History of East Hampton, (Suffolk County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Abel Huntington, representative, was born in Norwich, Conn., Feb. 21, 1777; son of Ezra and Elizabeth (Huntington) Huntington; and grandson of John and Civil (Tracy) Huntington, and of James and Elizabeth (Darby) Huntington. He studied medicine with Dr. Philemon Tracy, of Norwich, and received his diploma from the Connecticut medical convention in April, 1797. In May, 1797, he removed to East Hampton, L.I., N.Y., and achieved distinction in the practice of his profession. In 1820 he was a Presidential elector, voting for James Monroe, and in 1821 he was elected a member of the New York senate. He was a representative in the 23d and 24th congresses, 1833-37, having been elected as a Jackson Democrat; collector of customs for the port of Sag Harbor by appointment of President Polk, 1845-49, and a member of the convention for revising the state constitution in 1846. He was married to Frances, daughter of George Lee, of Norwich, Conn. Their son, George Lee, became a physician in East Hampton, N.Y., and George Lee's son, Abel, also followed the profession of his father and grandfather. Abel Huntington, Sr., received the degree of M.D. from the regents of the University of the State of New York in 1853. He died at East Hampton, N.Y., May 18, 1858.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Edward Beecher, educator, was born at East Hampton, L.I., N.Y. Aug. 27, 1803, son of Lyman and Roxana (Foote) Beecher. He was graduated at Yale in 1822; fitted for the ministry at Andover, Mass., and New Haven, Conn., and was a tutor in the Hartford high school and at Yale, in 1825. He was pastor of the Park St. Congregational church, Boston, Mass., 1826-30, president of Illinois college, Jacksonville Ill., 1830-44, pastor of the Salem St. church, Boston, 1844-55, and of the Congregational church at Galesburg, Ill., 1855-70. He was also professor of Biblical exegesis in the Chicago theological seminary, became assistant to his brother in the editorial management of the Christian Union at Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1872, and pastor of the Congregational church at Parkville, N.Y. in 1885. He was also editor-in-charge of the Congregationalist for several years. He was run over by a railroad train in 1888 and although he had his leg amputated, entirely recovered from the shock. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon Mr. Beecher by Marietta college in 1841. His best known works are: "The Conflict of Ages" and "The Concord of Ages," in which he announces the view that man is in a progressive state?the present life being the outcome of a former one, and the preparation of another life after death. Evil, however, will continue in the future life, and the struggle between it and good will still go on until some far-off future, when evil will be finally subdued, and universal harmony be forever established. The utterance of such radical views in regard to the future life necessarily made a profound impression upon the thought of the day and aroused much comment. His publications include: "Address on the Kingdom of God" (1827); "Six Sermons on the Nature, Importance and Means of Eminent Holiness throughout the Church" (1835); "Statement of Anti-slavery Principles" (1837); "History of the Alton Riots" (1838); "Baptism: its Import and Modes" (1850); "The Conflict of Ages" (1853); "The Concord of Ages" (1860); "History of Opinions on the Scriptural Doctrines of Future Retribution" (1878), and "The Papal Conspiracy" (1885). He died at his home in Brooklyn, N.Y., July 28, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Henry Davis, educator, was born in East Hampton, N.Y., Sept. 15, 1771; son of John and Mary (Conkling) Davis. His first ancestors in America came from Kidderminster, England, and settled in New Haven, Conn., removing thence across the sound to East Hampton, Long Island. He was prepared for college at Clinton academy, was graduated at Yale in 1796, and was a tutor at Williams college, 1796-98. He then studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Charles Backus at Somers, Conn., and was licensed to preach by the association of Tolland county. He was tutor at Yale, 1798-1803, and professor of Greek at Union in 1807. He was ordained in 1809; was president of Middlebury college, Vt., 1809-17, resigning in 1817 to accept the presidency of Hamilton college made vacant by the death of President Backus, Dec. 28, 1816. He served Hamilton as its president, 1817-33. He declined the presidency of Yale and the chair of Greek in Union. He aided largely in the establishment of the Auburn theological seminary, of which institution he was a trustee, 1820-34, and president of the board, 1820-24. He was a promoter of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions. He was married, Sept. 22, 1801, to Hannah Phoenix, daughter of Judge Thomas Treadwell of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and their son, Thomas Treadwell Davis, was graduated from Hamilton in 1831 and became a lawyer. He received the honorary degree of M.A. from Williams college in 1799, and that of D.D. from Union in 1810. He published: Narrative of the Embarrassments and Decline of Hamilton College (1833). He died in Clinton, N.Y., March 8, 1852.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Catherine Esther Beecher, educator, was born at East Hampton, L. I., Sept. 6, 1800; daughter of Lyman and Roxana (Foote) Beecher. She was the eldest of thirteen children, and by her mother's death the care of her father's household devolved upon her when she was sixteen years of age. She was educated at the Litchfield (Conn.) seminary, and in 1822 opened a school for young women at Hartford, Conn., which was very successful, and was the first school attended by her brother, Henry Ward Beecher. This work she continued for ten years. Becoming dissatisfied with existing text-books, she set about preparing others on subjects which pressed immediately upon her attention. One book, a treatise on mental and moral philosophy, was never published. An edition, however, was printed, and held to be of such value as to be used as a college text-book. When her father assumed the presidency of Lane theological seminary in 1832, she went to Cincinnati with him, and there established a young ladies' school; but her health failed, and after two years the enterprise was abandoned. She continued actively engaged in the cause of education; travelled long distances to interest and instruct educators in their work; organized societies in which teachers could learn not only the details of instruction, but broaden their views so as to embrace more varied study for their own advancement, and a better knowledge of the capabilities of children and youth. She was especially eager "to unite American women in an effort to provide a Christian education for two million children in our own country." Her gradually increasing physical weakness unfitted her for active labors, but her keen thought and subtile power of analysis continued, and by speech or pen incited others to do what she had strength only to conceive. In later life she connected herself with the Episcopal church. She was the author of many books relating, for the most part, to the training of women, among them: "Letters on the Difficulties of Religion" (1836); "The Moral Instructor" (1838); "Treatise on Domestic Economy" (1842); "A Memoir of George Beecher" (1844); "Duty of American Women to their Country" (1845); "Truth Stranger than Fiction" (1850); "True Remedy for the Wrongs of Women, with a History of an Enterprise having that for its Object" (1851); "Common Sense Applied to Religion" (1857); "An Appeal to the People, as the Authorized Interpreters of the Bible" (1860); "Religious Training of Children in the School, the Family and the Church" (1864); "The American Woman's Home" (1869); "Woman's Profession as Mother and Educator, with Views in Opposition to Woman's Suffrage" (1871); "Housekeeper and Health-keeper" (1873), and a "Domestic Receipt Book," which had a large sale. She died in Elmira. N.Y., May 12, 1878.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor