USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 30
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In 1886 Mr. Platt removed to New York City, where he resumed the practice of law. Devoting especial attention to the civil departments of the profession, he was brought frequently into the Federal Courts, in which most of his litigated bus- iness was tried and where he established a repu- tation as a thoroughly equipped, able lawyer. Under the first administration of President Cleve- land he was appointed Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and was retained by President Harrison. After the second election of President Cleveland, Jan- uary 29, 1894, he was made United States At- torney for the same district to fill the vacancy oc- casioned by the expiration of the term of Ed- ward Mitchell. Upon the appointment of Wal- lace Macfarlane as his successor, Attorney-Gen- eral Olney appointed Mr. Platt Assistant United States Attorney to fill the position he originally held and which he still holds.
Long a leader in the Democratic party, Mr. Platt has always taken an active part in national
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campaigns. In 1884 he worked for the election of Mr. Cleveland, of whom he was a warm ad- mirer, and through his efforts was largely due the success of the Democratic ticket in Suffolk Coun- ty, which gave a majority of almost six hundred to President Cleveland. Socially he is a member of the Princeton and Reform Clubs and other fra- ternal associations. At the centennial celebration of the town of Huntington, in 1876, he delivered the oration of the day, which was afterward pub- lished.
The marriage of Mr. Platt occurred June I, 1864, and united him with Miss Jennie D. Dusen- berry, a granddaughter of the late Judge Mun- son, of Connecticut. Their only son died at the age of twenty-one years. Mrs. Platt is a lady of superior intellectual attainments and is a member of the Woman's Press Club, in which she takes an active interest.
All enterprises that have for their object the good of the community or the increase of mate- rial wealth always find in Mr. Platt an advocate and friend ready to give them substantial aid, and that, too, without hoping to reap any direct per- sonal advantage. Every worthy philanthropy has found in him a donor to the full extent of his ability to give. Throughout his long and honor- able career he has maintained the energy and in- tegrity that characterized his earlier years, and has ever been a friend to those who have met with reverses in life.
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J AMES B. BURR, of Bay Shore, is the son of Smith and Lavina (Soper) Burr, who died at the respective ages of eighty-four and sixty-four. The former, a native of Commack, Suffolk County, spent his entire life in that vil- lage, and was known throughout the entire coun- try as a breeder of trotting horses. His family consisted of ten children, as follows: Emeline, deceased; Ann, wife of Joel Field, of Commack; Eliza, deceased; Carl, who is a horse trainer and lives in Commiack; George and Elizabeth (twins), the former a resident of Commack, and the latter of Brooklyn; Elmina, living in Northport; Jamies
B., and Brewster and Evelina, both residents of Commack.
The subject of this sketch was born in Com- mack August 2, 1842, and was reared to manhood in that place. From boyhood he evinced a fond- ness for horses, particularly the trotting breed, and, being a natural mechanic, he picked up a knowledge of the blacksmith's trade and became a practical horse shoer. He opened a shop at Commack when twenty-three years old, continu- ing in that place for ten years, and then going to Brooklyn, where he remained for one year. Next he spent two years in Islip, coming from that village to Bay Shore in 1880. Here he opened a shop on Union Avenue. As he had made a thor- ough study of practical horse-shoeing for many years, and as he also engaged only experienced and competent workmen, he gained a reputation as a reliable and successful blacksmith, and car ried on a large trade in his line. In his work, too, he was original. Being of an inventive nature, he patented some improvements, including two horse shoes, one of which is weighted at the toe and gives the horse better action, also eases the corns and lessens liability to "pick up" nails; the other prevents knee knocking, ankle cutting and hoof chafing, and is adjusted by a screw thread that gives greater bearing at the first quarter in- side the shoe.
At one time Mr. Burr owned a beautiful pri- vate park in Bay Shore, adjoining his residence. This was considered one of the attractions of the village, and to his artistic tastes were due the beds of flowers and tropical plants, with the beautiful fountain and stream winding among the stately trees. His fondness for horses has been dis- played in various ways, but is especially notice- able in the line of art. While he has shown abil- ity as an artist in almost every department of the science, his specialty has been the painting of horses, and he has executed some fine work for Leland and Robert Bonner, among them a strik- ing picture of "Startle." Among the many proofs of his artistic skill is a horse carved out of solid wood, with pedestal of ebony and body of mia- hogany. This is the trotting horse "Harrietta." with a record of 2:09 1-4, owned by H. O. Hav-
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meyer. In his home are to be seen other evidences of his skill in a number of fruit and landscape piecas, each of which is a gem of art.
