Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 58

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

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A LDEN J. WOODRUFF, M. D., was born January 20, 1850, at Fire Place, in Brook Haven Town. He is the son of Jehiel H. Woodruff, whose ancestry in 1780 removed to Fire Place from Bridgehampton. Dr. Woodruff's mother was Miss Sarah A. Davis, of Middle Island. She was the daughter of George Davis, who was a well known school teacher of Suffolk County in his day. A singular coincidence is that he taught school in Bayport sixty years be- fore his grandson, the subject of this sketch, did.

Some of the ancestors of Dr. Woodruff were Revolutionary soldiers, several of them being in the Continental army; one, a lieutenant, was a prisoner of war for a time on the prison ship "Jer- sey." Not a little of the "spirit of '76" seems to have descended to him, he being a sturdy and ontspoken opponent of injustice of any kind.

Dr. Woodruff's early education was acquired in the public schools of Fire Place and Bellport; after he was twelve or fourteen years of age he spent his winters in school and his summers work- ing on his father's farm or at sea on coasting ves- sels, but wherever he was he kept his books with him and worked at them at all possible intervals, being bound to have an education at all costs. When twenty years of age he began teaching school and continued at that business for thir- teen years, during which time he was one of the leading teachers of Suffolk County. An incident, at this time, in the life of Dr. Woodruff, shows his determination to overcome difficulties and get ahead. When the term of his first school was about to close the trustees of a neighboring school whose teacher had resigned, applied to him to come and teach their school, which was much larger and farther advanced than the one he was teaching. He accepted the position on a Friday, made up a day on Saturday that he had lost during the term, and reported for duty at the new position on Monday ready to commence bus- iness. He found in this school several branches that he had never yet studied, but, nothing daunted, he "gave the youngsters a review," stud- ied the lessons ahead of the classes at night, often getting but a few hours of sleep, and mastered the contents of the text books far ahead of his pupils. This hard work was followed by an at- tack of typhoid fever, which came near ending his earthly life, but he succeeded in giving good sat- isfaction to his people, for he taught that school for three years afterwards.

We find in the "Phrenological Character" of Dr. Woodruff, written by the eminent phrenol- ogist, Nelson Sizer, in 1871, the following: "You are able to become what is called a self-made man. Hills and storms do not appall you. You can face an angry east hail storm; you can worry your way through all obstacles, not from choice. but when honesty demands energy and perse- verance, you are not the first to flinch."

Dr. Woodruff was married in 1873 to Miss Sarah E. Beale, of Bellport, who passed to the other life four years later, preceded by her only child, which spent less than two years of its life

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on earth. He was again married in 1879 to Miss Laura Grace Raynor, of West Hampton, who is the mother of one child, which passed to the other life in infancy.

Having for some time intended to make medi- cine his profession, Dr. Woodruff in 1882 en- tered the New York Homeopathic Medical Col- lege and Hospital, from which he graduated in 1885 with honors, being one of five out of a class of forty students who attained an average of ninety-five per cent. in the examinations. The fact that lie had been able to extract, without as- sistance, his literary education from books, and had taught others so long, made it an easy task for him, while in college, to grasp the salient points of the medical lectures, and keep pace with the foremost of his class. He first located for the practice of medicine in Riverhead, Suf- folk County, but an event that occurred in the family of his sister caused him to remove in a short time to Patchogue, where he remained until 1888, when he located in Babylon. Here he has been very successful, having a large general prac- tice among the very best people of the town, and making a specialty of the diseases of women and children, being frequently called as consulting physician to cases in other towns.

Dr. Woodruff is a member of the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society, medical ex- aminer for several insurance companies and for the Royal Arcanum, of which order he has been a member almost since its organization. He joined the Masonic fraternity when twenty-one years old; but the thing he takes the most pleas- ure and delight in outside of medicine is the pub- lie school; this he believes to be the institution of all institutions for the continuance of a free coun- try, and the one proper place in which to educate American children. He is a member of the Board of Education of Babylon Union School, and takes an active interest in educational affairs of the community, and is a prime mover in all things tending toward the development of the place and the interests of the people.

