USA > New York > Suffolk County > Yaphank > Yaphank as it is, and was, and will be. Containing biographical sketches of all its prominent men, the characteristic proclivities of its "funny" people, its business and business "monarchs," its facilities for enterprise and improvement, > Part 2
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Prelusory movements have since originated to remodel it into a cotton factory, and why the project never matured the originators solely know.
It would, certainly, embellish the physical condition of the village, benefit 'its inhabitants, and prove a remunera- tion worthy its establishment.
In the rooms, whose walls should ring with the enlivening din of trade, and a cheerful array of contented laborers be seen, are piled hundreds of feet of lumber, and grim silence reigns supreme within its empty corridors.
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
In addition to his other business, Mr. Gerard has a large lumber yard. It was a necessity long unsupplied until he founded the indispensable convenience.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
Hawkins Gerard was born in Fire Place, Brookhaven. He wooed and won the hand of Miss Fanny Hawkins, a daughter of a fellow-townsman, Rev. Nathaniel Hawkins. It is certam he has never had cause to regret the choice of his life's companion.
While yet immature in years he came to live with his uncle, Robert Hawkins, in Yaphank, and in the old red mill-a miniature structure-he mastered the trade that has since proved a fortune.
The original mill possessed less than one-third capacity of the present, and soon after Mr. Gerard became possessor it was torn down, and a much larger one built upon the old site.
PERSONAL.
Mr. Gerard is warm-hearted. genial, and noble spirited. He is popular with our citizens generally : with all classes. and all sects. Sociable in his friendship, he is regarded as a fast and true friend.
In years, he has reached the apex of man's allotted so- journ on earth ; and the iron hand of time is falling with withering effect as he advances in years.
In person, he is thick-set and stocky. In his years of prime he was powerful, with great enduring powers. Ho has a pleasant phiz. A perfect model of the " Old School."
Ever considerate in his public and private life, he has gathered never-fading laurels upon the mantle of a well- spent career.
3
MyNeckes
V.
WILLIAM JONES WEEKS.
ANECDOTE OF THE OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE-ORTHOGRAPHY- ENGLISH GRAMMAR-WALK TO BOSTON -- FIRST BOAT- NATURAL HISTORY-SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS-MANAGEMENT OF BEES-HEXAGONAL CELLS- DIVISION LINE-GREAT FIRE-CRANBERRY CULTURE- TREASURER-COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF THE POOR- IIIS TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES-A SUBSTITUTE FOR TO- BACCO-PERSONAL.
The subject of this sketch was born in the village of Oyster Bay, in the year 1821, and came, with his parents, in the Spring of 1828, to reside in Yaphank. From that date to the year 1833 he had such opportunities for educa- tion as the neighborhood afforded ; which were chiefly at the district school-house.
The course of studies there pursued was not very exten- sive, nor were the text-books at that day of the most pleas- ing and instructive kind. He relates the following
ANECDOTE OF THE OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE :
" Philosophy was not a part of the course of study, yet an amusing incident occurred one Winter morning, which gave the pupils an inkling of that science.
The night previous had been sufficiently cold to freeze the ink in various ink-stands ; in one, especially, made of lead, it was about solid, and the wooden stopple was frozen fast.
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
The owner placed it on the hearth, in front of the blazing fire, to thaw, and occasionally turned it, in order that every side might feel the heat, little dreaming that he was thereby evoking the latent power of steam ; when suddenly, with a loud report, out flew the stopple, accompanied by nearly the entire finid contents, which projected upward in a di- verging column, and put in deep mourning a considerable space of the ceiling overhead. This lesson was neither re- peated nor forgotten."
The district school-notwithstanding its disadvantages and discomforts-was beneficial ; he thinks that he there acquired an excellent knowledge of
ORTHOGRAPHY.
One of the teachers, to excite the emulation of the spell- ing-class. adopted the plan of giving, daily, to the one who stood at the head of the class, a written certificate, tes- tifying to that fact. These varied slightly in form. as his fancy dictated.
Young Weeks was the recipient of many of these honors, a package of which he still retains. One of them reads as follows :
"TAKE NOTICE !
William J. Weeks is at the head of his class ; he has not missed a word for a considerable length of time ; he therefore stands this day at the head of his class.
Brookhaven, Jan. 7th, 1832.
