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 8
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What was he? 'Well, he was "a man!" Yes, that is nice : it carries a deal of meaning with it. A man of honor ! A man in the true seuse of the word !
Although he did nothing worthy fame or story; although no historian will labor over pages of flowery words in ex- tolling his obseure name, he nevertheless deserves a shining throne high above the fabled heroes whose crimsoned swords won bloody records, but not the enviable titles of "true men."
Vil.
DANIEL B. SWEEZEY.
"Died at Yaphank, April 24th, 1863, Daniel B. Sweezey, in the 33d year of his age."
The above appeared, with the quoted obituary below, in the Suffolk Herald of May 20th, 1863.
"On the 11th of the same month, in leaping from a wagon, he struck the ground unfavorably, and broke his leg. The fracture was complicated, with a severe external wound from the protruding bone, and although at first hopes were confidently entertained, it became apparent in a few days that he was in a critical condition. Tetanus, or locked-jaw, supervened, and baffled all the efforts of his physician. His funeral on Sunday, the 26th, was largely attended by his sorrowing friends and neighbors, and was impressive as a remarkably mournful occasion.
"In parting with Daniel, our community has sustained a serious loss. Here, every one is known and numbered, and his death has opened a void that cannot easily be filled. Steady and industrious, he gained our respect ; kind and obliging, he won our esteem and friendship. His open heart and willing hand contributed to his usefulness. In his dealings he was generous and liberal, and his deportment and cheerfulness comported with his Christian character and pleasantry. While he bore his sufferings with manly fortitude, he was resigned to his fate, and died lamented by all. This brief tribute is due to his memory, while his lin- eaments are still vividly before us, and ere time shall have wrapped all in forgetfulness. For him we may safely cher-
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ish the belief that he has exchanged the cares of earth for the joys of Heaven."
" Lord, who's the happy man that may To thy blest courts repair, Not stranger-like, to visit, them, But to inhabit there?
" "Tis he who walketh uprightly, Whom righteousness directs ; Whose generous tongue disdains to speak The thing his heart rejects.
" Who never did a slander forge, His neighbor's fame to wound ; Nor hearken to a false report By malice whispered round.
" Who, vice in all its pomp and power, Can treat with just neglect ; And piety, though clothed in rags, Religiously respect.
" Who, to his plighted vows and trust Has ever firmly stood ; And, though he promise to his loss, He makes his promise good.
" Whose soul in usury disdains His treasure to employ ; Whom no rewards can ever bribe The guiltless to destroy.
" The man who, by this righteous course, Has happiness insured, When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand, By Providence secured."
YAPHANK, May 15th, 1863.
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How the people mourned when Daniel Sweezey died ! Each grain of earth that fell over his grave, seemed to bear down the lamenting hearts in deeper sorrow.
He was one of those scarce men who go down to the cruel grave when their virtues can be ill spared.
For years Mr. Sweezey was the loadstone of J. P. Mills' store, and when the unfortunate trip robbed him of his life, he was fast becoming the most popular man in this vicinity.
He married the youngest daughter of Appollas Mills-a sister of J. P. Mills-and entered the store as head clerk. He left no children to mourn a father's death, but a loving wife to suffer a husband's loss.
In the church-yard at Middle Island, he is sleeping the sleep that knows no waking, and o'er his grave is reared a tablet to the memory of one of nature's true noblemen.
-
VIII.
ROBERT H. HAWKINS, JUN.
HIS FIRST STRUGGLE-A TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY.
Mr. Hawkins was a gentleman of sterling qualities, and. although his promising future was obscured by the grim mantle of death, his works on earth evinced his many ex- cellent talents, and a beaming future of well-earned honors and happiness.
HIS FIRST STRUGGLE.
When but a lad his ambitious spirit led him into busy life. . At an early age Mr. James H. Weeks gave him a letter of introduction to a prominent mercantile firm in the City of New York, and his movements upward began. It led him on to the bright goal of business aspiration. It helped him amass a fine fortune. and to form endearing ties with many noble characters.
A TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY.
Mr. Hawkins died at Yaphank. L. I .. December 16th, 1855, aged 38 years.
After a short illness Mr. Hawkins was stricken down in the prime of his manhood, and atan age when his prospects were bright for many years of happiness with his beloved and interesting family.
It is but a little while since he retired from an active commercial life in the City of New York to enjoy the rural and domestic pleasures of his native place, and to soothe
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the declining days of his aged father, who, being entirely blind, was the more dependent upon his son.
