Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 45

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Chapman
Number of Pages: 926

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There was not a Jersey cow on Long Island when Mr., Crozier brought his fine herd here of twenty cows and two bulls. He was in part- nership with Mr. Delamater for some seven or eight years, when he rented a small place of him for a time, and then bought the fine place of one

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hundred and four acres which he now owns. It lies within the corporation limits of Northport, and here he has built the fine residence which he now occupies. On this place he has large and roomy barns, fitted up with all the conveniences for raising and handling blooded stock that mod- ern times have devised and demanded. He has also sold from this farm some fine building lots as high as $700, and could sell many more readily.

February 6, 1861, Mr. Crozier married Miss Mary I. Douglas, of Pictou, Nova Scotia, the daughter of Hugh and Jane Ann ( Frasier) Doug- las, of Scotch ancestry, and both of whom are now - deceased. To our subject's marriage there have been born five children, of whom the oldest, Car- rie M., is the wife of Charles H. Brush, of North- port, and Josephine is the wife of John P. Fleet, of Centerport. William J. is a farmer near North- port, while Douglas and Mabel are still at home. Our subject takes no interest in politics, and has not voted for several years. He is not a member of any church, but contributes to the support of the Methodist Church, as his family are members of that denomination.

In his business our subject excels. He has probably imported and raised more thorough- bred cattle than any man in the state of New York. He has figured in literature, and written a work on "How the Farm Pays," which had a circulation of more than eighty thousand copies in one year, and was highly regarded by very competent authorities in agricultural matters. It is used in some of the leading colleges and is a · valuable work. Our subject has a farm of about one hundred acres, on which he keeps fifty thor- ouglibred cows, which furnish the village with pure milk.

C APT. JOSHUA B. EDWARDS, of Ama- gansett, was born November 7, 1830, and was the son of Nathaniel T. and Irene T. (Bennett) Edwards. He was one of a family of six children, of whom there were five sons and one daughter, the latter. Frances, being the wife of James B. Conklin. His father was a man who 1

loved to inhale the salt air of the great ocean, and while yet a boy made two long voyages into the great deeps. The old homestead, on which the family has long resided, is now within the lin- its of the village of Amagansett, and was located by his paternal grandfather, Jonathan Edwards.

Captain Edwards was born and reared within the limits of this town and remained with his fa- ther until he was twenty years of age. Then he made a voyage lasting nearly forty-four months on board a whaling vessel. That he was a young man of nerve, quick thought and ready action is evident from the fact that he was made boat steer- er. This voyage was far out into the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. A second voyage, on board the ship "Oregon" as third mate, did not demand so much time, and he was home again after some twenty-six months. Again he sailed as second mate on board the schooner "Susan," of Sag Har- bor, and was gone ten months. On board the brig "Parrona" he was first mate, and there he served for two years. The winds of favoring for- tune blew him this time into the waters of the South Atlantic. His last voyage was on the "Jirah Perry," where he acted as' second mate. Between the second and third ocean excursions he spent some two years in California, engaged in coasting and farming.

In 1860 Captain Edwards retired from the ocean and returned to this town, where he has since made his home. But he has not been able to entirely leave the ocean, for in the years that have passed since that time he has done much whale fishing along the east shore and has also carried on other fishing operations quite exten- sively. His experience and skill on the sea were recognized by his appointment as captain of the Amagansett life-saving station, in which position he served for about three years, having five men under his immediate personal direction.

Captain Edwards was married in 1868 to Miss Adelia S. Conklin, and they have become the pa- rents .of five children, Herbert, Everett, Rose, David and Samuel. They are all living and show much promise for the active years of their man- hood and womanhood. The next year after his marriage the Captain located on his home place,

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where he has about thirteen acres. He is the owner of considerable other property and his friends feel that he has been very successful in life. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the Democrats have made him Trustee of the town. He had a good common school education and has made for himself a very respectable position in life.