J. OSBORN, Teacher."
On one occasion the teacher was seized with a poetic frenzy, and indited the following :
" William J. Weeks, his mind has fixt For the reception of orthography ; He also good improvement makes In arithmetic and geography."
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
In the Spring of 1833, when but thirteen years old, he was sent to Southampton to attend the academy. Here he was first introduced to the study of
ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
This subject was both novel and abstruse to him. He had been pursuing it a few weeks, when one day he went with the class to recite to Peter H-, the assistant teacher, who presided in the upper room of the academy, and in his turn, was directed to parse a word. The word and the sentence are totally lost in oblivion : but he is under the impression that he must have handled the parts of speech in a most extraordinary manner. for he had no sooner completed his-supposed-task, than Peter, who sat with his chair tilted back, and his heels balanced upon the table, turned upon him a severe look, and said : "Sir. did you mean to insult me ?" No explanation was vouchsafed; and while Peter's instruction in grammar made no impres- sion, that remark immortalized him.
After spending a year at Southampton, he pursued his studies for the next four years, successively, at the acade. mies of Bellport and Miller's Place. These institutions were then in the zenith of their prosperity.
When he was about seventeen years of age, he remained at home for a year and a half, engaged in the labors of the farm and garden. He was at this time a
PRACTICAL SURVEYOR,
and was occasionally employed in running lines and meas- uring land.
Having decided to enter college, he returned to Miller's Place in 1839-40, to complete his preparation. He passed his examination, and entered the Freshman class of Yale College, in 1840. He completed the four years' course, and was graduated with honor, in 1844.
During his college course, believing that a sound mind could best be maintained by a sound body, he was careful,
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
by daily exercise, to retain his physical health. This was easy, from his naturally active disposition. At that time the college was destitute of a gymnasium, and the students were left to provide for themselves the means of exercise. These were chiefly foot-ball, wicket and walking ; in all of which he took an active part. In January, 1842, was the ordinary Winter vacation of two weeks. Instead of a visit home, he determined to
WALK TO BOSTON.
The distance from New Haven was more than 140 miles. There was a considerable depth of snow. He set out with a single companion. Before reaching Hartford, his com- panion became discouraged, and abandoned the undertak- ing. Thence he continued the journey alone. After several days of steady walking, he reached his destination ; saw Boston, Charlestown, Bunker Hill Monument, &c. He re- turned by the way of Providence, accomplishing, on the last day's walk, thirty-five miles, in nine hours including a halt of twenty minutes. He was somewhat impeded by his valise, and its contents of twelve pounds.
In the Spring of 1843, he conceived the idea of introduc- ing the exercise of rowing among the students. He. there- fore, purchased in New York a Whitehall boat, nineteen feet long, and took it with him on his return to New Haven. He induced six of his class-mates to join him in forming a boat club.
This was the
FIRST BOAT
owned by students of Yale College, and was the origin of the Yale Navy.
The boat was named the "Pioneer," and its crew the " Pioneers."
Many short and pleasant excursions were made in it about the harbor and adjacent waters. One morning, in the Sum- mer of 1844, he, with four of the crew, rowed across the
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
Sound to Long Island, and returned in the same way, the next morning.
At this time, after thirty-one years of the changes and chances of human life, the entire seven forming the crew of "Pioneers," are still living. Mr. Weeks carly imbibed a taste for
NATURAL HISTORY,
and was ever interested in reading anything relating to the subject of animated nature. Subsequently, having received some instruction in taxidermy-the art of preserving the skins of birds, animals, &c .- he became an adept in that art. and spent a portion of his college vacations in collecting and preparing birds and other objects-forming a small museum. He has since secured some fine specimens of the native wild animals of Suffolk County for the Long Island Historical Society.
Mr. Weeks is not a politician nor office-seeker. He has too much independence to intrigue for office. If he has held any public office, it has been the voluntary tribute of others. At the annual town meeting of his town -- Brook- haven=in 1847, he was elected
SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
The town is a large one, and embraced about forty dis- triets and school-houses. He discharged the duties with ability and fidelity ; was re-elected the following year, but declined serving, in order to attend to his private affairs.
In 1850, we find him engaged in the
MANAGEMENT OF BEES.
He embarked in this with his usual ardor and energy. Every treatise upon this subject he procured and perused. He thus combined the knowledge and practice of other apiarians with his own observation and experience.
