USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 6
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Of the children born to Oliver and Eliza Bond, those besides our subject who now survive are: William and Jennie, the latter the wife of Theo- dore Rich, of Kings County. The wife and mo- ther is a devoted member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and attends services when her health and the weather will permit.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn, attending school until reaching his sixteenth year. He then entered his father's wagon shop with the understanding that lie was to learn the business. He did so, and followed this trade until twenty-two years of age, when, owing to ill health, he was obliged to engage in some occupation which would necessi- tate his being out of doors. He accordingly es- tablislied a milk route in Brooklyn, and found this enterprise so profitable that he gave it his attention for a quarter of a century. Knowing Suffolk County to be a beautiful farming commu- nity and desirous of settling down on a well-im- proved estate, he moved with his family to the town of Southold in 1884, purchasing the place on which he has resided ever since. This he keeps under admirable tillage, and finds great pleasure in following this kind of life.
In 1857 Mr. Bond married Miss Amelia Mar- tin, a native of Kings County, L. I., and the daughter of William Martin, now deceased, but formerly a well-known resident of that county. Their union resulted in the birth of seven chil- dren, three of whom are now living, namely: Tyson H., Elmer R., and Ophelia II., the latter the wife of Winfield Bedell, of Peconic, N. Y. The devoted wife and mother was called to her
home beyond October 23, 1889. She had been a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was beloved by all who had the pleas- ure of her acquaintance. In his political opin- ions Mr. Bond is a Democrat, and always out- spoken upon subjects of public interest.
A BRAHAM F. LOWERRE, assistant treasurer of the Southold Savings Bank, was born in Newton, Queens County, N. Y., September 2, 1844. He is a son of Thomas Baldwin and Helen Rapelyea (Folk) Lowerre, the former born in Flushing, N. Y., October 16, 1800, and the latter in Newtown, N. Y., November 19, 1808. The paternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Fowler) Lowerre, were, it is thought, natives of Flushing; the former died in Decem- ber, 1831, and the latter January 25, 1844. The maternal grandfather, Abraham Folk, was born (presumably in Newtown) June 11, 1776, and passed away June II, 1837; while his wife, Phebe Way, was born February 27, 1777, and died March 19, 1836.
Our subject's father died April 15, 1849; the widowed mother survived him nearly forty years, her death occurring October 7, 1887. Of her four sons, John H. and Thomas B., carpenters by trade, are now deceased; James. F. is a resi- dent of San Francisco, Cal., and Abraham F. is the youngest of the family. The only daughter, Phebe Helen, died at the age of two and one- half years, and before the birth of the youngest son. He was a child of seven years when, his father having died two years before, he went with his mother to Flushing, and there and in Brook- lyn his boyhood years were passed, his education being obtained in the public schools. At the age of fifteen he became an errand boy in a retail dry goods store in Brooklyn, and, working hard and faithfully, he rose steadily until he became cashier in that establishment. During the Civil War he was for a time a member of the Forty- seventh New York Militia, but saw no active ser- vice. Later he was employed as salesman in the
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silk department of the wholesale house of H. B. Claflin & Co., New York. When he was twenty- two he returned to Flushing, and there engaged in the grocery business for several years.
In 1876 Mr. Lowerre came to Southold, and in 1881 became agent of the Long Island Rail- road, in which capacity he was employed a little more than nine years. In September, 1890, he was made assistant treasurer of the Southold Say- ings Bank, an institution that for strength of re- sources, wisdom of management and financial reputation can scarcely be surpassed anywhere. He is making his way toward an ample compe- tence, and is highly respected in the community, not only for his sterling honesty and business ability, but also for his accommodating spirit and his genial manners. Politically he is a Repub- lican. In 1869 he married Miss Caroline Peck, a sister of the wife of H. Howard Huntting, treas- urer of the Southold Savings Bank. They have no children.
E DWIN BAILEY, Jr., is a meniber of the firm of E. Bailey & Sons, dealers in lum- ber and all building materials, also manu- facturers of sash, doors, blinds and interior fin- ishings, with factories at Patchogue and Islip. The plant of the manufacturing firm of E. Bailey & Sons covers an area of about five acres of ground, almost all of which is covered with build- ings. The business has been of phenomenal growth, and in little more than twenty-five years has developed from the smallest dimensions to an annual output of nearly three-quarters of a million of dollars.
