USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 54
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Richard Esterbrook was by birth an English- man, born in 1836, and came to America when fourteen years of age. For a few years he en- gaged in business at Camden, N. J., but in ISS) he established himself at Bridgehampton and suc-
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cessfully conducted a large business until the time of his death, which occurred in 1892. Through his energy and sagacious judgment he not only accumulated large means, but also gained a wide reputation throughout the eoun- try. He and itis wife were the parents of two children, namely: Rose, who is the wife of Dr. C. S. Carter, of New York City, and Frank, who at this writing is on a voyage to Japan.
E DWARD WHITE. The best known "boniface" of Cold Spring Harbor is he whose name introduces this sketch. Be- sides being the proprietor of "The Village House," he is the owner of extensive bottling works in this town. Mr. White was born January 20, 1851, and is a son of Seldon and Phoebe Ann (Horton) White. He is one of a family of seven children, all of whom still survive. They are by name Daniel, William, Edward, Mary Ann, Susan, Elizabeth and Ella. The first named is married and has one child; the second is the father of two children; Mary is now Mrs. George W. Raynor and the mother of one child: Sasan married Samuel Blauvelt and is the mother of one child; Elizabeth is Mrs. George Green and las two children; Ella married George Heathley and has four children.
Seldon White was a native of Cold Spring Har- bor, born in 1819, his parents being Carroll and Susan (Rogers) White. He grew to manhood in the place of his nativity and learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he lias followed for a livelihood ever sinee. Although now (1895) seventy-six years of age, he is hale and hearty, and looks many years younger than the records prove him. Grandfather Carroll White was a native of West Hills and was born in the eighteenth century. being a son of Israel and Rhoda (Blatsley) White. Israel was a farmer by occupation, but the records show little else regarding his life.
Edward White attained manhood under his father's roof. He attended the common schools of his native place and received a good education.
On leaving years of adolescence, he apprentieed himself to learn the earpenter's trade, and devot- ed eiglit years to that employment. In 1878 he gave up that work and beeame interested in the bottling business. Some three years later he opened an hotel known as "The Village House," whielt he has sinee run in connection with his bot- tling business. During the fourteen years of his proprietorship his hotel has become a popular liostelry.
July 4, 1875, Mr. White married Miss Eliza J., daughter of Benjamin and Phoebe (Wall) Archer. They have been the parents of four children, three of whom are living. They are: Franklin E., who was born March 2, 1877; Thomas Seldon, March 27, 1879; and Gracie Winifred, who was born January 27, 1882. Mr. White finds congenial af- filiations in the Democratic party, both as to men and to principles, and he now holds the office of Deputy Sheriff.
HENRY PERKINS, of the village of Riv- erhead, is one of the foremost and most popular men of Suffolk County, of which he has been Sheriff and Treasurer. He was born one mile west of the village of Riverhead April 8, 1839, and was the younger of two sons born to John Perkins. The latter was of English birth, and a more complete study of his life and character will be found in connection with the sketch of John R. Perkins, a brother of the sub- ject of this article, which appears elsewhere in this work.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of the county and started in life as a clerk in the store conducted by his brother. In 1860 he was taken in as a partner in this con- mercial establishment, which has become of great importance under their continued care. They do a large clothing business and supply about all the life-saving stations on Long Island with clothes. Aside from this business he is interested with his brother and his brother-in-law, T. M. Griffing, in many of the leading enterprises of the place, among them the water works and the elec-
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tric light plant. He is also Trustee of the Sav- ings Bank, and is one of the leading and represen- tative citizens of the place.
For many years Mr. Perkins has been a decided force in the politics of this county, and it is doubt- ful if there is a man in it more widely known through the county or more favorably regarded than he. For several years he was Collector, was Special Deputy Sheriff, and was elected to serve as Sheriff for three years. He was Treas- urer of the county for twelve successive years, and retired from this office January 1, 1894. Our subject is a Mason, having been Master of his lodge, and has attained the Royal Arch degree. In the mystic circles he is highly esteemed. He was married in May, 1861, to Miss Eliza M. Skid- inore, of Riverhead, a sister of George Skidmore, the eminent architect. They have two children, John, who is the Superintendent of the Long Is- land Telephone Company, and Mary, who is the wife of William M. Litchard.
