USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 44
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In 1834 he married Miss Jane Thomson, who was born in New York, a daughter of Samuel Thomson, a highly respected citizen of that place and an Elder in the Scotch Church, himself a na- tive of Maryland, whence he removed to New York in 1804. Ile was of Scotch-Irish descent, his an- cestors coming from the north of Ireland to this country in 1754. At the time Robert Carter was married he was worth but $600. With this he had to set up housekeeping and also establish a lit- tle book store in Canal Street. This was the foun-
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dation for one of the largest book publishing houses in New York. In this business he contin- ued to the time of his death, in 1891, and in it he. amassed a large fortune, and was known all over the country as the honest book publisher. He was a man greatly beloved by all who knew him, a true Christian gentleman, and from his boyhood days in old Earlston to the day of his death was doing something to elevate his fellow-men. His work of benevolence and charity will never be made public, for he did not boast. His work in this line and in the church was purely and simply a work of love." Such a man was the father of Rev. Mr. Carter.
The subject of this sketch was second in a fam- ily of four children, of whom the oldest, Rev. Thomas Carter, was a graduate of the University of New York, and was a Presbyterian minister at the time of his death, in 1894, being pastor of the church in Boonton, N. J. Robert, Jr., was as- sociated with his father in business up to the time of the death of that distinguished gentleman, and is now living a retired life at Morristown, N. J. His only sister, Annie, married Rev. J. W. Coch- ran and is now a widow, living at Morristown, N. J.
Our subject received his early education in the schools of New York. He spent four years in the university of that city, graduated from Princeton, in the theological course, in 1861, and spent about a year and a half in travel through Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land. After his return he was called to the pastorate of the Westminster Presbyterian Church at Yonkers, where he remained until call- w! to the pastorate of the old First Presbyterian Church at Huntington, in 1868. Here he has labored untiringly since that time, and no minister could be held in higher esteem than he is, not only by his own congregation, but by all the people of the community. He has been thor- oughly identified with all the interests of the vil- lige, such as the people's room, where all can go for the purpose of reading, and with all harmless amusements, and has had much to do with keep- mg the young men of Huntington out of resorts that would have a tendency to pull them down. Hle has also been identified with the building up
of the beautiful public library, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Association, and the Nathan Hale Memorial Monument Association, of which he is one of the Directors.
Mr. Carter has been twice married, the first time to Miss A. L. Pratt. who died in 1873, leav- ing six children. Robert is a graduate of Prince- ton College and Union Theological Seminary, and is a Congregational minister at Washington, Conn. Samuel Thomson, Jr., a graduate of Princeton College and Columbia Law School, is an attorney in New York. Alice is the wife of O. F. Cook, and is engaged in missionary work in Africa. G. Herbert is a graduate of Princeton and of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Huntington. Julia was edu- cated at Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary and is living at home. Mr. Carter married for his present wife Miss Emma Downs, a lady of culture and ad- vanced ideas, and so highily is she appreciated that she was elected and is now serving on the Board of Education. They have six children, who are now being educated.
C HARLES SCHRYVER. Biography should be written for the sake of its les- sons, that men everywhere may place themselves in contact with facts and affairs, and build themselves up to and into a life of excel- lence, not in any sphere, but in their own rightful place, where they may keep and augment their individuality. To record in some respects the de- tails of such a life is proposed in the following history. Charles Schryver, who has long resided in Port Jefferson, was born in Dutchess County in 1830, a son of John E. and Abigail ( Barclay) Schryver, who were also born and spent the most of their lives in that county, where they succes- fully followell the occupation of agriculture. Just one year prior to the death of the father. the family moved to Long Island, and in Suffolk County the mother also died some years later.
Charles Schryver attended the public schools
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of Dutchess County, and, fortunately for him, was reared on a farm, where the pure ozone and out- door exercise strengthened an already good con- stitution. At the age of seventeen years he left the farm to learn house-carpentering, which busi- ness, together with ship-joining, he followed with success for many years. Thirteen years of this time were spent in the meat market business in Port Jefferson, of which place he has been an honored resident ever since his seventeenth year. For some time past he has lived a rather retired life, in the enjoyment of a comfortable competency and of numerous friends whom he has gathered about him through long years of right living.
