USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
August 29, 1892, Mr. Cantrell was united in marriage, in Brooklyn, to Miss Grace Marshall, who was born in New York City, being a daugh- ter of Robert Marshall, a business man of that place. Soon after his marriage our subject bought his present home at Kings Park, where he has large trout ponds. From these he furnishes fish
for the Waldorf Hotel and other first-class house, in New York. The ponds are conveniently ar- ranged, with every convenience for the prosecu- tion of the business, in which he is an enthusiast. Besides furnishing fish for the hotels, he fur- nishes a great many for the ponds of the various club grounds of the island. He is in a position to conduct the business successfully, having every facility and an abundance of pure fresh water. A. fond of fine horses as in the past, he owns some good stock and has one of the finest horses on the island. Socially he is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics lie is a Democrat, but is liberal and broad in his views, conceding to others the freedom of thought and opinion which he demands for himself.
A LANSON PIERSON ROGERS is a resi- dent of West Hampton, where he has won a good standing as one of the firm of N. B. Rogers & Son, lumber and coal dealers, one of the most reliable and trustworthy houses in this section of the county. He was born May 16, 1864. the oldest of a family of three children born to Noah Byron and Virginia L. (Pierson) Roger -. all of whom are now living. His sister Lizzie i- the wife of Willard F. Jagger; Bertha is still un- married and resides at home.
The subject of this sketch is a native of West Hampton and received a very fair education in the common schools of his neighborhood. When he had reached the years of manhood he engaged in the business in which we now find him, and which, under his able and pushing management. in twelve years has become a very paying an: satisfactory business. He is still a single man, and1 promises in the not distant future to stand in th. foremost ranks of the business men of this conn's In the five years that have passed since the pa?' nership was formed the business has increased in volume from $1,500 to $15,000 annually.
The political affiliations of our subject are with the Republican party, and he is an ardet !! .. ; vocate of the nomination of Mr. McKinky : :
993
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
President, being one of the members of the Mc- Kinley Club of this district, of which he is one of the Vice-Presidents. He is Superintendent of Construction, filling his second term in that position, and is also Superintendent of Roads, and exercising a decided influence in the direction of local affairs. He is an attendant upon the ser- vices of the Presbyterian Church.
G EORGE A. ROBINSON, M. D., the old- est resident physician of Sayville, has a thoroughly established practice and a wide acquaintance, not only with the people of this place, but the surrounding country. He has resided here since 1881, having come from Bar- rie, Ontario. He was born January 5, 1851, at Newmarket, Canada, and is a son of Robert and Maria (Willson) Robinson, natives respectively of England and Canada. The former, who was engaged in business as a contractor and builder, died at the age of fifty-six; the latter passed away in the summer of 1895, at the age of seventy-one. Of their ten children, five are now living, name- ly: Titus W., who lives in Manitoba; George A .; Ella M., wife of Robert Burns, of Winnipeg; Charles Henry, also a resident of Winnipeg; and Alfred E., of Washington State.
The maternal grandfather of the Doctor was Richard Titus Willson, who bore a very promi- nent part in the early settlement of Canada. Ac- cording to tradition, the family was founded in England by one of that name who accompanied William the Conqueror to the British Isles and settled in Northumberland. The first representa- tive in America was Hugh Willson, who, on emigrating hither, settled at Poughkeepsie, on the Hudson River, New York, then a British colony. There Richard Titus Willson was born April 5, 1793, and thence, in 1800, he was taken by his parents to Canada, they preferring a home under the British flag. His life was spent alter- nately in aiding in the settlement of a new coun- try, serving the government loyally in many emergencies, and following the more peaceful
employment of farming life. 'He died at our sub- ject's old home in Newmarket, Ontario, April 18, 1878, aged eighty-six years. His wife had pre- ceded him to the grave many years.