Mr. Burr's inventive genius has already been mentioned. In addition to his patents for horse- shoeing, he has patented an article called "gun- oleum," a preventive of rust on guns, etc. To the efficacy of this he has numerous testimonials from sportsmen and prominent men who are fond of hunting, among them being a certificate from President Cleveland. His attention is now given largely to art work and to his patents, and, though a firm Republican politically, he has little leisure for public affairs. He has been twice mar- ried, and by his first wife, Henrietta Baldwin, had two children, Ella, wife of L. Burr; and Es- tella. His second wife is Ella Gertrude, daugh- ter of W. H. L'Hommedieu, and one child blesses their union, a daughter, Pauline.
G CLARENCE TOPPING. Nowhere in the United States can we find families who have been longer established in their present locality than upon Long Island. Generation has succeeded generation, each oc- cupying the same homestead. Among the old families of Suffolk County is the one represented by the subject of this sketch. The first of the name to come hither was Thomas Topping, who came from England about 1650, and identified himself with the early settlers of the island.
Dr. Nathaniel Topping, the father of our sub- ject, was a son of Matthew and grandson of David Topping. He was born in the village of Sagapo- nack, November 7, 1790. At the age of nine years he went to live with his grandfather at East Hampton, where he learned the shoemaker's trade, but this he followed for a short time only. In early manhood he taught school, in which way he earned the means necessary for the prosecution of his medical studies. He read medicine under Dr. Valentine Mott, a celebrated physician of New York City, and also attended lectures there. Re- turning to Sagaponack, his native village, he prac-
ticed his profession there and also gave some at- tention to farming. About 1862 he retired from the profession, and from that time until his death, in 1871, remained quietly on his farm. He was buried in the cemetery near his home. His suc- cess, which was large, may be attributed to his determination and pluck. Obstacles did not deter him, nor opposition affright. From poverty he worked his way up to competence, and was num- bered among the prosperous men of his town.
The third wife of Dr. Topping was Miss Mary Topping, who became the mother of seven chil- dren. Of these, M. Howell enlisted, in 1861, in the Union Army. From the rank of Second Lieu- tenant he was promoted to a Captaincy, which he held until the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, when he was honorably discharged. About 1869 he was admitted to the bar, and with his brother, Robert, he engaged in legal practice in New York City, remaining there until his death, in 1893. DeWitt is a retired merchant, whose home is in Wisconsin; Mary resides with our sub- ject; G. Clarence, the next in order, and Nellie is the wife of Dr. John C. Herrick of Denver, Colo. The father was four times married, and by his second marriage had a son, Robert E., a coun- sellor at law, who died in 1891.
Upon the farmi where he now resides, the sub- ject of this sketch was born, September 23, 1844. He received his education principally in Bridge- hampton Academy, and utilized the knowledge there acquired by adopting the profession of a teacher, which he followed during the winter months for fifteen years. Remaining at home, he had entire control of the property, and since the death of his father has owned the fifty acres com- prising the place. Here he carries on general farming, and is general business agent for the lo- cality in which he lives, and is meeting with suc- cess.
In 1881 Mr. Topping married Miss Mary A. Mulford, and five children were born of the union, but two died in infancy, the others being Robert M., Nellie H., and Nathaniel .H.
Politically a Democrat, our subject has been Justice of the Peace for ten successive years, hav- ing been elected four times without opposition.
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In the fall of 1891 he was elected Judge of Ses- sions of the County Court, and served one year in that capacity. He is a man who has maintained a high place in the regard of the people, being whole-souled, generous to those in need, upright in character and genial in manners.
