USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 63
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OSEPH ROBINSON, the father of George W. Robinson, was born in the village of East Patchogue on the 4th of December. 1790. At twelve years of age he began to follow the water, and during the War of 1812 was com- mander of the famous old schooner known by all of the old sailors as the "Glorian," which boat was of about forty tons burden, and for many years carried on traffic in the cord wood trade between Great South Bay and New York City. On one occasion, while on one of his trips to New York. he found about twelve other boats lying in wait at Fire Island for an opportunity to cross the bar. The boats were lying close together and were dis- covered by a British man-of-war which lay just outside the bar, who, upon finding such a large fleet of boats and believing that they could cash be captured, manned their barge with twelve men at the oats and a cannon at the bow and proceed ed across the bar with a view to taking possession and destroying the entire fleet.
The Captains, however, of whom "Captain loc (as he is familiarly known) is reputed as being wild
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of the leaders, went on shore, and, though per- fectly defenceless, swung their hats, inviting the British to proceed with their barge.
The British, however, came up close to where they were standing, and fired their cannon. The Captains gave answer to the salute, waved their hats, and then, as soon as they saw the smoke issue from the mouth of the can- non on board the barge, dropped behind a hill on the surf shore. By this means none of them suffered injury, although they saw the balls strike the sand close to them, but because of this brazen act on the part of the Captains the man-of-war's men were led to believe that they might be led into some Yankee trick and thereby taken un- aware and captured. In consequence of this fact they abandoned their attempt and retired on board their ship. This nerve and courage so dis- played by those brazen Captains saved their en- tire fleet and prescrved for themselves a history characteristic of men of their time.
A few days later, while on the way between Fire Island and New York, and when abreast of New Inlet, Captain Joe was again attacked by the same man-of-war and ordered to stop and surren- der. Seeing, however, that he might be able to get over the Jones Inlet bar before they could catch him, the old "Glorian" was headed for the shore. As soon as she fetched up on the shore the sails were immediately stripped and the valu- ables taken and placed in the small boat, and the crew at once went on shore to watch the pro- ceedings. The British boarded the vessel, set fire at both ends and then abandoned it. As soon as they left her, however, Captain Joe and his crew went on board and by strenuous efforts quenched the flames and saved the vessel. It was again repaired, sails were bent and she pro- ceeded to New York and made one of the most successful voyages. The vessel which was in company with Captain Joe, however, although only a short distance away, surrendered herself to the British, who towed her alongside of the man-of-war, placed the crew in captivity, stripped hier of her sails, hoisted her mnasts and then set hier adrift, using her for target practice.
Of all the achievements which are accredited
to Captain Joe, however, the experience which he went through during the famous and historical gale of September 3, 1820, has been the one most renowned and has been so often related by peo- ple of this place that the details of the facts are generally well known. It will be remembered that upon that occasion about eight boats started out over Fire Island bar about half-past two on Friday afternoon. When about half way to New York the gale, which was probably one of the most terrific that has taken place on the Long Is- land coast since that time, overtook him and the vessels, one by one, as the gale increased in its fury, went down and were lost with all on board. The "Glorian" was for but a short time capable of combating with the waves, and soon by a tremen- dous sea she was also rolled over, bottom up, and the men were thrown into the water. Captain Joe rose to the surface, and, although probably four or five miles from shore, took a cord wood stick under each arm and endeavored to reach land in the face of almost certain death staring at him. The waves rolled in so high that a mast which was floating beside him, probably seventy feet long, was ended over by force of the waves. yet Captain Joe kept on top and succeeded some. time afterward in landing on the beach near Rock- away, being the only man saved out of twenty- one men that composed the entire crews of all of the boats that started with him.
Captain Joe was known by all in the vicinity where he lived and was highly respected, and at his death it is said had a funeral followed by the longest procession of wagons that ever took place in Patchogue.
