congregational Church, with which he has been connected for many years. He aided in the organization of the congregation at this place, and has been deacon of the same for some twenty-five years. In church work he has been very active, and, being a talented musician, has been the leader of the choir for many years. In all his ventures in life he has been remarkably
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successful, and in addition to other valuable real estate in South Jamesport, he owns a comfort- able residence on the bay, in which he intends to spend the remaining years of his life.
LIVER A. HAWKINS. Although quite a young man, this gentleman already has . considerable weight in the community where he resides, a fact which is easily accounted for by his strong principles, his deep interest in the welfare of all around him, and his pleasan: manner. He is one of the leading merchants in Jamesport, this county, and has built up an ex- tensive business within the last few years.
Mr. Hawkins was born at South Jamesporz July 20, 1868. His parents, Ebenezer and Mary (La Ville) Hawkins, had a family of eight chi- dren, of whom Oliver A. was the youngest b ::: one. Ebenezer Hawkins is accounted one of tite substantial and prominent residents of Suffolk County, and his history may be found on another page in this volume.
The subject of this sketch attended the publis schools of his native place regularly, and when ready to enter upon a business career took a course of instruction in Bryant & Stratton's College at Brooklyn. On his return home he engaged in the mercantile business in Jamesport. forming a partnership with his brother, Arthur W. This connection existed for two years, when Oliver A. purchased the entire stock of goods. and has since conducted his affairs alone with sig- nal success. He carries a large assortment of general merchandise and commands the largest trade in the place. As a business man he lias been successful beyond the ordinary lot of man, and enjoys the reputation of being clear-headed. He is deliberate in his judgment, is a good judge of men, and is universally esteemed for his i:1- tegrity and social qualities. One of his marke i characteristics is adapting himself to circum- stances, and a rule of his life is to make the best of everything. Though young, and notwith- standing his success, he has none of the pretense of a vain man, and none of the hesitancy of a
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weak one, but moves about in his business with the fullest consciousness of his ability to manage and conduct in detail.
October 16, 1894, Oliver A. Hawkins and Miss Daisy Broadfield, a native of San Francisco, Cal., were united in marriage. To them has been granted a son, Jerome Broadfield, who was born August 18, 1895. Like his father before him, Mr. Hawkins is a stanch Republican, and under Harrison's administration received the appoint- ment of Postmaster of Jamesport.
G EORGE L. YOUNG comes of one of the most influential families of Suffolk Coun- ty, as well as one of the first represented on Long Island. He is the son of Lester Young, whose birth occurred near Aquebogue, town of Riverhead, where he was reared to the life of a farmer, following this with success for many years. At the same time he carried on a fine meat market in the village, wherem could be found all kinds of fresh and salt meats of excel- lent quality. He was very successful in all his undertakings, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1878, the community lost one of its most progressive and public-spirited citizens. In politics he was an influential Republican, and was justly popular among his fellow-citizens. As a valued member of the Congregational Church he contributed liberally toward its support and took an active part in its meetings. His father, John Young, was also born in this town.
George L. Young, one of the prosperous and substantial residents of Northville, town of Riv- erhead, makes agriculture his principal occupa- tion in life. He was born March 4, 1853, and was the eighth member of the parental family, which included ten children. Of these Frances is the wife of John Hallock, a well-to-do farmer of this town; Hannah J. died when eighteen years of age; John L. is cultivating a farm in this lo- cality; Adelia married John M. Dimon, whose sketch the reader will find elsewhere in this vol- ume; Marietta is the wife of Channey P. Howell,
of the town of Southold; David II. is a farmer near the old home; Lillian departed this life at the age of thirty years; Albert is a progressive farmer and makes his home in this neighbor- hood, and the youngest of the household, Phoebe, died in infancy.