Although the time allotted him to discharge these filial duties was short, yet his friends can testify how faith- fully he performed them. Kindly he guided the faltering steps of the old man, and cheered his lonely home by read- ing and praying with him. Not only is his death a loss to his family, but to society, and to all to whom he had en- deared himself by his frank and courteous manners and generous disposition. Kind and obliging, he was always ready to confer a favor, and ever grateful when he received one. The disease, which terminated in an affection of the brain, rendered him unconscious of all around, and insen- sible to the attention and solicitude with which he was watched by his family, friends and neighbors. They hoped and prayed for some favorable change. that he might be spared to his beloved ones. But no interval of returning consciousness permitted him to bid farewell to those so dear to his heart. Yet they are not without the ever-blessed assurance that his peace was made with God. That he had not neglected, while in health, to "set his affections on things above ;" "to lay up his treasure in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust can corrupt." Nor was he ashamed to confess Christ before men, in partaking of the Holy Sacrament in obeyance to the command : "Do this in re- membrance of me." His christian deportment and conver- sation were apparent to all, and he has truly left an exam- ple worthy of imitation. Although in the enjoyment of worldly prosperity, and occupying his new and beautiful residence, in circumstances where pride so easily besets the human heart, he was just as humble as in the isolated cottage. Before its completion his beautiful home was consecrated to prayer, and made a habitation for God.
One of the last acts previous to his death was to construct a fence enclosing the family burial ground, through the gate of which his own mortal remains were the first to be borne.
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There may they lie in peace until the morning of the Re- surrection ; and, if we believe that "Jesus died and rose again," "even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."
A sad day, a sad hour it was when Hewlett Hawkins was laid in the dark and stilly tomb. Every Spring the warm zephyrs fan the sweet flowers that bloom over his grave, and the cruel frost of Autumn cuts down the waving grasses, as Death's pale charge cuts down the bright and promising man.
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Part Third.
FACTS AND FANCIES; OR,
TRUTH AND TRIFLES BOILED DOWN.
PART THIRD.
I.
THE FAILINGS OF THE PEOPLE.
GOSSIPING-COVETOUSNESS-" RUSHING " ENTERPRISE.
There are black sheep in every fold, and deceptive gran- dees in all society. No village is complete without a town pump, where the feminine portion can draw up and lower down the characters, wealth, and social standing of neighbors and acquaintances. As long, as long as the world revolves, so long, so long will old maids and young. discuss the prevalent gossip over the historical tea-table !
A stranger visits the place. No matter about the sex : Miss Grundy must first inspect, and establish her verdiet. before her devoted followers will unmask their batteries. If rich, third, fourth and fifth cousins will flock down like the frogs into Egypt, and overflow with kindness. The past reputation is of no consequence. The elegant and refined grasp heartily the callous palm, and smile upon the marks of the wash-tub. Money flings open the aristocratic gate. and gold paves the road where the " heavy" are wont to ramble.
Whatever excites the village, Mr. So-and-So is surely the procreator ; and stories, like snowballs, increase in size as they are rolled around.
Yaphankers have three failings, viz : Gossiping, Covet ousness, and "Rushing" Enterprise. The first is uni- versal, the second is semi, and the third demi-semi. Too
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much enterprise proves pernicious. Ah! the fate of am- bitious Yaphank ! GOSSIPING. .
Gossiping is innate with some, and easily acquired by others. No one escapes their cruelty. A book filled with Yaphank gossip would be more thrilling and interesting than any model effort of a Lytton or Scott. When our full complement is at home, no place of its size can equal Yaphank for gossip in the known world. The four winds of Heaven toss mail bags through their doors, and the Moon tells them hidden tales. It is impossible to please a gos- siper, for
" We may go through the world ; but 'twill be very slow, If we listen to all that is said as we go ; We'll be worried and fretted and kept in a stew, For meddlesome tongues must have something to do- For people will talk !
" If quiet and modest, 'twill then be presumed That your humble position is only assumed ; You're a wolf in sheep's clothing, or else you're a fool, But don't get excited ; keep perfectly cool-
For people will talk !
" If threadbare your coat, or old-fashioned your dress, Some one, of course, will take notice of this, And hint, rather elose, that you can't pay your way, But don't get excited, whatever they say-
For people will talk!
" If you dress in the fashion don't think to escape, For they criticise then in a far different shape, You're ahead of your means, or you're bills are unpaid, But mind your own business, and keep straight ahead-
For people will talk !