C APT. HENRY SQUIRES. The good people of Bridgehampton are justly proud of those gallant children of the. island who have carried her name afar and have made their own lives illustrious by courage and fidelity. They count those men doubly worthy of honor and reverence who, leaving home, kindred and business, enlisted under the starry banner to save the Union that was established at the cost of so much blood and tears. The faded coat of blue, the empty sleeve, the grassy mound, bedecked each May with the flowers of spring, are the to- kens and insignia of a natural nobility more wor- thy of regard than all the tinsel and gewgaws of Old World aristocracy. The name that opens this article is enrolled on the lists of those whom the island and the nation will always honor.
Captain Squires is a native of this county and was born at Water Mill August 4, 1841. His parents, Henry and Abigail (Brown) Squires, had five children, three daughters and two sons, of whom he was the youngest, the others being
Adeline, Mary, Elizabeth and Samuel. He was born and reared on the farm and attended the dis- trict school until he was seventeen years old, when he was sent to the Bridgehampton Academy. This was about the breaking out of the War . : the Rebellion. He was the recipient of an ap- pointment from the School Commissioner to a scholarship in the State Normal, but he iek i: his duty to be at the front, following the stars; banner, and so he did not accept this complimen- tary selection. He enlisted in the Sixteenth State Militia, but very soon obtaining a release, he went to the seat of war and was mustered into the Eighty-first New York Infantry as a member of Company K. Entering as a private, he won [ -- sition as the result of faithful work and conspica- ous bravery. He was first under fire at the siese of Yorktown. Then followed in rapid success: :: the bloody scenes of Williamsburg. Fair Oak- and Malvern Hill. By the time he brought ap at the siege of Charleston he was a hardened ve :- eran, inured to scenes of war. At Violet's Sta- tion, Va., Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor and Pe- tersburg he was often in battle and under fire w :::: his regiment, but while thousands fell he escape ! with his life. For a long time he lay under the walls of Petersburg and witnessed the closing scenes of the great rebellion.
In 1862 Captain Squires was promoted to be Sergeant. Two years later he received his con- mission as First Lieutenant, and in the latter pa :: of that year he was appointed Captain. At F .. Harrison he was seriously wounded by the explo- sion of a shell close at hand. his most dangerous injury being the breaking of a rib on his right side. He was several times detailed to dangerous and difficult expeditions, and served on several forced marches. With his regiment he marched from Fortress Monroe to Richmond and back. He has his stories of hardship and privation that all sokliers at times experienced. While at Drury's Bluff he lived five days on two days' ra- tions. His regiment was the first in Richmond after the surrender, and it was his privilege to enter Libby Prison at the head of a detail of boys in blue and set free the Union soldiers long confined in that odjous prison pen. While
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on this expedition he secured the keys to the desk in the office of the prison, and these keys he still retains as a most interesting memento of that tragic closing of the great struggle.
Captain Squires was mustered out of service in October, 1865, and returned at once to the vil- lage of Water Mill. He presently found employ- ment as a mechanical engineer at Sag Harbor. After a time he was at work in Chicago and later at Springfield, Mass. In 1884 he located at Bridgehampton, where five years later he was appointed Postmaster. He served through Pres- ident Harrison's administration, and was contin- ued in the same position under President Cleve- land. He is a Republican, but is popular with men of all shades of opinion, and has a strong hold upon the community. For two years he has served as Collector. He is a Grand Army man, is a brotlier in the Masonic fraternity, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married at Springfield, Mass., in 1871 to Miss Annie Bebler, but no children have blessed this union.
I OHN HAWKINS is a man who stands high in agricultural circles, and holds advanced ideas on progressive and experimental farming. He believes in intensive rather than ex- tensive farming, although he cultivates one of the largest farms in Suffolk County. An influential citizen of Moriches, he is well known throughout this locality, where he has made his life-long home, and is prominent in agricultural circles of the island.
