Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 37

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 37

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The first of the Dodd family known in the an- nals of this country was Edward Dodd, who came from England and made his home at Hartford, Conn., about the year 1683. There he was mar- ried to Miss Lydia Flower. He was a Puritan, and was a man of standing in his community.

"The boyhood of our subject was spent in Baby- lon, where he attended the district school. So well did he improve his time that at the age of fourteen he was competent to hold a clerkship for three years in a country store. When he had reached the age of seventeen, he passed an exami- nation and began to teach country schools in Scho-

harie, Suffolk and Delaware counties during the winter season, and attended Fergusonville Acad- emy during the summer.

Dr. Dodd early had visions of his future career, and began while still a teacher to read medicine with Franklin Skidmore, of Babylon, and after- wards and more thoroughly with Dr. Alfred C. Loomis, an eminent physician of the city of New York. He attended lectures in the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and graduated in March, 1862. At once he applied for examina- tion before the Army Board at Washington for appointment as assistant surgeon in the govern- ment service. This appointment came to him in October and he was commissioned by President Lincoln November 4, that year. At once he went to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, where he had been assigned for duty. After some three months passed, the young Doctor was ordered to the front to act with Sherman's army on his Arkansas campaign. In the spring of 1863 he was put in charge of the officers' hospital at Memphis.

Dr. Dodd was in the service with General Grant's army in that terrible campaign at Vicks- burg, and was afterwards made Executive Offi- cer of the vessel, "D. A. January," which posi- tion he held until the termination of the siege. Our subject was then ordered North to act as Executive Officer of Benton Barracks, and there he remained until he resigned from the service. his health having been broken down by the ex- posure and privation at the front.

The young soldier physician had been married before he entered the service to Miss Elizabeth Foster, of New York City, and when he left the service he determined to win a front rank in his profession. He accordingly went to Europe and took special instruction at Paris, Berlin, Zurich. and Vienna. But there was in our subject a strong commercial sense, and when he returned from Europe he was attracted by the opportuni- ties for profit in the real estate business for wise and careful management, so in 1869 he engaged in that line in the city of New York. After fol- lowing it for more than twenty years, or until 1891, during which time he was able to save a snug sum from his earnings, he went out of busi-

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ness, leaving a record of uncommonly honorable and upright dealing. His standing as a real es- tate man may be inferred from his appointment as one of the appraisers for the Brooklyn Bridge, passing upon the value of every piece of ground purchased in New York City for the erection of that passage way.

Dr. Dodd made his home in New York, com- ing to his country residence only in the summer time, until the year 1891, when he came to his present location to spend the balance of his days amid the lovely scenes of the Babylon country. He has made three trips to Europe, having quite thoroughly covered all its points of interest, and has also made a record as an Alpine climber. He is the father of two children. Ernest H., a mem- ber of the New York Produce Exchange, is mar- ried, and has one child. Frank Nelaton is in busi- ness in the city of New York, and is unmarried.

Our subject has acted with the Republican party, but has never had any hunger for official position. Socially he is a Mason of high degree, having been initiated into Meridian Lodge, at Islip, in 1870, is a member of Constellation Chap- ter in Brooklyn, and in 1871 became a Knight Templar, being enrolled in Manhattan Command- ery, and was chosen a member of the Adelphic Council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1880. In Shekinah Lodge of Perfection he took the four- teenth degree and received the other degrees in the same lodge until he had taken the thirty-third, on the evening of March 18, 1882. When he re- moved to New York, he united with Atlas Lodge No. 316, of that city, and has served it as Master for two years. He left Manhattan Commandery to help form Adelphic Commandery, and he has served that body as Commander for five succes- sive years. He was Grand Standard Bearer for the Grand Lodge on the staff of Frank R. Law- rence, Grand Master in 1889. He is also a mem- be- of the military order of the Loyal Legion, his services at the front richly entitling him to a seat in this honored body.

Dr. Dodd possesses one of the best private li- braries of Suffolk County, containing about three thousand five hundred volumes, in English,

French and German, and including works on his- tory, biography, medicine, the various sciences and general literature.

