USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 9
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Mr. Terry was born on the island June 18, 1848, his parents being Samuel Moses and Mary A. (Hutchinson) Terry. The former is now one of the oldest citizens of the county, and is living in Southold. During the seventy-seven years of bis life he has made many friends, who are non- scattered over the island, but who remember him as a pleasant. intelligent gentleman, who in his carlier years took an active part in all works of importance in his community.
George H., of this history, has two brothers and one sister now living. Helen, Jesse H., and Alvali S. A sketch of the last mentioned is given on another page. The father of this family is a true Republican in politics, and has voted for the can- didates of this party ever since its organization. George H. is well educated, having supplemented the knowledge gained in the district school by a thorough course of study and reading. His ia- ther being & farmer, he very naturally chose that vocation for his life work, and in its prosecution has made a decided success. His property now
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includes forty-five acres, which he devotes for the most part to the raising of vegetables, which he ships to the New York markets.
- April 17, 1871, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Terry and Miss Mary Curtis, the daughter of Selden Curtis, of New London, Conn. Their union has resulted in the birth of seven children, namely: Maud, Ada, Frederick, Frank, Daisy, Vera, and George H., deceased. Like his hon- ored father before him, Mr. Terry is a Repub- lican in politics, and as a man of honor and up- rightness has made hosts of friends in the vicinity of his home. With his devoted wife he is a mem- ber in excellent standing of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is trustee, and in every de- partment of church work he has ever been effi- cient and interested.
In 1895 Mr. Terry was elected trustee of the Southold Savings Bank, an institution which has gained an established reputation among the resi- dents of the county. He is likewise trustee of Southold Academy, which was founded and is still owned by the Presbyterian society, although not a denominational school. In these positions he has been faithful, and his reputation as a Christian and as a man of business is above re- proach.
E MERSON G. TERRELL. In the beauti- ful village of Patchogue Mr. Terrell re- sides and is one of its best known citizens. He has now reached the prime of life and oc- cupies a position as contractor and builder that is most gratifying. This has not been gained without much hard work on his part, for he has closely applied himself to the business in order to qualify himself to stand at the head of those who are engaged in this trade.
Mr. Terrell is a native of Patchogue and was born October 24, 1853, on his present site on Church Street. His parents were Charles H. and Mary A. (Gerard) Terrell, his mother being a sis- ter of George Gerard, whose sketch the reader will find on another page in this volume. Charles H. Terrell was born on the north side of
Long Island, but has made his home in this com- munity for the past fifty years. He is well known to its residents as a builder, but for the last ten years has not followed his trade. He erected many of the larger business houses in the village, also a number of its finest residences. He is now well along in years and makes his home with our subject. During his younger years he was al- ways too busy to give much attention to politics, although he at all times supported the candidates of the Republican party.
To Charles H. and Mary A. Terrell there were born four children, of whom our subject is the only member to reach mature years. His boy- hood days were passed in attending school in the village, and at fourteen he began to learn the car- penter's trade under the instruction of his father. He soon mastered this business and they con- tinued to operate together until Charles H. Ter- rell retired from active life. Our subject then took up contracting and gives this business most of his attention, although he also deals to some extent in real estate. He has laid out a plat on the east side of Bay Avenue, and it being a de- sirable location, has sold many lots. Several homes have been erected on this addition, Mr. Terrell participating, and by improving the prop- erty he finds that it sells very readily. He keeps in his employ from four to ten men, according to the season, and is employed in building many of the residences and business houses of the village. He always uses good material in his work and never fails to give satisfaction to those who seek his services.
The lady whom Mr. Terrell married when twenty-one years of age, was Miss Nora, daugh- ter of Oliver Wicks, of Patchogue. To them have been granted four children, of whom May, Florence and Lyman W. are still at home with their parents. Lulu R. married Arthur Tuttle, and makes her home in Patchogue. Mrs. Ter- rell is a devoted member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and is active in all good works in her neighborhood.
Socially our subject is an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs to the position of Noble Grand of his lodge, which he has hell two terms.