In boyhood the subject of this article enjoyed excellent opportunities for acquiring an educa- tion, and after completing the studies of the dis- trict and high schools, he attended the Upper Canada College at Toronto. Having a natural inclination toward the medical profession, he be- gan its study under Dr. S. M. Wells while en- gaged in the drug business at Barrie, and for three years read under that preceptor. Failing health obliged him to go abroad, and he spent some time in London, England, under Sir William Fer- guson, the eminent English Court physician, which experience was of great benefit to him in the further study of his profession. Upon his re- turn from Europe, he entered the medical de- partment of the State University of Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1881. He began prac- tice in partnership with Dr. Wells, but again find- ing that the rigor of a Canadian climate was not congenial to his constitution, he sought the more temperate zone of Long Island shore and came direct to the pleasant village of Sayville, where at first lie practiced alone. Later he was assisted by Dr. Thomas H. Tracey for two years, then for a time he was alone again, but owing to tlie in- creased demand for his services, he found it necessary to have assistance again. Securing the services of Dr. Merritt, their connection contin- ned for two years and nine months, since which time he has carried on his practice alone.
Dr. Robinson enjoys a very large and lucrative practice, extending far beyond the limits of the village. Among his patients are many of the visitors from New York and Brooklyn, who spend their summers in this vicinity, and he stands hig!i in their estimation. Among the townspeople. also, he is very popular, and commends himself. both as a practitioner and good citizen. He is passionately fond of all outdoor sports and a lover of fine horses, and has more than one very speedy animal in his stables. The walls of his study and office are adorned with many trophies of his skill with gun and rod. Both here and at his
994
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
old home in Canada, he is known as an excellent shot, but his increasing practice prevents him from participating very much in these pastimes at the present day.
January 19, 1881, Dr. Robinson and Amelia A., daughter of A. D. Foster, were united in mar- riage. They are the parents of four children, Maude, Amy M., William B. and George Albert. In religious belief the family is connected withi the Episcopal Church. Dr. Robinson is a Repub- lican in politics and is actively interested in local affairs of a political nature, also grants a ready support to every enterprise that promises to be of bencfit to the community. He built and owns a telephone system connecting Sayville with the neighboring villages, which is often used and greatly appreciated by the people of this section. Fraternally he is a Mason and Forester, and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum. He has been foreman of the Sayville Hose Company from its inception, having charge of Company No. I. Personally, he is a hearty, genial, whole-souled, lovable man. He has been very successful in his practice and has made a large amount of money, although he has at different times also lost considerable by investing at the advice of relatives and friends.
J UDGE JOHN R. REID. By the integrity of his career as attorney and jurist and by the uprightness of his daily life, Judge Reid has contributed to the upbuilding and promoted the progress, not only of Babylon, his place of residence, but of the entire county as well. While he has carried on an extensive practice in this locality, his efforts have not been limited to this sphere of activity, but in addition, he has for many years had a law office in New York City, and through recognized ability has gained an enviable reputation at the Bar.
Born at Middle Island, town of Brook Haven, Suffolk County, February 8, 1836, the subject of this notice is a son of James and Alma (Hutcli- inson) Reid. The former was born near London-
derry, in the North of Ireland, where his paternal ancestors had long made their home; after the death of his father, he came to America, accompa- nied by his mother, Margaret (Galbraith) Reid. who was of Scotch extraction and a woman of much strength of character. Settling in Sui- folk County, N. Y., he embarked in the mercan- tile business. Here he married a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Tuthill) Hutchinson. both of whom traced their ancestry to the "May- flower."
Reared upon his father's farm, John R. Reid was a pupil in the public schools until fifteen years of age, when, having diligently improved his educational advantages, he began to teach school. With the money thus earned he was enabled to at- tend school a portion of each year, continuing in that way for six years. Before reaching his major- ity, he selected the law as his life vocation, and all his labors tended toward that end. He read law at first privately, with such success that he was ad- mitted to the Bar after little more than a year's attendance at the school in Poughkeepsie. Be- lieving that his best location for practice was among the friends whom he had known from boy- hood, he opened an office in Babylon. Here he soon . established an extensive practice, which, however, was not very remunerative, as he had little heart to collect fees from old friends and neighbors. In 1859 he opened an office in New York City, which he has profitably continued to the present writing.