In politics Dr. Woodruff is independent. He believes a public officer should consider himself simply a public servant, and votes for the man

who would seem most likely to consider himself as such if elected; waiting with patience for the organization of a political party that shall have for its principles something else than spoils; be- lieving in "a government of the people, for the people and by the people."

Religiously Dr. Woodruff is a firm believer in the doctrines of the New Church, holding with the teachings of the Swedishi Seer, that "all re- ligion relates to life, and the life of true religion is to do good."

S AMUEL G. CLARK. Among the respect- ed residents of Shelter Island is he whose name heads this sketch, whose home has been in this community for considerably more than half a century, during which time he has put forth his endeavors in aid of progressive movements, and has been actively concerned in the development of Suffolk County.

Mr. Clark was born on Shelter Island, Febru- ary 17, 1839. His parents were Samuel and Han- nah (Young) Clark, the former born in Connec- ticut, while the latter was a native of Orient. Grandfather Clark was likewise born in the Nut- meg State. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Clark, Sr., came to Shelter Island many years ago and made this locality their home during the remainder of their lives. Their household included five chil- dren. of whom four are now living, namely: Chauncey A., Samuel G., David Y. and Lucre- tia A.

The subject of this sketch has passed his en- tire life on Shelter Island, in whose schools ke received a good education. In 1865 lie established a home of his own, and May 29 of that year was married to Elizabeth S., daughter of Stratton M. Havens. To theni has been born a son, Irving. Mrs. Clark's birth occurred March 17, 1842. Her mother, formerly Lydia A. Chiester, was also a native of Shelter Island, which was likewise the birthplace of Mr. Havens. The family is one of the oldest in the county and its various mem- bers have held positions of trust and promi-

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nence within its bounds. Mr. Havens was for eighteen years Tax Collector of Shelter Island and also efficiently served as Overseer of the Poor for several terms. With his wife he was one of the influential and devoted members of the Presbyterian Church. He was an honorable and upright man and had a reputation for veracity and high principle which was second to none in the neighborhood in which he lived as a boy and man.

To the parents of Mrs. Clark there were born six children, namely: Elizabeth S .; Adelaide M., now the wife of David Clark; Chester S .; Fannie, Mrs. Edward Wilcox; Charles E., pastor of a church at Newton Highlands, near Boston, Mass., and Martha A. Mr. Havens departed this life in December, 1886. His good wife preceded himn to the better land, dying in June, 1866.

Mr. Clark is a Democrat in politics, and in religious matters is a member of the Presby- terian Church, to which denomination his wife also belongs. The property which our subject owns and cultivates is in a highly developed state. His brother David makes his home in Shelter Island and is the owner of the South Ferry, which plies between Shelter Island, North Haven and Sag Harbor.

F REDERICK F. DARLING. One of the most positive truths taught by modern science is that mental and physical qualities are hereditary in man, and this statement of fact is as old as Moses, who declared that the genera- tions to come should feel the influence of the father's actions. The subject of this sketch is de- scended from a worthy ancestry, and owes his vigor of body and his strong mentality to his parents and his parents' parents. In him is found a man whose business career is decidedly inter- esting, showing the shrewdness, business ability and competency which can be attained by one who has the determination to make his life a success. As a merchant he possesses excellent ability grafted upon a stock of sturdy honesty, and as he is possessed of a goodly amount of

those personal attributes that spring from a kind- ly heart and an honest purpose, it is not to be wondered at that his patronage is extensive and among the best people of Port Jefferson.

Frederick F. Darling was born in Smithtown, in January, 1829, his parents being James and Hannah Darling, who were also born in that village. The father spent the greater part of his life upon the water, for he was the owner of a packet line from Smithtown to New York City, but at the age of forty-five years he retired from this line of work and embarked in the mercantile business, which he conducted successfully for some twenty years, then lived in retirement until his death in 1889. His wife's death antedated his many years. This worthy couple were uni- versally respected, and in the village where they so many years made their home they occupied an enviable social position, while in commercial cir- cles Mr. Darling was very highly regarded.

