Photo courtesy of
the Yaphank Historical Society
In 1859, Hannah and Sereno B. Overton purchased land in
Yaphank from Samuel and Eliza Norton for the sum of
$50.00. Here they built, or had built, a home where they
resided with their two children, Nehemiah and Annie.
Sereno B. Overton was a master carpenter turned
merchant. In 1851 he concentrated his efforts in
butchering and marketing. According to Beecher Homan in
his book, Yaphank As It Is And Was, Sereno was in
partnership with his older brother Osbom. This
partnership was eventually dissolved when Alfred Ackerly
& Son purchased the business. He later, as is stated
in Portrait and Biographical Records, was engaged in the
butchering business with his son Nehemiah. Sereno was
"...honored and respected for his unchanging
pleasantness, sociality, and honesty." He died in
January of 1893.
His son Nehemiah assumed entire control of the business
after Sereno's death. (During renovation of the house in
1966, a wall covered with animal fat and attached leather
straps was exposed. Account books and bills from the sale
of meat to New York companies were also found this would
attest to the theory that the business, or at least a
portion of it was run from the house).
Information
compiled by
Kathy Schmidt
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