In 1857, while yet a student, Judge Reid mar- ried Miss Angie Davis, who was born in Pough- keepsie, N. Y., and graduated from the high school at that place, her parents being Abraham! and Lorain (Seaman) Davis. They have two chil- dren: Lorain, who is with them, was given, at home, a course of instruction equal to that af- forded by the best colleges, competent tutors be- ing procured for her, benefit. The son. Willard Placide, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; is a graduate of Albany Academy. and also of the Columbia Law School.
The year in which the Judge began to practice. he also took editorial charge of the Suffolk Count- ty "Democrat," and for six years was engaged
ani
995
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in that capacity. When he began his professional career he determined to take no active part in politics, but was induced to become the editor of the "Democrat" upon the representation of special friends that the paper was about to be sold, and that when it passed from the hands of the party, there would be no Democratic paper published in the western limits of the county. He took charge for a few weeks, and continued its management for more than six years. It was the first paper published in this town, and made for itself a very warm and friendly clientage. During the war the Judge identified himself with that branch of his party known as the Union Democ- racy. He organized the first meeting held in the county to stir up the Union feeling, and inspire volunteers for the service. The paper with which he was so long associated is now published at Huntington under the name of the Suffolk "Bul- letin."
In 1870 our subject was elected County Judge and Surrogate, and he is the only Democrat who has held that position'for more than thirty-five years. He served one term and then declined a renomination. A public-spirited citizen, he is willing to serve in positions that seem to be vitally related to the public welfare, especially in connection with matters of education; so it is not surprising that he has served for nearly thirty years on the School Board. His labors in the in- terests of better schools have been untiring, and he has succeeded against strong opposition in building up as fine a system of village schools as can perhaps be found within the limits of the United States. He is a great friend of education in its broadest and best sense. The teachers highly appreciate his work, and he is frequently called upon to address teachers' meetings. dedi- cate schoolhouses, and assist in kindred tasks.
Until he had been upon the Bench Judge Reid had nothing to do with criminal practice, but now lie cannot keep out of it, his abilities in that di- rection having been discovered by the public, and he is regarded as the leading criminal prac- titioner in the county. Outside of the limits of his home county, however, he will have nothing to do with that kind of legal business. He is a men-
ber of the local lodge of Odd Fellows, and has filled all its chairs and served as District De ?- uty. He has Masonic degrees through the chap- ter and holds membership in True Craftsman Lodge No. 642. in New York City. As an ex- temporaneous speaker he has few to equal or surpass him, and his abilities in this line cover a very wide range of subjects. A gentleman varied abilities, broad knowledge and keen me ::- tal acumen, his position has for years been among the foremost attorneys of this part of the state and among the progressive citizens who have contributed to the advancement of the county of Suffolk.
S ETH W. TUTHILL. The name of this respected citizen and old resident is wel. known in Suffolk County, for he has bee :: successfully engaged in the arduous duties of farming in this locality for many years, and is now the owner of one of the best cultivated and most productive tracts in the town of Southold.
A representative of one of the oldest families un Long Island, he was born in Suffolk County. April 11, 1834. He was the son of Jesse and Sarah (Wells) Tuthill, the former of whom was born in this county, while the mother's birth occurred ::: Orange County, N. Y., although her father, bear- ing the name of Elijah Wells, was a native-born citizen of Suffolk County. The paternal grand- father of Mrs. Tuthill was Rev. Timothy Wells. who for many years held a charge in the Congre- gational Church at Aquebogue.
Jesse Tuthill served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was born here in March, 1707. and de- parted this life February 3, 1877. His good wife. whose birth took place August 1, 1797, survive ! him until January 26, 1883. The father of Jesse Tuthill was also named Jesse, and was a native of Long Island, as were the various members of the family for many generations back.