With his worthy wife, who was formerly Miss Mary S. Norton, daughter of Joel D. Norton, and whom he married in 1857, Mr. Schryver is spending his declining years in a comfortable and pretty home in Port Jefferson. Their union re- sulted in the birth of one son, Joel J., a resident of Port Jefferson. Socially Mr. Schryver has long been connected with the Masonic order, and in politics is a Democrat, at all times and under all circumstances. He has served his fellow-citizens in the capacity of Collector, and has always been an active worker for the success of his party. His son, Joel J., was married to Miss Anna Hulse, of Port Jefferson, and they have one son, Charles.
H ENRY S. BRUSH, the head of the exten- sive firm of H. S. & J. M. Brush & Co., Huntington, was born at West Neck, in the town of Huntington, January 25, 1851, and was the son of Jesse Brush, an extensive farmer, who died on the farm where he was born, in the fall of 1874. The latter had three brothers, George, Walter, and Lewis, all farmers, who died in this county. He also had one sister, who mar- ried Jesse Fleet Sammis.
The mother of our subject was Marietta L., daughter of Richard Sanimis, who was a farmer and one of the best representatives of the large family of that name. She is now living in the vil- lage of Huntington, where she has a pleasant
home. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom three died young, and the others are all now living. Charles E. is an extensive farmer on a part of the old farm at West Neck. Emma F. is the wife of James MI. Brush, the partner of our subject. Reuben is a farmer and owns part of the old farm; he married Henrietta, daughter of John B. Leffert. Phoebe is single and makes her home with her mother. Warren L. is also single and lives with his brother Reuben. Irwin E., who is in the company of which our subject is the leading member, married Hettie, daughter of Capt. James Higbee, of Northport. Lewis-M. is in a dry goods store in this village, and is married to Ella Shaw, whose home was in the northern part of the state. Ada is single and lives with her mother.
The subject of this sketch remained on the farm until he was fourteen years old, and attended the district school. When he had become a little older, and desired the benefit of a better school- ing, he walked to the Huntington school, a dis- tance of five miles. In this way he obtained quite a liberal education before he had reached the age of fourteen, for when he had reached that age he entered the store of Rogers, Sammis & Scudder. After remaining there six years he was then for three years in the dry goods store of Charles H. Fleet. In the spring of 1875 he formed a partner- ship with his brother-in-law, James Brush, and established the business that has grown to its present large proportions, and is presumably the largest general store in Suffolk County. In the year 1889 this store and its stock was completely destroyed by fire, but within ten days they were getting ready to build the fine Brush block, a building that when it was completed would do no discredit to a much larger place than Hunting- ton. Their business never stopped for a day, for they had large quantities of goods on the way from the city at the time, and they were fortu- nate enoughi to be able to secure a temporary place in which to do business until the new house was completed. At that time they also had a store and coal yard at the Harbor.
In the year 1885 Mr. Brush, in company with James M. Brush and Douglas Conklin, established
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a private bank, after failing to interest several of the leading citizens in the organization of a state bank. The venture proved a great success, and three years later it was incorporated, these same men being only too glad to get some of the stock. This bank has proved one of the most prosperous on Long Island, its stock being worth double its par value, and its deposits are larger than those of any other bank of exchange in the county. Mr. Brush has interests of great value outside of those mentioned, such as the Huntington Street Rail- road, the Steaniboat Company, the Water Works, and the Huntington Lumber and Coal Company, of which he is Secretary. As a business man he has achieved a large success, and he has devoted his time closely to the management of his extensive interests.
August 29, 1883, Mr. Brush married Miss Fan- nie Gardiner, a daughter of George C. Gardiner, of Gardiner's Island, and she is the mother of one child, Harry Gardiner, a boy of eleven years of age. Mr. Brush is a Mason, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is Treasurer. Politically he is a stanch Republican.