Our subject was born here in 1827, to Jonathan and Eliza (Soudon) Hawkins. The father, who was likewise a native of Suffolk County, passed his entire life in the vicinity of Moriches. He was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and had his place well improved and under a good state of cultivation, gathering abundant harvests annual- ly. He died in 1844, respected by all who knew him. The mother of our subject, who was a Vir- ginian by birth, when young came to this state
with her brother, who was the first Methodist preacher in the Moriches Circuit. Here she met and married Jonathan Hawkins. She survived her husband many years, closing lier eyes in death in 1861.
John, of this history, was permitted to attend school only about three months in the year, as his services on the farm were too valuable to be spared. He was thoroughly trained to this busi- ness, and on the death of his father was thorough- ly competent to take charge of the old homestead . which he inherited. He now owns two hundred acres of some of the finest land in Suffolk County. He has always taken great pride in keeping his farm in a neat and thrifty condition, and every acre of his property is made to produce the best possible results.
In 1855 Mr. Hawkins was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Bishop, the daughter of Frank- lin and Laura (Tuttle) Bishop, natives of this county. Mrs. Hawkins remained the companion and helpmate of her husband for eighteen years. dying in 1873. She left a family of three children, namely: John F., a worthy farmer of this locality: Addie J., now the wife of Stephen L. Mershon, a citizen of Chicago; and James Ezra, engaged in the Government House on Moriches Beach. In 1874 our subject chose for his second companion Miss Sarah Chichester, whose parents were worthy residents of this county. They are both: members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Hawkins is Steward. In politics he is a Republican and a man of great public spirit. whose influence is felt in measures of both a pub- lic and business character.
W ILLIAM WOODHULL SAMMIS is one of the old residents of Huntington on West Neck. Not only himself, but 2 his ancestors for more than one generation back. have been identified with the growth and pro -- perity of this locality. Born where he now lives. December 4, 1834, he is a son of Jesse F. and
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Ollie A. (Woodhull) Sammis, and is the second of three children, the elder being Julia E., and the youngest Henry F.
Our subject's father, Jesse F. Sammis, was born in the town of Huntington, August 4, 1799, and he in turn was the son of Epenetus Sammis, who was a son of Jesse Sammis. Our subject's grandfather, Epenetus Sammis, was a man who abounded in vitality and energy and naturally took his place among the leaders of his day in the locality. He accumulated a large property, which was for the most part real estate. Advantage- ously launched in life by an influential father, Jesse F. Sammis was very successful in a busi- ness way, and was highly esteemed for his in- tegrity and good citizenship by those with whom he came in contact. He was identified for years with the Presbyterian Church and his demise was deeply mourned by his fellow-citizens.
William W. Sammis passed his boyhood like other boys of his time. He attended the district school in the town and later was sent to the Ja- maica High School. A naturally keen, shrewd mind absorbed to itself much of the practical ad- vantages of a common sense method of educa- tion. On finishing school he returned home and in company with his half-brother, Henry F., as- sumed the management of the home farm, thus relieving his father of that care. This arrange- ment continued until the death of Jesse F. Sam- miis, when the estate reverted to the heirs.
Mr. Sammis has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married October 25, 1870, was Louisa S., daughter of Timothy and Susan (Nos- trand) Baylis. Her decease occurred February 17, 1888. Six children were the result of this union, of whom four still survive, namely: Ollie A., Addison W., Louise B. and Jesse F. Susan E. Sammis died after a very short illness, aged twen- ty-two years, October 20, 1895. The present Mrs. Sammis was Mrs. Louise Duryea, daughter of John M. Sammis, of Oyster Bay, L. I. She be- came the wife of our subject November 12, 1890, and has since thrown over the home life the bene- ficent influence of a good woman.
For many years Mr. Saminis has been a loyal supporter of the doctrines of the Republican
party, but in local affairs party is of small moment to his way of thinking. In his church affiliations he has for many years been connected with the Presbyterians and is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Huntington. He was for a number of years one of the Trustees of the church, but resigned that position to accept the office of an Elder in 1866, since which time he has continuously served in that capacity. His life contains nothing that is sensational, but is rather an epitome of those daily acts which go to make up a good moral supporter of a community and a beneficent whole-souled citizen.
E UGENE W. DE LE REE has a good standing in the town of Babylon as a farmer and poultry-raiser, having always lived here. September 16, 1855, he was born on the farm where he now resides, and was the son of James W. and Catharine L. (Fowler) De Le Ree. His father was born on the Isle of Guernsey, and his parentage was French on his father's side and French and Scotch on his mother's. The grandfather of our subject, James De Le Ree, was a finely educated man, and came from France to Baltimore, where he established a school for the teaching of French, Spanish and English. He was a sail-maker by trade, as he was raised on the island, among scafaring people.
Early indoctrinated in the tenets of the Church of England, when he became a man he drew away from that church and sought communion among the Baptists. He kept the Baltimore school in operation for many years, and was on the high road to fortune when the yellow fever broke out in the city and scattered his pupils (who were among the most aristocratic families of the Southi) to their distant homes. He then closed the school. for there was no patronage to keep it going, and betook himself to Washington, where, backed by influential friends, he obtained an appointment as foreman sail-maker in the Brooklyn navy yard. While he was here he called together a number of friends and others interested, and organized a
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Baptist Church, and as he was gifted as a speaker, he became their first pastor, and in due time was ordained a minister. For a long time he was con- nected with the navy yard, and when his connec- tion with that ceased he established the first awn- ing manufactory in the city of Brooklyn. At one time this distinguished character was the pastor of a church in Orange, N. J., and sustained a high and unblemished reputation.
This preacher and sail-maker was three times married, having no children either by his first or third marriages. By his second wife he had six- teen children, of whom twelve grew to maturity. His third wife was from Matteawan, on the Hud- son. He settled at Cold Spring, having taken a pastorate, and there he remained until his death, in 1863, at the age of seventy-five.
When the grandfather of our subject moved to America he left his son, the father of our subject, in the care of a maiden aunt, and with her he re- mained as long as she lived. After her death he came to America, at the age of sixteen. He found his father in Brooklyn, and having been well edu- cated before this, he began at once to learn the saddle, harness and trunk trade, serving a regular apprenticeship with John Wilson, on Pearl Street. New York. He continued this until the age of twenty-five, taking contract work and making quite a standing for himself. He was called back home to take care of an inheritance falling to the family, and when he returned, after an absence of some three months, he was married, but his wife did not live a year. He then was married to the mother of the subject of this sketch. She had been previously married, but had no children by that union. Their wedding was celebrated August 25, 1842, and has been blessed by the birth of seven children, of whom Eugene is the fifth. Four of these children lived to maturity, and our subject is the youngest of the latter.
The husband and father bought a farm near Northport, to which he removed his family, and where he remained for about three years, when he sold out this farm to the wife of our subject. He then betook himself to Lake County, Ill., where he had bought land. There he remained eleven years, and there four of his children were born.
For two years he ran a threshing machine, but suffering much from ague and malarial fever, lie disposed of the farm and went to the village of Forksville, Ill., where he began to manufacture licavy boats, and also started a country store. He did very well in this until he was robbed by Mor- mons (so it was thought), who were then estab- lished on Beaver Isle. Everything was taken, even to the candy in the jars. He was at a loss to know what to do, and made his way back to Brooklyn, where a friend took him to see Mr. Singer, of sewing machine fame, but whose in- dustry was then in its infancy. After purchasing a sewing machine he began to make satin vests, in which he was assisted by his sister. He worked at this until he began to make headway again, when typhoid fever broke out in his family. and he had to leave the city once again. He bor- rowed some money, and, buying the small place where our subject now lives, began fitting shoes. This business he followed until he had paid for the farm and had cleared himself from debt. When bis oldest boy was able to assist he gave some at- tention to farming, and soon had the place cleared and in a good condition. He owned twen- ty-three acres at first, but added to it four more at a later period. He closed an active and earnest life here, dying January 29, 1888, at the age of seventy-five. He was a man of great natural ability and much force of character, and though often suffering from overwhelming and unex- pected reverses, was never crushed, but came up eager and ready for the next deal.