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He belongs to the South Side Lodge of Masons, and during the years in which he has been as- sociated with this fraternity has passed all the chairs three times. He has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge at numerous times and has taken a very active part in the work of this order. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, meeting with Paumanake Council.
G EORGE T. OSBORN deserves mention in this volume, not only as one of the prominent citizens of Suffolk County, but as an old soldier, who served his country faithfully and well during the Civil War. He is now living in the town of Brook Haven, where he was born in October, 1831, his parents being Henry P. and Susan (Topping) Osborn, the foriner of whom was born in East Hampton. He was prominently identified with the agricultural life of the community, and was a highly esteemed and substantial citizen. In the office of Justice of the Peace he served creditably for several years, and departed this life in October, 1859. His es- timable wife was likewise born in East Hampton and was the daughter of Stephen Topping, a wor- thy and respected citizen of that portion of Suffolk County. She closed her eyes in death in 1872.
The subject of this sketch obtained his educa- tion in the public schools, and when not engaged with his studies was employed in working on the farm. He remained under the parental roof un- til 1860, with the exception of two years and a half which he spent in California, the trip being made to that Western State during the gold ex- citement of 1849.
"Esquire" Osborn, as our subject is best known, held a captain's commission in the Na- tional Guard of New York for a period of eight years. In the late war he was called out with his company and mustered into the service of the Government. During the battle of the Wil- derness they were ordered to protect New York harbor, and after a service of thirty-three days they were honorably discharged and mustered
out. Mr. Osborn then returned home, and here he has since resided, the greater part of the time being engaged in farming. It was during the war that he was one of the representatives of his town who were called to equalize the quota of representation from the town of Brook Haven, and such good judgment did these men display that no dissatisfaction was felt.
The marriage of Mr. Osborn occurred in Sep- tember, 1855, when Miss Mary E. Terry became his wife. She was the daughter of Nelson and Eunice (Smith) Terry, natives respectively of Sui- folk County and Connecticut. Mrs. Osborn, however, was born in Moriches. She became the mother of three children. Egbert T., the eldest, is proprietor and manager of the Mansion House, at Buffalo; Marcus was burned to death in Hotel Richmond, in Buffalo, on the night of March 18, 1887; he was a young man twenty-eight years of age, and was universally esteemed; Bertha, the only daughter, died when six years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Osborn are members of the Pres- byterian Church at Moriches, in which he is elder. The Democratic party receives his voice and vote, and he has creditably served as Collector of his town and has also been Trustee, Excise Commis- sioner and Justice of the Peace. For the past fifteen years he has been Notary Public. He is well known as a public-spirited citizen, and exhib- its, among his excellent traits of character, hon- esty, integrity, and sterling worth.
G EORGE B. STUDLEY. Suffolk Coun- ty seems to be peculiarly favorable to young men; at any rate here they seem to come to the front and take hold of things in that large and breezy way that people sometimes fancy is found only in the far West. Not yet forty years of age, Mr. Studley has won a large place in the affairs of the world, and his friends are justified in the expectation of greater things to come. He is the son of Hiram Studley, who was the founder of the New York Transfer Cont- pany. The latter first started in business life
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with the Adams Express Company. He was succeeded by Mr. Dodd.
At the time of his father's death our subject was engaged in the transfer business. All rail- road business along the Hudson River, and all steamboat traffic was in his hands, and he had the contract to carry the mails between the depot and the postoffice and also had a custom house contract. All this business his father had devel- oped, and it passed to his son at the time of his death, which occurred in 1875 at the age of fifty- three. He was married to Miss Elvira Shorey, and left three children. Harriet B. is the wife of Rev. D. S. McCaslin, D. D., of Minneapolis; George B. was the second child; Ella, the young- est daughter, is now dead. The wife and mother is still living at the age of sixty-three.