The Patchogue branch of the business is man- aged by the brothers, Joseph and Edwin Bailey, Jr., Edwin Bailey, Sr., giving more particular at- tention to the interests of the firm at Islip. The main factory building is a two-story brick struc- turė, 80x100 feet in dimensions. This contains the heavy machinery, such as planers, saws and other machinery, also turning lathes, sand-paper machines and dozens of the latest designs of ma- clines used in factories of this character.
The engine room of the factory is also found in the main building, as are the hot-air dry roonis, while the boiler room and large steam dry rooms are adjacent. The yards are covered with an im- mense amount of stock, the material consisting largely of pine, cedar, hemlock and hard wood lumber, piled in symmetrical rows convenient to the dock and railroad. There are immense amounts of shingles, laths, molding, etc., all un- der cover. Over a million brick are found in the stock, also great heaps of flagstone from the famous quarries of the interior of the state. The stables, where are kept the horses necessary for the drayage of the business, are on the corner of the property, while the three-story brick office stands at the approach to the plant from the village. This building is also used for the glaz- ing department, and has a store room for sash, doors, blinds and builders' hardware.
A water front extends along one entire side of the extensive plant, and there are three canals reaching from the river into the yards, thus af- fording ample facilities for loading and unloading the steam lighters and tugs that handle the ship- ments by water." About one hundred and fifty men are employed in the Patchogue yards, be- sides thirty on the vessels and tugs of the firm and thirty in the outside yards.
Edwin Bailey, Jr., upon whom the management of the company's interests largely depends, was born July 25, 1860. At the age of sixteen he be- gan to learn the carpenter's trade, working under his father, and when nineteen, so steady and com- petent had he shown himself, he was given charge of the mill and the lumber yard. At the age of twenty-four he was taken into partnership with his father and brother under the firm name of E. Bailey & Sons. He has grown up, we may say, in the business to which he now devotes him- self, and its success is unquestionably closely as- sociated with his own growth. His brother de- votes his attention more particularly to the busi- ness of the company on the road. Last, but not least, we must chronicle the fact that although a strict and exacting employer, Mr. Bailey is very popular with the men in his employ.
August 30, 1886, Mr. Bailey was united in
FREDERICK C. MERRITT, M. D., C. M.
£
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marriage with Saralı E. Deane, daughter of George Deane, of Kingston, N. Y. They have three daughters, Martha Belle, born May 30, 1887; Edna, July 25, 1892, and Mary Emma, January 15, 1804. In their church relations the Bailey family are associated with the Methodists. Fraternally our subject is a Mason and a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows. He takes his recrea- tion with rod and gun, and his house contains many trophies as a result of his ability as a marks- man. He is also an ardent disciple of Isaac Wal- ton, and there are few trout streams in the interior of New York and Pennsylvania which he does not know. In his delightful home he is sur- rounded with every comfort, and nothing affords him the pleasure that is found at his own fire- side in company with his congenial wife and hap- py daughters. He delights also in offering hospi- tality to congenial friends. He drives a good horse, and becomes enthusiastic when the sub- ject is under consideration. He is a genial, com- panionable man, who takes great pride in the business of his life.
F REDERICK CHARLES MERRITT, M. D., C. M. Our subject, who is a successful follower of Esculapius, finds his greatest content in alleviating the pains and suffering that fall to the lot of humanity, and has been located in Sayville for the past four years. He is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born July 4, 1868. He came here, however, from Toronto. Joseph A. Merritt, his father, was an eminent and suc- cessful physician in the Dominion, and as is al- ways the case with a genial professional man of recognized ability, he exerted a great influence in his locality. He died at the age of eighty, con- tinuing in active practice almost to the last. For forty years he held the important office of Coro- ner, having been appointed by the Crown. He was also much interested in educational matters in Canada, where he was Inspector of Schools. His wife, who was before her marriage Miss Sarah Dolson, was also a Canadian. She died in April, 1888, at the age of sixty.