The youthful days of Frederick F. Darling were spent in acquiring a practical education in the public schools of Smithtown, but at the age of seventeen years he dropped his books to be- come a clerk in his father's mercantile house, and during the three or four years that he continued thus occupied he learned lessons of industry and perseverance, besides a comprehensive knowl- edge of commercial life. Following this he clerked in a mercantile house of New York City for some time, then found employment on the water up to 1852. In this year he came to Port Jefferson, purchased a small mercantile business, and has since devoted his attention to the sale of a general line of merchandise, although he sold this establishment three years later. He pur- chased an interest in the "Old Jones Store" on the docks and in 1868 built the commodious sales and ware rooms now occupied by himself and son.

As a business man Mr. Darling is shrewd, prac- tical and far-seeing and as he is liberal with his patrons and makes every effort to please them, his establishment is perhaps one of the best in Suffolk County. The business was first con- ducted under the style of F. F. Darling & Co .. but since 18So as F. F. Darling & Son. His motto

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has been signifieant of his own commercial life: "Mind your own business and attend to it."

Mr. Darling was married in 1851 to Miss Mary W. Smith, daughter of Thomas W. Smith, of Smithtown. Two children have been born of this union: Judson L., who is associated with his father in business, and Helen A., widow of George . R. Hand, who died in 1883. Mrs. Darling is a member of the Methodist Church, and socially Mr. Darling is a member of the Free and Ac- cepted Masons. The principles of Democracy have ever found favor in his sight and in his younger years he was frequently solicited to make the race for various offices, but invariably de- clined, as his business occupied his entire time and attention.

W ILLIAM HEIBERGER is a summer resident of Huntington, the family resi- dence being in Brooklyn, where he is general manager of the Brooklyn and Long Island department of the Peter Doelger Brewing Company, of New York City. He is one of those sturdy characters who has been strong enough to rise superior to adverse circumstances, mak- ing each impediment to his progress but a step- ping stone to success. Coming to this country a poor and unknown boy, he has risen through his own exertions to a position of influence. He was born in Baden Baden, Germany, April 6, 1836, and is a son of Echford Heiberger, of the same place.

Mr. Heiberger, Sr., was an extensive farmer, owning one of the handsomest places in that part of Germany. He died when his son was but twelve years of age. Four years later the young man left the parental roof and came to America, looking for a brother who had preceded him hither by some four years. He found him on a sick bed, where he had been confined for some months, and thus was unable to advance the interest of the boy. He first worked with a construction gang that were laying a street railroad in Brook- lyn. Of all the foreigners on the gang, he was the only German, and was unable to talk or make

himself understood, thereby becoming the sub- ject of much ill-natured rebuff and the victim of many practical jokes. These became almost un- bearable and he determined to return to Germany as soon as he had earned his passage money. He was then getting one dollar a day.

Time worked a change with young Heiberger, and he made the acquaintance of an engineer who was engaged in a large pocketbook manufactur- ing concern in Brooklyn. This man took a lik- ing to the German lad, and secured a position for him in the factory. There, during odd hours, at nights and on Sundays, he studied engineering under his friend's tutorship and at the end of four years, through his friend's influence, he was en- gaged as engineer in a pottery in Greenpoint, L. I., at $12 per week. A short time afterward a vegetable factory was started in Williamsburg and he was engaged as chief engineer at a better salary. Two years later he became engineer for what is now Fleischman's distillery. A year and a half later he became intimate with a Scotchman, who, for the sum of $150, taught him the art of making compressed yeast, which served him to good advantage later when employed by Simm Brothers to superintend fitting out a distillery which they were ereeting. They agreed to pay him a salary of $50 per week as superintendent when the plant was in running order.

While in that position, where he remained for sixteen years, Mr. Heiberger established a whole- sale liquor house at No. 153-55 Greenport Ave- nue, Greenpoint. He subsequently resigned his position in order to look after his own business, which he conducted until June, 1886, and then sold out, leasing the purehasers his property for a term of ten years. Shortly afterwards he became the manager of the Brooklyn and Long Island territory for the Peter Doelger Brewing Com- pany, one of the largest concerns in this country. Under his able management this territory is now yielding an annual income of $250,000. In May, 1895, he purchased the handsome summer home in Huntington Harbor, where he anticipates spending the heated term hereafter.