Of the family of sons and daughters born to Jesse Tuthill and wife, the following-named sur- vive: Sarah J., the widow of John Hubbard, of
ยท
996
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
this county; Mrs. Abram Torrey, a resident of the town of Southold; Ellen E., widow of James W. Horton, and Seth W., of this history. The father of this household, during the later years of his life, voted with the Republicans and took a great inter- est in the success of his party, although he never sought nor would accept office. Having been per- mitted to attend school only a few months in each year, he may be truly spoken of as self-made, both as regards education and his financial stand- ing in the community. With his wife, he was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church at Cutchogue, both being good Christian people.
Seth W. Tuthill has always lived on Long Island and obtained his education in the primitive schools of his boyhood days. Fishing was then an even more profitable industry than it is at pres- ent, and early in life he gave it his attention. His labors were rewarded to such an extent that he has followed this business during a short time of each season for a period of thirty-six years, and is well known to the residents of this section as Cap- tain Tuthill. In the prosecution of this industry he has often given employment to from ten to twenty men, and during a good season it is no un- usual thing for him to catch three million fish. The choicest of these he ships to the city markets, but for the most part the fish are used in fertilizing his land.
Captain Tuthill is the owner of a fine property in this town, and during the years which he has been engaged in fishing his estate has not been neglected, but cultivated in a most admirable manner, and he is now recognized, and has been for many years, as the leading tiller of the soil in this particular locality. He took unto himself a wife and helpmate, December 19, 1855, in the person of Miss Mary E. Aldrich, who was born June 1, 1834. She was the daughter of Isaac Ald- rich, now deceased, of whom more extended men- tion is made in the sketch of George Aldrich, who is represented in this work.
To the Captain and his wife there were born five children. They are good. Christian people. They have never become identified with any re- ligious organization, but try to carry out the teachings of the Golden Rule in their daily lives.
He is a Republican in politics and has been prominent in public affairs. For several years after the war he engaged in shipping farm produce to New York and other large cities, but of late years lie takes life casy and is independent. which is one of the much desired conditions of life He is one of the successful farmers who have kept thoroughly apace with the times, and have reached the condition of life mentioned above. For many years past he has been a Trustee in the Southold Savings Bank, and in various ways has given his aid to enterprises and measures which have for their object the betterment and advance inent of his community.
W ILLIAM SKINNER. Suffolk County may well be proud of the amount of brains and energy possessed by her representative business nien. Taken as a whole. there are none brighter, more intelligent, or with more ability and push than William Skinner, vlo is now cashier in a manufacturing establishment in New York City, but who makes his home in Amityville. He is a native of Manchester, Eny land, born August 19, 1854, and the son of Char! .- E. and Matilda (Warren) Skinner, who came to America when our subject was eighteen mont',- old. This worthy couple located in New York City, where they lived until our subject was ten years old, and then moved to Middletown, Or- ange County, where the latter attended the academy.
Soon after leaving the academy young Skinner became connected with Colgate & Co., the large. .! manufacturers of soap in the United States, and! started in as errand boy at the age of sixteen. 11 .. has ever since been connected with that firm. .. lias gone through the various promotion- until he is now cachter, in which responsible posi. .. he was placed in 1892. November 0. 1892. in ). York City, he was married to Miss Harriet ! Spencer, daughter of Sylvants, V. and Me . Lewis) Spencer. (See sketch.) Two . il ari
-
997
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, Clarence E., who died at the age of ten months, and Ethel, who was born in New York City, March 7, 1891. In 1887 Mr. Skinner moved to Amityville, and was elected Village Trustee, being one of the first after the organization of the village. He was reared in the Episcopal faith, and is Vestryman of that church in Amityville.
Mr. Skinner is a charter member and a Trustee in the Royal Arcanum at Amityville, and was con- nected with this organization in New York City. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. His father was also reared in the Episcopal faith, but after coming to the United States he became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was ordained a minister in the same, preach- ing many years. The father was twice married and there were four children by each union, our subject being a child of the second marriage. Mr. Skinner is one of the leading citizens of his section, and every business enterprise in which he has ever been engaged has been a clear and profitable success.
