USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 38
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The leaders of the enterprise had not only made
choice of a governor, but had employed Lyon Gardiner as a competent engineer to precede them to America, for "the drawing, ordering and mak- ing of a city, towns and forts of defence." Under his control there was to be "three hundred able- bodied men," and supplies needful for the work were to be sent from England. He was employed to command the post four years under Governo: Winthrop. As this was a position of great re- sponsibility, it indicates that he was recognize i as a man of exceptional ability. Prior to coming to America he had been an officer in the English Army, and his skill as an engineer had attracted1 the notice of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. who made him "master of works of fortifica- tion" at his camp in the Netherlands. While sta- tioned in the vicinity of the city of Woerden he met Mary Wilemsen, a native of Holland and a lady of gentle birth, whom he married. July 10. 1635. They proceeded at once to London, thence to Boston on the "Batchelor," arriving in that city after a voyage of three months and seventeen days.
The following winter was spent by Lyon Gar- diner and his wife at the lonely fort on the Con- necticut River. In the succeeding months they experienced may hardships and trials. The ex- pected colony failed to arrive; instead. the In- dians lurked near, threatening captivity or death. While there, a son, David, was born, the first white child born in Connecticut. At the expira- tion of his term of service Mr. Gardiner leit Con- necticut, in 1639, and established himself on the island named in his honor, though at that time he called it the Isle of Wight. East Hampton. the nearest town on Long Island, was first settled about fourteen years prior to Gardiner's Island. Lyon Gardiner was one of its founders, and built for himself a substantial house near the parsonage cf Rev. Thomas James. Though he did not lose luis interest in his island, he continued to reside in East Hampton until his death, in 1663. He left three children, the youngest, Elizabeth, born on Gardiner's Island, September 14. 1641. the first child of English parentage born within the pre- cincts of the State of New York. The wife and mother died in 1665.
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David, the only son, was sent to England to be educated, and married an English lady in Lon- don. A monument in Hartford, Conn., where he died suddenly, bears the words: "Well, sick, and dead in one hour's spacc," and also records the date of his birth, at Saybrook Fort, and the fact that he was the first white child born in Connecti- cut. After David, the next lord of the manor was John. The proprictors of the island alternated from John to David and from David to John through eight successive generations.
John Gardiner, a native of Gardiner's Island, shortly after the birth of his son, Jonathan, in 1773, purchased the strip of land known as Eaton's Neck, and removing there, spent the re- maining years of his life in that place. Jonathan grew to manhood therc, and was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him. For many years he was Justice of the Peace of the town of Hunt- ington. His death occurred in 1833. He married a widow, Mrs. Fannie Peck, and they had six children, namely: Eliza G., Mrs. Charles H. Jones, of Cold Spring, who died, Icaving one surviving child, Mrs. Oliver Livingston Jones; Fannie G., wife of John D. Shelton, M. D., and mother of tlirec children ; George Conkling; Wil- liam G., who married Miss Mary Scudder, and has two daughters, Mrs., Nannie .G. Raymond and Mrs. Mary E. Bache; Nannic G., deceased, wife of John J. Van Nostrand and mother of two children now living, namely: Mrs. Sarah Marvin and Mrs. Fannie Ramsdell, and Sallie G., de- ceased.
The subject of this sketch was born at Eaton's Neck, June 21, 1819, and grew to manliood under the parental roof, acquiring his cducation in various boarding schools. Upon attaining his majority he was given one hundred acres of the home estate on the Neck, and licre remained until 1864, when he disposed of his property and bought ~ farm on East Neek, one and one-half antes from Huntington. There lic and his family resided until 1873, when he disposed of the place and came to Huntington, where he purchased the handsome old Colonial residence where he has since lived retired.
In 1843 Mr. Gardiner married Miss Mary C. Bryant, of Crab Mcadow, L. I. Their only child, Fannic R., married Henry S. Brush, and has a son, Henry Gardiner. The political affiliations of our subject arc with the Republican party, and hc is interested in public affairs, favoring any meas- ure that promises to promote the welfare of the people. He is an attendant at the Presbyterian Church and is highly respected by the people of Huntington. Mrs. Gardiner died May 21, 1888.
