Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 49

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 49

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Born in Brooklyn May 22, 1860, the subject of this sketch is a son of Isaac B. and Phoebe (Dav-

enport) Soper. His grandfather, Lemuel Soper, was born in the town of Huntington in 1784. served as an officer in the War of 1812, and settle i in the town of Babylon, where he owned and op- erated a large farm. His death occurred there in 1878. Isaac B., who was one of nine children. was reared on his father's farm in Sweet Hollow. town of Babylon, and received a common school education. In 1840 he commenced a grocery bas- iness in Brooklyn, and two years later started a feed and hay establishment on Atlantic Avenue in that city, continuing the business with flatter- ing success until January, 1876, when he died sud- denly of heart disease.

In the family of Isaac B. Soper there were seven children, and of that number five are still living. namely: Emma, wife of A. Bastedo: Frances. who married T. J. Ontonbridge; Lemuel G .. Har- ry and Charles. The first fourteen years of our subject's life were passed in Brooklyn, but at tha: age he went to make his home with his grand- father Soper on the farm, remaining there until he attained his majority. He then came to St. James and bought the bottling establishment of Jacob Bayles, which he has since conducted and which is known as L. G. Soper's bottling works. Here are manufactured all kinds of mineral waters. the quality of which is first-class. In 1892 he pur- chased a similar establishment in Port Jefferson. which he also conducts. His goods are well known throughout the island, and he does a business of $10,000 per annum.

In addition to the bottling works Mr. Soper. in company with O. F. Smith, owns one of the larz- est and most complete steam cider mills on the island. Since 1893 he has also conducted a ins printing business, taking orders for all kinds of job work and carring on a large trade in that line. Politically a Republican, he has taken an active part in public matters and has held a number of local offices, having been Excise Commissioner for four years and In- spector of Elections. In his social relations he is a member of the Royal Arcanum. be- longing to Stony Brook Council No. 1333. He aided in the organization and became a charter member of Stony Brook Lodge No. 730, I. O. O.

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F., with which he has since been identified. His first marriage, which took place in 1880, united him with Annie Corsa. In 1888 he was again married, choosing as his wife Miss Ada Gayden, daughter of Sophia Gayden. His attention has been closely concentrated upon his business af- fairs, and from his careful supervision of the work, wise judgment and shrewd discrimination, he has been enabled to place his financial matters upon a solid basis. Naturally adapted for the control of important interests, it is only just to presunie that his career in the future will be as successful as the past indicates it will be. Though giving close attention to personal affairs his views are not narrowed to self, but he is ready to help others less fortunate than himself, and in matters pertaining to the welfare of the town is progressive and pub- lic spirited.

A LFRED C. TILLOTSON, one of the pop- ular and representative merchants of Northport, was born in Commack, Feb)- ruary 29, 1836, being the oldest son in a family of nine children born to Isaac M. and Mary Jane (Garratt) Tillotson. The father of our subject was reared on a farm, where he remained until lie had reached the age of fifteen, when he left it to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for many years in New York City, in Hunting- ton, and in Commack. He died in the latter vil- lage when he had reached the age of seventy- nine, and though not a church member, was a good man, and left many friends behind him. His father came from England, and but little is known of his remote ancestry. The mother of our sub- ject was born in Stony Brook, and is still living at the age of sixty-nine. Her father, Richard Garratt, served in the War of 1812,

Our subject remained at home and attended the common schools until sixteen, when he went into the general store of T. O. Smith at Bay Shore, and there he remained for some nine years. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty- seventh New York Volunteer Infantry as a pri- vate, and faithfully served as a soldier for the

Union until the close of the war. He was ap- pointed Corporal soon after enlisting, and pres- ently was made company clerk, for a part of the time serving in the commissary department. He participated in the noted battle of Honey Hill, and was in several smaller engagements. During the entire term of his service he was at his post and ready for battle, with the exception of one week, when he was on the sick list.