The subject of this sketch was one of ten chil- dren born to his parents: Thomas, who lives on the old homestead in Canada; Francis, who resides at Detroit, Mich .; Charles and Robert, both de- ceased; Alice, who is married, and a resi- dent of Toronto; Joseph and Richard, deceased; Levan, the wife of J. Z. Wild, M. D., of whom a more extended notice may be found in his own biography among the residents of Bay Shore, and our subject.
Frederick Merritt remained in his birthplace until fifteen years of age, attending the district schools of the locality. The public schools of his native county are exceptionally good, and his ad- vantages, both in the grammar and high schools, were of the very best. He then entered the prepar- atory school of the Collegiate Institute at To- ronto, from which he was graduated after a three- years' course in 1885. He then entered the uni- versity, being a member of Trinity College for one year, and was graduated from Trinity Medical School in 1890. As may be inferred from the above mention of his father's profession, Dr. Mer- ritt, by association, as well as natural inclinations, was strongly drawn toward the study of medi- cine. He early showed marked ability and pos- sessed by nature a logical and keenly animated mind, and his diagnoses of cases were early marked by their correctness. His careful prepar- ations for his life work showed the difference be- tween the Canadian and too frequent American methods of turning out professional men unfitted for the earnestness of life's work.
After graduation. Dr. Merritt was appointed House Surgeon in the Government Hospital at Toronto, in which capacity he remained for one year. and then he came to Long Island, locating first on the north side, and finally coming to Say- ville. Upon opening his practice in this locality he entered into partnership with Dr. Robinson. and these two gentlemen were associated in pro- fessional work for three years, at the end of which time the partnership was dissolved, and since Oc- tober 1. 1894, our subject has been alone. Dr. Merritt is especially successful in surgery and he is thoroughly equipped for all cases of a surgical nature. His practice, however, is general, al-
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though he prefers to give liis attention to opera- tions requiring great skill and knowledge. Fra- ternally Dr. Merritt belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Royal Arcanum. In religious matters he is a Baptist. His paternal grandfather, William Hamilton Merritt, was the projector of Welland Canal, which joins Lakes Erie and Ontario.
A NDREW JACKSON BEEBE is a well- known and popular resident of the vil- lage of Orient, and holds a good position in its social and commercial circles. His father, the late Daniel Vail Beebe, was born January 8, 1781, and his mother, Esther Young, was born in this village July 26, 1789. They settled on Plum Island, where he was engaged in farming for several years. Later they removed to Orient Point, where they spent the balance of their days, the father dying November 26, 1870, and the mother January 21, 1877.
Of the parental family, Thomas Sylvester, the eldest, was born January 29, 1812; Phoebe E., who was born November 16, 1814, became the wife of William Conklin; Esther L., born May 3, 1816, was married to Thomas Poole, of this village; Lydia A., who was born June 21, 1820, married Monroe Conklin, and is now deceased; Albert F. was born January 2, 1824, and David L. the 27th of that month, two years later; An- drew J. and George W. (twins) were born De- cember 28, 1830; Evelina G. was born April 9, 1832, and died March 28, 1838; Anson G. was born August 3, 1835, and died after a stay on earth of only fourteen days; Oscar A. was born April 15, 1837.
Andrew J. was born in this village. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In Southold February 28, 1866, he married Harriet D. Prince, who was born in Greenport April 3, 1844. Her father, Orrin E. Prince, was born in Southold November 14, 1816, and was engaged in fishing during the earlier part of his life, being known as Capt. Prince; in his later years he was
a farmer in Southold, and died in November, 1890. Her mother, Maria Wells, was born in Orient October 18, 1816, her father being Capt. Abner Wells, of Southold. She lived until February 22, 1885. They were the parents of six children, whose names were Henry W., Harriet D., Charles O., Orrin A., Maria L., and Ezra S.
Mr. and Mrs. Beebe are the parents of four children. Jennie P. was born November 29, 1867, and is now the wife of Elmer Ellsworth Latham, of this village; Maria W. was born Feb- ruary 8, 1870, and is the wife of D. Milton Rack- ett; Ernest P. was born April 26, 1873, and Lou- ise D., December 8, 1876. Our subject takes an active interest in all local affairs of any moment, and is closely identified with those moral and hu- mane endeavors that are continually being made for the advancement of man. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church at Orient. He has been trustee in that organi- zation, and has also acted in the same capacity for the school one year.