AMES MILLER is a well known and highly esteemed carpenter and builder of the town of Babylon, and receives his mail at the postoffice of Deer Park. He was born in County Monahan, Ireland, August 16, 1855, and was there reared on a farm, receiving what was then considered a liberal education. At the age of eigliteen he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for four years, not only receiving no wages, but being obliged to pay a fee of $50 for the privilege of learning the trade under competent instruction. As a journeyman carpenter he worked at his trade in various towns and cities in Ireland for some three years. He heard of a land of opportunity, and as people go to the other side of the world for gold, he came to this country for a larger and frecr life than was possible on the Evergreen Isle. So he came to New York City, where he found ready employ- ment for four years, at wages which must have scemed very large to one accustomed to the scanty pittances that were measured out for the hardest toil in the old country.
In October, 1882, Mr. Miller married Miss Maggie McBride, who was born in the north of Ireland, her parents being of Scotch nativity. To "Auld Reekic" Mr. Miller also traces his an- cestry, his grandfather. William Miller, having removed from Scotland 'to establish a jewelry business in the north of Ircland. Mrs. Miller is well educated, and acted as an assistant tcacher in Ireland.
In 1885 our subject bought twenty-five acres
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WILLIAM W. HEWLETT, M. D.
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of land, where he now lives, and here he erected the present comfortable buildings. He possesses considerable property in Babylon, Edgewood and Deer Park, and has been prospered in his invest- nients. He made a very good beginning in the way of financial prosperity when he was engaged as a journeyman carpenter on the property of Austin Corbin, President of the Long Island Railroad.
Into the family of Mr. Miller there have been born five children. Maggie J., the first born, died in infancy: Lizzie was born in New York City, in June, 1884; Gertrude was born in the town of Babylon, in December, 1886; Clarissa Theresa was born in October, 1889, and William Wallace in December, 1894. In political matters Mr. Mil- ler has found the Republican party drawing closer to his sense of what should be than any other or- ganization. He has taken out his papers, and cast his first vote for President Harrison in 1888. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, as were both his father and grandfather.
W ILLIAM W. HEWLETT, M. D. The men who study the art of healing and devote themselves to the relief of suf- fering are surely among the heroes of mankind. No one can begin to measure the good that flows from the life of a physician, not only in the direct help that he brings to suffering humanity, but also in the unconscious inspiration to a broader life and truer living that is given out from the spirit of every true disciple of the healing art. The subject of this sketch was born at Merrick, Queens County, June 3, 1847, the son of Israel and Eliza Ann Hewlett, his father being a farmer.
Dr. Hewlett spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and stored up in the open air and out in the broad fields that fund of vitality that has enabled him to do so much hard work in these later years, and to bear so well the strain of con- stant study and an extensive practice. He gained his preliminary education in the public schools, and with a private tutor. At the age of seventeen
he began the study of medicine under the direc- tion of Dr. William Wheeler, of Merrick. Here he put in over four years of hard work, includ- ing the time spent at Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York City. In this institution he tok three courses of lectures, being under the im- mediate instruction of Prof. James R. Wood, an authority well known in the medical circles of New York and vicinity. He was a member of the class of 1869, graduating that year from this in- stitution, and at once began the practice of medi- cine, locating at Babylon, where he has since re- sided, and where he has built up a very extensive practice.
Dr. Hewlett has a well-filled library of care- . fully selected books, many of which are among the rarer and more choice medical publications, and they all show signs of constant and thorough use. His services are constantly in demand and he not only has a riding territory that is very ex- tensive, but his office practice has taken on large proportions.
Soon after locating in this village Dr. Hewlett became a member of the Suffolk County Medical Society, and the interests of that important or- ganization he has ably served both as Secretary and President. He has held the position of Health Officer for the town, has acted as Medical Examiner for numerous life insurance societies and is a valued contributor to several niedical journals. On several occasions he has repre- sented the local medical organization as delegate in the State Medical Association and has gained a well-earned prominence in his profession in the community.
Born and reared a Republican, Dr. Hewlett has usually acted with that party, but has held his duty as a citizen to be above all parties, so that he has esteemed it his first duty to act for the welfare of the people as against the fancied interests of any party machinery. He has served as President of the village on two different occasions, and has re- fused several other nominations. His profession is to him so great that he will not consider any- thing that draws hint away from it. It is related that when he was born lie was one of a pair of twins and the attending physician, Dr. William
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Wheeler, bestowed his name upon him and said that in due time he would make a physician of him -a promise which he lived to richly fulfill.
