Wading River is on the Sound about 70 miles from New York and was
the terminal of the Wading River branch of the Long Island Rail
Road, which was extended from Port Jefferson in 1895. Ralph Peters,
president of the railroad, established a large farm here, and Hal B.
Fullerton, agricultural, promoter for the railroad, started an
experimental farm at this place. Wading River has some of the most
beautiful scenery to be found anywhere on the north side of the
Island.
The following account of Elihu S. Miller, a prominent
horticulturist of the village, appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
August 15, 1908:
"In Wading River dwells Elihu S. Miller, the man who some years ago
collected the valuable and famous herbarium representing the flora
of Long Island, and who has lately disposed of it to the Brooklyn
Society of Arts and Sciences.
"The herbarium contains 'about 4,000 species of plant life, all of
them habitués of Suffolk County. There are between five and six
thousand specimens, from oaks, acorns, fruits, maples, down to the
wild flowers and ferns. All the specimens were collected within a
radius of 15 miles of this place. They were all carefully selected,
preserved, mounted on cards, and each given the botanical name as
well as the more ordinary name by which they are known in the
country. It is only complete herbarium of the Island ever preserved,
and is highly valuable. Many of the specimens in it are not now to
be found on the Island having been crowded out by the march of
civilization.
"Mr. Miller was born in Wading River in the charming old fashioned
house where he now resides, which was built before 1800. In his very
early life he was an enthusiastic amateur botanist, and as he grew
older decided to take up the study of botany, and when he went to
the Williston Seminary in Massachusetts, took up special studies and
courses in his hobby, Later, when he returned to Wading River, he
began the assembling of the botanical collection we have described.
He collected many more specimen than are contained in the herbarium
presented to the Brooklyn Society, for he afterward presented his
alma mater with a collection of 2,000 specimens.
"Mr. Miller's charming home savors of an honored age, and is
surrounded by immense, stately old oaks and other trees. The
proprietor of this delightful country retreat is a quiet, dignified,
unassuming, yet hospitable man. He is in perfect accord with the
peaceful surroundings, and Mrs. Miller bears the same stamp of
estimable and courteous affability, making one at home in a way so
well remembered of the old fashioned woman. Mr. Miller's estate of
50 acres contains everything to gladden the heart of the rural
enthusiast.
"Professionally, he is a florist seedsman, working under contract
with some of the largest seed and bulb houses. For several years he
lived at Floral Park, where he was employed by John Lewis Childs.
"Mr. Miller loves his flowers as a man loves his child. He sees
better things in them than simply commercial returns, and tended by
his loving hands, they do his bidding in a way that is almost human.
Here are acres of gladioli and rare Japanese lilies and other
flowers; in another locality is an apple, pear, and plum orchard,
and another large tract is devoted to grapes, melons, and other
fruits which he exhibits at the country fair at Riverhead every year
and captures many first place prizes, especially for the many
varieties of grapes that he always presents.
"The highways of Wading River are a twisting, turning sort, full of
delightful surprises as to scenic beauty, making driving conditions
over very good roads, one continual delight from beginning to end.
The inhabitants of this village, so different from many other places
on Long Island, have had the sense not to destroy the town's quaint,
rustic beauty. For this reason, if for no other, the place is
getting better known each year as a delightful spot to while away a
few weeks, 'right next to real nature' the article concluded.