A MOSEBACK, the energetic merchant tailor of Amityville, was born in the city of New York, August 8, 1868, and is a son of Casper and Christina E. (Bachman) Mose- back. His parents were born, reared and married in Germany, and for many years made their home in Kurhessen, where four of their children were born. Our subject was their first child born after they had come to this country. They are still living and make their home at Lindenhurst. They first settled in that place when our subject was about six years old, but four years later they returned to New York, where they spent two years. The boy was educated in both English and German, and is able to converse in both lan- guages, a fact which is of material assistance to him in the transaction of business.

When Mr. Moseback reached the age of four- teen he began to learn the tailor's trade with James McLachlan, of Babylon, with whom he worked three years for his board and clothes. He was then pronounced a journeyman tailor, able to take any work. He remained with this em- ployer for another year, then left him to work in New York. But that great city did not seem to have many attractions for him, and after six months he resumed his place in the shop of his first employer, where he remained for a period of five years, making nine years altogether in that man's servicc.

When this period was completed Mr. Mose- back thought it time to start for himself, which he did, opening a shop in Amityville, where, by hon- est dealing and courteous treatment of his cus- tomers, he has already won a good trade. He is regarded as an upright and capable man of busi- ness, and is very popular in the community. Oc- tober 16, 1892, he married Miss Clara Alma Goet- zel, a resident of the town of Babylon and a

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daugliter of Oswald Mauritz and Amanda (Uhl- man) Goetzel. A native of Saxony, she came to this country while still a child, but has many memories of the old country. She is the mother of two children, Walter Richard and Marx Ed- die, born, respectively, July 31, 1893, and Janu- ary 9, 1895.

. Our subject has acted with the Democratic party very generally in national matters, but has maintained an independent position regarding home questions. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially he is a member of New Point Lodge, No. 677, I. O. O. F., at Amityville, and is Secretary of that body at the present time. He is also a member of Amityville Council, No. 1644, Royal Arcanum.

F RANK H. HILL, a popular and prosperous resident of the village of Riverhead, was born in this place, November 17, 1846. His father, George, was born in Huntington, Febru- ary 7, 1821, and at an early age went to Hemp- stead, where he learned the trade of cabinet- making. Later he came to this village, where his father, Phineas, was established in the marble business, and became associated with him in that line, succeeding to it when his father died. As far back as we can trace the record, for one hun- dred and fifty years and more, the Hills have been marble-cutters. George Hill continued the marble business up to the time of his death, Feb- ruary 7, 1888. He was a man who took much interest in local affairs, and was especially inter- ested in the matter of good roads throughout the county, and was Commissioner of Highways for some years.

A brother of George Hill, Asa, was a promi- nent dentist at Norwalk, Conn .; another brother, Rev. F. C. Hill, won distinction in the Methodist ministry, and is now located at Huntington. Ed- ward B., of Sag Harbor, is a marble-cutter and also an artist and painter. William M. was with

the father of our subject for many years. At his death he left three sons, who are carrying on one of the most extensive wholesale millinery estab- lishments in the city of New York. Lester has been a marble-cutter for more than fifty years, and is now in the employ of our subject.

Phineas Hill was a native of Danbury, Conn., and a descendant of the Puritan Fathers. He was a marble-cutter, came to this village and established the marble business which is now in the hands of the subject of this article, and con- tinued in it as his life work. The mother of Frank H. Hill was Betsy Ann Albertson, a native of Riverhead and a daughter of Richard Albertson, the owner of the first flouring mill at this point and on the east end of the island. Her mother was a member of the Griffing family, a name well known all through the island. Mrs. George Hill is still living, and is tenderly cherished by her many relatives.

The subject of this sketch was one of six chil- dren, four of whom are now living. Isabella is the wife of W. E. Gerard, who is Superintendent of the Union Ferry Company at New York. Sarah is the widow of the late C. V. Mazurie, who was one of the leading men of this village. Jessie, who was a singer of some note, married Frederick Moore, and died, leaving three children. Fred- erick Stanley, who married Ruth Tyler Davis, is in partnership with our subject in the marble and undertaking business.

The subject of this sketch was the second child in the parental family, and was educated at River- head and Sag Harbor. At the age of sixteen he went into his father's marble works and learned the business, later becoming a partner, and finally succeeding to the business at the death of his father. He had served his town three terms as Collector, and was Supervisor for one term in 1893, having been elected on the Republican ticket. On account of the pressure of business hie refused to accept a second term. For several years hevhas also been Chief of the fire depart- ment. Socially he is identified with the Odd Fel- lows, of which he is now Past Grand, having filled all the chairs, and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. Under the firm name of Hill Brothers,

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he and his brother conduct the undertaking busi- ness which their father established.

October 27, 1867, Mr. Hill was united in mar- riage with Miss Emma S. Elton, daughter of Wil- liam Elton, who was formerly a shoe merchant in this village, but is now living a retired life. They have had five children, of whom four are living. Bertha is employed in the County Clerk's office. Florence is at home, while Asa has entered busi- ness life as bookkeeper for the cigar house of J. Henry Newins & Son. Howard, the youngest son, is still at home. Mrs. Hill is a member of the Episcopal Church.

R OSWELL DAVIS, the efficient Town Clerk of Brook Haven, was born at Mt. Sinai, July 9, 1854, and is a son of Joel and Hannah M. Davis, both natives of Suffolk County, where they spent their lives. The former, who was prominently identified with agricultural pursuits and interests during his life, was modest and retiring, never seeking public office or party favors. He filled his sphere by attending to his duties as a good citizen, considering that the community is but an aggregation of the indi- vidual and that he conserved the best interests of the former by leading the purest life as the latter. He died in 1882, deeply mourned by all who knew him. His wife passed away in 1877.

Our subject received his primary instruction in the district schools of the locality. He subse- quently entered the academy at Miller's Place, later went to Port Jefferson, and in tlie intervals of his school life engaged in work on the farm. At the age of sixteen he left the parental roof and came to Yaphank, where he was engaged as a clerk for Jolin P. Mills. He worked for that gentleman for six months, receiving $8 per month for his services and $io per month after tliat. Eleven years were passed in his employ, during which time he did not lose a day of active ser- vice. Young Davis was attentive to his business and was a model from a moral point of view, for he did not use alcohol in any form nor tobacco

and, in fact, no bad habit fixed itself upon him. Thus he was enabled to save considerable from his salary, and in 1881 he launched into business for himself, buying out the stock and good will of E. Wickham Mills, and there opened a general store. Finding that he had a snug sum of $1,300 left after buying his business he invested a large part of it in an excellent stock of goods, which lie purchased in New York City, and was enabled thereby to open up one of the best country stores in the locality. How well he succeeded in his undertaking is seen by the finely stocked busi- ness place of which he is now proprietor. By courteous treatment and square dealing he has attracted the best of custom in the past and bids fair to continue and increase in his success.

Mr. Davis had not a dollar when he began his career and his present success and prosperity is but another illustration of what a young man with pure morals, energy and push can do for himself. He is now a prominent dealer in dry goods, cloth- ing, furniture, farm implements, fertilizers, drugs and medicines, and in fact, every variety of mer- chandise that is to be found in a general store.

Our subject was married September 9, 1880, to Miss Josephine S. Hume, whose parents died in Philadelphia when she was quite young. They have two daughters, Florence Hume and Mary Baker. The family are members of the Presby- terian Church, of which Mr. Davis is a Trustee. Socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum of Patchogue and politically he has an abiding faith in the policy of the Republican party. He never aspired to official distinctions, but in 1890. at the urgent solicitation of his friends, he ac- cepted the nomination for Town Clerk, and re- ceived a flattering majority, being the first and only Republican who was ever elected to the position in the town.

Interesting himself in the insurance business, Mr. Davis by his ability and worth won ready recognition and appreciation from the Sun In- surance Office of London, the oldest fire insur- ance company in the world, and in 1892 they gave him the management of their business for Suffolk County. He established agencies throughout the county and these he managed so

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CAPT. HARVEY P. FANNING.