E DMOND D. DAVIDSON, President of the Imperial Electric Lamp Company, and President of the Huntington Street Rail- road Company, was born at New Brunswick, N. J., January 18, 1845. His father, Rev. Robert Davidson, was born at Carlisle. Pa .. in the year 1808, and was the only son of Rev. Dr. Davidson, who was President of Dickinson College at that place. The father
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of our subject was a graduate of that college, and also of Princeton Theological Seminary. He became pastor of the McChord Presbyterian Church, at Lexington, Ky., and was for many years President of Transylvania College. He af- terward was elected Superintendent of Public In- struction for the state of Kentucky, and was a man of great culture and wonderful executive ability, setting an example in his daily life worthy of emulation. He married Adeline Theresa Van Doran, who was born in Orange County, and who was a daughter of Rev. Isaac Van Doran, a min- ister of the Dutch Reformed Church. She was a lady of extraordinary attainments, cultured in the highest degree, and an authoress of much re- nown, having published several works that at- tracted considerable attention, among them being the "Old Parsonage." She was also an artist of much ability for her day, and some of her paint- ings, made more than seventy years ago, have kept their colors and life-like appearance so that. they seem as fresh and beautiful as those made but yesterday. One of her paintings that impressed the writer was a cluster of moss roses just burst- ing their buds, which is so true to nature that even after taking a second glance the impression still remains that it could be no other than the work of nature.
The mother of Mrs. Davidson was Abigail Hal- sey, a daughter of Major Halsey of Revolutionary fame. Her brother, Rev. Howard Van Doran, of the Reformed Church, was the author of several works, among them "Van Doran's Commentary on the Bible," a work that has had a wide circula- tion. At the time of the birth of our subject his parents were living at New Brunswick, N. J., where his father was pastor of the First Presby- terian Church, later being pastor of the Spring Street Church, of New York City, and his last charge being the old First Presbyterian Church in this village, where the gifted mother of our sub- ject died in 1865. His father died in Philadelphia, April 6, 1876, at a ripe old age, full of years and honors.
The grandfather of our subject, Rev. Robert Davidson, D. D., was a man of much note in his day, a brilliant scholar and an eminent divine.
For twenty-eight years he was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, and for twenty- five years President of Dickinson College at that place. His death occurred in 1812. A large-sized picture of General Washington, drawn by him from life, with a quill pen, is now in the posses. sion of his grandson, our subject, and so finch was it executed that it closely resembles a stee! engraving.
Our subject was one of four children that grew to manhood and womanhood, two dying in in- fancy. The eldest of this family, Mary J., became the wife of Rev. Thomas Talmage, son of ex- Mayor Talmage, of Brooklyn. She is now a widow without children, making her home with her brother, the subject of this sketch. Anna Mar- garet became the wife of Charles Kellogg. a wealthy New York merchant, and both she and her husband have passed away. Dr. Henry H. is a graduate of the University of New York, and is now and has been for many years a prominent physician at Northport.
Mr. Davidson graduated from Columbia Col- lege in 1864, and received the degree of A. M. in 1867. When he left college he selected a business life in preference to a professional career, and entered upon a life that has not only been active. but interesting. For many years he was largely engaged in gold mining in Nova Scotia. being largely interested in mines at Oxford. Tangier and Fifteen-Mile Stream. In these he made quite a fortune, and found a very productive investment in the street railroad in Halifax. When our sub- ject returned to the States, in 1868, he raised money and built the Electric Street Railway at Asheville, N. C., which was one of the very first of the kind to be put up anywhere, and which was carried forward and completed when it was looked upon as a wild scheme and foolish to try to run cars by electricity. Its completion and successful operation brought him much credit and helped him to organize and construct the Huntington Street Railroad, of which he is President. Hle al ... reorganized and built the Huntington Water Works, of which he is President, and was alle of the organizers of the People's Room, and wa. its first President. Mr. Davidson was also one .i
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the executive committee and took a very active part in the building of the Nathan Hale Memorial Monument in this village. In fact, there is hardly any enterprise of a public nature suggested to the people of this village with which our subject does not become closely identified. While he has all these various interests mentioned above on his hands, and is devoting his time to them, he gives his especial attention to the Imperial Electric Lamp Company, of New York City, of which he is President.