At the close of the war Mr. Tillotson returned home with the great current of veterans seeking a place in the fields of peaceful industry and was employed by Samuel B. Brown, whose sketcli will be found elsewhere in this work. After re- maining in his employ for thirteen years, in com- pany with Henry S. Mott, he purchased his ent- ployer's store. The business has been continued up to the present time, although Mr. Mott's in- terest has been purchased by our subject.

Mr. Tillotson was married May 23, 1877, to Miss Lizzie Phelps, of South Deerfield, Mass., and to this marriage there has come one child, Alfred D., who is still at home. Mr. Tillotson is a stanch Republican in politics. For about twenty- four years he has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the last twenty of which he has been Steward and Treasurer. For four years he was Superintendent of the Sun- day-school, and takes a keen interest in its wel- fare.

E DGAR SAMMIS, who makes his home in Huntington, has been for years past thor- ouglily identified with the interest of Suf- folk County. He was born in New York City December 27, 1829, and is a son of Richard and Esther M. (Eversly) Sammis. The family com- prised nine children and although they are ma- ture men and women, all still survive. The father was born where our subject now lives about the year 1805, and his father was Jesse Sammis. Richard Sammiis was an influential fariner and a much esteemed citizen in this portion of the coun- ty. For years he was a Trustee of the town. In his early life he was occupied as a truckman in

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

921

New York City, but moved to West Neck, this. dren born to his parents. Georgiana E. is the wife county, about the year 1832. There he spent the remainder of his life, passing away at the ripe age of seventy-three.

Our subject received the educational advan- tages of the ordinary New York State boy. Hav- ing been reared on the farm, he assisted in the management of the home place until 1870, when he purchased the portion of the farm whereon he now lives, and in 1878 the homestead reverted to him.

In October, 1854, Mr. Sammis instituted a liome for himself, when he married Miss Jane Place. Of this union have been born seven chil- (ren, of whom four still survive. The eldest son, Theodore P., is the father of two children ; Esther T. is the wife of Frank P. Rogers: Edgar A. is also married, while the youngest son, Jacob H., is the proud father of two children.

Our subject's political affiliations have all tend- ed toward the Democratic party. In religion he is a Presbyterian, of which church he has been Trus- tee for several years past. All through his life Mr. Sammis has devoted himself to the duties of good citizenship rather than to aspirations for public office and place.

J AMES HENRY YOUNG is one of the lead- ing citizens of Orient, and is President of the Eastern Union Telegraph Company. He has shown the practical value of shrewdness and discrimination, combined with strict probity, and as a natural sequence lie is prosperous financially. lle was born on the Island of Nantucket October 3. 1832, to Ezra and Maria (Clark) Young, who were born at Orient, February 8, 1801, and Mar- tha's Vineyard, respectively. The father was a builder by trade and as a young man went to Nan- tucket to follow his calling, and there he met and married Miss Clark, whose father was a Captain on a whaling vessel. (For a further history of the family see the sketch of J. Brown Young, of Ori- vit.)

James Henry Young was the eldest of six chil-

of David A. Petty, a farmer residing near Orient; Napoleon B. and George W. were twins. The for- mer was a soldier during the Civil War in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York Volun- teer Infantry, and served two years, while the lat- ter served four years in the Sixth New York Cav- alry. These brothers were for many years part- ners in the paper hanging business in Brooklyn and both died in that city; Walter I. is a painter by trade and lives in Orient, where Lionel L. also lives, the latter being the proprietor of a butcher shop.

When the subject of this sketch was two years old his father returned to Orient and here his initi- atory educational training was received. Upon reaching a suitable age he learned the carpenter's trade and succeeded his father in his business, which he followed for several years. He then erected Prospect Hotel on Shelter Island, but since retiring from this work he has devoted his attention to market gardening. Mr. Young served the Union faithfully during the Civil War as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Twen- ty-seventh New York Volunteers, which he joined in 1862. He entered the service as a pri- vate and was promoted to Second and then to First Lieutenant, and finally as Acting Captain of his company. He was mustered out of the service at the end of two years on a surgeon's certificate of disability. As a token of their high esteem the members of his company presented him with a memorial at the time of his retirement.

