| Notes |
- From 'Portrait and Biographical Record:"
W. W. Hulse. The story of the life of a worthy citizen should be given to the public; it should be read by all our people, that they may profit by the example; the lessons should be studied, and the good they inculcate impressed upon the minds of the youth of our land. All may glean from them some kernels of wisdom for present use, and store up knowledge and information which will be of benefit in after life. It is of such a citizen that we write. the story of the life of the subject of this sketch is no ordinary one; for few men on Long Island have a more faithful record as a soldier, or more upright and distinguished one as a civilian, than W. W. Hulse of Bay Shore.
Mr Hulse was born, August 29, 1838, in Brook Haven, and is of Dutch extraction on the paternal side, his ancestors being among the first settlers of Long Island. His father, David Overton Hulse, was born in Suffolk County in 1777, just at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and died when seventy-three years old. He was a remarkable man, an educator of exceptional ability, well posted on all subjects, and a leader among men. Mrs Hulse, whose maiden name was Sarah Hallock, was born at Stony Brook. She was a lineal descendent of Peter Hallock, one of the Pilgrim fathers who in 1642 occupied what is now Southold. He was the first man of the ship's company that landed, and to this day the particular spot is called "Hallock's Point" in commemoration of that event. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulse we mention the following: Charlotte resides at Bellport and is now eighty-one years old; Sarah married John D. Rider, of Bellport; Mary became the wife of Charles W. Pease, and both are now deceased; Jane married G. R. Rimmington and died about twenty-four years ago; David, born in 1826, is a builder of Brooklyn; Sarepta is the widow of Ephraim Pease; Van Buren resides in Bay Shore; Andrew is a builder in Brooklyn; Charles follows the same calling in Sayville; William Warren is our subject, and three died young.
William W. Hulse received his primary education in the district school, but at a comparatively early age left school and learned the trade of mason with his brother, David H. In 1853, while working at his trade in Brooklyn, he completed his education at a grammar school in Green Point. On the 15th of August, 1862, which was the darkest of all the gloomy periods of the Civil War, Mr. Hulse joined the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York Monitors, the regiment commanded by Col. W. Guerney and Lieut.-Col. Stewart L. Woodford. He served with this command all through the war, and after returning North engaged in the building business. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Josephine Worth, daughter of a Methodist minister, and their union was celebrated in Brook Haven, June 3, 1867. There eight children were as follows: Justus Warren, who married Miss Maud Wicks of Brooklyn; Martha Hallock; David Eugene; Bertha Eliose; Blanch; Ethel Worth; Mabel, and Laura.
Politically Mr. Hulse is a stanch Republican, and has taken some interest in local politics. Had he cared to turn his attention in that direction he would have been a leading politician. In 1881 he was a delegate to the Republican county convention at Riverhead, and it was the sentiment of the convention to make no nomination for Superintendent of the Poor. W. T. Hulse, of Port Jefferson, a Democrat seemed to have a clear field. H. T. Clock, a delegate from Bay Shore, rose and made the remark that they were there to nominate a ticket, and did not believe in leaving any place on it vacant for a Democrat. The consequence was that W. W. Hulse was nominated, much to that gentleman's surprise. He was subsequently elected by a clear majority of two hundred and sixty-five. While serving two terms in that capacity he did much to purify that department of county government. The second term as Superintendent he ran against John S. Havens, an excellent man in every way, but our subject carried the day by six hundred and fifty.
Our subject has also served as Assessor and for nearly a score of years was a member of the Board of Education, being President of the same a large portion of the time. He is a present president of the Great South Bay Steamboat Company and vice-president of the Long Island Chautauqua Assembly Association, representative of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, president of Veteran Association of the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regiment, New York State Volunteers, and commander of William Gurney Post, G. A. R. He is past regent of Bay Shore Royal Arcanum, and is also a Free mason, having taken his degree in Brooklyn Lodge 403. In his youth Mr. Hulse was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, but of late years he has become intensely interested in the Church of the New Jerusalem (known as Swedenborgian), and service are held regularly at his house. He is well posted, a ready speaker, a strong debater, and has an intelligent grasp on all public questions. In fact, he stands to-day among the foremost men of Suffolk County. He is an eloquent speaker on the temperance question and takes exceptionally strong grounds against the tobacco habit. He has read the statements of many able physicians and others, and from these and his own careful observations for many years firmly believes that this vile, filthy habit causes more physical suffering and death and ruins more souls by far than the drink habit, as it makes the subjects the more abject slaves. He says the time is surely coming when to sell the deadly poison will be a crime in the eye of human law as it now most surely is when viewed from the "higher law."
Mr. Hulse is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and to what thorough and masterly development modern business methods have brought real estate and insurance interests in this country can be readily seen at the widely known bureau for that business which for the past fifteen years has been conducted at Bay Shore by our subject. His thoroughly equipped offices are on Main street, opposite Park avenue, and for the period indicated have been the center throughout this section of Long Island of all matters of that kind. The wide and valuable business conducted is solid evidence of first-class facilities afforded by Mr. Hulse. For many yeas he has made a special study of these important lines. He can, therefore, speak with authority, and his judgements are all attested by the confidence now given to them, not only by the most experienced business men of this section, but also by a large number of outside parties. He handles every kind of real estate business, and can present in brief, comprehensive form the scope of the local market. He represents the most important fire insurance companies of this country, and he also is the general agent for the Prudential Life, and Lloyd's Plate Glass Insurance Company.
|
1838 - 1929 (90 years)
[2, 4, 5, 6] 