BIOGRAPHY: The Huntington family; Easthampton, Suffolk, NY surname: Huntington, Lee, Gardiner, Maples, Hoogland, Haynes, Smith, Bridge submitted by W. D. Samuelsen *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** A HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME BY PETER ROSS, LL. D. THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK AND CHICAGO COPYRIGHT. 1902 THE HUNTINGTONS The history of this family in Easthampton covers a period of very nearly one whole century, beginning in 1797 and ending in 1892, when the homestead oh the main street, so long identified with the name, was sold to Edward H. Dayton, who now occupies it. This homestead was purchased by Dr. Abel Huntington early in the last century from the estate of Captain James Wickham, who was a man of note, having been a member of the Colonial Congress, and who, during the war of the Revolution, commanded a privateer from Stonington and captured several vessels from the enemy. Here the Huntingtons lived and died during the major part of the nineteenth century, and probably no family from the foundation of the town exerted a larger or better influence over its social, moral and intellectual growth and development. Hon. H. P. Hedges, in his recent history of Easthampton, speaks of the Huntington family as "descended from that famous Connecticut family of Huntingtons who shone in the spheres of statesmanship, finance, jurisprudence and all the professions of scholarship and learning," etc. The genealogy of the Huntington family, so far as it has to do with Easthampton, embraces three generations, as follows - Abel (Hon. M. D), son of Ezra born February 21, 1777, in Norwich, Connecticut. In 1797 he removed to Easthampton, Long Island. His wife was Frances Lee, daughter of George Lee, of Norwich. She died in Easthampton at the birth of her fifth child, which was buried with the mother in the same coffin. She was a most estimable lady. The children of Abel were as follows: Mariette, born October 9, 1800; she died February 1, 1882. Cornelia, born June 24, 24, 1803, died April 13, 1890. Abby L., born August 9, 1806, died July 30, 1864. George Lee (M. D.), born July 15, 1811, died February 22, 1881. The children of George Lee are: Benjamin H., born September 21, 1835; Charles G., born March 3, 1838, and died September 8, 1848; Abel (M. D.), born October 14, 1840; George (M. D.), born April 9, 1850; and Mary E., born December 19, 1853. Abel Huntington, the first of his name in Easthampton, after pursuing his professional studies with the eminent Dr. Philemon Tracy, of Norwich, and obtaining a diploma from the Medical Faculty of Connecticut, crossed the Sound in 1797 and located at Easthampton, being then in his twenty-first year. After spending a year or more there he announced his intention of removing to another and more distant field, and was about departing when the citizens called a public meeting and drew up a testimonial, which was at once expressive of the high esteem in which he was held and a plea for him to remain. In addition to this a pledge of a certain specified yearly sum was guaranteed as a sort of retainer. The pledge was sired by most of the prominent citizens and was observed for a number of years, till the income from his practice was sufficient to maintain the Doctor's family. No further thought of removal ever arose, and the whole long life of the beloved physician was spent with the people of his choice; and there was not a house or a hovel for miles around in which his professional skill and kind personal presence was not known and appreciated. In those early days, when qualified physicians and surgeons were rare in the land, the field of practice was often extensive, and Dr. Huntington would sometimes be absent a couple of days or more on his distant visits. His books show that on one occasion he went as far as Smithtown to perform a surgical operation, which was crowned with success. He was one of the best of the old-time physicians, resourceful, courageous, self-reliant, careful and well informed, possessing in wonderful degree that sound, reasoning,, common sense and uprightness of character which inspired confidence in all with whom he came in contact - much of which he bequeathed to his only son, Dr. George L Huntington, who succeeded him in his practice. The honorary title of M. D. was conferred upon him by the board of regents of the state of New York about the middle of the last century. In March, 1816, he was commissioned surgeon of the Eightieth Regiment of Infantry of the state of New York, Daniel D. Tompkins being governor. The same qualities which made Dr. Huntington successful and beloved physician led the people to entrust to his care matters of public importance. In 1820 he was chosen a member of the Electoral College, voting for James Monroe for president. In 1821 he was elected to the state senate. From 1833 to 1837 he was a member of congress, representing the first district of New York, and through both the twenty-third and twenty-fourth congresses he was a stanch and consistent "Jacksonian Democrat," both in speech and vote. In 1845 President James K. Polk appointed him collector of the port of Sag Harbor, which then had a large fleet of whale-ships, and the business of the port was important. In 1846 he was a member of the convention for revising the constitution of the state of New York. In town affairs he was always a wise and welcome adviser, and he held the office of supervisor in 1829-30-31-32 and 1844. In the celebration of the old-time Fourth of July he was, on more than one occasion, the orator of the day; and among those who upheld a high standard of education and intellectual culture none were more active than he. For a long time he was president of the board of Trustees of Clinton Academy, which was then one of the best equipped and most popular educational institutions in the state. Dr. Huntington was also an ardent sportsman, being fond of both gun and rod, and having as a frequent companion the Rev. Lyman Beecher, who was then in charge of the church at Easthampton and who was likewise an enthusiastic follower of fur, flu and feather. Dr. Huntington was a great walker, and many a time would go on foot six or eight miles to visit a patient, leaving his horse to rest at home. His sense of humor was very keen, and as a story-teller he had few equals. After a long