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successfully that the company proffered him Queens County, and he has since conducted the business for the two counties. In 1895 he was instrumental in organizing the Queens and Suf- folk Mutual Fire Insurance Corporation of Long Island, of which he is Secretary and general man- ager. This company, backed by the most in- fluential citizens as well as the most experienced insurance men of both counties, bids fair to be a powerful factor in the insurance business. Their main office is at the office of Mr. Davis in Yap- hank.

C APT. HARVEY P. FANNING. For many generations the Fanning family have been numbered among the repre- sentative citizens of Suffolk County, and have been identified with the locality of Flanders for over a century. Our subject, who is well known to the residents of this portion of the county, is now living in the above place and was born in the house which he now occupies, April 25, 1852. There was born to his parents, Harvey L. and Mary A. (Tuthill) Fanning, a family of six chil- dren, of whom he was the eldest but one. Jane L. departed this life when about thirty-eight years of age; Mary E. died when in her twenty-ninth year; Addie M. died when eleven years of age; Carrie M. is now the wife of Harry Carlton and makes lier home in New York City; and Joshua is a well-to-do farmer of Northville.

Harvey L. Fanning was also born on the old homestead in the town of Southampton and spent the greater part of his life in farming. He was perhaps the most successful agriculturist on Long Island, as at the time of his death, when sixty- eight years of age, he left to his family an estate which included over five hundred acres of val- dable land, all located in Suffolk County. He possessed the genial manners and strict integrity of purpose which make a mian popular through- out the community in which he resides, and cer- tainly such proved to be the case with him. His excellent business judgment resulted in making him wealthy, and he received the highest com-

mendation for the interest which he took in all affairs relating to the good of his community. He became a stanch supporter of Republican principles late in life, and was a worthy member and active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Grandfather Nathaniel Fanning was born near Aquebogue, where he was reared to mature years. When ready to embark in life for himself he came to the town of Southampton, poor in this world's goods, and purchased a small tract of land in Flanders. He was energetic and enterprising and seemed to meet with success in almost every- thing he undertook. He cultivated this tract of land, and as he prospered, kept adding to his acreage until at the time of his decease he was the proud possessor of one thousand acres in the town. He kept a watchful oversight of his af- fairs up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was eighty-eight years of age.

The mother of our subject was born in North- ville District, town of Riverhead, and is still liv- ing, being now three score years and ten. She makes her home with hier sons. Harvey P., of this history, passed the first seventeen years of his life under the parental roof, when his love of the water overcame every other desire, and he engaged to work on a coasting vessel. After fol- lowing this business for four years, working for others, he was enabled to purchase a vessel of his own, and became the proprietor of the schooner "Circle." He made a business of buying produce, coal and wood along the coast on Long Island Sound, which he transported to Provi- dence, R. I., and New York City, where he found a ready market. Mr. Fanning followed the coast- ing trade very successfully for fourteen years. when he sold his captain's interest, and, returning home, purchased fifteen acres of the old home- stead, which for a time he cultivated alone. He had a good knowledge of farming, and as the years passed by he added to his acreage, until he is now the proprietor of one of the finest farms in the county: It contains five hundred acres of ex- cellent land, nearly all of which he has placed under advanced improvement. The buildings which adorn the estate are of a substantial char-

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acter and present a very attractive appearance. The Captain and his family enjoy the esteem of all who know him and he is particularly regarded as a man of superior business ability and success.

December 31, 1876, Mr. Fanning and Miss Zola M. Goodale were united in marriage. The lady was born here October 24, 1858, and became the mother of four children: Addie L., born March 23, 1878, died in infancy; Oscar was born May 18, 1880; Cora, born January 6, 1882, died in infancy; May was born February 27, 1886.

In his political relations Mr. Fanning is a stanch Republican, and for a number of years has been a member of the County Committee. He has been Assessor for nine years, and while serving in this capacity received the highest commenda- tion for his fidelity to the best interests of all con- cerned. Although not a member of any religious body, all denominations find in him a liberal sup- porter. He has one of the most beautiful homes on Peconic Bay, everything within and without the residence indicating that it is occupied by peo- ple of means and culture.

