John T. Woolley, who is numbered among the progressive farmers of the town of North Hempstead, was born August 29, 1851, in Lakeville, near his present place of residence. His grandfather, John Woolley, a native of Long Island, was a member of one of the old families here and traced his ancestry to England; in addition to operating a farm, he was also proprietor of a country store. The father of our subject, who was born in this town in 1815, has been a lifelong farmer, but is now living retired. In political views he was originally a Democrat, but since the Civil War has always voted the Republican ticket. For many years he officiated as vestryman i Christ Church at Manhasset. He was also a trustee of the schools. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Abba Ann Seaman, was born about 1832, and has four children, of whom John T., is the eldest in order of birth and the only son.

As a boy our subject attended the district schools of this locality and later became a pupil in a private school kept by an Episcopal minister at Norfolk, Conn. Afterward he spent a year at Union Hall Academy, Jamaica, where he studied Latin and German and took a course in higher mathematics. When about twenty years of age he began to carry on the home place of eighty acres, and later, by purchase, added to the original property, so that there is now a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in one body.

February 24, 1881, Mr. Woolley married Miss Jane M. Allen, daughter of Benjamin B. and Catherine C. (Bergen) Allen, and a native of Douglaston, Queens County, though at the time of her marriage a resident of Lakeville. Our subject cast his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1872 and has since always voted for Republican candidates in local and general elections. For many years he has served as a member of the school board, and while filling that position introduced some important reforms in the management of affairs. For one year he served as collector of taxes and supervisor of the town, and he also served as commissioner of highways for North Hempstead. At various conventions he has represented his party as a delegate. With his wife he holds membership in the Episcopal Church, in which he has officiated as warden and vestryman. In the Shield of Honor at Hyde-park he has held the office of chaplain.

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

BACK TO Bios. index

BACK TO NASSAU COUNTY HISTORY