J JOHN W. CONKLIN, one of the most wor- thy and honored residents of the town of Riverhead, was, during his more active years, always in the front ranks of works of im- provement and local industry. In his many and varied dealings his career has been perfectly straightforward and honest and marked by good judgment. Few men indeed in this community have been more thoroughly identified with its welfare and upbuilding, and the history of Suffolk County would be incomplete without his life rec- ord.
Mr. Conklin was born on the farm which he now occupies in October, 1827, and was the third in the family of five children born to his parents, Thomas P. and Harriet (Woodel) Conklin. Thomas, the eldest of the family, is deceased; Jolin W. died when young; our subject, who was the next born, was also given that name; Henry W. is a well-to-do farmer of the town of South- old, and Charles is engaged in agricultural pur- suits in the locality.
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The father of the above family was born on the property which John W. now occupies, and there spent his entire life. In his ventures as a farmer he was successful, and he lived to reach the age of three score years and ten. He voted with the Republican party after its formation, and in reli- gious affairs was a worthy member of the Presby- terian Church. His father was Maj. Thomas Conklin, an officer in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Harriet Conklin was born in the town of Riverhead, and at the time of her decease had passed her eighty-fourth year. She was a most estimable lady and assisted her husband greatly in attaining a high position among the substantial farmers of the community.
The subject of this sketch has always lived on the home farm, in the cultivation of which he has aided since his boyhood days. He made fishing liis business for about ten years, and although this occupation was a very profitable one, he decided to give his undivided attention to farming, and is now one of the substantial agriculturists of this town. The property comprises about thirty acres of land, which he devotes to general farming. In 1887 he added to his landed interests by pur- chasing twenty acres located about one mile north of his home place. This he divided into lots, laid out streets, etc., and erected a church which cost about $500. This place he named Cum ('ity. His idea and desire was to help the col- ored population of the community, and the lots were sold to them at a low price. There are about eight families established there at the pres- ent time, but it will no doubt in the near future become a prosperous little village and will stand as a monument to the true worth of Mr. Conklin.
bore his part in developing the home farm, and assisted in bringing it to its present high rank among the good estates in the county. His farm, located in the town of Riverhead, was devoted to general agriculture.
Our subject was born on the above tract De- cember 12, 1812. His parents, Hezekiah and Mary Skidmore, had born to them a family of six children, of whom James S. was the fourth. Cla- rissa, the eldest of the family, died when in her ninety-fourth year; Mary was eighty-nine years of age at the time of her death; Walter lived to the age of three score years and ten; Catherine is now ninety-one years old, and George, the youngest of the household, is seventy-nine.
The father of this family was born at Rocky Point, and was there reared on a farm. Later in life he came to Suffolk County and became the owner of the farm of which our subject's formed a part. Here he spent his entire life, dying when seventy-seven years of age.
Under the wise guidance of his parents Jaines S. developed an appetite for learning, and daily walked several miles to the district school, after- ward becoming a student in Franklinville Acad- emy. He passed his entire life on the old home- stead, and on the death of his parents inherited a part of the estate. This he kept under good im- provement and reaped a good income from its cultivation.
Mr. Skidmore and Miss Sarah M. Herrick, of this town, were united in marriage in 1836. The latter did not survive her marriage many years. dying when in her twenty-third year. Mr. Skid- more then chose for his second companion Miss Lucy Sayer, born in the town of Southampton, the ceremony which made them one being performed in 1840. Mr. Skidmore is descended from a long line of Whig ancestors who became Republicans on the organization of the party, and there lias never yet been a member disloyal to his party and principles. During his younger years our sub- ject was very actively interested in local affairs, and supported all measures which were for the good of the community and tended toward its up- building. He was a member of the Presbyterian
JAMES S. SKIDMORE. At the time of his death, September 28, 1895. Mr. Skidmore was one of the oldest residents of Suffolk Comty. His entire life, which was spent in this community, had been such as to win the respect atil confidence of all who were favored with his quaintance. During his younger years he | Church for over a half-century, and for many
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years was known as Elder Skidmore. At the time of his demise he was one of the oldest resi- dents in the county, and throughout the neigh- borhood none was more highly regarded than he. A sketch of his brother, George Skidmore, appears on another page in this volume, in which the reader will find more of the parental history.