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A LBERT FOX BEEBE. The calling of the farmer has been known and honored from the earliest ages, and as a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy, thrift and honesty, have been patrons of "husbandry." In Albert Fox Beebe these attributes are pronounced, and he is now in independent circumstances.

Our subject was born in Orient, town of South- old, Suffolk County, January 2, 1824, and is a son of Daniel and grandson of Silas Beebe, prominent citizens of Long Island. His boyhood days were passed in the town of Southold, and lie carly hecame familiar with the duties of the farm. mutter reaching mature years he selected agricul- tural pursuits as his occupation in life, but has been engaged in otlier enterprises. For some time he was in the coal-carrying trade as mate on the vessel "Empress," on the Hudson River, and was also engaged in carpentering for a short time.

Mr. Beebe was married in the First Presby- terian Church in the town of Southold, December 4, 1860, by Dr. E. Whitaker, to Miss Helen Lou- isa Prince, a native of the town of Southold, born July 14, 1833. Her father, the late Martin Prince, was born in Southold and was a farmer by occupation, making his home in South- old until his death, in October. 1855, when sixty- three years old. Mrs. Prince's maiden name was Pliebe Conklin, and she was a native of East Hampton, L. I. Her death occurred in Orient, March 18, 1878, when eighty-four years old. She was the mother of three children, as follows: George W., who died when nine years old; Ezra G., who died when nineteen years old, and Helen L.

Mr. and Mrs. Beebe are the parents of one child, Harriet C., who was born in Orient, De- cember 12, 1861. and is now the wife of Arthur D. Latham, of Orient. Our subject and wife take a deep interest in religious matters and are mem- bers of the Congregational Church at Orient, in which he has filled the office of Trustee. Both are strong temperance people and take an active part in all matters that pertain to the public good. His parents were among the first members of the Congregational Church at Orient and were leaders in the same. This family is among the old and honored ones of Suffolk County.

G EORGE CONKLING GARDINER. The family of which this gentleman is a representative is one of the most ancient and honorable in America. The first of the name to come hither was Lyon Gardiner, who pur- chased from the Indians an island four miles from the eastern extremity of Long Island, now known as Gardiner's Island. It is nine miles long by one and one-half miles wide,' and contained some three thousand five hundred acres. The entire island he purchased, and the purchase was duly confirmed by the agent of Lord Stirling on the Ioth of March, 1639. At once settling on his new possession, with his wife and two children, he

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began to erect a house for the family. As the years passed by he continued to make improve- ments, and the island, which was named in his lionor, became one of the most beautiful of those that dot the borders of the great Atlantic.

It is a notable fact that this estate has been longer in possession of one family than any other homestead in the New World, having had twelve proprietors in the direct line. The manor house now standing on the island was built in 1774, by David Gardiner, the sixth proprietor, one hun- dred and thirty-five years after the original set- tlement. The estate was then a garden of beauty, fitted to be "a joy forever." The servants, of whom there were from eighty to one hundred, kept the place in perfect order. The land pro- duced large quantities of the various cereals, and immense quantities of hay were stored in the barns every fall. There were about three hundred cattle and fifteen hundred sheep. The lord of the island rarely stabled less than sixty horses, the finest in the country.

Of the founder of the island, little is known, but that little is to his credit, and indicates that he was a man of superior courage and intellect. He was a professional engineer, the first who ever came to New England. Though born in England, much of his early life was passed in Holland, where he imbibed the principles of liberty and freedom of thought. It was on a bleak morning in November, 1635, that he landed in Boston. He was then thirty-six years of age, a man of fine physique and well proportioned, with the man- ners and bearing of a gentleman. His coming was expected, and he received a warm welcome from the most prominent men of the colony, in- cluding John Winthrop, John Endicott, Sir Henry Vance, John Hayes, the younger John Winthrop, and others. The last named had just returned from Europe with his commission to govern a new commonwealth. embracing the greater portion of the present State of Connecti- cut, and extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This commission he had received from a com- pany of English noblemen who were dissatisfied with the way the monarch was managing affairs.

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Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 37

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