Our subject is a Republican in politics and takes an active part in political matters, yet he has never sought honors at the hands of his party. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of which his father was formerly pastor. In 1876 he was married to Miss Sophia W. Thompson, a daughter of James L. Thompson, of Monmouth County, N. J. Her mother, who was in maiden- hood a Miss Van Cowenhoven, was a descend- ant of an old Dutch family in that county. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have three bright children, Ethel, Adeline Theresa, and Edmond Montgomery. Mr. Davidson is a cultured, high-minded and worthy representative of an illustrious family, and with liis pleasant family lives in a comfortable home on Fairview Street that overlooks the beautiful vil- lage of Huntington and its harbor.
C APT. JEREMIAH LUDLOW was born in the village of Bridgehampton in 1816. His marriage occurred October 5, 1855. his wife being Miss Laura C. Gelston. Five children blessed this union, as follows: Gelston C., who married Miss Annie Ketcham; Edward M., Laura G., Kate W. and Jeanne M. Laura G. is the wife of James H. Rogers, of Bridgehamp- ton, while the youngest daughter became the wife of Benton T. Rutan, of Brooklyn, and Ed- ward M. married Miss Emma Bridgman, of Brooklyn.
Our subject received his education at Bridge- hampton and when sixteen years of age took to the sea for a livelihood. He went on a whaling
vessel, beginning as cabin boy, and on his first voyage was gone six months, which must Lasc been a long periodl for so young a boy. He safed out of Sag Harbor to New Bedford. The ow !. .. of the ship were Robinson & Co., the senior net- ber of the firm being the father of the fair ...... Hetty Green.
When twenty-five years of age Mr. 1. : " was made captain of his vessel, being the ; est officer of that degree ever sent out by is- pany. He remained on the same ship three different voyages, and his career a- a . tain of whaling vessels extended over thet -. years.
Captain Ludlow cruised in the Arctic ( and also in the Indian Ocean. Three diffe ;..: times he sailed around the globe and for :: : times he voyaged. The longest trip that !. .. calls lasted for three years and six months \; - leaving the high seas Captain Ludlos par .... the farm where his family now live, abor: 13. Here he reared his family and lived a retire until the time of his death, which occurs- 11 ary 6, 1895. His remains were ispred. Bridgehampton.
The subject of this sketch was a menth. - Presbyterian Church, in which denomination. children were also reared. In a busines- 22) was very successful, having in all His ! ; ages brought to bear a keen judgment ar tact. He enjoyed very good hval about the year before his decease. ah he had attained more than the three soir and ten usually allowed man. Hi- Fi! daughter still continue to live on the fare. was their home at the time of his death.
Among the many never-to-beforgotten thrilling incidents of the Civil War is meant - the destruction of the Arctic whaling fler: lo . rebel pirate cruiser, the "Shenandoah." ihr the courtesy of Rev. Gile, P. Hanley Le ane mitted to publish the following account of occurrence as given by Capt. Jeremiah I. of Bridgehampton, who was an active .. " in the work of those sailors allb-c .p. stroyed.
Captain Ludlow said: "Ilrit Nca In
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the month of October, 1864, bound on a whaling voyage and master of the good ship 'Isaac How- land.' There were no omens of ill luck in air, water, or sky, and everything looked promising as we sailed out of the harbor. We bore away for the Western Islands, where we touched, and took in vegetables, and then sailed for the South Atlantic. We rounded the Cape of Good Hope, crossed the Indian Ocean and steered for New Zealand, and in the month of March we touched at Monganui. There we got a supply of fresh vegetables.
"On the 30th of March, 1865, we steered for the Arctic Ocean, and on the 27th of June we were at anchor in Behring Strait and in sight of us lay a fleet of thirteen whaling vessels, most of them from New Bedford. Noticing signals of distress from one of them-the ship 'Brunswick'-I or- dered a boat lowered and was soon on board the distressed vessel, which was badly stove in by ice. Steps were at once taken to prevent her from sinking. Remaining on the 'Brunswick' all niglit, we worked desperately to repair the dis- abled vessel, and on the morning of the 28th we observed a black, threatening looking steamer moving slowly up the straits toward us. I neg- lected to state that the captain of the 'Brunswick' was Aldin T. Potter. The strange craft looked suspiciously like a pirate vessel, although it seemed improbable to find one at such a latitude:" Black and threatening guns showed at every port hole and she came well prepared to do her work of destruction.