C HARLES E. BRUSH is a resident of West Neck, town of Huntington, and was born on the place adjoining where he now lives, August 24, 1847. The old Brush homestead has been in the family ever since Huntington was settled. He was one of twelve children born to his parents, Jesse and Marietta (Sammiis) Brush, of which number nine still survive. His father was born on the sante place as was his son, in the year 1816. (He was the son of Zepha- niah Brush, who was a son of Jesse, all of whom were born under the same home roof, and fol- lowed agriculture as an occupation. Jesse Brush died in November. 1873- ) ?
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home farm. After his father's death, for two years he had the management of the homestead. He married Miss Ellen K. Tappan, November 15, 1876. After that auspicious event the Brush farm was divided, the father having died without a will. Under the division the old homestead fell to our subject's fortune, and he and his family have since made it their home. Of his four children only two survive, Hazel and Louis. He has an abiding faith in the creed as expounded by the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republi- can and believes in the policy of that party as adapted to the needs and advantage of the people.
F REDERICK M. WILSON, of Port Jeffer- son, is a gentleman of long practical ex- perience in sail-making, having been con- nected with the business since old enough to en- gage in any active industry. He was born in this village in 1844, to the marriage of Reuben H. and Jane (Herbert) Wilson, prominent citizens of the Empire State. The father spent his entire life actively engaged in sail-making, and from 1836 until the time of his death, in 1876, was a resident of Port Jefferson. He was public-spirited and took much interest in the prosperity of his town and all affairs of moment. He was respected by all and was a most estimable citizen. His worthy wife survived him two years, dying in 1878.
Frederick M. Wilson was educated in the Port Jefferson public schools, and when old enough assisted his father in sail-making. He has two brothers living, Gilbert H. Wilson, of New York, and Adrain Wilson, of Boston, Mass., both sail- makers. Our subject and his brothers make a specialty of yacht sails and made the sails for the "Vigilant" and "Defender," as well as for other noted yachts. Frederick has been engaged in this business at Port Jefferson for many years and stands second to none in his particular indus- try. In the month of December, 1804. Mr. Wil- son was appointed Revenue Collector. Third Di- vision of the First District, and since then his en-
Spending his boyhood days at home, our sub- ject received a common-school education in the vicinity. He carly learned all the secrets pertain- ing to the art of agriculture, and as soon as he was old enough he assisted in conducting the : tire time has been given to this business.
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Mr. Wilson was married in 1867 to Miss Maria Nichols, daughter of Charles Nichols, of Brook- lyn. She passed away in 1880, and one son sur- vives this union, Robert, who now carries on the sail-making business for his father. In 1882 Mr. Wilson married Miss Augusta Hawkins, daugh- ter of Capt. Edward F. Hawkins, of Port Jeffer- son, and a native of Middle Island. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are active and consistent members of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the Board of Education. In politics he supports the principles of the Demo- cratic party at all times and is a live party man, working hard for his friends in a political struggle.
I AMES M. BRUSH, President of the Bank of Huntington, and the most enterprising man in the village, according to general opinion, was born at what was known as "Old Fields," in the town of Huntington, November 20, 1845, and was the fifth in a family of twelve children, all of whom attained maturity, and six of whom are now living. Thomas H., a wealthy farmer, and for six years Assessor of the town of Huntington, is a prominent member of the Pres- byterian Church. George W. is a business man of Brooklyn. Gilbert A. is in Oyster Bay. Sarah is the wife of Jeremiah Matthias, a resident of Flushing. Susan married George Walters, and she is now living at Colorado Springs, Colo. For farther particulars in regard to this family and its ancestry, the reader is referred to the sketch of Thomas H. Brush.
Our subject remained on the farm until he was twelve years old, having only such advantages as the local school could give him. At that age he entered a store at Centerport, and remained in it for two years. Then feeling the need of special business training he went to Poughkeepsie. and took a course in Eastman's Business College at that place. Coming home he entered the store of Rogers, Sammis & Co., where after serving four years as clerk he was taken into partnership. This arrangement continued for six years, until
1875, when a partnership was formed with his brother-in-law, Henry S. Brush, who was also a clerk in that store, the new firm being H. S. & J. M. Brush. They began dealing in general mer- chandise under the best auspices, with their loca- tion on the site of the present Brush Block. Be- fore long they came to the front as the leading merchants of the place, and won a position they have never lost.