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" They will talk fine before you, but then at your back, Of venom and spite there is never a lack ;
How kind and polite is all that they say,
But bitter as gall when your're out of the way-
Oh ! people must talk !
" Good friend, take my advice and do as you please, For your mind (if you have one) will then be at case ; Through life you will meet with all sorts of abuse, But don't think to stop them, 'twill be of no use-
For people will talk !""
COVETOUSNESS.
The Scripture saith. " The spirit that dwelleth in ns lusteth to envy." It is a common failing that few are will- ing to confess they are beset with : and if Moses kept break- ing the Ten Commandments, or obliterated the Tenth, more exemplary churchmen would abonnd than now receive that " coveted " appellation. The " root of all evil " gener- ally supports the tree of covetousness, and thus, the more man gets the more he wants. The wealthy of every town and village are generally the most covetous, and the world and community are never better for their existence.
Show me the successful, grasping men of any place, and I will name the covetons ones. It is the most debasing obstacle in the world to true Christianity ; a rock upon which many unsuspecting ones are wrecked, and go down where the blind never see.
" RUSHING " ENTERPRISE.
The proof that there can exist too much enterprise is startlingly verified in this "Gem of the forests." The screams of our factories shock the nerves of the aged, and their smoke choke the dormant villagers ; while the shouts of merry workmen startle the cattle on the hillside, and send old women into hysterics. The voice of Improvement
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thunders over the hills, and down into the quiet valleys, rousing the sleepy yeomen from their long lethargy, and scattering surprise and astonishment everywhere. Who says too much enterprise is not destructive ! Ah! the fate of Yaphank !
OUR SOLID MEN
"Can't bear the idea of Yaphank being as large as N. Y. City." Seems hard, too ! "Crime can and will hide its black form in the bosom of a great city ; and vice allure the unwary and innocent into its dark embrace," say our Solid Men. That is the reason land can't be bought to build a second New York, I suppose! They also say, "That in a large town or city, none inhale the sweet air of security breathed by the dwellers in a quiet village." Too bad ! Well, the public never can declare our "Gem of the woods" a second Gotham of the Western World. Too much vice in towns for Solid Men !
II.
THE BENEFICENCE OF YAPHANKERS.
Nothing is peculiar about the beneficence of Yaphankers. except the fountain from which it springs. Here the poor give their mites with a smile, and the rich stand guard over their coffers. To ride through the village, strangers would declare Yaphank a cold, inhospitable place ; inhabited by selfish, disagreeable people. But it's not true. Yaphank ers, as a people, are charitable ; and no place of its size contributes more toward supporting the Word of God and hushing the cries of the poor. It is only the rich of Yap- hank that are uncharitable; the poor and well-to-do are generous.
One can count with the fingers the men who darken the name of Yaphank. and blanket its munificence. They can be found in the church, and their names are familiar in the business circles. Such are a curse to civilization ! They block up the roads and highways, and swarm where their presence is pernicious. Yaphank never will prosper until these men balance their accounts and rest where the " wood- bine twineth."
A stranger, soliciting alms, passed through Yaphank. He entered a gentleman's house, and asked for money and food. The gentleman told him he was poor, and had not money to shower on strangers. He is a steady churchman, and worth over fifty thousand dollars.
" You appear comfortable ; have a nice house, furniture, and clothing," replied the stranger ; " while I am sick. and have a large family depending on me for bread." The stranger retired without comfort.
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FACTS AND FANCIES.
There are men here who have retired from business, and live off their income, who shut their doors on the poor, and send them to Mr. - for alms; informing the solicitor that "he is able, and willing to give." The poor man's sky is made no brighter, or his wants less, by the philan- thropical virtue of some Yaphankers. But, thank God, there are generous exceptions !
Oh ! how long will the poor cry for bread ! How long will thousands die in abjectness and poverty in this world of abundance ! How long will hundreds live in an Eden of plenty, and thousands in huts of want !
The interrogation re-echoes from the unfilled mouths of thousands of widows and orphans, "How long ?"