Mr. Young was married in June, 1868, to Miss Emma V. Tuthill, who was born in Alton, Ill., to Pardon Tuthill, a builder. They have three chil- dren. Stewart Woodford was named in honor of Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, Mr. Young's com- mander during the war, who gave him a scholar- ship in Cornell University as a token of apprecia- tion of the honor conferred upon him. Stewart WV. graduated from this college in 1800 and is now a professor of chemistry in Leland Stanford Uni- versity of California. The two daughters are Mabel C. and Stella, both of whom are highly edu- cated and are accomplished musicians. Mr. Young is a leader in the Prohibition party and has

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been Chairman of the County Committee for sev- eral years. He takes great interest in temperance work. He has always been interested also in the cause of education and was interested in the erec- tion of the village hall and the establishing of a free library. For twenty-two years he was a leader of the Congregational Church choir and for sev- eral years was Superintendent of the Sabbath- school, but is now a Unitarian in religious belief. He is President of the Eastern Union Telegraph Company, a local company on the east end of Long Island, and is a stockholder in the People's National Bank of Greenport. Socially he is a prominent Mason, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Young is a man of strong mentality, is an easy and fluent writer and has contributed some very readable and interest- ing articles for various papers. He lias a pleasant home and is surrounded by a host of friends.

E LIAS P. TUTTLE, of Speonk, a Notary Public and prominent business man for many years, was born in New York City February 14, 1836; the son of Daniel W. and De- borah A. Purdy Tuttle. The parental family in- cluded eight children of whom four now survive, and of these our subject is the oldest. His sister, Priscilla, next in order, married John G. Robin- son, who served as a Sergeant in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York In- fantry, but is now deceased. She is now living in Westchester County, N. Y., and is very proud of the record her soldier husband made in the Civil War. Lewis was the second child, and Henry is the youngest. He is married, and is a resident of Merriniac, Mass., where he is the superintendent of the inimense carriage factory of Judson & Co.

Danicl W. Tuttle was a native of Cutchogue, and was born in the year 1796. When a young man he followed the carpenter's trade in different parts of the state, and after he had reached middle life he began manufacturing umbrella and parasol handles, which proved very remunerative, and which he followed until the business was de-

stroyed by the removal of the tariff. In 1837 he established himself in Westchester County, where he spent three years, and was two years in Fair- fax County, Va. Afterward he returned to this county and settled down in this village, where he remained for many years. He was interested in the trade of wagon making, and carried on quite an extensive business in that line, until he sold out his property here in 1871 to his sons, Elias P. and Lewis, and removed to Islip, where he spent the few remaining years of his life, dying in 1878.

The subject of this sketch. Elias P. Tuttle, grew to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his education in the common schools. He learned the trade of wagon making under his father's in- struction, and continued in it until 1871, as above stated. This arrangement continued until the year 1895, when our subject gave it up, and is now devoting his attention to job printing.

November 20, 1864, our subject married Miss Mary H. Howell, the daughter of Josiah Howell, of Riverhead. She became the mother of four children, two of whom are now living. Daniel WV. was born September 2, 1872, and Amy Howell May 16, 1875. Mr. Tuttle votes and works with the Republican party and has been called to oc- cupy some important local positions. He has served on the Board of Town Trustees for three years, and is now filling the office of President of that body. He has been Notary Public since 1880, receiving his first commission in that capacity from Governor Cornell. During the years 1870 and 1871 lie was Collector of the town of South- ampton and is regarded as an honorable and up- right man.

C APT. HIRAM STEPHENS. A bio- graphical history of Long Island would be incomplete without a mention of the genial and popular captain of the "Bathing Beach", of-Quogue. He is a son of Halsey and Elizabethi (Hallock) Stepliens, and was born Jan- nary 17, 1836, being one of eight children, of whom five still survive. His father was born in Quogue in 1802, and spent his life divided be-

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tween farming and whaling. He was a son of Edward, who was a son of Thomas Stephens. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Frederick Hallock, a descendant of Peter Hal- lock, who settled on Long Island in the year 1640. She was born in 1807, and is still living, making her home with the subject of this sketch.

Capt. Hiram Stephens spent his boyhood under the parental roof. Reared as he was with the example of a seaman father before him, it is but natural that itis inclinations should be in that di- rection. He attended the common schools as a lad and in the intervals of study and home du- ties, showed a fondness for fishing and hunting. and knew the most favorable spots where the fish bit best and the places where the most game could be found. During the summer months he became a guide to hunters and fishermen from New York City. At the age of eighteen he was appointed bathing master of the Quogue Beach by the wealthy summer boarders, and has ever since had charge, making this one of the most popular of the bathing beaches. He has done much to insure safety in bathing in this country, being instrumental in having a bill brought be- fore the Legislature requiring all bathing resorts to have a safety line stretched around the bath- ing pool and to keep at least two men on duty to act as life savers in case of accident.

Early in life, for some nineteen years, Captain Stephens was engaged in teaching, devoting him- self to that work during the school year and giving his attention to the bathing resorts during · the busy season. He is still a bachelor, his home being presided over by his venerable mother.

moved to this country and settled at Fishkill. this state. When he was twenty-eight he came to this village and established the woolen mills. at what is now called Upper Mills, a mile from Riverhead. He was a careful, far-seeing man, of good business character, and succeeded in win- ning a fine reputation among the leading men of the place, and accumulated what in those days was called a considerable fortune. He con- tinued to operate this mill up to his death. and was succeeded by his two sons, John R. and J. Henry, who have operated it up to the present time.

The mother of our subject was born at Cold Spring, and was formerly Marion Velsor, a daughter of Capt. John Velsor, who was of Dutch descent, and followed the sea all his life. She lived to be ninety years of age, dying in the year 1891. Our subject had one brother and six sis- ters. Marion married Prof. George W. Pettet. of the city of New York, a teacher of music. Caro- line A. married T. M. Griffing, a prominent and wealthy attorney of this village, and a sketch ci whose life will be found in this work. J. Henry is one of the leading men of the place, and was Sheriff and Treasurer of the county for many years. A sketch of his life will also be found in this work.

Mr. Perkins, the subject of this article, was ed:1- cated in the common schools, and was with his brother in the mill for a few years, when he estab- lished a clothing store which has become so im- portant and productive a business enterprise that it requires the presence of his brother as a partner. They also own and continue to operate the mill which was started by their father. Besides this they own the water works, having associated with them in that enterprise their brother-in-law. T. M. Griffing, and also own the electric light plant. and in fact are identified with about all the busi- ness enterprises of this charming and attrac- tive village, and with their brother-in-law. Mr. Griffing, are the wealthiest men in the place.

J For twenty years Mr. Perkins was Justice of the Peace, and was Supervisor of his town for fourteen years, being re-elected as a Republican. and has also served as one of the School Trustees. I OHN R. PERKINS, one of the leading busi- ness men of Riverhead, was born in this village April 5, 1829, and is the elder of two brothers. He is a son of Jolin Perkins, who was born near Bath, England, in the year 1800. His father died when he was a child, and his mother married a Mr. Dodd. When Jolin was twelve years old all the family re- , He was married in the year 1865 to Miss Alice O.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Pearson, a native of East Hampton, and a daugh- ter of Capt. James Pearson, a whaling captain of many years' experience. They have four children. Edward is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New York, where he is established in practice. George is with his father in the store, and Alice and Clara are at home. Mr. Perkins is a member of the Episcopal Church, a Director in the national bank, and a Trustee in the savings bank.

L EWIS SMITH is a merchant and the Post- master at Ft. Salonga (formerly known as Fresh Pond), which place was made the headquarters of General Salonga. A fort, which was established there, still remains standing, and the name of the postoffice was changed in its honor. Our subject was born in Huntington, August 14, 1843, and is a son of Alvin S. and Parmelia (Gildersleeve) Smith. His paternal grandfather, who was Scudder Smith, was a farmer and shoemaker, and passed his life in his native town. His four sons are deceased. The family has been influential in public affairs since an early period in the history of Long Island. Our subject's father was a farmer and merchant, and like others of his family, remained true to his native place. He was a good man and a sub- stantial and influential citizen. Five sons and one daughter comprised his family and of that number four are still living, our subject being second in order of birth.