The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Sophronia Benjamin, was born here and is now three score and ten years of age. Her children were all given such education as could be acquired in the neighborhood, and George L., of this history, continued to remain under the parental roof until of age. By industry and economy he became the possessor of a snug little sun of money, which he invested in a tract of eighty acres of land in Northville. This he has resided upon ever since, and in its cultivating has reaped a handsome income, which has enabled him to live comfortably and at the same time lay by something for the time when he will be ex- empt from labor.
December 23, 1875, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Hallock, the daugh- ter of Terry Hallock, of this town. To them have been born two children, Emily Viola, who is attending school at Patchogue, and Allison L., at home. The family have a pleasant home and are members of the Congregational Church at Northville. Mr. Young is a man of liberal and progressive opinions, and is remarkably well in- formed regarding topics of the day. Although not taking an active part in politics, he votes the Republican ticket at all important elections. Both here and in other parts of the county Mr. Young has made many warm friends.
W ALTER E. HAWKINS. Among the young farmers of Suffolk County who are energetic and enterprising, we take pleasure in giving this brief sketch of the life of Mr. Hawkins, who is a representative citizen of the town of Riverhead. He was born in Jamesporty this county, May 15, 1863, and was the elder of the two children granted his parents,
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كوند دورات
CAPT. ISAAC TERRY.
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Jedediah and Emily T. (Warner) Hawkins. His sister, Jennie L., is now the wife of John T. Ter- rill, a dealer in produce in Riverhead.
Jedediah Hawkins was a native of Stony Brook, where he was reared until twelve years old. At this age he went to sea, and when eighteen years of age was master of a vessel trading be- tween the United States, France, and Brazil. During the late war he was in the employ of the Government, and on the cessation of hostilities engaged in the fishing business in company with his brothers, Simeon, Edward, and Ebenezer, whose biographies the reader will find elsewhere in this volume.
The subject of this sketch remained at home until the age of eighteen years, in the meantime gaining a good education in Franklinville Acad- emy. He afterward spent two terms in Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Brooklyn. Al- though fitting himself for a business career, he put out to sea when eighteen years of age, going with his father on one of his fishing steamers. This business he followed for four years, at the end of which time he returned home and was married to Miss Irene M. Barns, of New Lon- don, N. Y., the ceremony which made them one being performed April 15, 1885. Mr. Hawkins then purchased the farm in this town on which he has since resided, and is succeeding well in his vocation, spending his entire time in looking after his farming interests. His estate comprises one hundred and fifty acres of valuable land, on which are located a substantial residence and the neces- sary farm buildings. Mr. Hawkins is an ener- getic, wide-awake young man, and possesses the good will of all who know him.
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C APT. ISAAC TERRY was a representa- tive of a large family which has taken deep root in Suffolk County and given to its social life so many features and so vastly added to its prosperity. Various members of this family have become distinguished in professional and mercantile life and have also been among the leading agriculturists of the island, and now hold
under cultivation several hundred acres of land in this county. Isaac Terry followed the sea until sixty-nine years of age, when he retired to farni life.
Mr. Terry was born in Wading River, June 27, 1808. His parents were Isaiah and Mary (Wood- hull) Terry, the former of whom was born Octo- ber 27, 1782, also in the town of Riverhead, where his entire life was passed engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was remarkably successful in this industry, and lived to be eighty-three years of age. Religiously, he was a working member of the Congregational Church. He in turn was the son of Isaiah Terry, who was likewise born in this locality, and who married a Miss Hulse. Mrs. Mary Terry, the mother of our subject, was also a native of this town, and lived to be eighty years of age.