We come now to speak of the subject of this sketch, after giving this review of the career of his distinguished grandfather and hardly less remarkable father. As a boy he lived on the Baby- lon farm, and worked as he was needed, attending the district school at Farmingdale when he could. He was a pupil in a private school kept by a Mrs. Valentine for a period of one year. When he was seventeen he took charge of his father's farin, as the latter was suffering from poor health. When he had reached the age of twenty-one he was married. October 10, 1876, to Miss Jennie .A. Philips, of South Dix Hills, of this county. She was born in Brooklyn, November 20, 1856, and
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hier parents were both of English birth. After his marriage Eugene still continued to carry on the farm, his parents making their home with him. He was prosperous and forehanded, so that he was able to buy the home farm in 1883, and to purchase the next year another small place near it.
To our subject and his estimable wife were born four children. Harold Clifton was born July 26, 1877, and Eugene Francis, October 6, 1879. James Watkins died while still a babe. Carrie Adele, the youngest, was born November 26, 1888.
Our subject is a Republican in his party as- sociations, and was a candidate for Excise Com- missioner, and at another time for Justice of the Peace, but not working for an election, he failed to win, though he feels about as well satisfied as if he had won at the sacrifice of his self-respect. a price that he has often seen paid for political preferment. He is a member of the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias, and is Chancellor Con- mander of Urqua Lodge, No. 192, of that world- wide fraternity. He is also a member of the Mu- tual Benefit Association of Suffolk County, and is a member and officer of the American Knights of Protection. He has a standing and influence in the affairs of the community in which he lives that many might envy.
G EORGE A. KIERNAN, one of the well known business men of Sag Harbor, is the proprietor of Kiernan's Bank, and is also interested in a general insurance and brok- erage business. He was born in New York City June 27, 1843. coming to Sag Harbor when a child with his parents. His father, Thomas Kier- nan, was a merchant, formerly in business on Catherine Street, New York City, and was later engaged in dealing in merchandise at Sag Har- bor. His decease took place in this village in November, 1887, when he had attained the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was known in maid- enhood as Miss Mary Cosgrove.
Mr. Kiernan's boyhood was spent in this vil- lage. At the age of fourteen he went to work in a cotton factory, where he remained until he was twenty-one, and the following ten years he worked at various occupations. Part of the time he served as a clerk in the office of the Superin- tendent of the Poor in Brooklyn, and was also for a time a conductor on the Court Street car line. His father was unable to help him, as he himself had met with business reverses by fire and otherwise, and during this period of adver- sity our subject's earnings went to help in the family support. So unselfishly has he devoted hin- self to them that at the age of thirty he had laid aside but $100. Later he was engaged in a store for eight or nine years and did a good business. He then devoted himself to freighting by water to New York City, and besides was interested in hay pressing and shipping. He also dealt in cord wood, buying tracts of standing timber, cutting, drying and sending the same to the city.
Mr. Kiernan became the owner of four schoon- ers, which he used in carrying merchandise. As he gave his attention wholly to this business he made it a success financially. He bought wrecks on the south shore, saving what he could from the cargo and contracted to save the cargoes, which he shipped to various places as desired. For some years, or until the life saving corps was established, this was quite a good business, but since then few wrecks have occurred.
Mr. Kiernan was also a member of the steam- ship company which owned the "Escort." a steam- er sailing between Sag Harbor and New York. For some time, or until an opposition company was incorporated. this was a money making line. Mr. Kiernan's idea was then to consolidate the two companies, but his partners opposed this. and the business proved financially disastrous. Our subject then invested in the furniture bu-i- ness, and this gradually developed into a banking concern. While in the store he cashed checks. etc., but gradually increased the banking and exchange business. Finally he built the bank building, which occupies a prominent location on Main Street, and since that time has erected a block containing four stores. He is also the
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