H ENRY GARDINER, proprietor of the Gardiner House at Quogue, is a represen- tative of one of the branches of an old and prominent family, the founder of which, Lion Gardiner, came to America in 1635 and for four years following commanded the post at the mouth of the Connecticut River under the direction of Governor Winthrop. A man of fine education and exceptional ability, he held many posts of honor in his native land and in Holland prior to crossing the ocean, and while in the latter country met and married Mary Wilemsen, their union be- ing solemnized at Woerden July 10, 1635.

Immediately afterward the young couple went to London and took passage for Boston on the "Batchelor," a vessel of only twenty-five tons bur- den, much less in size than an ordinary yacht of to-day. On this frail craft they sailed to the New World, landing after a voyage of three months and seventeen days. Lion Gardiner was a pro- fessional engineer and aided the people of Bos- ton in completing a fortress for their protection against the Indians. After four years spent in Connecticut he took his family to Gardiner's Is- land, which he purchased from the Indians and which is still in possession of the family, having been entailed from father to eldest son through twelve successive generations.

David, son of the founder of the family in America, was the first white child born in Connec- ticut. After him the next lord of the manor was John, who was born April 19, 1661, and died at Groton, Conn., in 1738, his death having been caused by a fall from a horse. During his life, in 1699, Captain Kidd landed on the island and buried a large chest of treasures there, after

which, fearing discovery, he went to the proprie- tor, told him what he had done, and demanded refreshments for his vicious looking crew. When they had eaten, he presented Mrs. Gardiner with a "cloth of gold," of exquisite beauty, which he had taken from a ship and which was a part of the dowry of the Grand Mogul's daughter. This has been carefully preserved and is still in possession of the descendants. After the chieftain had left, Mr. Gardiner sent a message to. the governor, who sent commissioners to discover and take possession of the buried treasures, which, on be- ing exhumed, were found to be of great value.

David, the fourth lord of the manor, was born in 1691, and died July 4, 1751. He bequeathed Gardiner's Island to his eldest son, John, who presided over the estate the next thirteen years. David, the sixth lord, in 1766, married Jerusha, daughter of Rev. Dr. Samuel Buell, of East Hampton. Their son, John Lion, the seventh proprietor, was educated at Princeton, and was a scholarly and refined gentleman. He remained a bachelor until thirty-four years of age, when a storm caused a change in his life. A party of young ladies and gentlemen from Lyme, while out sailing, encountered a severe storm and were forced to moor their craft to the island landing. They were hospitably received by the lord of the manor, who straightway fell in love with the fair- est of the young ladies, Sarah, the beautiful daughter of John Griswold, brother of the Gov- ernor of Connecticut. They were married March 4, 1803.

Tracing the line of ancestry from which our subject is. descended, we find that his grand- father, James, was a son of John, the latter a son of David Gardiner. The father, Henry Gardiner, was born in 1789 in the town of Southok, and be- came a sailor, being for some time captain of a whaling vessel. Late in life he retired from the sea, and resided in Quogue until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-eight. He was one of a family of twelve sons and one daughter, and of this large family our subject is the sole living male descendant.

Our subject is the only son of Henry and Mary Jane (Jessup) Gardiner, and was born in Quogne

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February 20, 1855. His education was obtained in the Flushing Institute. At the age of twelve years his father died, and he was reared under the guidance of a devoted mother. For four years he engaged in teaching, and afterward turned his attention to the summer boarding house business. Under his management the Gardiner House lias become one of the popular hostelries of the village, and at different times he has added to his possessions three cottages, which he rents to New York and Brooklyn families. Later the popular post house was purchased by him, making the combined capacity of the houses . about one hundred and fifty. During the sum- mer season this capacity is taxed to its utmost.

October 31, 1878, Mr. Gardiner married Miss Louise K., daughter of Dennis K. Halsey. The three children of this union are Henry Halsey, born October 14, 1881; Josephine Louise, Sep- tember 29, 1883; and Lion, September 20, 1891. The family attend the Presbyterian Church, of which they are members. Our subject is a Re- publican in his political belief and is a public- spirited man, taking an interest in everything per- taining to the advancement of the village.

