Long Island boasts of a large number of hotels, scattered throughout its entire extent, and among the best of these we find the Jericho Hotel, of which Mr. Valentine is owner and proprietor. The traveling public is familiar with this house, and commercial men as well as pleasure seekers are accustomed to make it their headquarters when passing through this part of the county. Since purchased by the present manager in 1891 the character of the service has been improved and the popularity thereby increased.

In the town of Oyster Bay the subject of this notice was born October 13, 1843, being a son of Daniel and Maria (Walden) Valentine, also natives of this town. The paternal grandfather, Absalom Valentine, spent his life principally here, being engaged in farm pursuits. Daniel, who was also an agriculturist, owned a farm near Jericho and there it was that our subject was born. He was the youngest of seven children, who are as follows: Mary E., deceased wife of Alfred Horton, of Hicksville; Susan, wife of Webley Horton, of East Norwich; John, a blacksmith in Roslyn, Queens County; Amanda, who married Daniel P. Titus, a farmer of Jericho; Daniel, who is a merchant in Glenwood, this county; Emily, wife of George Horton, of Syosset, and Isaac W.

The first sixteen years of our subject’s life were passed on the homestead and in attendance at the common schools, but at that age he entered upon an apprenticeship to the wagon maker’s trade at different places in the county, and in 1864 opened a wagon maker’s shop at Mineola, where he remained a year. Receiving an offer of a position that promised to be more remunerative, he sold out and went to New York, where he was employed for two years. His next enterprise was in the hotel business in company with his brother John, the two buying the Mechanic’s Hotel at Roslyn, which he carried on for two years.

June 6, 1867, Mr. Valentine married Miss Jennie, daughter of Emmet Wooden, and a native of this county. They became the parents of one daughter, Jennie W., the wife of Jesse Smith of Brooklyn. Soon after his marriage Mr. Valentine closed out his hotel business and went to Brooklyn, where for a year he was employed on the Fulton Street ferry. He then returned to Roslyn and secured work at house painting, remaining in the village until 1880, after which he was proprietor of the Osceola Hotel at East Norwich for five years. December 11, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Peasel, daughter of William R. Pearsel, of Roslyn, and they are the parents of two children, Harry W. and Elsie.

With the progressive element of the town of Oyster Bay, Mr. Valentine is doing all he can to elevate its social and moral status, and to contribute to its general welfare. Politically he has always been a firm believer in the advocacy and utility of Democratic principles. Socially e has been connected with Pemboke Lodge No. 73, I. O. O. F., at Glencove. During his residence in Rosylyn, in 1880, he was elected constable and filled that position until removing from the village. In 1882 he was chosen commissioner of highways of the town and served with efficiency in that office for four years.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Queens County (Long Island) New York"
(Copyright 1896 by Chapman Publishing Company)

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