A very pious old lady is a member of the Yaphank Presbyterian Church. She is the wife of a wealthy and retired citizen ; and never wearies in lifting sinners out of the mire of the world. It is her joy to gather children into the Sabbath School, and tell them the " sweet story of old." She visits the homes of the poor. She crosses their thres- holds with God's love swelling her heart to exuberance. She pats the ragged urchins on the head, and pours into their ears the tale of the Cross. She tells them if they are good and pions children, she will meet them in Heaven one day. But she never will ! She is uncharitable. She enters the homes of poverty ; but not to ease the bodily pains. The ointment of Heaven she freely bestows, and mistakes the haggard, pinched features for Heavenly smiles. She reads God's Word blindly, and believes a continual shout- ing in His favor the direct road to the Kingdom. There are many Christians like her in Yaphank. God grant their eyes may be opened on this side of the waters ; for Lazarus cooleth no tongues !
III.
MORAL AND IMMORAL YAPHANK.
MORAL YAPHANK.
It is not my intention to dwell protractedly on this ethi cal subject. An unquestionable person or place requires no redeemer. The inborn virtues form an impenetrable bar- rier, and paint an unassuming but unapproachable picture for public inspection. Truly, an untarnished title requires no aid to place it upon a favorable basis. The exemplary life of Washington can be told in a few words, while the varied career of the traitorous Arnold would occupy col- umns.
In reviewing the morality of Yaphank, and comparing with foreign samples, I am decidedly convinced that we have as sound and tried morality in our retired little village as abounds in other towns of more prominence, and far bolder pretensions ; the denizens of which ever delight in speak- ing and writing encomiastically of their people and Chris- tian advancement.
I believe the elixir of Christianity consists not in pharisa- ical pompousness and absurd boasting of one's spiritual virtues ; and that the reverberating echoes of individual horns are no more a verification of individual greatness than the ass's bray is a proof of his fondness for oats. A man's virtues are confirmed by his deeds ; which fact is plainly established in the biographies of all truly immortal moral men.
The majority of our citizens are moral, highly respectable. and all pertaining thereto ; and if less inclined toward the mountain of self-aggrandizement and exaltation, and
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more curbed their avariciousness and worldly lusts, I should be spared the painful duty of writing even a limited account of the immorality abounding here.
My friends and the public will expect and justly require of me an impartial and correct description of Yaphank and the people ; and I shall endeavor to complete the obliga- tions of my undertaking and present to the reading public what every town, city and county should-an authentic his- tory of the inhabitants and place.
It is impossible to write in laudation of one without mak- ing a contradictor and opponent of another ; and men who write, confining themselves to partial and relative limits, can never be regarded as reliable historians.
IMMORAL YAPHANK.
What more enlightened villages would term guileless amusement, moral and over-strenuous Yaphank would de- clare shockingly wicked.
While frolics are in vogue, the good congregate to offer prayers for the giddy and read their "titles clear." One foot must belong to the church, or the frequenters of the unholy ball-rooms are beyond redemption.
It has originated no little amusement among strangers visiting this hidden oasis of the woods, regarding the forced detestation some institute against that most pleasurable of our harmless pastimes, "a good country hop." Gene- rally they cannot dance themselves, and never attempted the "useless and immoral amusement." But, as fast as they master the art, their enthusiasm overcomes their previous aversion, and it is astonishing the number of "hops" these " moral" ones will "get up" through the agency of some veteran dancer. Shy at first in instigating these "evil gatherings," they become more and more enraptured with the harmless enjoyment, and are soon catalogued-by those yet ignorant of the delightful art-among the irreparably lost.
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FACTS AND FANCIES.
If "tripping the light" will debar any from that heaven- ly choir, how many innocent ones will " pass in" their checks at Hades! Oh! ye Gospel-makers of cant and dollars-of free love and anti-local-eruptions, seek not for an occasion to come in contact with those who prefer danc- ing their way to the Great Unfathomed to living a lethargi- cal career of valueless gossip in mansions built of glass !
IV.
YAPHANK AS IT WAS.
WIIAT COMPRISED YAPHANK IN 1800-YAPIIANK MILLS AND THEIR HISTORY-THE OLD GRANTS-WHY YAP- PHANK WAS NOT A CITY.
YAPHANK IN 1800.
In the early days Yaphank-Middle Island-Millville- was an almost unknown hamlet of about twenty houses.
To give its present inhabitants a brief idea of what con- stituted Yaphank in 1800, I will mention and situate the old land-marks that have been swept away by the cruel waves of time.
The number and sites of the cottages were as follows : One by the present residence of James Weeks, and an old dilapidated structure near the house of Appollas Mills, late deceased. Another near the site of Gerard's grist-mill-the home of Jonas Buckingham. One upon the ground where the house of the late William Albin now stands. The Paul Terry homestead was then a "palatial mansion ;" it is more familiarly known as the " old John Owen house." The building still stands, and is the property of J. P. Mills. Esq.