Mr. Brush started in life a poor boy, and his own efforts have made him a fortune and what is better a good name. It is the universal expres- sion that there is no man in Huntington that takes a more active part in the improvement of the place. It seems no satisfaction to him to make money for the hoarding of it, for he is always ready to set to work in any helpiul en- terprise, and there is hardly a measure of any mo- ment and character in the village in which he is not in some way interested. He is President of the Huntington Bank, which was - organized through his efforts, and which has grown in the ten years since its organization to a rank and standing as one of the best financial institutions of Long Island, and the largest bank of deposit in Suffolk County. It is located in the Brush Block, a building that would do credit to a much larger village. In this building are also located the general store of H. S. & J. M. Brush & Co .. a jewelry store, a book store. and the telegraph and telephone offices, also the office of George M. Tileston, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. On the second floor are found. among many other offices, the office of the Street Railway Com- pany.
Our subject was the leading spirit in the or- ganization of the Norwalk & Bridgeport Steam- boat Company, which has been a great benefit to the people of this village. He was actively interested in the building of the street railroad and the water works, and of the last named en- terprise he was the first President. He also helped to:organize the Huntington Lumber and Coal Company, of which he is Vice-President. The Public Library, the Soldiers' and Sailors Monument Association, the Nathan Hale Monu- ment, the People's Room, and many other public
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and private enterprises that have helped to make Huntington a model town, have all appealed to him, and not in vain, for his personal interest and assistance.
Mr. Brush was married in May, 1870, to Miss Emma F. Brush, a daughter of Jesse Brush, of West Neck, and a sister of H. S. Brush, his partner in business. They have but one child, Jessie Kendall, now a girl of thirteen. They are both members of the old First Presbyterian Church and he is a Democrat in politics, but has never aspired to office, nor would he accept any such position. It is enough for him to look after his large business interests, and help the village onward. He and his family occupy one of the finest homes in Huntington, located on New York Avenue, on the line of the street railway, and is set in large and elegant grounds.
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C APT. MERCATOR COOPER, deceased, was born in 1803, in the town of South- ampton. His father, who was a sailor be- tween New York and London, died when he was a youth of fourteen. His mother. Olla (Howell) Cooper, had five children, of whom three attained years of maturity. Following the fashion of his times, he went to sea in a whaling vessel. Whal- ing then was the only business that offered any opportunity for great remuneration and a chance for getting on rapidly in the world, and the young men of the Hamptons were quick to em- brace the opportunities that it presented. The first voyage that our subject made, of which we find any trace, was in the ship "Andes," from Sag Hårbor, with Capt. Maxwell Griffing as master. In 1825 he sailed from New York in the ship "Beaver." Capt. Fred Depoister, bound for Can- ton. In the year 1826 he sailed in the same vessel, with the same commander, bound from China to New York. In July, 1828. he sailed from Sag Harbor in the ship "Argonaut," bound for the coast of Patagonia, in the whaling business. The following year hie sailed into the same region on
the ship "Cadmus," with Capt. George Howell as master.
In 1832 our subject sailed from Sag Harbor as captain of the ship "Phoenix," bound for the South Atlantic, on a whaling cruise, and during the next few years he made several voyages in this ship. Going out from Sag Harbor in 1840 as captain of the ship "American," bound for the far south seas in search of whale oil, he sailed into the Indian and Pacific oceans. In 1843 he sailed from Sag Harbor in the ship "Manhattan." bound for the northwest coast of North America, to re- turn by way of Amsterdam. This voyage lastei about three years, and during that time Captain Cooper visited Japan and was allowed to enter the harbor at Jeddo, long before the city was opened to the world. A lengthy and very inter- esting account of his experiences in the Sunrise Kingdom appeared first in the Sandwich Island Friend, and afterward in the Sag Harbor (N. Y. Express, of September 15, 1887, which will well repay perusal by all who have opportunity.