"About midday, when we first observed this strange craft, she at once became an object of in- terest and inquiry to the captains and crews of the whalers. At the request of Captain Potter, of the 'Brunswick,' I started in my boat for a closer observation of the stranger. When I got within speaking distance I was hailed from the deck with the question, 'What do you want?' and answered that the ship 'Brunswick' was in trouble and had to be abandoned and we wanted assistance for her officers and crew. The answer came: If that's all you want we will attend to your case as soon as possible.' He did soon attend to it with a vengeance. My suspicions had been aroused,
and on my way back to the 'Brunswick' I boarded the 'Hillman,' which lay in my course. As my head rose above the deck I was confronted by six or eight men armed with cutlasses and revols- ers. They looked like foreigners; at least 1 am fain to believe they were not American sailor -. One of the gang turned toward me with a face 1 never shall forget for the deviltry imprinted on it and asked me what I wanted. I answered i was looking for Captain McComber, who com- manded the 'Hillman.' 'The Captain is on board the steamer,' he replied, and pointed in that direc - tion. He then asked my name and the name of my ship, and ordered me to go to her as quickly as possible. I did not parley, but returned to the 'Brunswick,' where I knew a number of the captains were assembled. Commotion followed the account of what I had seen.
"Each captain returned to his own vessel, all of which were without guns or ammunition. while the vessels lay broadside on to the guns of the steamer. All we could hope for was to slip away during the night. I ordered my men to make ready to slip the cables, for a fog had set- tled over us, and by the time I reached the deck the steamer was not to be seen. The fog soon cleared, however, and our enemy was at hand. . boat sent out from her came alongside my ship and the crew boarded us without ceremony. Thie commander asked, 'Do you command this ship?' and on my admitting that I did, he said: Yon may consider yourself a piece of the Confederate steamer "Shenandoah." You are to take your pa- pers, your money and your jewelry, if you have any, to the commander of the steamer, and get on board at once. You have no time to lose, as our men are scattered through this fleet.'
"In my agitation, and allowed no time to con- sider, I got my papers, clothing and a few arti- cles of value, besides about $500 in gold, and as- cended to the deck. It was on fire in two different places. My sorrow over this calamity can be nu- derstood only by a commander of a vessel. There was no saving her, for we were under the guns of the avenger. This event was incomprehensible. to us, for we were peaceful whalemen, maruled and trying to make an honest living. The war
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was ended; Lee had surrendered, as we had al- ready learned. So, too, did the captain of the pi- rate steamer know.
"As ordered, I boarded the steamer, but withi the greatest difficulty. I was shown to the Cap- tain's cabin and there found Wardell seated on a sofa, perfectly at ease. I handed him the money and papers as ordered. After years of considera- tion my original idea is confirmed that these men . knew of the end of the war and took this plan to raise money by robbing a few sea captains in the name of the Confederate government. After counting my money Wardell handed me back four sovereigns and said: 'Here, Captain, you may have these.' I told him Lee had surrendered, but he answered me that it was a Yankee lie. He did not trust himself in the cabin alone with us, for there was an attendant armed to the teeth. After signing my parole I was ordered to get into a boat which lay alongside and was rowed to the 'James Murray,' a whaler lying about a mile from the steamer. At this time three or four af the ships were burning fast and only two or three were left intact. I found all the captains of the fleet on the 'James Murray,' and the vessel was so crowded that there was scarcely standing room on her deck.