At the age of twelve years Lewis Smith began his life work. His first occupation was in a store, the proprietor of which was H. F. Lewis. of Northport. There he remained for one year and the following year he spent in school. Later he was employed in the store of B. Skidmore of Amityville, where he remained for six years, and after that he spent one year at Centerport in the butcher business. Later he accepted a posi- tion as salesman in New York City with the widely known firm of Lord & Taylor. He re- mained with them for three years and then took

a position in the store of A. T. Stewart, with whom he remained for fourteen years. The iol- lowing two years were spent with Arnold, Con- stable & Co.

Later Mr. Smith was employed by Wanamaker & Co. in Philadelphia, having charge of the u.p- holstery department. After remaining with that firm for two years he accepted a similar position with the firm of W. & J. Sloane on Broadway and Nineteenth Streets, and for five years was their European buyer, making two trips annually and visiting the principal cities of Europe, or wherever he could find rich designs and rare fabrics that entered into his business. For two years longer he was engaged in positions where his experience and knowledge were most valuable and then. as his health was failing him, he retired to his native home. In 1892 he built a store and put in a gen- eral stock. He was appointed Postmaster of this place by his former employer, John Wanamaker. In politics he has always been an ardent Repub- lican, and he has always taken an active part in public matters. He and his family are worship- ers at the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject was married August 3, 1831. to Miss Emma Ransom, a native of New York City. and a daughter of Dillon and Mary Ransom. They have two sons, Alvin C. S. and Lewis K.

D AVID SCUDDER VALENTINE. a farmer and a highly respected and es- teenied citizen of the village of West Hills, was born September 17, 1853, the son vi David and Letty (Nostrand) Valentine. The pa- rental family included ten children, of whom five are still living. The father was born in West Hills in the year 1809, and here he grew up, in his early life learning the trade of a blacksmith and wheel- wright and for many years followed this in con- nection with farming. He was a man much re- spected by his friends and neighbors, and lived to a ripe old age, dying in his eighty-second year. Grandfather Scudder Valentine was a native of West Hills and followed farming all his days.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

David, the subject of this sketch, grew up to manhood here, and was introduced to the myster- ies of the "three R's" under the instruction of the teachers of the district school. He was reared to a farmer's life, and after passing his twentieth birthday engaged in farming for himself, which he has followed continuously up to the present time. The farm came to him upon the death of his fath- er, the latter having purchased it when but nine- teen years of age.

Our subject was married March 3, 1874. to Miss Ida Isabelle Gates, a native of New York City, her birth occurring March 3, 1856. Her parents were Henry and Martha S. (Jarvis) Gates. To this marriage there have been born seven chil- dren, and it is something to be very grateful for . that out of so large a family all are still alive. Grace Waldron is the wife of Thomas H. Rogers, of Elwood. The other children, who are still at home and attending school, are David Gates, Let- ty Amelia, Raymond White, Carll Edward, Percy Monfort and Mildred Belle.

Our subject finds nis political views expressed in the principles of the Republican party, with which he is in close affiliation. In religion he is identified with the local Methodist Church, of which he is a devout and faithful member.

EREMIAH ROBBINS is one of the most active business men of the pleasant village of Babylon, and has a rare faculty of turning his hand to many things and making them all go as he wishes. In addition to his well-stocked shoe, hat and men's furnishing goods store, he is engaged in the real estate and general insurance business, and makes a specialty of renting cot- tages in this neighborhood, a list of which he pub- lishes in illustrated book form, said to be one of the handsomest real estate catalogues published on the island.

Born in this village June 15, 1863, the subject of this biography is a son of Walter and Cornelia +Strong) Robbins. His father, who was born near Roslyn, Queens County, was a merchant by occu- |

pation, and erected the house now occupied by H. A. V. Post, in which our subject was born. He established the business firm of W. W. & J. Rob- bins, and they built the store in which Higbie & Robbins now carry on their extensive busine -- His death occurred in 1863, soon after the birth . ¿ Jeremiah. Of his four children one died beiere the death of the father, three attained to mature years and two are still living.

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Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 49

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