Dr. Hewlett was married September 20, 1873, to Miss Ella L. Pitman, of Swampscott, Mass., and they are the parents of two sons. Harold E. graduated from Yale College in 1894 and is now studying medicine in the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons. Percy W. was edu- cated at Siglar's Academy at Newburgh and is now employed in the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of New York City, where he has been for three years.
Our subject had four brothers, three of whom are now living and holding honorable positions in the world. One brother, John C., is an Epis- copalian clergyman and is now located at Bos- ton. He attended Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, the Theological Institute at Alexandria, Va., and Dr. Butler's Divinity School at Phila- delphia. The oldest brother, Henry, who died many years ago, was engaged in the mercantile reporting business. Charles is a retired farmer and makes his home at Little Neck, L. I. George W. is engaged in the produce business in New York City.
B ERNARD GARVEY, a representative and leading Irish-American citizen and agri- culturist of the town of Southold, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in May, 1832. His parents, Bernard and Alice Garvey, were also natives of the north of Ireland, where our subject was reared until he had reached his eighteenth year. In that year he took passage on a sailing vessel, the "St. George," bound for America, leaving the port of Liverpool in the year 1848, determined to find what fate or fortune liad in store for him in the land beyond the setting se ane vessel in which he sailed was a noted ship of those times, and after a passage of thirty- four days landed its passengers at New York.
Our subject manifested that good sense for which he has always been distinguished, by not lingering in the great city, but came immediately
to the town of Southold and went to work on a farm, where he remained for seven years. He had but little opportunity for education at home, the schools being poor, and he did not attend after he was thirteen. However, his eyes and ears have been open to what is passing on around him. He reads much, and keeps thoroughly posted on all great questions of the day, so that we may speak of him fairly and justly as a self-made and self- educated man in a most practical and successful way.
Mr. Garvey was married, while yet in Ireland, to Judith Holland, and with her he emigrated to America. By this union there have been two children born, Charles and Bernard F. Our sub- ject settled on his present farm in the spring of 1855, and has continued his home here to the present time, attending strictly to business, and aiming to make his farm of ninety acres a model one on the island. He had practically no money when he came to America, but by strict economy, industry and perseverance he has won for himself and family a very ample competence. In politics he sinks party to a very great extent, and votes for what he believes to be the best men and measures, irrespective of party decrees. In re- ligion Mr. Garvey is a member of the Roman Catholic Church of Cutchogue, and stands well in the opinion of his neighbors as a public-spir- ited man and a citizen interested in all good meas- ures.
Mr. Garvey lost his first wife in the year 1885, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Jane Gal- Jagher, who died March 27, 1895. Our subject is still living and is a noted man in his locality, being respected for his many sterling qualities.
C HARLES L. CORWIN. The self-made man is entitled to respect in America and he gets it. He represents all that is vig- orous and substantial in our American institu- tions, and Long Island has many such men, note- worthy among whom is Charles L. Corwin, who is a progressive and wide-awake man of affairs. He is a native of Riverhead, where he first
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saw the light of day, February 9, 1819. His father, Benjamin Corwin, was born in Riverhead, May 7, 1781, and died of lockjaw on the Ist of September, 1832. By trade he was a carpenter. He was a most thoroughly patriotic citizen, sym- pathizing with the American forces in the War of 1812, although he was not in active service. He owned a vessel on the sound and sent a substi- tutte to the army in his stead, but his vessel was burned by the British. He was an active and worthy member of the Congregational Church for many years, and was an esteemed citizen in the section in which he lived. His two brothers, Daniel and Henry, were farmers ail their lives and became the heads of families. Their father, Henry Corwin, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also a worthy tiller of the soil, and spent his life on the old home farm of the Corwins near Riverhead. The Corwins have obeyed the admonitions of the Bible to "increase and multiply" and its representatives are found in all parts of the United States, some of whom have occupied prominent stations in life. Benja- min Corwin was married to Sarah Vail, who was born September 2, 1785, and died August 25, 1857. They reared a family of five children, four of whom are now living.
The advantages of the common schools were given Charles L. Corwin in his youth, but when he had attained the age of eighteen years he be- gan learning the carpenter's trade with his brother Wickham and after completing his trade, he worked with him for two years. He then went to Wading River, where he built a hoine for Cap- tain Terry, and the following year built the Pres- byterian Church at Sag Harbor. From that time up to 1844 he resided in East Hampton, then came to Greenport and has since been very ac- tively and successfully engaged in building and contracting. Some of the finest business blocks - - residences of the place are the result of his efforts and all are substantial structures, and are indicative of Mr. Corwin's business career. The
. Methodist Episcopal Church, the Auditorium Building and Sterling Hall, are among the most prominent, and he has erected more buildings on Shelter Island than any other one man. He
has also been largely interested in buying and selling real estate, having erected several cot- tages on Shelter Island that he afterwards sold. He has been one of the most successful nien of Greenport in a business way, and for sixty-two years he has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, has taken an active interest in its welfare and has given liberally of his abund- ant means in its support, and also in supporting the cause of temperance.
March 27, 1845, Mr. Corwin married Miss Ann M. Terry, daughter of Capt. Isaiah Terry, of Wading River, who obtained his title in the War of 1812. Mrs. Corwin had two brothers, but both are dead, and she is now the only surviving member of her family. She bore Mr. Corwin seven children: Mary E., wife of Hayward Cook, a business man of Greenport, was born April 3, 1847, and has four children, Lillie, Minnie, James and Haywood; Louisa A., born June 19, 1849, became the wife of Charles Giffing, a hotel man of Shelter Island, and has two children, Robert and Anna; Hannah M., born November 9, 1851. became the wife of Wesley Smith, who is Super- intendent of Grounds at Shelter Island Heights, and is the mother of two children, Charles Wes- ley, who is a student in the University of New York City, and Pearl; Charles H., born May 27, 1855, married Bertha Kendrick, of Greenport. and is a carpenter on Shelter Island; Isaac T., born March 9, 1857, married Elizabeth Beebe, daughter of Fred C. Beebe, the boat builder of Greenport; they have one child, Fred L., who is in business with his father; Huldah T., born July 3. 1860, became the wife of Capt. Ed T. Burns. of Greenport, and has two children, Edith and Falita, and Susan M., born August 28, 1869, is still at home.
On the 27th of March, 1895, Mr. and Mrs. Cor- win celebrated their golden wedding, at which all of their children and grandchildren were present. . besides many friends. They received some val- uable presents, and Mr. Corwin presented each of his grandchildren with a five dollar gold piece. He has recently erected one of the handsomest homes in the village, modern in style and con- veniently and tastefully arranged, but has not
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moved into this beautiful home as yet. His de- clining years are prosperous and happy as they well deserve to be, and unlike many men who have celebrated their golden wedding he is still actively engaged in the business of his youth.
C APT. HARVEY HALLOCK was born at Quogue, February 15, 1823. He is a son of Frederick and Nancy (Bishop) Hallock, and was one of eight children, five sons and three daughters. Some of the sons were sea- faring men. Our subject was married, in 1850, to Miss Elizabeth M. Hawkins, and they became the parents of eight children. Mrs. Elizabeth Hallock died September 15, 1880, and January 23, 1884, Mr. Hallock was married to Mrs. Hulda MI. Over- ton.
Our subject was born and reared on a farm. When twenty years of age he sailed on a whaling vessel, going by way of the Cape to the Southern Pacific Ocean, on the "Daniel Webster," twenty- three months being consumed in the voyage. His second trip was made on the "Illinois," through the same waters, twenty-five months be- ing spent on this voyage. Then followed the third voyage, on the "Panama." They divided the time over the prior course and in the Arctic Ocean, and two years were spent thus.
Captain Hallock sailed four times on the barque "Louisa," in the Indian Ocean and over most of the high seas, spending twenty-four months on this vessel as second mate. On one trip in the Northern Pacific the Captain of the vessel was lost, and our subject took charge of the ship, spending twenty-seven months on the voyage. The longest trip that Captain Hallock recalls was in the waters of the Northern Pacific and A- ¿ Oceans, and extended over four years. Wnile mate of the vessel and sailing around Cape Horn, he was wrecked in a disastrous storm, and again on the ship "Washington" he was also wrecked, the vessel being hemmed in by ice. The crew, however, were rescued by another ship.
During his voyage in the Indian Ocean Captain Hallock's ship struck a whale, and a rope at- tached to same became entangled round him, so that he was drawn under the water. Fortunately, however, he in some way disengaged himself from the rope, and rising to the surface within a few feet of one of the ship's yawls, was pulled aboard, unconscious, but presently revived.
In 1865 Captain Hallock went South for the purpose of bringing home the remains of his . brother, who had been a gallant soldier in the Civil War, and had been killed in an engagement. In returning home from this sad mission he came by way of the sea, and when but a few hours dis- tant from New York City the steamer was run down and sunk by another vessel. Our subject, however, was fortunate in being rescued, al- though forty-one of the ship's crew and passen- gers were lost.
On leaving the high seas Captain Hallock came to the farm whereon he now lives, and has since passed an uneventful life. In politics he is a Republican. His life on the water was a suc- cessful one, and he soon acquired the title so coveted by scafaring men, that of Captain. Since making his home on terra firma Captain Hallock has devoted himself to veterinary surgery.
L
W VAN POPERING was born in Hol- land December 14, 1844, and came to this country with his parents when he was seven years of age. They found a home at Oakdale, but soon removed to Sayville, where the lad was set to culling oysters. At the age of twenty-two he was put in charge of a sloop run- ning to New York City, and in this capacity he was engaged for the next sixteen years. He planted his first oyster bed in 1860, and this busi- ness has grown greatly under his management. He has oyster beds to the amount of thirty-six acres in the West Bay and thirty-nine acres at Sayville. He ships large quantities of oysters of the very best grade to London, Liverpool and other large markets in the Old World and to
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S. WELLS PHILLIPS.
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New York and other oyster markets on this side the water. His attention is concentrated wholly upon the oyster business, and he is ambitious to enlarge and increase his interests.
Mr. Van Popering was married in 1869 to Dina Ott, and they became the parents of three children. She died, and he married for his sec- ond wife Matilda Esterbridge, by whom he has eight children, all living. Mr. Van Popering is a member of the Holland Reformed Church. In politics he holds himself a free voter for the best men and measures, and both in politics and reli- gion he follows the dictates of his conscience, without regard to the opinions of the world. He began life as a poor boy, but by earnest attention to his business, fidelity to the trust placed in him and by strict integrity has got on in the world and is now among the well-to-do oystermen of the island.
S WELLS PHILLIPS. Of all factors which tend to wield a wide influence in po- litical, social and other matters, the news- paper is the most potent when conducted by an able, well-posted man, for necessarily it enters many homes and thus all important questions ably discussed reach the masses. For a number of years the subject of this sketch wielded a wide influence in swaying political opinion through the columns of an ably edited newspaper, and in his editorials there was always to be found something pithy, original and interesting. He is a native of Sag Harbor, born February 1, 1827, to Sam- " " Phillips and wife, the former of whom was born at Mt. Sinai March 24, 1792. In early life Ite followed teaching, but in 1826 hie established "The Watchman," a weekly newspaper, at Sag Harbor, where he conducted it until 1844, when he moved his plant to Greenport. Here he suc- cessfully conducted the paper up to two years
before his death, which occurred August 25, 1859, when his son, S. Wells Phillips, became proprie- tor.
Mr. Phillips was Postmaster of Sag Harbor two terms, was Sheriff of Suffolk County one term, and was Justice of the Peace for several years; in fact, he was one of the leading mnen of his sec- tion and day, and was in every respect worthy the esteem of his fellows. His father was also born at Mt. Sinai and during the War of 1812 served the American Government in the capacity of quartermaster. He took an active interest in all the affairs of his day and lived to the extreme old age of ninety-four years. His son George, brother of Samuel Phillips, was a farmer of the town of Southold; another son, Wells, was a merchant of New York City, and Rosetta, a daughter, became the wife of Joseph Southard, a carpenter of New York; Louisa married Hamp- ton Young, who was first a miller of Riverhead and later a farmer of the town of Southold; Amy married James IIorton, a farmer of Bay View, and Jane married Andrew Platt Rogers.
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