Mr. Studley was reared in New York City, at- tended its public schools, and was a graduate of the College of the City of New York. He be- gan business life by a three-years' engagement with the American Bank Note Company. In 1879 he went to San Francisco, Cal., and for some three years engaged in the wholesale fruit busi- ness. Afterward he turned his attention to the study of law, and, entering the office of Judge Robinson at San Francisco, was occupied in that study for three years. He then found his way back to the East again, and, locating in the fa- miliar scenes of his childhood, began the practice of law in New York. Here he was earnestly oc- cupied for some three years, to the detriment of his health, and on this account was compelled to seek the quiet of the country. He removed to Brentwood, where he found relief for his health and where he is engaged in the real estate busi- ness. He was one of the promoters of the Aus- tral Hotel Company, which is one of the great enterprises of the coast. He is interested in it as a stockholder, and has served most efficiently as one of the directors of the establishment. The hotel was erected in 1890 at a cost of $160,000. The land, and all the improvements connected with the erection of this great building, are esti- mated to be worth more than $200,000. The ho- tel has one hundred and thirty-five rooms, and can accommodate two hundred and twenty-five
guests. There are two hundred and sixty acres connected with the hotel property, part of which has been set aside as a public park.
Mr. Studley was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1891, and has filled the duties of this position for three years. He is now one of the men who are engaged in organizing a company to build an electric railroad from Babylon to Patchogue, along the bay shore, by way of Brentwood and the northeast. He was married in 1891 to Miss Mary C. Spaulding, and they have one child, George B., Jr. Mr. Studley is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Republican in politics.
J AMES H. SMITH, whose home is in the town of Babylon, on Smith Street, and whose postoffice is at Farmingdale, has a real es- tate office at No. 16 Court Street, Brooklyn. He was born at Paris Hill, ten miles from Utica, March 28, 1841, his parents being Samuel and Martha (Ribbons) Smith. They were natives of Norfolk, England, and soon after their marriage which occurred in their native land, they came to New York, locating at Paris Hill. After fol- lowing farming at that point for six years, they removed to the farm where our subject now lives and where his boyhood was passed.
Our subject was very fairly educated, as is the case so frequently with the children of those who have come to America from foreign lands. They are anxious to learn, and know what the lack of knowledge means. So it was with our subject. He made the best of limited opportunities, and his acquirements would put to shame many a man whose early opportunities were better. When he was nineteen years old he went to Brooklyn to work at the butcher's trade, and after working there a year with a cousin, went west to Chicago and St. Louis to follow the same business. After an absence of a few months he came back to New York and went into business for himself, follow- ing the same in New York and Brooklyn for more than twenty years. He started in a small way, but by carefully managing his affairs he was able
GEN. JOHN SMITH.
JOHN SMITH LAWRENCE.
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in two years to buy stalls in Central Market, and after a time he opened out a wholesale business in meats and game of all kinds. After conducting the latter for a number of years he received an ad- vantageous proposition to sell, which he accept- (d. He then bought out his first employer and took charge of a retail meat business at the cor- ner of Atlantic and Smith streets, Brooklyn. Sub- sequently he turned his attention to the real es- tate business and located first at Farmingdale, and after a time came to his present home, which he secured by buying out the other heirs.
In 1870 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Mary T. Kelly, of Brooklyn, and they are the parents of five children, of whom Gertrude, Genevieve and Hattie were born in Brooklyn, and James and Katy in Farmingdale. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has served. two terms as Assessor in the town of Oyster Bay, Queens County, and has taken an active part in local political affairs, acting as committeeman and as delegate to various conventions. He is a member of New Point Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Amityville, of which he is now vice-grand. He was brought up under Methodist influences, but has never united with the church.
As a real estate man Mr. Smith is active. He owns two hundred and forty acres, which are laid out in town lots under the name of May- wood. With his partner he has thirty-one acres at the Half Way Hotel, ninety lots in Farming- dale, and other property elsewhere, including fourteen acres in water front at the New Point Hotel in Amityville.
JOHN S. LAWRENCE. There is no fam- ily among those long established on Long Island that has gained greater prominence m affairs of state than that represented by the sub- Most of this biographical notice, himself for many wars a successful and able attorney-at-law. Born ... Mastic. I. I., July 21, 1818, his entire life was passed in York State. He was educated in Wlumbia College, being a member of the Class of
'35, and studied law in Columbia College Law School, being admitted to full practice in law from that college in 1845. Later he carried on an extensive practice in the city of New York, where his death occurred June 4, 1880.