and useful life he passed peacefully any in 1858, after a short illness, in his eighty-second year. Of the children of Abel Huntington, Mariette, born in 1800, became the wife of David Gardiner, and their children were as follows: Dr. John L., now living at Bridgehampton, Long Island; Rev. Charles H., at present rector of St Luke's church, Easthampton; and Frances Lee, who married Rev. C. P. Maples, rector of Trinity church of Portland, Oregon, and afterward of the Episcopal church at Pomeroy, Ohio. Cornelia, born June 24, 1803, never married, but always remained with her father. She was bright, vivacious and witty, and contributed much to the current literature of her time in the way of odes, poems and occasional pieces. In 1857 she wrote a very interesting novel or romance, entitled "Sea Spray," many of the characters being drawn from the immediate locality of Easthampton, where the scene of the story was laid and developed. After her decease her odes and poems were gathered into a very pretty volume by her nephew, Dr. Abel Huntington, then of Brooklyn, as a memorial to her worth and a testimonial of the affection and esteem in which she was held. The Hon. H. P. Hedges, in his history of Easthampton, refers most eloquently to the career of Miss Huntington, who was a lifelong acquaintance and friend. His remarks will be found on page 179 of the history referred to. She died at Easthampton in April, 1890, aged about eighty-seven years. Abby L., born in 1806, was more or less of an invalid, being at times a great sufferer from asthmatic attacks. She was most genial and home-loving in her character, and, like her sister Cornelia, never married, but remained with her father. Dr. George Lee was born at Easthampton July 15, 1811, read medicine in his father's office and subsequently as a pupil of the celebrated surgeon, Professor Valentine Mott, of New York city. He obtained his degree of M. D. from the medical department of the University of. New York, and after practicing a while in the city took up the work at Easthampton along with his father, and there remained until his death, in 1881. He was always much interested in politics, but never as an office holder or seeker. He was chosen supervisor of the town in the years of- 1846-7-8-9, and was sent by the people of his district to the Republican national convention which nominated Lincoln for his second term as president His wife was Mary Hoogland, of New York city, by whom he had five children, Benjamin K, Charles G., Abel, George and Mary Elizabeth. She survived her husband, dying in 1890. The children of George Lee Huntington are: Benjamin H., born at Easthampton in 1835, obtained an excellent education at old Clinton Academy in his native town, where he became proficient in Greek, Latin and the higher mathematics In early youth he left his pleasant home for a clerical position in Brooklyn, where he entered the service of one of the successful fire insurance companies of that city, and from there went to the counting house of one of New York's merchant princes, that of the late A. A. Low & Brothers, where he rose step by step until in 1877 he was offered and accepted the responsible position of secretary of the Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn. In 1895 he was chosen president by the board of directors of that large and rich institution, a position which he now fills with great credit. He married, in 1857, Sarah R., eldest daughter of the late Colonel Stephen Haynes, of Brooklyn. He has had six children, four of whom are living. Charles G., born at Easthampton in 1838, died of acute dysentery, which was at that time epidemic at Easthampton, in September, 1848. Abel (M. D.), born at Easthampton in October, 1840, was educated at Clinton Academy, and obtained his degree of. M. D. from the University of New York in March, 1862. His first field of practice was in Monmouth county, New Jersey, thence removed to Islip, Long Island, where he pursued successfully the practice of medicine, serving the county also as one of its coroners. In 1869 he turned his attention to life insurance. In 1871 he was chosen medical director of one of the younger companies in New York city, from that entered the service of the United States Life Insurance Company, was then called to Boston to assume charge of the medical department of the Union Mutual Life Company, and finally, in 1881, returned to New York city and entered the old New York Life Insurance Company, where he rose to be its chief medical director. In 1898 he was made consulting medical director of that company, which position he now holds. At the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the town of Easthampton, in September, 1899, Dr. Huntington wrote and delivered an ode entitled "Easthampton's Sires," his aunt, Miss. Cornelia Huntington, having written the odes for the bi-centennial celebration, just fifty years previously. Dr. Huntington married Miss Kate S. Smith, of Islip, daughter of William C. Smith, Esq., in 1865. He now resides in Islip, Long Island. George (M. D.), born at Easthampton in 1850, was educated at Clinton Academy, studied medicine with his father, obtained his degree of M. D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city in 1871. For a time he remained with his father and then removed to Pomeroy, Ohio. Returning to Easthampton for a time, he settled, in 1874, in the town of LaGrange, Dutchess county, New York, where he built up a large practice, and for several years was president of the County Medical Society. Among the articles he has contributed to the literature of his profession is one on the subject of "Hereditary Chorea," which attracted considerable notice both at home and in foreign countries, being especially and favorably commented on by a distinguished German authority who gave this particular form of the disease the name of "Huntington's Chorea," by which it is now known. He married Miss Mary E. Heckard, a daughter of Judge Heckard, of Pomeroy, Ohio, and has had six children, of whom five are living. Mary Elizabeth, born in Easthampton in 1853. married Frederick Bridge, of Brooklyn, and with him spent five or six years in China and Japan. After the death of her husband, in 1882, Mrs. Bridge resided in Morristown, New Jersey. At present she resides in Brooklyn, New York She has six children, three of whom, daughters, are married.