H ENRY W. CONKLIN, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Southold, has been associated for many years with the in- terests of the locality. He is an intelligent man, to whom good citizenship means more than per- sonal advancement. Mr. Conklin is a native of Riverhead, this county, where he was born Feb- ruary 22, 1830, a son of Thomas P. and Harriet (Woodhull) Conklin, both of whom were natives of Long Island. He is a direct descendant of the John Conklin who, with Barnabas Horton and others, was one of the earliest settlers of Long Island.
Our subject's maternal grandfather, Judge John Woodhull, of Riverhead, lived to be over one hundred years old, retaining his full faculties to the last. Henry Conklin was our subject's great-grandfather, while Maj. Thomas Conklin was his grandfather. Thomas P. Conklin, father of our subject, was a lifelong resident at River- head, where he died in 1870. He was colonel of the militia in his locality. His marriage united him with Harriet Woodhull. Three children survive him: John W., a resident of Riverhead; Henry W., and Charles, also of Riverhead; Thomas died at the age of about seventy.
Henry W. Conklin was reared in the old home- stead at Riverhead, which his paternal grand- father purchased in 1755, and which has been in the family ever since. Our subject received the greater part of his education in Franklinville Acad- emy, and on completing his studies was engaged in teaching school for three winters. The following fifteen years he engaged in fishing during the summer in connection with farming. February 12, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss
Nannie W. Horton, who was born on Long Is- land January 20, 1839, her parents being Thomas J. and Eliza (Davids) Horton, to whom we shall refer more particularly farther on in this sketch. After his marriage our subject moved to the place where he now resides in Southold, it being the old homestead of Thomas J. Horton. Mrs. Conklin is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in this town. Our subject is a Repub- lican in politics. Thomas P. Conklin was a non- commissioned officer in the War of 1812, serving at Sag Harbor.
Abraham Davids, a jeweler of Rotterdam, came to America about 1758 and opened a small store in a part of the "old castle" (so called for a century past), his stock consisting chiefly of jewelry. It was for several generations the resi- dence of the Hutchinson family, and is now the homestead of Henry D. Horton. Mr. Davids was an intelligent, scholarly man, and formerly was a teacher. In 1761 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Elijah Hutchinson. For many years, on account of paralysis, he was helpless, and died in 1778, leaving two sons, Mathias H. and Samuel. Several of his grandsons reside in this vicinity, and have articles of jewelry in their possession which belonged to him. Samuel, who was a merchant and farmer, December 24, 1811, embarked on board the sloop "Rosette," of New York, and was lost that night in the memor- able storm that swept the coast. His body was found at Smithtown, where he was interred. He left a widow and seven children, who continued to occupy the family residence. Death first broke in on this quiet and discreetly managed family cir- cle by taking the youngest son, Henry S., a law graduate of Hamilton College, who, upon his return from the South, died October 24, 1824. in a hospital on Staten Island, where he is buried. Next the widow, Nancy (Wickham) Davids, died, then one after the other of the large family passed away, till the sole representative of the family and the possessor of its large accumulated estate, Mrs. Eliza (Davids) Horton, relict of Thomas J. Horton, remained. She was married to Mr. Hor- ton in 1829 and was spared to become the re- sponsible licad and manager of the family affairs.
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She passed away July 2, 1885, at the age of ciglity-one years, leaving three daughters and ofte son: Henrietta, Mrs. Mary E. H. Terry; Mrs. Henry W. Conklin, and Henry D.
H ENRY D. HORTON is a man who stands high in agricultural circles and holds ad- vanced ideas on farming. He is an in- fluential citizen of the town of Southold, and is well known throughout Suffolk County, where he has made his lifelong home. His birth occurred in the town of Southold, January 23, 1845, and his parents were Thomas J. and Eliza (Davids) Horton, also natives of this town. His father was a direct descendant of Barnabas Horton, one of the early settlers of this town.
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