"Knowing that there was neither room nor pro- visions on board for so many I proposed that some of us return to the steamer and ask that another vessel be allowed for our transportation home. The captain of the vessel and a crew went with me and we showed Wardell that we could not get home alive on that one vessel, and I begged hard for another. Another captain had appealed to him for provisions, but with little suc- cess. He finally gave me an order, however, to one of his men to turn the ship over to me; thus the number on board the 'James Murray' was di- vided. Twelve ships were burned, together with supplies and equipments. It had been a long and tedious voyage, and only the hope that the profit from the whaling expedition would reimburse us for our time and labor. This was all lost, how- ever, the burned ships containing thousands of barrels of oil and tons of bone. The burning vessels brought out many of the natives from the
cottages on the shore in their walrus-hide canoes. "On the 29th of June the piratical steanter passed us, bound southward, and on the way it was noticed that one of the whalers bore the stars and stripes. The steamer hailed the Captain, whose name was Young, and ordered him to take down the flag. This he refused to do. Drawing their pistols, they again challenged him, but the brave Captain bared his heart and ordered them to fire if they dare. Using language more forci- ble than polite, they did not shoot, but took him in irons and insulted him in every way possi- ble. After keeping him a prisoner for several hours they allowed him to board the 'Nile.' After the steamer had gone we found we had no supply of water, and were obliged to melt large cakes of ice. The last day of June we sailed through the straits and on reaching San Francisco Wardell ordered us to the Sandwich Islands. After he left we concluded to take the most convenient course for ourselves. We had much trouble on the homeward voyage, as the crew was a mixed one and was surly and threatening. It was diffi- cult to keep them in subjection, and they finally attacked each other, although no blood was shed. After reaching San Francisco nothing sensational occurred, as we started home by way of the isth- mus and completed the homeward passage in twenty-one days."
R ICHARD B. SMITH belongs to one of the old families of Long Island, being of the seventh generation in direct descent from the first of the name in this section. At present a resident of Smithtown, he was born Oc- tober 30, 1835, at the old homestead in Nisse- quogue, which is now owned by his sister, Mrs. Caleb T. Smith. The place is a portion of the original tract handed down from father to son through seven generations of the Smith family. The founder of the family here was Richard Smith, the original patentee of Smithtown and usually referred to as the "bull rider." From him the line of descent is traced through Richard
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(2d), Ebenezer, Richard (3d), Richard (4th), Ed- ward Henry to Richard B., of this sketch.
The elementary education of the subject of this sketch was obtained in select schools, and later he was a student in Pierson's Seminary at Elizabeth, N. J. At an early age he went West and settled in the city of Chicago, where he con- menced his business career. Two years were spent there, and he then went to Hong Kong, China, where he became associated in business with his brother-in-law. Caleb T. Smith. Later, when the business of the company was extended to Japan, he was given management of their in- terests at Yokohama, and remained there from 1860 to 1866. The exports were principally teas and raw silks. In 1868 the firm of Smith, Baker & Co. was established, and later joined by our subject's two brothers, who are still associated with it .. Mr. Smith was one of the pioneer merchants in the Japanese trade, as commerce in that country was in a crude state when he be- gan. He was the first man who shipped a cargo of Japan tea direct, by sailing vessel, to New York via Cape of Good Hope.
While Mr. Smith has spent much of his time in other places, he still considers Smithtown his home, and here, with his mother, he spends all the leisure he can spare from his business cares. They occupy the residence which was purchased by his father in 1856. In public matters he is liberal. Politically he has an abiding faith in the principles of the Democratic party, although in municipal affairs he inclines to independence. He is a member of the Nissequogue Gun Club and takes a lively interest in that sport. In the St. James Episcopal Church, which his . ancestors were largely instrumental in establishing and building, he holds the position of vestryman.
Edward H. Smith, father of our subject, was born May 5. 1809, and died August 7, 1885. His wife, Elizabeth C., was a daughter of Nathaniel Smith, of Patchogue, and was born September 7, 1816. Though now advanced in years, she retains her mental faculties, and is a bright and interesting old lady. Her only daughter, Mary A., is the widow of Caleb T. Smith, and her three sons are Richard B., Nathaniel F. and Elliott R.
The paternal grandmother of Mr. Smith was Eliza W. Nicoll, daughter of the daughter and only child of Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull, of Revolu- tionary fame, whose mother was a sister of Wil- liam Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
E GBERT VAIL STRONG, of the village of Babylon, was born August 18, 1846, in Islip, this county, and is a son of Selalı and Susan (Vail) Strong, natives respectively of Commack and Smithtown. When the subject of this sketch was ten years old he left home, and since that time he has made his own way in the world. For some years he worked either on a farm or on the water during the summer months. while in the winter season he attended school. Atthe age of fifteen he went on board the sailing vessel, "Lavina Jane," as a sailor before the mast. The ship was engaged in the coasting trade, run- ning from New York to the South. and was un- der the command of Capt. Nathaniel Ketcham.
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