A one-story house was situated upon the banks of the river, about twenty rods south of Richard Hawkins' late residence-the supposed home and property of Samnel Randall, Sr. Another ancient cottage reared its moss-em- bellished chimneys about ten rods east of D. D. Sweezy's hacienda ; and one near the site of Samnel Norten's domi- ciliation. An almost antediluvian dwelling stood west of
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the famous " Valley Farm Hotel," now the estate of Alfred Reid, Sr., but better known as the home of the late Dea. Simmons Laws.
The old farm-house owned and occupied by Edmund Homan was a fashionable cottage in 1800 ; and Nathaniel Tuthill's store-house another goodly dwelling. A few rods north of V. R. Sweezy's residence stood an old store and dwelling attached, owned and kept by the affable Jonah Hawkins. The frame was removed and is now Mr. Swee- zy's carriage-house. Deeply imbedded in an old beam in that frame is the bullet that hurled John Sweezy into a suicide's grave. He was D. D. and V. R. Sweezy's uncle, and a brother of the notorious Christopher Sweezy.
Near by Robert Hawkins' domicile, where the public road is now established, stood another old land-mark. Northward nestled what is now the Sell's estate. Still farther toward the Polar Star was another ancient habita - tion. There Daniel Hammond dwelt and reared a sturdy family of giants-among them the famous John.
Next in order comes the old Homan homestead-an estate owned by the justly popular Esquire Mordecai Homan, and by the Homan family, for over two hundred years. There the old 'Squire conducted the financial affairs of Brookhaven Town for forty-two years. There a large family grew up around him, and there his spirit passed into eternal rest. Three more dwellings stood upon the Homan estate, and with probably one or two unnoticed in the vi- cinity, Yaphank-in 1800-wasa farming settlement ofabout twenty houses.
YAPHANK MILLS AND THEIR HISTORY.
THE OLD GRANTS-WHY YAPHANK WAS NOT A LOWELL AND ROCHESTER COMBINED.
THE OLD GRANTS.
The people who daily gaze upon these stately old struc- tures, hardly realize the great metamorphosis they have passed through.
Sturdy men bore the grists of the old-time tillers of the surrounding farms, and the same pretty lakes carried the groaning stones for our forefathers in the eighteenth century.
The upper mills were first erected, and were built by a Capt. Robert Robinson, in 1739. In the old Town Record of Brookhaven is recorded the following Grant for the UP- PER MILLS :
"At a meeting of the Trustees of Brookhaven Town, on the 12th of February, 1739, there were present, Capt. Robert Robinson, Samuel Thompson, Eleazer Hawkins, John Smith, Richard Floyd, Thomas Strong, and Nathaniel Roe. It was voted and agreed on and granted by the Trus- tees of the Town, that Capt. Robert Robinson shall have liberty to build a mill or mills on Connecticut River, above the going-over, where William Gerard now lives, at any place where he shall think convenient; and we, the said Trustees, do confirm unto the said Robert Robinson, and his heirs, forever, the full benefit of the said river- that is to say, the Town's right for the above said use-for the consideration of six shillings. To us in hand paid ; and if he or his heirs shall improve the same, and build a mill or mills thereon, within the space of six years, or in some
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convenient space of time after. Otherwise, to return to said Town."
Twenty-three years afterwards John Homan applied for and received a grant to erect a saw mill about one mile be- low. The following is a fac-simile in words of the grant given to John Homan for the privilege to build a saw mill in Lower Yaphank, in 1762 :
"At the Town Meeting on the Ist day of Nov., 1762. the Trustees then present, voted and agreed that John Homan shall have liberty to build a saw mill on Connecti- eut River, below his house, adjoining to his land ; but not to prejudice or hinder the going of the Upper Mill in any manner, for the sum of forty shillings.
" But not to build any grist mill thereon without the leave and order of the Trustees. And the said John Homan doth agree and bind himself, his heirs and assignees, to build a good and sufficient saw mill thereon, within the space of three years from this date : and to keep the same in good and sufficient repair, and to saw at the rates of other saw mills : and upon the whole and faithful performance of the above conditions, then the stream thereto to remain to him and his heirs. But, if any failure be made in the full and complete performance of the above conditions, or any part thereof, then this agreement to be void, and the whole promises to return and be again vested in the Trustees and their successors as fully as if this agreement was never made.
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