He has facilities for observing the bees in their varied op- erations.
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
In 1853, he discovered by what means the honey bee is enabled to construct its
HEXAGONAL CELLS,
of a uniform size and shape.
This mystery had elicited the admiration, excited the wonder and curiosity, baffled the researches of the most astute philosophers and mathematicians, from the time of Aristotle, more than two hundred years.
His elucidation of this was published in the Scientific American, of May, 1860, and some years after, in the Bee Keepers' Journal.
In 1853, he was elected a trustee of the School District here. In this position he had an opportunity to learn the conditions and needs of his district.
The school-house had been erected many years previ- ously, by certain proprietors ; some of whom still claimed their individual shares. The site had been granted to then solely for the purpose of a school-house, and was to revert to the grantor in case the house became "extinct."
It was erected upon the site of the highway, and had no tree nor convenience about it. The district owned neither the house nor the site, nor were the bounds defined. In this anomalous position, in February, 1854, he wrote to the State Superintendent for instructions as to the powers of the residents. The following extract describes somewhat the condition of the house :
"Of course, sir, after the lapse of nearly forty-three years, exposed to the peltings of the pitiless storm, the fervid rays of the noonday sun, and the multifarious hack of little boys' jackknives, the marks of age-venerable, though not rev- ered-are manifest upon its shattered frame. And though not "extinct," the hour of its dissolution is evidently not far distant. The crisis has come, and the physicians-with low tones and solemn looks-are consulting together."
It was proposed to repair the old house. A majority of the voters decided to purchase a site and erect a new one.
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YAPILANK AS IT IS.
There was strong opposition to this by some of the tax- pay- ers, which neither argument nor persuasion could overcome. Opposition to building school-houses is not an unusual circumstance in the rural districts.
Mr. Weeks saw that the opportunity to secure a site of an acre, in the central part of the village, if then neglected, might never recur. Nothing remained but for the inhabi- tants to exercise their legal powers.
After two years, the bounds were duly defined and es- tablished. The site was purchased, and the house erected. During this period few are aware of his personal labor, and the extent of his writing.
He toiled for the public good ! His efforts may have been misconstrued, but he never cherished any animosity toward those who caused him so much unnecessary trouble !
In 1859, he was appointed by Hons. D. R. Floyd, - Jones, and Chas. A. Floyd, then Supervisors of Oyster Bay and Huntington, to run the
DIVISION LINE
between those towns.
This line is identical with the line between the counties of Queens and Suffolk. It is about twelve miles in length over the land. Portions of the line at each end were tradition- ally located ; but the new straight line deviated from both, and led through forest and thicket, and across cleared fields. The survey was completed in July of that year. and the several monuments erected along the line in the Spring of 1860.
In May, 1862. occurred the
GREAT FIRE.
the most extensive and destructive that ever was known in the town of Brookhaven, or, in fact. on Long Island. It lasted two days, urged on by high winds, and devasted in its course his own and his father's woodland, and caused
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
much loss. Soon after, he spent some time in traversing the burnt district, and preparing a map, which exhibited, in a clear manner, the location and extent of that disaster.
Several years previous to this, the
CRANBERRY CULTURE
began to excite attention in Suffolk County.
Believing he had some land adapted to this culture, he undertook to prepare it for that purpose. It was a swamp ; a soil of peat, hidden under a thicket of bushes and trees. After a series of years, with indomitable perseverance, and the expenditure of much personal labor and money, he brought a portion into a suitable condition for planting, and has since grown some of the finest cranberries ever exhibited in our county.
At a meeting held at Thompson Station, February 1st, 1865, to reorganize the Suffolk County Agricultural Society, he was elected
TREASURER,
an office of trust, the duties of which he executed during four successive years with marked ability.
His financial reports are models of exactness in detail.
He took an active part, also, in other respects, to promote the prosperity of the Society.
While still engaged in the duties of this position, he was nominated by the Republican party and elected
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF THE POOR.
He aimed, during his three years' term of office, to dis- charge every requisite duty in a thorough manner, and to make as little expense as possible for his personal services.
In his third official year-1871-the County Alms House was completed, and he had the chief care of getting it in readiness for its future inmates. After the furniture and other articles were procured, he spent several nights alone
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
in the house, to guard the public property from fire or other loss.