E LBERT W. TABER. The subject of this notice is a man whose pleasing manner and accommodating spirit have gathered around him many friends. In this day, when the strife for place breeds so much selfishness, the vir- tue of these qualities is the more apparent. El- bert W. Taber, a widely known and popular man, is now filling the office of Highway Commis- sioner with credit to himself and the people, and has filled other positions with equal satis- faction. He was born April 1, 1844, at Orient, of which village his father, Smith B. Taber, was also a native. The latter followed farming all his life and died in 1886, when seventy-four years old. His wife died when a comparatively young woman. The grandfather, Frederick Taber, fol- lowed the sea and was captain of a vessel.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Taber, three sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters now survive. Henry M. re- sides in Jamestown, N. Dak .; Susan married Alonzo Dyer, of Camden, N. J., and Mary F. married Capt. Daniel Conklin, of Orient. Our subject received a fair education in the public schools of his native village and when but four- teen years old was left motherless. He then went on the water, remaining there until the 31st of October, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Sixth New York Cavalry, and was in active ser- vice until the close of the war. He participated in all the engagements of his regiment, the most prominent being Chickamauga Swamp, where he fought for seven days, and also took part in the engagements at Richmond, Gettysburg, Cedar Creek, Winchester, Cold Harbor, Fredericks- burg and many others, and was never off duty a day in the more than four years of service. He
received a number of close calls, but escaped un- harmed although at one time his horse was shot under him. Mr. Taber served his country most faithfully and was mustered out in Kentucky in November, 1865.
Following this Mr. Taber returned to the water and became second officer of the schooner "Henry May," one of the largest vessels out of the port. For the past twenty-four years, how- ever, he has had a contract to carry the mail from Greenport to Orient. In 1885 he was elected Tax Collector, holding that position one year, and is now Highway Commissioner. In the latter ca- pacity he was instrumental in getting a grant for the building of a sea-wall along the bay between Orient and East Marion, where the bay and sound are divided only by a narrow space which every year was being washed away. This wall will protect it.
Mr. Taber has held a number of local offices in the county and is an influential and most worthy citizen. He has been Trustee of the schools for the past six years, is a member of the County Republican Committee and for two years was Commander of the post of Grand Army of the Republic. He married Miss Harriet A. Terry, daughter of Jeremiah Terry, of Cut- chogue, and they have three children: Eloise V .. wife of Nathaniel Luce, of Orient; Fannie and Willis L.
C APT. MARTIN VAN BUREN BREW- STER. Among the seafaring men who make Port Jefferson their home, we men- tion the name of Captain Brewster. An indus- trious, energetic and efficient seaman, he has gained, aniong other mariners, a good reputation as a captain. Though still quite young, he has been master of a vessel for fifteen years, and lias so managed affairs, in the responsible duties that have fallen to him, that he has achieved prosperity and success.
The father of our subject is Capt. Selah S. Brewster, himself for twenty-five years a worthy seaman and formerly Sheriff of the county. He
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still has valuable shipping interests, though he no longer commands a vessel. Martin Van Buren Brewster is the elder of two sons and was born in Port Jefferson October 9, 1860. His youthful years were uneventfully passed. His father, who had limited advantages in boyhood, was anxious that he should receive a good education, and so kept him in school, though he himself was longing to go to sea. At seventeen he became a sailor, and three years later he became master of a vessel, since which time he has prospered un- interruptedly. At present he has control of sev- eral vessels. His first schooner was the "George R. Congdon," which was built at Port Jefferson by J. R. Mather ; the next was the "D. K. Baker," built by the same party, and considered one of the best boats ever built at Port Jefferson. These two vessels the Captain still runs, and from them he receives a profitable revenue.
In July, 1882, Captain Brewster was united in marriage with Abbie R., daughter of Thomas R. Tilley, of Newport, and one child blesses their union, a son named Selah S. Though not iden- tified with any denomination, the family attends the Presbyterian Church and contributes to its support. Like his father, the Captain is a Demo- crat politically. In social relations he is con- nected with the Royal Arcanum. In 1893 he was elected a member of the Board of Education in Port Jefferson and is still efficiently filling that position.