W ILLIAM FRANKLIN HALSEY. Within the village of Southampton there is probably no citizen more wor- thy of mention in this volume, or one who has met with greater success than has rewarded the efforts of Mr. Halsey. His prosperity is not the re- sult of accident or luck, but has come to him as the result of indomitable perseverance, wise sa- gacity and sound judgment, qualities which al- mnost invariably bring their fortunate possessor financial success. He is the prominent florist of the village and also does a large business as nurseryman. The events of his life, briefly sketched below, will be of interest to his host of personal friends throughout the county.

Mr. Halsey was born in Sagaponack, town of Southampton, September 7, 1851. Hisparents were William D. and Aurelia B. (Hildreth) Halsey,

for a full history of whom we refer the reader to the biography of William D. Halsey, elsewhere in this volume. William F., of this history, was one of four children, of whom Daniel Hildreth is also a resident of Southampton ; Ida is the wife of Dr. Thomas McCrosson; and Alice married Ga- briel Halsey and lives in Sag Harbor. The sub- ject of this sketch passed the first nine years of his life in his native place, after which he went with the family to Water Mill and remained un- der the parental roof until attaining his majority. He was educated in the public schools and also took a course in the Southampton Academy, and when twenty began teaching others, conducting the winter term of school, while during the sum- mer months his attention was given to carrying on, or aiding in the work on the home place, in Southampton Town. He began his present bus- iness at Water Mill and from the first was very successful in the cultivation of all kinds of flowers.

In 1890 Mr. Halsey came to Southampton, where he has ever since made a specialty of grow- ing flowers for city florists. He ships large quan- tities of roses, as well as other choice flowers in their season and always receives the highest mar- ket price for the products of his greenhouse. It is a great treat to visitors who visit his grounds to view the large beds of almost every brilliant hue, around which the workmen are busy trim- ming and clipping. Mr. Halsey also handles California Privet, which is used largely for orna- mental hedge, selling over five thousand of these plants annually, and catering largely to the trade of the city people, who thus adorn the grounds of their summer cottages.

Our subject is also interested in other enter- prises in the city, being Vice-President of the Southampton Brick & Tile Company, which is a very paying business. He is a member of the fire department, of which he is Secretary and Treasurer, and in many ways takes a leading part in; tlie welfare of the community. In poli- tics he is a strong Prohibitionist and was the can- didate of his party in 1804 for the Assembly, and. although not elected. made a good fight. He is very prominent in the ranks of that organization,

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and is a member of the Town Committee, and Secretary of the County Committee.

The marriage of Mr. Halsey and Miss Mary Rose, eldest daughter of Capt. David Rose Drake, of Southampton, was solemnized June 6, 1878. A history of lier father's family appears on another page in this volume. Mrs. Halsey was born in Southampton and educated in the academy here. She is the mother of a son, Raymond Drake, and a daughter, bearing the name of Harriet Aurelia. They are members in excellent standing of the Presbyterian Church, to which many of the best residents of the community belong, and Mrs. Halsey is connected with the Ladies' Missionary Society of this denomination. She also takes an active part in the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mr. Halsey takes great pleasure in yachting and is, in fact, a lover of all aquatic sports. He is part owner of a beautiful yacht and the family often sail out to the ocean, where they spend the day cruising about. fish- ing, etc.

E GBERT L. DURYEA, a successful farmer of the town of Huntington, was born May 28, 1836, in Moriclies, town of Brook Haven, and was third in the family of four sons born to John H. and Maria S. (Duryea) Duryea. His father was born near where our subject now has his home, and here, as a farmer, he passed his long life of seventy-seven years and more. At his death he left behind him the name of one who was not only successful in his chosen business, but successful also in commanding the esteem and personal affection of those who know him most intimately. He was a Democrat and took an act- ive part in local politics. In this town the grand- father of our subject, George Duryea, was born and reared, and here also the great-grandfather. Charles Duryea, was born, and here he lived and died. The mother of our subject was born in Queens County, and her life was long, stretching over seventy-six years.

The youthful years of Egbert L. Duryea were spent at home with his parents, attending school,

helping on the farm, and early taking a large share of the work. At the death of his parents the family homestead fell to him by inheritance, and he has made his home here to this day. November 29, 1874, he married Miss Sarah Jane Ackerly, a native of this town, who died at the age of fifty- one, leaving one son, John, who is still at home.