Seeing the importance, in the first year of its practical op- eration, of having this new institution managed with pru- dence and an accurate account of its expenses recorded, as a criterion for the future, he concluded to accept the charge of it, and, with his wife as matron, resided there during the year 1872.
No two persons could have been found who combined more intelligence, industry, fidelity and efficiency for the varied duties of the position, than Mr. and Mrs. Weeks. Nor will the house ever be managed for the interests of both the inmates and the publie with more sedulons care than was exercised by them.
Besides the active duties of supervising the house, he cond-cted the correspondence, purchased the supplies, kept the accounts and register, and never hesitated to " put his 'shoulder to the wheel," whenever his skill and strength were required. He originated and began the system of in- terments in a uniform manner, and of registering the same for future identification.
HIS TEMPERANCE PRINCIPLES.
He may justly be considered a temperance veteran ; for when he was about two years old, he refused all drinks but pure water. What at first might have been a freak of ob- stinacy, became, in time, a settled principle. from which neither persuasion nor ridicule could move him.
Before the first temperance society was formed-in 1825 -he was a "cold water man," and for more than fifty years has quenched his thirst with nothing but water, to the ex- clusion of all spirituous liquors, tea and coffee. Nor has he ever used tobacco in any form. He feels neither the de- sire nor need of these articles. To his abstemiousness in this respect, and to his physical activity, he ascribes the long combined good health and strength with which he has been blest.
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
He would urge the youth of his country, for their health and independence, to adopt the same habits. And he would dissuade the young men of our land from the use of intoxi- cating drinks, and from the useless and pernicious practice of using tobacco.
To those addicted to this habit he likes occasionally to relate, that an ingenious citizen of Boston once devised
A SUBSTITUTE FOR TOBACCO,
The chief recommendations of which were, that it was just as nasty, and a great deal cheaper !
PERSONAL.
Mr. Weeks is about the medium height, compactly built, fully developed, active, and powerful. His countenance is dominant, but intellectual. He has a pleasing address. and is unpretending in his language and appearance. He walks with a hurried, eager gait, and. seen upon the street. would be taken for a mechanic, or some one with a job on hand, and a limited time to perform it in.
He is never at a loss for something to do. With his family cares, his bees, his garden, and work-shop, his atten- tion and labors are ever employed and diversified.
He is skilled in the use of mechanics' tools, and his work- shop is replete with every one in ordinary use. With his books and the public journals his leisure time is beguiled. He always sees something ahead not yet accomplished.
Mr. Weeks was always fond of athletic sports, and is still a graceful skater. Although not an adept in all the variations of the modern art, yet he has never met an equal in delineating the capital letters of the alphabet, with his skates, on ice.
In 1848 he married Miss Mary Croswell, of Schoharie County, a most estimable and intelligent lady. Their union has been blest with twelve children-six sons and six daugh- ters-nine of whom are now living.
VI.
DANIEL DOWNS SWEEZY.
PERSONAL-HIS BUSINESS-IN THE FAMILY.
Downs Sweezy is the eldest son and heir of the late Chris- topher Sweezy. His father kept a tavern for many years in the old homestead ; that has since been demolished. In those early days, what is now Yaphank was then Millville, or Middle Island, an almost unknown hamlet of about half a dozen houses.
PERSONAL.
D. D. Sweezy is about sixty-five years old, sickly and broken-down.
His sympathy for the outside world and the suffering masses is limited. Generally agreeable and entertaining. sometimes arbitrary and self-willed. He looks out on the world, he sees the oppressed struggling in the sea of pov- erty, he knows the bleak winds chill the hearts of thou- sands, and that the inexorable demon ever haunts their door. His ears are deaf to their cries, and his eyes rest upon them as upon a Summer landscape.
Downs Sweezy is not a charitable man !
In his dealings with men he is called honest and honor- able, but exacting and stringent. If there be any enviable side of a bargain, he inevitably secures it.