The boyhood days of Isaac, of this sketch, were passed busily, but uneventfully upon the home farm, and in the infrequent intervals when not engaged in agricultural work he attended the neighboring schools. His broad information, however, was gained mainly through self-culture and his own unaided exertions. At the age of eighteen years he hired out as cook on a coasting vessel, holding this position for two years, when he purchased a sloop, of which he was master for a twelve-month. About that time he organized a company which built the schooner "General Marion," of which Mr. Terry was master, and in which he owned a half interest. The company was successfully engaged in freighting along the coast, and was thus enabled to declare good divi- dends. Mr. Terry seemed to prosper in whatever he did, and at one time was part owner of nine vessels engaged in active business. His love for the water increased as the years passed by, but ou attaining his sixty-ninth year he was obliged to resign his position on account of failing health. He accordingly sold his interest in the various vessels and retired to the farm which he had purchased several years before. On this property he remained until his decease, which occurred August 19, 1887. After the formation of the Re- publican party he joined the same and during his inore active years took a deep interest in its suc-
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cess. When a lad of sixteen years he became a member of the Congregational Church, and, al- though unable to meet regularly with this de- nomination for many years, still remained true to its teachings, and toward its support contributed largely of his means.
The marriage of Isaac Terry and Miss Hulda Wells was celebrated January 23, 1833. The lat- ter was born October 10, 1807, and was the daugh- ter of David and Hulda (Payne) Wells, one of the old and honored families of the island. Her father was born in the town of Southold, April II, 1776, and in the prosecution of his life work of a farmer met with signal success. For over twenty years he was an active minister of the Congrega- tional Church. He was ever interested in the maintenance of the public good and in that early day endeavored to promote the welfare of his fel- low-citizens in every possible way. His death oc- curred September 12, 1821. His wife, who was born June 2, 1777, also in this locality, was an in- valid the greater part of her life, and died July 19, 1857.
The two children born to our subject and his wife were David Wells, whose birth occurred De- cember 31, 1833, and Hannah Woodhull, born September 28, 1835. The former died August 15, 1855. Hannah .was educated at Mt. Holyoke, Mass., after which she established a college at Bridgeport, that state, over which she presided for a period of fifteen years. She is now the wife of John Hurd, formerly a wealthy resident of Bridgeport. They now make their home in the mountains at Santa Clara, N. Y., where they have a charming residence and are surrounded with all that goes to make life happy.
Mrs. Isaac Terry is well educated, and for some time prior to her marriage taught school. The eighty-eight years of her life have been replete with kind deeds. Being blessed with an abund- ance of this world's goods, she has not forgotten those whose lives have known poverty and mis- ery, and has provided for the wants of thirty-five different children. Many of these she has taken into her own home and cared for and reared to mature years as she did her own son and daugh- ter. Her life as a member of the Congregational
Church has been one which it would be well to imitate, for with her self was a secondary consid- eration. Her desire was always to bring those into the church who did not know the blessed privilege of being a Christian. She is well known in this part of the county and none meet her but to love her.
L EANDER E. YOUNG is one of the suc- cessful and well-to-do farmers of the town of Riverhead. From his sturdy ancestors he has inherited very industrious and thrifty qual- ities, and the family to which he belongs is classed among those who founded the prosperity of Suf- folk County. Noah Young, the grandfather of our subject, was also born in this locality and rose to a position of prominence on the island. In 1832 he was elected to the Assembly, and while there used his influence in promoting public measures of great importance to his constitu- ents. He had been the incumbent of nearly all the town offices, and in whatever position placed discharged the duties of the same in a conscien- tious and thoroughly efficient manner.
There were six children born to the parents of our subject, Wilson and Densie J. (Luce) Young. Henry W., the eldest of the family, is now a resi- dent of Independence, Kan., where he is pub- lisher of the "Star and Kansan;" Drusilla J. is still at home; Edna A. married George C. Hal- lock and makes her home in this town; Leander E. was the next in order of birth; Daniel R. is a prosperous farmer of this locality; Sarah K. married Herman H. Hallock, also a farmer in good circunstances in the town of Riverhead. The father of this household was a stanch Demo- crat in politics, and in religious affairs was a member of the Congregational Church, to which denomination his estimable wife also belonged. The latter is now deceased, departing this life when sixty-five years of age.
Leander E. Young was born November 24, 1854, in this portion of Suffolk County. He re- mained, athome until attaining his twenty-fifth year, when, having saved a considerable sum of
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