H ENRY L. BROWN. Write the name of a business man in the ocean village of Bay Shore, and the chances are that you will find him interested in some way in fish and oysters and kindred lines. The ocean is so im- mense in its forward look, and the continent stretches away so far behind, that nothing is more natural than for active and enterprising men to embrace the opportunity and make the limitless fields of the ocean serve the needs of the millions who dwell on the prairies and by the inland rivers of this vast region that has become the great republic of time and history. So we find our subject very extensively engaged in the oyster, fish and clam business, for which he seems to have a very natural inclination, and a genius of an unusual order.
For his own use Mr. Brown has constructed a fish trap, which he takes outside the harbor and anchors in the ocean. Not infrequently it is knocked into countless pieces by a great storm,
but it is at once reconstructed without regard to expense. At a single drawing of the trap lie takes in from one to four tons of fish, and has so perfected it, by characteristic patience and persist- ence, that it may now be called a great success. It is anchored off Fire Island and covers about twelve hundred feet. As it was necessary to cin- ploy steam power for the purpose, he built a fish- ing steamer, and has since added a second, of which he himself is licensed pilot.
The father of our subject, Lewis S. Brown, was a native of Babylon and spent his boyhood days on his father's farm there. For a number of years he ran a line of stages in this village, prior to the extension of the Long Island Railroad to Bay Shore. He is now President of Brown's Transfer Company of New York, and makes his home in that city in the winter. During the summer he resides at Bay Shore, in which place he is the owner of considerable residence property. At the age of twenty-three he married Lavinia Haff. and they became the parents of one child, Henry Lewis. Mrs. Brown was a daughter of Henry and Ruth (Thurber) Haff, natives of this place, both of whom are deceased.
The subject of this sketch was born in Bay Shore, January 31, 1860. Educated in the public schools, at the age of eighteen he commenced in business life, having a stand at the Fulton whole- sale fish market, which he held for seven years with considerable profit. From that he turned his attention to the oyster business, bringing into it large energy and inventing for his own use a floating trap. He was the first man engaged in the business who shipped point oysters in the shell to places west of the Mississippi Valley. and an immense trade has grown up in this direc- tion since he first introduced them.
At one time Mr. Brown was accustomed to take an active interest in local politics, but of late years he has grown somewhat lukewarm in this direction, having no strong party affiliations, but seeking to maintain the election of honest and able men to office. On questions of national issues, he votes and works with the Republican party. Socially he is a Mason and also an Odd Fellow, being Past Grand of the local lodge. He
-
998
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1
is a member of the Congregational Church, to which his wife also belongs. January 18, 1882, he married Sophie Arl, of New York City, whose parents were natives of New York state. When only two years old she was left fatherless. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown: Henry Selah, born May 2, 1883; and Ruth Elsie, September 30, 1892.
H ENRY A. HALSEY is another of those gallant sailors who have done so much to make this part of Long Island known all around the world. In Cobb, in the town of South- ampton, he was born February 17, 1832. His progenitors had lived in this immediate neighbor- hood for three generations. Our subject's father, Andrew Halsey, was the son of Jehial Halsey, whose father bore the same name. For his first wife Andrew Halsey married Abigail Halsey, and they became the parents of three daughters: Abigail, Harriet and Amanda, all of whom are now deceased. For his second wife he married Miss Priscilla Cook, and by: this marriage he had three children, of whom our subject was the oldest. He has two sisters, Elizabeth, the wife of Elijah Pierson, and Abigail, the widow of the late J. M. Halsey.
The father was born and reared on a farm, and when quite young he went to sea on a whaling vessel. Developing much aptitude for the busi- ness, he remained in it for many years, and by his ability, integrity and executive power, rose to command a ship. He was thrifty and prudent, and wisely invested his money so that when he retired from the highways of the watery world and settled down into the quiet of a landsman's life, he had owned four different whaling vessels. He reached the advanced age of eighty-four before lie sailed on liis last voyage, and was seen on these shores no more. Two years later his wife also sailed across the silent seas to join her husband on the other shore, dying in 1879. in hier seventy- ciglith year.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.