D R. JONAS B. PAYNE is the popular dentist of Smithtown, who has won an en- viable reputation for the careful, skillful manner in which he performs all operations. He is well provided with every new improved ap- pliance for making the extraction of teeth as painless as possible, and also preserves the nat- ural teetli and fills them, and likewise makes arti- ficial teeth to order. In tracing the genealogy of the Payne family on Long Island, we find that the great-grandfather of our subject, James B. Payne, was the first member to settle here. His son, Thomas Payne, the grandfather of our sub-
ject, was born on the island, September 12. 1768, and was married there to Miss Charity Smith, also a native of the Island, born December 25, 1772, and the daughter of James Smith, one of the old settlers.
The thirteen children born to the above worthy couple were named as follows: Jesse, Daniel, Elizabeth, James, Phoebe, Catherine, James S., Charity and Temperance (twins), William, Thom- as and Jonas (twins), and Frederick. Three of these children are now living. The parents of these children died October 4, 1822, and Novem- ber II, 1863, respectively. The son, Jonas W., father of our subject, first saw the light, March 20, 1812. When but a boy he was apprenticed to tlie woolen manufacturer's trade in his native town, and worked at this until 1850, when the factory was destroyed by fire. At that time he was foreman of the mills. Following this he engaged in farming and carried this on until recently, since which time he has been engaged in weaving. He is still a resident of Stony Brook, and al- though now eighty-three years old, enjoys com- paratively good health. He married Miss Sarah E. Young, a native of this county, born in 1817, and whose parents and grandparents were also born here. Her maternal grandfather, Benjamin Jarred, was kept a captive in a house in Smith- town while the British occupied the island, and was considered a refugee. Mrs. Payne died in 1871. Their children were as follows: Jonas B., our subject, born December 30, 1844; Addison W., December 15, 1847; Otis Y., March 12, 1850; Charles E., June 25, 1855, and Benjamin F., June 16, 1858.
Our subject's birth occurred in Hauppauge, town of Smithtown, and his early life was passed on his father's farm in the vicinity of his birth- place. He secured a fair education in the common schools and then completed this by self-study and observation. He is a man of wide and extended learning, and is well posted on nearly all sub- jects. In the year 1862 he embarked in the coast- ing trade, and this he followed for eight years, and then spent four years in a sugar refining in- stitution in Brooklyn. On the 22d of November. 1871, he was married to Miss Emaline H. Wil-
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y
liams, daughter of William H. Williams, of Smith- town, and a native of the town of Huntington, born October 12, 1845.
For some time after his marriage Mr. Payne resided in Brooklyn, and in 1875 he again went on the water, making a voyage to the coast of Africa. The same year his family removed to Smithtown, and in 1877 he, having left the sea, took up the study of dentistry with Dr. J. O. Smith. In 1878 he began practicing in Smith- town, and has followed this business most suc- cessfully since. He also has an office in North- port, where he spends one day of each week. On the 21st day of May, 1892, he lost his estimable wife, and on the 24th of June, 1894, he wedded Miss Lila D. Howe, a native of Stony Brook, where her father, Edward Howe, formerly re- sided; he is now deceased. Two children were born to the first union, a son and daughter, Wil- liam H. and Sadie C., a student in Seney Hospital, Brooklyn. The Doctor has been a member of the Methodist Church since 1868, and in politics is an ardent Republican. He has never cared for office, but has held a number of local positions.
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C APT. SELAH T. CLOCK, a resident of Bay Shore, is interested in a practical and successful way in all branches of the oyster industry, from the planting of oyster beds to the shipping of the product to the great city markets. He is at the liead of an extensive busi- ness, which employs the services of many men, and uses many boats, but to all details of this great enterprise he gives his personal and individ- ual attention.
The father of our subject, Brewster Clock, has given all the years of his active life to the sailor's occupation, and now, at the age of sixty-eight, is still at sea. He was married about 1859 to Julia Thurber, a resident of this village. By this marriage there were born three children, of whom Selah T. is the oldest. The second son, William B., is now on the water, following the vocation which his father has endeared to the liearts of his
children. The only daughter, Emma, died at the age of nineteen.