Captain Cooper was sailing east of Japan. bound for the whaling regions of the Arctic Ocean, when, landing at a supposedly barren island, he found it occupied by some shipwrecked Japanese. He made their presence the excuse for reporting himself at Jeddo. On the way to that port he found a water-logged Japanese junk. from which he rescued a number of Japanese sailors and officers in good standing. so that when he arrived at the mouth of the bay he had on board quite a number of the subjects of the Mikado. He was allowed to enter the harbor and was received with kindness by the Emperor, but was not permitted to land. The ship was pro- visioned and all its wants supplied, but when it was ready there was no favoring wind. The lack of wind was, however, no obstacle to the officer of the port, who ordered an immense number of boats, some two thousand in number, to tow the ship out to sea. A chart of the principal island- composing the Empire of Japan was left on board by one of the rescued sailors, and is still in the possession of his daughter.
Captain Cooper again went out on a whaling voyage from Sag Harbor in the bark "Franklin."
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and was gone for three years. This proved a most unfortunate voyage, the ship being wrecked in 1850 off the coast of Pernambuco, S. A. The next year he sailed in the ship "Levant," of Sag Har- bor, on a whaling and trading voyage. While in China, receiving a good offer, he sold the ship and came home by way of California.
When he was twenty-four, Captain Cooper married Miss Maria Green, of Southampton, who was of English and French Acadian descent. Her brothers were all sea captains, Henry, Bar- ney, William and James Green, men of promi- nence and character in their chosen profession. -One of Captain Cooper's old sailors, who vis- ited Japan with him, is Franklin Jessup, now cap- tain of the life-saving station at West Hampton. Another is Phyrrus Consor, the old colored man now keeping a sailboat on the little lake at South- ampton. After his marriage Captain Cooper pur- chased the house now occupied by his son-in-law, J. W. F. Howell, and built by his father. After he sold his ship in China he made no more voy-
ages on the sea, but settled down to enjoy a serene and well deserved comfort and ease in his old age. He passed from earth in March, 1872. His children were: Nathan, who died at the age of two years; Maria, who married J. W. F. How- ell, of Southampton, and Sarah, now living at home.
W ILLIAM CROZIER. This name has long been associated with the best breeds of Jersey cattle, Southdown sheep and Berkshire swine, not only in this island, but throughout the state and even beyond. He has repeatedly carried off medals at the state fair, and at other places, not only for the excel- lence of his exhibit, but for the purity of the ani- mals' pedigree, and the fine condition in which they are presented to the public. As a breeder and importer of fine stock our subject takes a front rank, and whoever deals with him is sure of square treatment.
Mr. Crozier was born July 1, 1833, in Hamil- ton, Scotland, and was the second in a family of
five children born to John and Rebecca (Trotter) Crozier. The father was a farmer, and our sub- ject remained on the farm until he was fifteen, when he ran away and came to America. Up to that time he had attended the excellent schools, so he was doubtless well prepared to wrestle with the conditions of life which he found when he arrived on this side the great water. In Boston he began to work on a farm doing chores for his board, and with but litttle more remuneration than this was so engaged for the first three years. Then he took charge of a farm near that city, and as. he was found faithful and competent he held this position for some seven or eight years. Then he was called to Providence, R. I., to manage a large farm for Nicholas Brown, who was the American Minister to France, remaining there in charge for some nine years.
While he was still on the farm of Mr. Brown our subject began the importation of Jersey and Frisian cattle, and fine sheep and hogs. He was among the first importers of these blooded ani- mals in that part of the country, and his ventures turned out well. In 1867 he came to this coun- ty and formed a partnership with Cornelius H. Delamater, who owned a large tract of land, and our subject furnished the stock to fit up a fine stock farm, taking entire charge of the place. He exhibited his stock in various states and took the highest premiums repeatedly. At the Cen- tennial Exhibition he received sixteen premiums for his horses, cattle, sleep and hogs. In all his contests he has taken over nine hundred premiums, prizes and awards at various fairs and contests on stock that he has raised. In 1872 he took the sweepstakes at the New York Agri- cultural Society, and the only silver cup that that society has ever given. For the past five years he has acted as expert judge at the principal cat- tle shows throughout the United States and Can- ada.
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