The marriage of John S. Lawrence June 30, 1846, united him with Sarah E., daughter of Car- los Mauran, of Providence, R. I. She was born May 2, 1823, and died March 10, 1878, having be- come the mother of four children that now sur- vive. They are Elizabeth M., Emma McA., John S., and Frank M. Of these John S. is now re- siding at Hempstead, L. I .; the others make their home on the old Woodhull farm at Mastic, which is especially interesting on account of the fact that it has never been sold, but has been handed down by inheritance from generation to generation ever since the property first came into the possession of the family during the seven- teenth century.
John L., father of John S. Lawrence, was the sixth son of Jonathan and Ruth (Riker) Law- rence, and was born in the city of New York Oc- tober 2, 1785, married Sarah A. Smith June 23. 1816, and died in the metropolis July 24, 1849. A man of superior ability and recognized talents, he was in 1814 appointed Secretary of Legation to Sweden. In 1840 he was Comptroller of Treasury of the city of New York, and from 1847 until his death he served as State Senator. At different times he held other offices of distinc- tion and responsibility. His wife, Sarah Augusta, daughter of Gen. John Smith, of Mastic, was born May 19, 1794, and died in New York No- vember 13, 1877.
Gen. John Smith, above mentioned; was born at Mastic February 12, 1752, and became a man of great prominence, not only in this locality, but throughout the entire country, his talents be- ing of that broad and comprehensive type that won universal recognition. From 1784 until 1794, inclusive, he served as a member of the As- sembly, to which position he was again elected in 1798, serving two years. In 1799 he was chosen to represent this district in Congress, and continued in that capacity until 1804. In the latter year he became United States Senator, in
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which distinguished position he served until 1813. In 1788 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention. During the Revolutionary period he was General of the State militia. In 1814 he was appointed by President Madison to the po- sition of Marshal of the Southern District of New York, which he held until his death. His career was an active and honorable one, and proved that he possessed merit and ability far above the or- dinary. He passed from earth in June, 1816.
General Smith's wife, with whom he was united in marriage October 21, 1792, was Elizabeth (Woodhull) Nicoll, widow of Henry Nicoll. She was born November 30, 1752, and died Septem- ber 14, 1839. Her father, Gen. Nathaniel Wood- hull, who was born December 30, 1722, married Ruth Floyd in 1761, at Mastic, and died Septem- ber 20, 1776. He served in the army during the war between France and England, and held the rank of Major from 1754 to 1760. In the latter year he was promoted to be Colonel, and was put in command of the Third Regiment of New York troops in the expedition against Canada. In 1769 he was made a member of the colonial assembly from Suffolk County, in which body he served until the breaking out of the War of the Revolution in 1776. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congress in May, 1775, and in Au- gust of the same year was made President of that Congress. During the same month he was ap- pointed Brigadier-General of the militia of Suf- folk and Queens Counties.
On the 28th of August, 1776, being separated from his troops, General Woodhull was attacked and taken prisoner by a party of dragoons and infantry. Having given up his sword, in token of surrender, he was ordered by one of the Brit- ish officers to say "God save the King." He re- fused, and would only say "God save us all." Thereupon a cowardly officer attacked the de- fenseless General with his broadsword, inflicting such wounds as to cause his death, after a term of cruel imprisonment.
The wife of General Woodhull was born Feb- ruary 2, 1731, and died November 9, 1805. Her brother, Gen. William Floyd, was one of the sign- · ers of the Declaration of Independence, and their
father, Nicoll Floyd, was a resident of Mastic; their mother, Tabitha Smithi, was born in 1704. and was a daugliter of Jonathan Smith, of Smith- town, L. I.
The history of the Lawrence family, traced back through its various ancestral lines, shows that its members have been men and women of intense patriotism, great strength of character and incorruptible integrity. Identified with the early history of this island, they have always been interested in its progress and supporters of pro- jects for its material advancement. Keen in thought, firm in action, respected in society, and foremost in the professions, they have been among those who have contributed to the wel- fare of the county and the growth of its commer- cial, professional and educational interests.