Mr. Duryea is a man who does his own think- ing on all subjects, and while he generally acts with the Democratic party on all questions of national bearing and importance, yet holds him- self entirely at liberty to follow out his own best judgment in local affairs, both as to men and measures. He has a farm of one hundred and seventy acres, and is highly esteemed in the com- munity in which he dwells.

S HERWOOD HALLOCK, a successful business man of Quogue, was born in Jamesport, L. I., November 20, 1860, and is a son of Orlando and Jerusha (IIerrick) Hal- lock. He is a representative of one of the first families of the island, and traces his ancestry to Peter Hallock, of whose life mention is made in the sketch of Henry W. Hallock, presented on another page of this volume. There, also, may be found particulars regarding the genealogy of the family.

When an infant our subject was brought to Quogue by his parents, and here he has since re- sided. He gained a practical education in the common schools of this place, thereby becoming fitted for an active business career. At the age of about twenty he formed a partnership with his brother, Henry W., in the livery business, also running a bus from the depot to the village. The third member of the firm was John W. Brewster, to whom, after some two years, they sold the liv- ery business. At the same time the stage line was bought by his brother. Henry W. In 1885 the brothers embarked in the mercantile business, taking II. D. Burton into partnership under the firm name of Burton & Hallock. They carried on the trade until 1893, when they retired, selling out

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Mr. Burton, who now carries on the business. Our subject, at the present time, conducts a coal business, and also deals in horses, giving to these two industries his entire attention.

In his political views, while not active in public matters, Mr. Hallock is firnily convinced of the advocacy and wisdom of Republican principles, 'and hence he has allied himself with this party. He is a favored guest in social circles, and is honored as a persevering, judicious and energetic business man.

D ANIEL W. DAVIS, a resident of the town of Brook Haven, and a man of standing and influence among its older settlers, was born at Coram, October 19, 1824, and is in the sixth generation of the Davis family on the island. His paternal ancestors, counting back from the father of our subject, Daniel W., who was also born on the same farm as his son, were: William, David and two Benjamins, the older one being the first to locate on the island, and coming from Wales. All these men were farmers and all were men of character and good standing.

The father of our subject married Dolly Hop- kins, and had eight children. The oldest of these, Elizabeth, is now a resident of Coram, in her ninetieth year, and is the widow of Lewis R. Overton. Lester H. died in 1886, and Sophia in 1835. Mary J. is the wife of Thomas J. Ricks, of Port Jefferson. Dolly is living at Yaphank and is the widow of Van Rensselaer Swezey. Harriet M. is the wife of Thomas Baylis, of Port Jefferson. A child, younger than the subject of this sketch, died in infancy.

In 1850 Mr. Davis married Miss Ann E. Davis, who became the mother of three children, Han- nie, the oldest, dying in 1861; Eva S., the second child, is the wife of John W. Brown, a resident of Port Jefferson ; Timothy J. is a farmer. Our sub- ject lost his first wife in 1859, and the next year married his present wife, Laura S. Davis. They have three children, William A., Lena, and Lester

H. In 1846 Mr. Davis came to his present place, which he has since made his home. All the improvements that mark the farm have been gained by his own labor. He has here about two hundred and sixty-five acres, on which he car- ries out a system of diversified and general farm- ing, with most satisfactory results.

Mr. Davis acts with the Democratic party on all political questions, and has been elected to several local offices of trust and honor. He has been Collector of the town for three years, As- sessor for fifteen years, and while he was Col- lector he also served as Constable. Since 1865 he has been one of the active and earnest ment- bers of the Suffolk County Fair Association. While still a young man, only a little over twenty- one, he was elected a Captain in the Suffolk County Horse Guards, and was very efficient in this service for many years. He is associated with the Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, in which he is a Deacon and a devoted laborer.

E DWARD PAYSEN HUNTTING, a resi- dent of Southampton, was born in the honse on Main Street where he now lives, April 1, 1844. His parents were William and Ann (Foster) Huntting. The former was born in the homestead in 1802 and was a son of Col. Ben- jamin Huntting, a member of the Continental Congress and an officer in the Revolutionary War, who participated in the battle of Long Island and the engagement with the Hessians in New Jersey, serving under General Washington.

The sons of Col. Benjamin Huntting, Edward and William, were reared together, and on estab- lishing homes for themselves were separated only by the width of the street. William was a mer- chant and later engaged in farming. He owned the old Colonel Huntting place on Main Street. and a part of the house, which was built in 1708. is still standing. Colonel Huntting was born on the corner adjacent, but spent his life principally in that house, and there died in 1809. His wife, Mcliitable Cooper, died in 1850. He was a son of

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Maj. Benjamin Huntting, who is also buried in the cemetery at Southampton. William died in May, 1887. His first wife, mother of our subject, died in 1847, after having had five sons and five daughters. His second wife was Cornelia Her- rick, who died in October, 1887, without heirs. Of the ten children of the first marriage, only three survive. They are: Benjamin, of Cresco, Iowa; Nancy, who married John H. Ellsworth, now of McGregor, Iowa, and Edward P.

Our subject is named after Rev. Edward Pay- sen, a warm friend of his mother's. He passed his boyhood like other lads in his vicinity and ac- quired his education at the common schools. At the age of eighteen he went to sea with Capt. Andrew Jenny on the bark "Balena," setting out on a whaling voyage. After one voyage he went to Iowa, where he spent seven years clerking with his brothers. Later he returned to the old home and directed his attention to the farm, which comprised one hundred acres.

January 6, 1880, Mr. Huntting married Miss Mary Jessup, daughter of Zebulon and Frances Jessup, who resided on the Bridgehampton road. Mr. and Mrs. Huntting are the parents of the following children: Frances Jessup, Betsey Edna and Nancy Ann. Our subject is a Republican in politics, as was his father. He and his family are worshipers with the Methodist denomination. in which church he has held office for a number of years. As a sportsman in the piscatorial line he is of local note.

J OSEPH H. VELSOR, Justice of the Peace at Cold Spring Harbor, was born in this town, February 23, 1847, and is a son of Capt. John W. and Rebecca (Conklin) Velsor. He is one of ten children who were born to his parents. Of this large family the following mem- bers survive: Warren P., Jeannette, Alvin, Lewis, John and Joseph H.

The father of our subject, who was a native of Cold Spring Harbor, born November 25, 1795, was a son of John Velsor, who was a son of

Thomas Velsor. He was a seafaring man, his for- tunes being identified with the sea for forty-five years. He was only eighteen years of age when made captain of a merchant vessel and from that time until his retirement from active service he was a commander of vessels. He piloted the first whaling vessel that ever came into Cold Spring Harbor. His death occurred December 18, 1872. He was universally mourned by all his seafaring friends as well as others who enjoyed his genial, open-hearted companionship.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood un- der the parental roof. He acquired his education in the common schools of Woodbury, his native place, and where he lived until his fifteenth year. when he went to Huntington and was engaged as a stage driver. He followed that occupation for five years and then went into the butcher busi- ness in the same place. Five or six years later he moved his business to Cold Spring Harbor, where he has since lived, except one year spent in Brooklyn.

In 1886 our subject was elected to fill the office of Overseer of the Poor, and for five consecutive terms he performed the onerous duties of this of- fice to the entire satisfaction of the community. In 1893 he was appointed to serve the unexpired term of Percy M. Smith, in the position he now occupies, that of Justice of the Peace. On com- pleting Squire Smith's term he was formally elect- ed to serve the following term, which began Janu- ary 1, 1894, and will end December 21, 1897. He faithfully devotes himself to fulfilling the du- ties of this office.

Mr. Velsor and Miss Phoebe A. Cheshire were married December 31, 1867. Five children were born of this union, of whom four are now living. They are: Cora. Emily, Harry and Joseph. The eldest daughter is now engaged as a teacher in the public schools of Wood Haven. The remain- der of the family are still living at home. Mr. Velsor is a Republican in politics and in religious affairs his associations are with the Methodist de- nomination. He has at various times held the following offices in the church: Exhorter, Sun- day-school Superintendent, Class-leader, Trustee and Steward. Fraternally he is a Mason, and his

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Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 45

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