December 31, 1858, Mr. Heiberger married Miss Sophia Herzog, a native of Bavaria. Six

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children are the offspring of this union, of whom five are living. They are: Anna, wife of Henry C. Fisher, the proprietor of a large foundry in Greenport; Lena; Julia; Otto, a graduate of the Easton Pennsylvania College, and an employe of the Mechanics' and Traders' Bank; and Sophia. Mr. Heiberger is liberal in his political convic- tions. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Honor.

J OSHUA T. JONES. The Jones family is one of the oldest and most influential on Long Island. Maj. Thomas Jones, from whom the present members are descended, was born about 1665, in Strabane, Ireland, where the family had removed from England. He came to Long Island about 1668 and in 1710 was Ran- ger-General of the island. His death occurred December 13, 1713. He had married Miss Free- love Townsend, daughter of Thomas Townsend, of Oyster Bay, and six children survived him: David, who was Speaker of the New York As- sembly and Judge of the Supreme Court; Maj. Thomas Jones, Margaret, Sarah, Elizabeth and William. The latter was born April 28, 1708, and died August 29, 1779. He married Miss Phoebe Jackson, daughter of Col. John Jackson, and left fourteen children.

Samuel, the second son of William, was First Comptroller of the City of New York, and the most prominent lawyer of his day. John, in the direct line of descent, was born June 26, 1755. and died July 20, 1819. He married Miss Han- nah Hewlett, who bore him nine children. Wal- ter R., the fourth son, was founder and first Pres- ident of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company. John H. Jones, the second son, and grandfather of our subject, was the owner of several vessels and made many whaling voyages. He was the promoter of various manufacturing in- dustries. His birth occurred May 18, 1785, and he died December 20, 1859. To his marriage with Miss Loretta Hewlett, daugliter of Devine Hew- lett, there were born eight children, and of these, John Devine Jones, the second son, was Presi-

dent of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company. Townsend, the fifth son and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Cold Spring Harbor in October, 1820, and lie here spent his boyhood. Our subject was born in Cold Spring Harbor, September 8, 1855, a son of Townsend and Mary E. (Hewlett) Jones, and one of two children, the other child being a son, named Townsend. He received his scholastic training in the public schools of the place, under private tutors, and in a private school at Jamaica. Reach- ing mature years, he went to New York City and engaged in the insurance business. Five or six years later he quit the business on account of ill health and soon after bought an interest in a man- ufacturing industry in Bennington, Vt., which received his attention for about four years. He then disposed of the business and has not since been actively engaged in any industry.

In 1886 Mr. Jones was married to Miss Alethea Augusta Labagh, the daughter of Isaac and Maria L. Labagh, of New York City, the former being a wholesale grocer of that place. Politically Mr. Jones is an advocate of Republican principles and religiously he is an Episcopalian. His wife holds membership in the Dutch Reformed Church.

W ILLIAM WARREN HULSE is classed among the highly respected residents of Amityville. Although he carries on his business as a real estate dealer at Nos. 4 and 6 West Fourteenth Street, New York City, his home and the nearest and dearest in- terests of his life center about the first-named place. Mr. Hulse is a native of this vicinity, hav- ing been born at Riverhead, or four and a half miles west of the village, on the country road. June 6, 1845, his parents being Hampton and Eliza A. (Wines) Hulse.

After he was twelve years of age our subject made his home with his grandmother at Matti- tuck, where he stayed for one year, enjoying better school advantages than at home. Full of energy and independence, he early began his ca-

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reer as a business man, and although the young- est of the family, was an earnest worker from early boyhood.

At the age of seventeen, thirsting for adven- ture, Mr. Hulse went to sea, serving before the mast, the voyage being to Campeachy, Mexico. Later he went to Frontera, Mexico, and followed the sea until about twenty-six years of age. Later he engaged at various times in the railroad busi- ness, starting as a baggageman on the Long Island Railroad, and working in various capaci- ties. When twenty-seven years of age he lo- cated at Middletown, Conn., and was there en- gaged in the ship chandler's business with a cou- sin. At the expiration of two years this partner- ship was dissolved and a new one entered into with A. Brazos, this firm doing contracting and building, and also dock building and raising boats. For about four years they did an exten- sive business in the latter line. Subsequently he entered the employ of Frank Miller, and after- wards was engaged with Hopke & Willie, brew- ers, traveling for them through the New Eng- land states as salesman. Later he served on the Hartford and New York line of steamers as quar- termaster, pilot and steward, remaining in that capacity for four years.

Our subject was married at Middletown. April 2, 1876, to Miss Eunice J. Brazos, who is a na- tive of that village, and whose parents are An- tony and Ann (Neal) Brazos. Her father was a native of the Azores, and her mother was born in Queens County, Ireland. Both became citi- zens of the United States, however, at an early age, and are respected residents of Middletown. Mrs. Hulse has the charm and graces brought out by a thorough education.

Through the influence of Thomas C. Acton, who at that time was at the head of the United States Sub-Treasury, our subject came to New York in 1880 and engaged in the real estate busi- ness. Through his influence also and that of Jackson S. Schultz, he was put in charge of the Chichester estate, which he has managed for six- teen years. He has also held various other large estates in trust. For many years the family resi- dence was in New York City, although they spent

some. time at their summer home until in 1894. when they took up their permanent residence in Amityville. Mr. and Mrs. Hulse are the parents of two children. The elder, Grace Maude, was born in Middletown, and is now a student in the high school of that place. William Egbert, the younger child, was born in Middlefield, Conn .. August 30, 1881. By associations Mr. Hulse was influenced to cast his political fortunes with the Democratic party. He was never, however, in any sense an office-seeker. Later in life he be- came a Republican, his first vote for this party being cast for Hayes in 1876.

The genealogy of the Hulse family, verified as truly as possible, indicates that they are of Hugue- not extraction, three brothers of the name having left France on account of persecution. One of these settled above New York on the Hudson. one made his home in New Jersey, and the other on Long Island. Each branch had a long line of successors. They were connected with the Anneke Jans family, which is better known in connection with the famous Trinity Church prop- erty.

H ENRY SYLVESTER DERING, M. D. In a memorial published after the decease of him whose name is inscribed above, the friends who knew him best beautifully summed up his life in the following words: "He had the secret of a blessed life. He knew how to com- bine earthly and heavenly things. His life, though busy, was tranquil. His end was peace." In such a summing up there is no tragedy, noth- ing unlovely, only the natural harvesting of the ripened grain into the Master's storehouse. His decease occurred suddenly, October 2, 1871, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. For many years he lived enthroned in the love and confidence of his fellow-citizens at East Setauket.

Henry S. Dering was born on Shelter Island. N. Y., September 29, 1804, a son of Gen. Syl- vester Dering, a member of the Assembly in 180; and Major-General of the State Militia. Our subject's mother was, before her marriage, a Miss

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Esther Sarah Havens. Henry S. was one of five children, namely: Margaret S., Charles T., Nicoll H., Sarah Frances and our subject. All of this family have now passed away.

Our subject grew to manhood in his native place. He was sent to private schools, and on completing his academic course entered Yale Col- lege, where he was at the time of his father's death. He was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City in 1829 and the same year began the practice of medicine in Setauket, L. I. For ten years he was located on the west side of the village, but during the winter of 1841-42 he moved to the place in East Setauket, which continued to be his home until his death. It is a beautiful estate and bears the name of "Deerhurst." He contin- ued in active practice until his decease, his work in his chosen profession extending over forty-two years. The cause of his sudden demise was heart disease. He was buried on Shelter Island, where five generations of the Dering family rest near the ancestral home.

· The above-quoted memorial also says of him: "As a citizen, a friend, a physician and a Chris- tian, all loved and honored him.' His life was one of high-toned integrity and conspicuous Chris- tian virtue. Full of the spirit of his Master, he labored unselfishly to heal the sick, he befriended the friendless, comforted the sorrowing, and min- istered to the wants of the poor. He was true in his friendships, warm in his attachments, con- scientious in the discharge of his duties."

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Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2, Part 58

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