The history of Downs Sweezy is the history of his brother, Van Ransellar. God has given them much of this world's goods. He has made their hearts smile with plenty. While others go down in the vortex, they prosper and are happy. Their " munificent " gifts are " showered " on the
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
church. If the spiritual demands are satiated they regard the world and social decornm secure. But, who will ap- pease the physical ? None can satisfy the requirements of God with an empty stomach! Did the Israelites in the wilderness ? Will our local poor ? Then let our rich un- lock their coffers ! God has blessed them with abundance ; but he never intended they should hoard while poor hu- manity cries for bread. It is a solemn spectacle to see men, whose lives hang upon brittle threads, labor more eagerly on the road to riches as the grave draws nearer, and the cur- tain is rolling down over their last acts !
IIIS BUSINESS.
By profession, Downs Sweezy is a miller and farmer. For years Van Ransaeller and himself worked the old mill their father owned. Time made rapid changes. Their father died : Van Ransaeller sold his interest to Downs, and the old mill was hauled down. and a more capacious and better modeled one built on nearly the old site.
His mills have proved paying institutions, and have a reputation of over sixty years' standing.
IN THE FAMILY.
He has a wife and one child-a daughter. In them is centered his interest. Bread would be deleterious to his stomach if his family pronounced it unfit food. May would be the dreariest month of the year if his family did not enjoy it: and thus he is known in the family. He is a pleasant man at home -- affable and courteons.
Of late-Downs Sweezy has not given his business much personal supervision. He has suffered many long years with a chronic disease, and twice tottered over the brink of the grave.
As long as the waves murmer on the shores of Willow Lake, and the groans of Sweezy's Mill are wafted to the ears of the villagers, the name of Sweezy will remain fresh on the annals of Yaphank's history.
1
EDWARD WICKHAM MILLS.
EDWARD WICKHAM MILLS.
HIS YOUTHFUL ENTERPRISE-HIS SENSIBLE VIEW OF BUSI-
NESS-POPULAR WITH ALL-PERSONAL.
HIS YOUTHFUL ENTERPRISE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Middle Town. Orange Co., the 19th day of June, 1849. He is the son of Edmund Smith and Elmira Finn Mills.
Early in life young Wickham evinced an enterprising inclination, and combining an invincible will with honorable resolutions, he launched into the business world. His name was first brought before the commercial public in a manufacturing capacity. Like all successful merchants and tradesmen, he was first doomed to endure a failure, before he could appreciate a success. His factory speculation was not auspicious, and may be credited as one stumble in his finan- cial career. But defeat is indispensable to lay a facile road to wealth. Thus, when but a youth, he became involved in a money difficulty that would have discouraged more mature minds.
But young Wickham was not disheartened. Though his initiation into a business sphere slightly wilted his enthusi- asm, it never daunted his fixed determinations and aspira- tions.
He canceled all claims against him, left the ether so unhealthy, and came to congenial little Yaphank.
In 1859 he entered the store of his brother-in-law, as under clerk. His restless enterprise did not allow him to remain contented in that humble position, and giving posi-
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
tive evidence of greater efficiency, was deservedly promoted to the head of Mr. Mills' mercantile affairs in Yaphank.
His increasing business increases his friends and popu- larity. Such laudable motives in a young man are sure prognostics of a brilliant future.
In 1872 we see him again settled upon a mercantile foun- dation, as the dashing young successor to J. P. Mills. No more a slave of the dry-goods counter, he is responsible for the success or failure of his own establishment. When the shingle of "JOHN P. MILLS, MERCHANT," was taken down, and the glaring appellation of "E. WICKHAM MILLS" looked out over the dormant village, a ring of joy echoed from every home.
HIS SENSIBLE VIEW OF BUSINESS.
Mr. Mills enjoys a reasonable view of this subject. He believes that what nature kindly bestowed upon us we lack in ambition and enterprise ; that if we can centre cap- italists' attention to our wasting virtues, a multiplication of population will inevitably follow, and opposition spring up. Opposition being the vital of trade, good effects will consequently ensue ; thus benefiting merchants, tradesmen and citizens alike. He believes there are stumbling stones in every path to improvement, and that the path to Yap- hank is no exception.
POPULAR WITH ALL.
With his customers and friends he is popular for his fa- cetiousness and gentlemanly bearing. Always character- ized by his humor and jocularity, he wins a friend in every patron.
From the four points of the compass his customers flock. No house in Brookhaven Town has a firmer corner stone, or has stood more firmly through financial eruptions and panics, than his.
The extent of his trade is really astonishing. Far up among the hills of Coram he sends his wares. The people of
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YAPHANK AS IT IS.
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