Selah T. Clock was born Deceniber 14, 1860, in this village, and his boyhood was spent prin- cipally on the water. From an early age he had much to do with boating, sailing, oystering, fish- ing, and kindred occupations, and if the boy makes the man, there could have been little trou- ble in determining his future career. While still small, his father took the lad with him and made a sailor of him almost before boys on the main- land had ceased to ride hobby horses and wear skirts. On reaching manhood he was put in charge of a vessel, which he commanded for ten years, and in which he demonstrated the posses- sion of manly qualities to a high degree.
In 1885 our subject married Miss Bell Benns, of Canada, and they have one child, Christina B. He is a Republican in politics, and in religion a member of the Congregational Church, being a Trustee of the church and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Socially he is a friend of the fraternal orders, being a Chapter Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Royal Arcanum, and of the fire department. In all these various orders he is much esteemed. He is a member of the Board of Education in the village, and gives much time and thought to the interests of popular education. Possessing a genial and affable char- acter, he has a wide circle of friends and well- wishers.
C APT. NATHAN T. WILCOX is one of the worthy and honored residents of Shel- ter Island, where he is engaged as a coal, wood and feed merchant, operating under the firm name of N. T. Wilcox & Son. In his many and varied dealings his career has always been perfectly straightforward, honest and marked with good judgment.
Mr. Wilcox was born in Rhode Island, No- vember 7, 1833, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Crumb) Wilcox, also natives of that state. The Wilcox family is said to be of Scotch origin and has been established in the United 1
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States since its earliest history. Nathan T. passed the first eighteen years of his life in Rhode Island, during which time he gained a good education ' in the common schools. Then starting out for himself, he obtained a position on the "Island City," remaining on board this vessel for two years. It was engaged in trade between New York City, Mobile, Ala., Galveston, Tex., and other points in the South.
On severing his connection with the "Island City," Mr. Wilcox returned to his home in Rhode Island and for some time was engaged in fishing along the coast, which business is still found to be very profitable. Some time in the '5os he removed from the state of his birth to Shelter Island, where he spent his time in the fishing business until the outbreak of the late war. In August, 1862, he volunteered his services to his country, and was mustered in as a member of Company A, First Rhode Island Cavalry, and with his regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac. He suffered all the hardships and privations of a soldier's life and for one year was at the front, participating in all the engagements in which his regiment took part. He was then sent to New Haven and joined the recruiting service. His stay there .was of two years' dura- tion, so that at the time he received his honorable discharge, in June, 1865, he had spent three years in the United States service.
On being mustered out Mr. Wilcox returned to Shelter Island and resumed his former occu- pation, following the same for many years. Later he became captain of a vessel plying the waters of the sound and the Atlantic, and during the years in which he lived on the sea commanded many different vessels. Tiring of this kind of life he resigned his captaincy and made perma- nent location on Shelter Island, which is one of the most beautiful spots in this picturesque re- gion. He finally drifted into his present business and in its conduct has the advice and aid of his son, who is a young business man of great ability.
In May, 1856, Captain Wilcox married Miss Phebe Payne, daughter of Richard Payne, now deceased. This family was among the well-to-do
and highly respected residents of Shelter Island. Their union was blessed by the birth of two chil- dren, Clarence M., who is engaged with his father in business, as aforesaid, and Frank E., de- ceased. In his political relations the Captain is a true blue Republican, and can safely be relied upon to use his influence in everything relating to the best interests of his fellow-citizens and the community in which he dwells.
E LIJAH GRISWOLD, Postmaster at Riv- erhead, was born in Chenango County, N. Y., December 12, 1832. He is the son of Elias W. Griswold, a native of Delaware County, this State, and for some years a cigar manufac- turer in Hudson. At various times he occupied positions of public responsibility, including the office of Justice of Peace. His death occurred in 1854 in New York City, where he was at the time engaged in the brokerage business. Our subject's grandfather, Rev. Elias Griswold, was a Metliodist minister from Connecticut, and took part in the War of 1812, in which his brother, Chester, was a captain. They were descendants of Governor Griswold, of Connecticut. The mo- ther of our subject, Almira A., was a daughter of William Wilbur, of Delaware County, N. Y., and a sister of Squire Jeremiah Wilbur, of Manor- ville, L. I. She died in Athens, Greene County, N. Y., in 1842.
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