P REDERICK SANFORD THORPE, Sta- tion Master of the Long Island Road at Babylon, was born at Weston, Conn., February 22, 1849, his parents being Eli and Elizabeth Sanford (Platt) Thorpe, who were both natives of Redding, Conn. The father of our subject was engaged on the railroad all his days. and spent most of his life at Dover Plains, N. Y .. on the New York Central, as road master. He was born about the year 1829, and his last rail- road engagement was having charge of the South Side Railroad, from South Eighth Street, Brook- lyn, to Patchogue. He was killed in a railroad accident at Norwood, February 3, 1875, leaving a wife and three children. His wife, the mother of our subject, died in 1879. The oldest child, Rocelia Adelaide, is single and lives with her brother, the subject of this writing. His young- er sister married Roswell Smith, and makes her home in this village.
Frederick S. Thorpe lived at Weston, Conn., till he was five years old, and then, following the fortunes of his parents, was for a time at home in Williams, Bridge, and later Dover Plains, where he received his school privileges. His school days were soou terminated by his taking a posi-
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tion as water boy on a gravel train, carrying water to ninety men, and receiving $1.75 a day. This was a good start for a boy only fourteen years of age, and after following this one summer, was a laborer on the track, earning a man's wages. He continued in this work for about a year, leaving to take a position as brakenian on the New York Central Road, where he was steadily employed for upwards of three years. By this time Mr. Thorpe was prepared for a more important place in the service of the company, and was put in charge of a gang of men em- ployed in building platforms and cattle pens, put- ting in frogs and switches, and other track work that needed to be done. In the winter he load- ed ten cars of sawed wood per day, continuing this work for two seasons, sometimes overseeing the work of as many as ninety men. For a young mian, not yet out of his cighteenth year, this was rapid advancement, and some months he earned as high as $75. Subsequently, for two summers he was in charge of the baggage department at Croton Falls, working in another capacity during the winter. At Mt. Kisco he was assistant to the station agent and telegraph operator for some months, and at Purdy's Station he was assistant agent for about five years. In the latter place, February 22, 1870, he was married to Miss Carrie McKeel, of Croton's Falls, and two children were born of their union. In July, 1876, the wife and inother passed away. Grace M. was educated in the high school at Danbury, Conn., and has made her home with her aunt since her mother's ‹leath. The second child, E. Gardner, has been well educated in the common schools at Baby- lon.
The subject of this writing came to Babylon in 1875, and has acted as Station Agent for the South Side Railroad, the Flushing & North Shore Railroad, and the United States Express Company. This village was then the terminus of the Flushing line, and this fact demanded the keeping of separate books. For his second wife he married Miss Catherine, daughter of E. I. and Catherine Moore. Aimee, their oldest child, fell a victim to diplithcria at the age of eight. llelen S. was born in 1883. - Frederick S. also
died at the age of eight; and Kittie P. and Brad- ley W. are the next in order.
Mr. Thorpe is decidedly independent in poli- tics, and is not a member of the church, though his wife is very actively associated with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which she is a men- ber. The brothers of the Masonic fraternity count our subject a faithful associate, and in this brotli- erhood he has filled all the chairs in the Babylon Lodge. He is now Past Regent of the Royal Arcanum Council at Babylon, in which order his interest is very great, he having acted as Repre- sentative at the Grand Councils held at Saratoga, Rochester, Buffalo, Ithaca, Brooklyn, and at other points. He is also Past Noble Grand in Sampawanis Lodge, No. 104, I. O. O. F., and is Supreme Treasurer of the American Knights of Protection.
M UNCY PURDY. In scanning the lives and careers of the citizens of Amityville, it is pleasant to note the exercise of en- terprisc in every walk of life, and the achievement of success in every department of business. This one is able to discern in the career of Muncy Purdy, who has for many years been a successful farmer and carpenter of Suffolk County. He was born in Amityville, on the farm close to where he now lives, July 18, 1845, a son of Henry M. and Marictta (Muncy) Purdy, and grandson of Thomas and Sarah (Purdy) Purdy. The father of our subject was born in Westchester County, April 7, 1817, and there grew to manhood and received a good common school education. Early in life he became familiar with the arduous duties of the farm, and having a natural taste for that occupation, met with more than an ordinary de- gree of success.
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